I heard an interview on NPR recently and in it the man stated that people do not picture themselves at their actual age. The man was 80something and he pictures himself still in his 20's. He still responds to things as if he has a twenty year old body only to be sometimes rudely reminded by the body that his in NOT 20.

I still see myself in my late 20's/early 30's. Whenever I have to give my age it feels like I am in the twilight zone. Like, wow dude, I am really 45.....when did that happen?

Lately though, my body has been acting its age and I do not appreciate it one bit. Hot flashes suck. (And I have had them for YEARS thanks to infertility meds and then surgery.) They especially suck in South Louisiana where the humidity is usually about 207%. Now when I fall or otherwise hurt myself doing something foolish (like rollerblading, yard work, or going into the attic) some part of the injury seems to be permanent. That is just rude.

As a teen I had to wear an ugly brace for scoliosis and then eventually had surgery for it while in college. For about two weeks my neck has been screaming at me from the opposite side than usually talks when I overdo things. After trying all my usual tricks of anti-inflammatories, stretching, yoga, and changed sleep positions I emailed my massage therapist friend to beg for help.

Getting old sucks, but tonight I am glad that I have a body that talks to me. I spent over an hour having all the kinks worked on while lying on a warm table, listening to soothing music, in a comfortable dimly lit room. I knew it was needed when tears started falling out of my eyes from the sheer relief of the tension, physical/emotional/spiritual, being kneaded out of me.