How Does Old Feel? When Are You Old?

As I hear more and more people talk about getting old I keep wondering when are you actually old? How does old feel? Does it really matter in real years how many years you have lived? If it is a matter of how you feel no matter what age you are I can understand that. I think I felt worse than I do today seven years ago. Now I live with pain in both of my knees but any age person can have that. Back then I had to get up and do chores whether I wanted to or not. Now I can take it easy if I am in pain. I will admit that now I do not do the same type of chores so it is easier anyway. For me my health started giving me trouble when I turned fifty. That was also the year my mother died so it was a tough year. Very stressful!

 

I love to spend time coloring!

Stress and worry seem to go hand in hand with health conditions. If you are experiencing a health condition but also worrying about something it could make it worse. I am a worrier so I know it is difficult to shut it off. What I have found works for me is to start coloring in one of my adult coloring books. Then I think about the problem that is causing me to worry so much. Sometimes I come up with solutions for that problem. Often I put music on while I color and don't think about anything but the song and the colors. Music and color therapy almost always helps me. Sometimes I write in my journal and make a list of what I can do to change it. That works pretty good too. 

Choose your weapon!

Yeah we look different as we get older. Even our animals do. Just a part of the living process. I think that is why you see people who use cosmetic surgery to look younger ruin their remaining years instead. The natural process of aging always looks better than what a doctor in the operating room can do. So many of the famous stars, men and women, have become grotesque after their surgeries. You can make yourself look better by using your tweezers, applying lotions or adding some color to your eyebrows and face. For myself, I only use beef tallow for my face lotion. It works great and is safer than what the lotions made for aging have in them.

My son, Jeff with my Daddy

I may not look as good as I did when I was younger but I feel good and enjoy living. Keeping a positive attitude helps. Complaining and whining does not help anyone. It is one of my pet peeves. It breeds negativity and that is the most harmful substance there is. Every morning when I was a child at home I woke up to hear my Daddy whistling in the kitchen as he prepared breakfast before he had to leave for work. It was my favorite time! I would hurry out to be with him before he had to leave. He was always cheerful and I loved to be with him. Even as he got older. It was hard on him when my Mom got sick and eventually passed away. But he stayed busy doing the things he always did. He showed a cheerful face to everyone but I know he was hurting inside. 

First spring flowers in the park!

So when anyone asks me how I am I always say I am good. I don't tell them all the aches and pains I have. I don't tell them all the things I am worried about. Instead I focus on the good things I have going today. You know what happens? As I talk to them I feel good again. I forget all those things I was worried about. I put the pain out of my mind. I focus on how lucky I am compared to others who are worse off. Or others who are depressed or miserable with their life. I come away thinking about what I am going to do today. Instead of feeling old..........I feel alive!

Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

 

Using A Computer For Convenience As You Age

Keto Chow For The Win!

Struggling with most any health issue is stressful. The key to that is to do your own research. I always do that and try different methods to improve my issues. Whether it is food or activities I will try it and give it an adequate amount of time to get some type of result. If it does not work then I move on to something else. I have to at least try. One of the things I do now is live a "keto based lifestyle" which does help. It means no sugar or high carbs, fruits or most vegetables. My style of keto is heavy on the meat (especially beef), seasonings, some low carb vegetables and dairy. I had a struggle in the beginning which lasted many years. Living in my own place has made it pretty easy to stick to it. Also I give credit to Keto Chow, which is a keto meal replacement shake that supplies all the vitamins and minerals for one third of what I need for the whole day. I make it into ice cream with the Ninja Creami ice cream maker and it is a game changer for sure!  

Walking in the park across the street!

The real problem for me has been getting movement in. Both of my knees are very bad and hurt when I stand or walk. Suffering with Lymphedema is no fun either. Getting some kind of physical activity is most important with that condition. Every time I try though my knees seem to get worse. If I walk very far one day the next few days I can't even walk around my small apartment. It is not fair! I used to race walk many years ago and could even run up and down the bleachers at a local high school football field. I sure miss those days! When I moved here to my downtown location 7 years ago, I pictured walking everywhere. Unfortunately my mobility issue has become worse as time goes by. Even when I try to increase walking every day. I even purchased two different pieces of equipment that are for walking movement from a chair. I used them and the next day my knees were in extreme pain. Presently I am experimenting with the LifePro vibration plate. 

One part of my hall that I walk for exercise.

Luckily I can use a computer and enjoy being on it. Whether I am working online or off there is something that I can always get into. So I am never bored at home or having to sit with my feet up for a period of time. I still try to get the walking into my day somehow. If I cannot walk outside that day, I will walk laps around my hall outside my apartment door. Then if I have to stop suddenly, I am right here. It is easier for me. I used to have a neighbor who would always tell me to walk outside or that I needed to get out because that is what he does. I would wonder why he thought I could do what he did when he saw I had to use a walker or a mobility chair? Yeah, if I could walk as well as he did I would most likely not be living here. 

