Experience Teaches

Experience is supposed to teach.

Sometimes it does. Sometimes not so much.

There are many of us aged ones (aka ancient) who have learned things the hard way. The good part is supposed to be you share your ill-gained experiences for the benefit of others.

As I have struggled through the years with a double knee replacement and the ensuing therapy, two torn hip surgeries and the resulting bajillion therapy sessions, neck and spine maladies and the treatments to adjust or help heal those ailments, I have had the opportunity to be coached by wonderful therapists.

We have a lovely physical therapist who comes here to the old people place to help heal our ailments and alter our conditions so we may move more efficiently and safely with less pain.  At the end of one of the latest sessions, I showed Payal my routine in the swimming pool.

Most of what I do is the result of swim therapy in Thomaston. Some advice is from the famous Dr. Google. All in all other than some postural sloppiness, I was doing what she would suggest herself.

Hence, the upcoming coaching session and bulletin board. We have a pool, and the ladies were told I knew what I was doing and suggested I give a class.

Know what I’m doing? Yeah. Maybe. I’ll give advice with very strong caveats that I only know this little and wouldn’t know this much except for being a total doofus. And growing old I guess is a factor. I listed an overall routine which I will demonstrate a few times. Hopefully, it will be enough. Unless I’m alone in the pool, the noise level makes me crazy – crazier.

Anyway.

This isn’t the only experience I have had with having to do tough things after being energetic, trying too hard, or trying to help or give something to someone who wasn’t interested.

Funny story … At a family wedding, the kids were sitting at a separate table for the meal. As Josie was one of the youngest among them, I tried to help her cut up the large piece of chicken. She let me know very quickly, ‘I’m a big girl, I can do this myself!’

All righty, then, Miss Priss!  Mercy that girl is so spicy – like her mama. Spicy and adorable! Love that kid!

The problem was, I was more concerned with her pretty white dress rather than her feelings to fit in with the older kids and exert her independence.

Perspective – I’ve blogged and journaled about it many times. We often walk a tight rope or on egg shells to not upset someone else’s perspective of ‘right’ or ‘appropriate.’

Ain’t it a cryin’ shame? You’d think by the time I’m as old as I am, I could get things right!

Not.

But there are a few things I do know that will get me by even when I am a screw up.

Isaiah 41:10 says not to fear or be dismayed because God will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me. 1 John 4:15-188 assures me that abiding in Christ can know God’s Spirit lives in me. Philippians 4:6-7 says the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind. Romans 15:4 says that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures I can have hope.