I’m a Woman In My 50s. What Self-Care Looks Like For Me & My Aging Body.
We live in a fast-paced, demanding world that consumes our time and energy. It can be exhausting, and we all need self-care to nurture our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
For me, caring for myself has never been more at the top of my mind.
I’m 52 years old, and three months ago, I found myself struggling to walk without pain and suffering from stiffness that made it difficult to do simple things like get out of a chair or walk up even a few stairs.
I’d known for a long time this time might be coming. My right hip had been bothering me for years. I’d had painful bouts of bursitis that would eventually ease, various doctor visits where I complained of pain when walking, and x-rays of my right hip to make sure nothing was wrong with my bones. In all that time, no one but me seemed to think it was that big a deal. I was told the x-rays were fine and that I should take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce the painful swelling.
But over time, it kept getting worse.
The distance I could hike (my favorite outdoor activity) shortened year by year until I could barely last a mile before the pain made it too difficult to continue. And getting on and off my e-bike (another favorite outdoor activity)…