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💬 [B]old Women: I promised you I’d take a pause, then I went to Japan
I thought I could “fake” being rested
After dramatically calling on all [b]old women to pause and take time off over the holidays, I got on a plane (several planes, actually) and flew 14 hours to Japan. It was a wonderful trip, so eye-opening in so many ways, but… it was not a pause. At all.
If the distance and dramatic time difference were not enough, both my husband and I returned home with what seems to be the Japanese flu; two weeks later, we’re not fully recovered. So not only am I not restored after this “break,” I’m depleted (like you are after being really sick), and feeling a bit sorry for myself. If you’re thinking of saying, “I told you so,” it’s not necessary. I am hearing that message loud and clear already.
In my defense, I knew that a trip to Japan probably wasn’t the best way to rest, but I thought taking a break from writing and publishing might be pause enough. And, if I’m being totally honest, I thought that maybe I could fake being rested, and that you–and I–wouldn’t notice.
What’s more, I didn’t want to consider how overseas travel is much more tiring and taxing on an aging body than a youthful one. Has this experience taught me to be more realistic about long-distance travel? Is my New Year’s resolution to be more honest and realistic with myself—and you? I don’t know yet, but more about traveling and old age in an upcoming post. In the meantime…
MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU:
Do you need to schedule more rest in your life, as you get older?
Are traveling and resting incompatible, as you age?
My answers to your questions ... YES and NO. Yes, we need more rest as we age and I am a big fan of siestas in the afternoon. No, traveling and resting are not incompatible but traveling must be done in a new and improved way. For example, I am traveling to Norway next month (my favorite place to go) and I have built in a night at the wonderful Radison Blu right at the airport in Oslo where I will spend my first night after I land. It helps me to get over some of the jetlag before going to friends and trying to join their schedule. I do this the night before I fly home as well. This is also convenient because then I am not inconveniencing hosts (assuming one is staying with friends or family) with an early morning trip to the airport or trying to figure out how and when to get from downtown Oslo to the airport. I love staying with friends and family all over the country and it is frankly a privilege but I always build in a couple of nights at a hotel where I can be on my own schedule and be quiet and to myself!
My mother in law traveled the world after retiring at the young age of 59. Every year, she and her husband took a couple of overseas trips. She is now 86 and caring for her husband who has dementia. Those travels are now cherished memories of better times. So I say do it while you can... travel and see the world... meet new people and eat great food.