By LIZ MARCHI
Maintenance has never been a sexy concept for me. I like startups, building, remodeling. As I age, all of that is changing. Maintenance is EVERYTHING.
There is no cheating on the exercise, diet or wine consumption without significant consequences. Suddenly “staying in the game” is my new aspiration. That means work and maintenance. It’s no longer a when I have time or feel like effort. Every day is maintenance.
I am starting to feel differently about my house and yard. What used to seem glorious fun, pulling weeds, mowing, sawing limbs now is starting to deplete my reservoir of back strength. (Which I really want to save for golf swings and picking up grandchildren).
When I was younger, I was sure by the time I got old; there would be a fix for all of those worn out body parts or baggy skin. Yes, there are some fixes but they aren’t like the real thing taken care of well.
Requires Maintenance
I cheated on sleep for 30 years. Burning the candle at both ends for work and family. Happily, sleep has returned and I love nothing more than sleeping 8 or 9 hours a night. It’s essential to well being.
Yes, I want to “stay in the game” but it’s a different game than I have always played and winning is a very different reward. Self-care would transform our society. Early is better but it’s never too late. If we maintained our body, mind and spirit, it would be transformational.
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature; beautiful old people are works of art. If I am lucky, I will maintenance every day, stay in the game and find that place special joy in age and having lived well with purpose and MAINTENANCE.
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Liz Marchi lives on a ranch in Polson, Montana with her husband Jon. She is the Fund Coordinator for the Frontier Angel Fund and spends a lot of time thinking and learning about entrepreneurs, the economy and Montana’s unique place in the world. She has three daughters and a stepson and daughter and a grandchild. She graduated from Hollins College and is entering the final quarter of life…unless we go into overtime.