Month: February 2025

“I hope I can run like you when I am your age” was a comment directed to me during a 10K race almost 30 years ago. I admit that my salt and pepper hair suggested I was older than the 20- something who was about to pass me on a steep uphill. I hesitated for a moment and then responded, “I hope you can too!”

I have been fortunate to know many active older people in my life. When I was a member of my North Carolina track club, I enjoyed how we encouraged each other as we got older and moved into new age categories for races. I was always impressed by the energy and enthusiasm for running of a woman who was 15 years older than me, Martha Klopfer. Last year she won the 2024 1500-meter Masters race for women 85-89. Associating with people who remain active into their later years seems normal to me.

I had another experience related to age on our recent hiking trip to Patagonia (see photo). Several of us were approaching or into our 70’s. (I was the oldest). We were going down a particularly steep crowded section of the trail headed to Gray Glacier. Because of the rocky wet path, hikers were kindly waiting to take their turn going either up or down. A young man with a distinct European accent waited patiently and then said to one of our folks, “Can I ask you how old you are?” Kathy looked up at him for a moment, and said, “70.” His response was “Wow!”

Not everyone in our small group of travelers was “older.” However, two fellow travelers remarked to me that their mothers (women of my age) could never do the trip we were doing.

I do not think it is unusual that people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s are able to run races and hike mountains. If that is a part of their lives when younger, it can remain an important part of life. Afterall, as the commercial says on TV, “Age is only a number.”  Living a healthy life impels us into the future. I cannot control how much longer I will be able to be physically active, but I hope I will continue to encounter active folks regardless of their age. I will not let an old lady live in my body or mind.

When I was a little girl, I often felt anxious. My mom always told me to take deep breaths before I began whatever it was I was fearing. That advice has guided me for decades. As I age and confront issues I have with asthma, I am more cognizant of breathing than ever before.

My mom was on to something when she advised about deep and intentional breathing. Researchers have found that breathing is the way to calm one’s mind. Helen Lavretsky, a geriatric integrative psychiatrist admonished that breathing is an immediate tool available to human beings to regulate emotions. I often remind myself about how important it is to “just breathe.” It can influence how I think and feel.

I have had more issues with breathing in the past two years. My exercise induced asthma, which was once easily controlled with an inhaler, is slower to respond. I am especially finding the cold and elevation hamper my breathing. Living where I live, I am concerned. Nevertheless, I am exploring ways to enhance (and enjoy) my breath.

I practice breathing better. For example, my posture helps. When I stand up straight, I feel more air coming into my lungs. In the wintry weather, breathing through my nose seems to filter and regulate the temperature of air going into my lungs. I try to relax into my breath by being as smooth as possible going in and out.

Breathing is something I have taken for granted much of my life. Of course, when I heavily exert, I recognize the increase. However, these days I am more mindful of what my breath is doing. Not only am I aware of my breathing during exertion, but I also use my yoga and meditation to slow down my breath. Research shows that most people breathe 12-20 times a minute. The “magic” number is 5-6 breaths per minute. I am striving for that rate.

My mom knew the importance of breathing when she helped me calm years ago. I understand better each day why that advice worked! I am grateful for every breath I take.

Grilled guinea pig? “Sure, I’ll try that.” I am audacious with food and enjoy trying new cuisines. I may try things once (such as the guinea pig in Peru) and never need to taste it again. Like most people, however, I have foods that I enjoy eating often– comfort foods.

Comfort food includes dishes that provide a sense of nostalgia and emotional satisfaction linked to personal or cultural memories. These foods are typically rich, hearty, and/or indulgent. Particularly in the winter months, comfort foods are heartening.

The foods my family of origin ate did not have ethnic significance since most people with whom I grew up were from homogenous white northern European backgrounds. I was lucky, however, to grow up with a mother who was “food adventurous.” She liked to serve casseroles and variations on how vegetables were cooked, especially the ones we experimented with from our garden such as brussels sprouts and parsnips. Although my dad insisted on a typical farmer’s diet of meat and potatoes, and reluctantly a vegetable or two, my mom was open to fixing menus with variety.

My Aunt Dorothy made the best kolaches in the world and although I don’t come across them often, they remind me of her. Fried chicken was often part of family reunions. My family raised sheep and was one of the few that ate lamb when I was growing up. I am conflicted about eating red meat, but when I enjoy a lamb dish, it brings back memories from growing up on my Iowa farm.

As I travel around the world, I am keen to learn about special foods from other cultures. For example, although not my favorite, Asian Indian comfort food often includes curry. Europeans may prefer the possibilities of pasta. In my recent trip to Chile, I loved sampling variations on empanadas. When I think about the months I spent in Türkiye, I long for kebabs. I loved the mommas in Nepal. Universal comfort foods around the world seem to include chocolate, ice cream, or fresh-baked bread.

My favorite comfort food today is pizza. I am not referring to the Chef Boy-Ar-Dee complete pizza boxes that I had growing up. Good pizza is always a treat whether celebrating something special and/or getting together with friends. Clearly, comfort foods are not necessarily about the taste as they are about the emotional connections.