Page 34 - Masala Lite Issue 160 April 2024

MUSINGS OF AN AUNTY VERY MUCH OVER 60
60 is Not the New 30

Dolly Koghar hints at the bumps awaiting around the corner from 60.

So, as a buddi, oldie, I’ll offer some tips which extra attention to the feet when you walk, jog or
could’ve made my transition smoother from 60 to Zumba; you’ll have occasional bursts of the two-
where I am now: left-feet syndrome, making you prone to tripping
over imaginary level differences and obstructions.
You’ll not bounce up and out of the sofa like before, Slow down all movements, even that of your hands,
now it’s a task heaving the derriere out of the ‘cause you don’t want to drop things below what
indentation; it’ll need focus. So, switch off the TV; your spine will allow you to bend till.
take a few deep breathes to synchronise the head,
lungs, heart, arms, and legs. Awaken the spine The point I’m trying to make is that science predicts
Along with the message wishing my daughter’s by clasping your hands over your head and then a maximum average healthy person’s
bestie her 60th, I sent a grimace emoji and quipped, stretching them towards the ceiling, pulling up lifespan as 83 for now, which amounts
“Life starts now.” She responded with, “Hahaha the upper body and torso, to just about 30,000 days. So, even if I
can’t agree with it,” to which I admitted that it was then to loosen-up, arms do live that long, at my present age of
a nice lie. The harsh reality is that sixty ain’t the still outstretched, twist 72, I’ve already blown most of it away,
beginning to anything, but rather, a decline in the the whole body side-to- mostly in negativity and fear.
abilities and agilities that once were the norm. side, smooth and easy. Now, I’m supposedly left
Before attempting to with 4,500 days at most,
Before I take you step by step down the challenges stand up, take another but you at 60 still have
awaiting you, the sliver of cheer is that you are deep breath, command double those many days.
amongst the fortunate 11 out of a hundred who’ve the bladder to wait, while
reached 60, with only eight still standing to make you slide your butt forward So, my sincere advice as one
it to 65. But statistics aren’t God, and you could a good six inches away from who’s been there, but didn’t do it
become the wrinkled and furrowed face featured the sofa edge and then, slow-and-steady, stand-up right is: put aside a substantial amount for your own
in the Guinness World Book of Records as the oldest and head towards the gusalkhana/loo. With this in health and retirement home, and throw everything
living person, although you, yourself, might be too mind, for your next car, opt for an SUV with wider else out – anger, regret, retaliation, accumulation
far gone to comprehend the hype. and higher seats rather than a sedan; the more and competition. Although there’s absolutely
luxurious, the more difficult to climb in and out of, nothing wrong with ambition and fun, the adage,
After 60, firstly, the shot in the arm you got from believe me! “stop to smell the flowers,” wasn’t a frivolous,
the din and the chaos of a ‘shop-till-you-drop’ passing comment, but weighty advice to live each
excursion, or from a drive to Ayutthaya or Pattaya If you’ve been a regular jogger and a fitness freak, moment fully, abundantly and joyfully. None of us
for lunch followed by “I could have danced all night,” keep it up, but no matter how many boot camps, are here forever, but during this short sojourn, let’s
at a club, is from another lifetime. Now it’s the detoxes, and diet programmes you adopt, it’s not stick our heads into our mobiles, but rather, look
driver (if you can afford one) to pick up medicines inevitable that the cool outfits you spent a bomb up and out at the amazing creation that was meant
or to the doctor, and Grab or Lazada for everything on will eventually look like they aren’t yours. But for us, as the only thinking, understanding and
else, with the occasional B12 shots for energy boosts. till that time, sweat it out in them, but do pay perceiving species.

MASAL A LITE ISSUE 160 - APRIL 2024