My  Trusty Laptop!

For many senior citizens (and disabled people) who live here and don't know or want to know how to use a computer or at least go online with their phones, life can be pretty hard. Being able to go online to do all my banking, paying my bills, ordering my supplies and buying groceries that are delivered to me makes life easy for me without a car. Do those things cost me extra money? Of course! I pay for convenience instead of the high price of owning a car. I put all those expenses into my monthly budget and never go over it. If I know something is going to be due I plan for it. If I know I am going to have to replace something soon I start saving money for it in my budget. 

Not that hard to learn how to use a computer!

If someone tells me something they heard which is causing fear among the residents here I just check it out online. Usually it is a rumor. Instead of stressing over something I have heard, finding the truth out keeps my life free of worrying and stressing. I do not watch or listen to mainstream news. They do not have any credibility and that is what the people who live here watch. They will say, "CNN said...........I roll my eyes and say,"lies and propaganda". Time for everyone to learn how to do things online and to free their own lives up. Especially as they get older. I feel sorry for them but it is like the time people had to give up their horses for the automobile. Or the radio for the television. Some stayed behind and had a harder time of it. For me my day starts every morning with a cup of coffee and my laptop..........

Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

My Life Had To Change

An Aframe I saw in my travels

Lately I have been watching a video channel that is about a younger woman who has a lot of adventures. Building an awesome Aframe cabin on a remote property she bought. Setting up a wall tent and camping out alone. No fear of wild animals in the thick forest around her. No fear of going out on the huge lake that borders her property by herself. Clearing the land for the camp and the cabin as a surprise for her husband. I appreciate the fact that she films her walks in the forest as she discovers what is on her new property. She does it all with enthusiasm and skills for the various jobs needed. Yes, I envy her. Wishing I had been more like her. Maybe that is why I find myself watching videos about women living off the grid or exploring remote areas. 

With my brother and holding a doll

The fact is that I was never a "tomboy" type of girl. I don't know if I would have been capable of doing physical jobs that involved skills I see as male jobs. I never attempted them. I was not a brave type of girl or woman even after I grew up. As a little girl I played with dolls and I had a lot of them. Dolls and books were my favorite things back then. In fact, I learned to read and write before I even started school. I always liked the outdoors though. Especially the forest. When I lived in Florida as a child, I made a hut out of palmettos that would stay dry even in a storm. I wrote stories and made books out of onion skin paper. The hut was called "Africa" and my friend, Cindy and I would be in there writing our books to take to school. At that age the thought of snakes in the hut never crossed my mind! Now it would. 

Peaceful Forest

Even though I have lived in various places through out my life the one that stands out the most to me now is my last home. Peaceful Forest. My off the grid homestead that was in the middle of the state forest. It was very peaceful. If I had it to do over again would I? Absolutely! I think it would have been easier for me as I got older, if instead of living in the house, I had a tiny house or a camper to live in. I craved my own bedroom, a private space for me. I felt there was no room for me there. It was dusty from wood stoves and firewood being brought in. I was not comfortable when the wood stoves made it too hot. In the middle of the night I would get so hot I would go outside and sit on the porch to cool off.

Conifer Bug aka "Stink Bug"

Then there was the problem of "conifer" bugs or "stink bugs" and mice. They were everywhere! In the fall the bugs would come in on schedule in September. Hibernate through out the house. Then if the house got too warm from the stoves, out they would come. Dropping down from the ceiling right next to me! I would smell them before I would see them. The mice was another constant problem. Even with four cats who killed them regularly. They were in areas of the house where the cats could not go. I could not set up my kitchen and pantry the way I wanted it due to the mice. They would get into my dishes, silverware, pots and pans, etc. They did not get into the food so much but I did protect it by putting it in containers that they could not access. This alone wore on my nerves. I felt like they were making me go crazy. 

Batteries

Another thing that bothered me and maybe I was wrong about this. It was the batteries for the off the grid electric system. For years they were on the floor in the living room. In the main living area of our house. Where we spent a good many hours on the computer. I even ended up sleeping on the couch there right next to them. The big wood stove was within feet of the battery bank! Opening it to add wood while the batteries are letting off gases while charging. Scared me constantly that it was not a safe way to live. Also the wood stoves didn't always feel safe to me either. That is the main reason I started sleeping downstairs on the couch. So I could keep an eye on them during the night. 

My home for 7 years now!

These reasons along with my mobility issues are why I left that home and life. My life had to change. Giving up living in the forest was easier once I knew my cat had been killed by a bear. It still bothers me to this day. Nine years ago. At this time in my life I am content to watch the videos about others having adventures and building remote homes. It is not something I could have done anyway. Though I also enjoy watching videos about traveling and living in other locations I would not want to do that either. Maybe I am a "homebody" preferring to be in my own home. I am not sad about it because there are plenty of things I do. Being an introvert makes living alone easy. I like making my own choices on what I will do each day. 

 

Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole