Aches and Pains

When I was a kid — and perhaps all the way up through being a university student — I always thought it was interesting how those I viewed as ”old people” seemed to be eternally complaining about their aches and pains.

Which isn't to say that I didn't appreciate aches and pains. After all, I was a long distance runner and I knew all about aches and pains following running in a competitive 10K race on a hot and humid morning in Austin TX.

But the complaints from my elders seemed a little more generalized and random, not as a result of doing something specific that required a lot of exertion.

Turns out that these several decades later then I have a much greater appreciation for aches and pains that seem to arise out of absolutely nowhere. Sometimes they are quite debilitating and I absolutely cannot put my finger on why my shin is suddenly hurting, or my shoulder is certainly hurting... even though I have had no recent injury to either.

I guess it's a pretty universal truth that we all end up going into what I tend to think of as ”the maintenance years” where these carbon suits we're borrowing for a lifetime start to experience a few problems and setbacks.

What made me think about this was the fact that this afternoon I wanted to get outside and use what might be the last warm and dry day until probably March to mow some of the longest patches of the lawn, and gather up some of the branches that have fallen from recent storms.

As it turned out, the universe seemed to want different things because when I stood up I had a strange pain in my shoulder and in my lower back even though I haven't lifted anything heavy for quite a while.

Maybe it was just the universe's way of telling me to sit down because now that it is late at night and pitch black outside I'm actually feeling fine but the opportunity to get the work done outside is long gone!

I guess we just have to be prepared to work with what we have available, when it's available!

The thing I find slightly ironic in the entire equation is that there ultimately doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference between people who are very fit and have worked out all their life and people who haven't. Yes there's definitely difference in terms of stamina and not running out of breath but some of the fittest people I know also experience these sudden random pains whether from a bit of arthritis, or old injuries from misspent youth coming back to remind us that something did happen, once upon a time.

Not that I'm complaining mind you. Thankfully I am in better health than most people (touching wood) and I'm grateful for that.

And I'm learning to just be patient and that there will be another opportunity too cut that shaggy grass!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Friday!

How about YOU? Have you — especially if you are over 50 — noticed any arbitrary and random body aches, as you have aged? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2026.11.13 01:07 PDT
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