BOOMER FOUNDATION

or, HOW MY EIGHTY SIX YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW OUT-WALKS YOU

WALKING THE COOK PARK BUTTERFLY GARDEN

You’ve heard the saying “You can’t know someone until you’ve walked in their shoes.”

For Portland baby boomers it might be Birkenstocks with socks, which I like.

You walk in their footsteps.

Or take their path.

What’s it mean?

Your feet on the ground for the literalists in the crowd.

No matter what the reason, your feet on the ground defines you. From barefooting to mountain climbing boots, if your feet are on the ground you’re headed somewhere and your mental and physical characteristics improve.

When feet are the foundation, footings are key.

If you spend more time on your seat than your feet, then the foundation weakens.

The load grows heavier, too heavy for the foundation to support. Obesity, fallen arches, and energy loss follows.

Once you start rolling down that path, history kicks in. Your history. It fades deeper into the past when you remember what you used to do.

“I had the handles on the basketball court once.”

Now you can’t jump enough to touch the net.

“I used to lift weights.”

Now you lift a fork.

“I used to do things with friends.”

Now your friends are the charge nurse at the clinic check-in, the pharmacist filling your prescriptions, and the ‘counselor’ at the Jenny Craig storefront. You bond with them because you see them more often than anyone else.

Foundation work is hard and dirty. It’s uncomfortable. But it is a life saver.

My MIL (mother-in-law) served in the English Navy during WWII. She’s lasted through two husbands and runs a business empire.

Every morning she clocks time on a treadmill. She gets it, and you can too.

Go ahead and stand up to start. Move one foot. Now the other.

Repeat.

Where do you go? Check on portlandhikers.org.

Browse through traillink.com.

Everytrail.com has what you need.

After a nice walk, find your desk and follow the same routine to write.

One word.

Then another.

Let me know how it works out and I’ll post your boomer hiking adventure on boomerpdx.

Remember, my readers are better boomers. Now prove it.

This post is doctor approved!