I feel you. Stretching was always part of my pregame warmup (who could forget those idyllic afternoons in the GSC outfield?) but now my 30-year-old self has to dedicate an extra 30 minutes before every pickup basketball game or golf outing just to make sure all of the screws are tightened. Hell, I pulled my hamstring running to first base in an adult baseball league last summer and missed multiple games ... not to mention grounding into an inning-ending double play to literally add insult to injury. If I ever made it to the big leagues, fans of my team would quickly turn on me as the "injury-prone guy."
God we took those stretching circles for granted, all those cat-dog-frog-seal's we did. Yeah if I don't stretch before playing sports, it's over for me now, and even sometimes when I do stretch lol
Love the way you have chosen to look at the enforced layoff - similar to the legendary recuperation Bob Dylan had after a motorcycle accident in 1966. Burnt out from five years of touring, he took the opportunity to get out of the rat race and heal physically and emotionally, after which came a new period of heightened creativity and some classic songs. You've heard me talk often enough of the baseball injury that left me with three torn ligaments and trapped me on a couch I couldn't escape from when my writing partner came over. By the time I healed up we had two scripts written and I was making the transition from acting to writing. That was almost 40 years ago and I've had to do yoga regularly ever since to keep the leg flexible and my back in alignment. The silver lining is that I have the flexibility and balance of an adolescent lemur.
Like everyone, you are coming to an accommodation with your body, ask your parents and everyone else who's at least 10 years older than you about this, and you'll probably get the same answers. We all get daily reminders that we're not the guy/gal we were previously. If we listen to those warnings, the chances that we do ourselves some real harm decline. If not, well your essay illustrates the outcome. The lesson is to listen, to our bodies, our elders and medical experts. Learn to take the same pleasure from activities that don't over stress our joints and muscles, and treat ourselves a little less roughly with each decade. A little prevention will yield a better life as a senior citizen. Besides, as I've said many times: "You're only young once, but you can be immature indefinitely."
Great piece! Years ago when I was a long distance runner in law school and almost a decade afterwards, I stretched religiously and carefully monitored things. Still, between football, baseball and basketball prior to those days, it was too late and things started breaking down and haven’t stopped. The lessons you describe are important and should be taught in kindergarten before you fly off the monkey bars into the tether ball pole. Good on ya! Take care of that back!
I feel you. Stretching was always part of my pregame warmup (who could forget those idyllic afternoons in the GSC outfield?) but now my 30-year-old self has to dedicate an extra 30 minutes before every pickup basketball game or golf outing just to make sure all of the screws are tightened. Hell, I pulled my hamstring running to first base in an adult baseball league last summer and missed multiple games ... not to mention grounding into an inning-ending double play to literally add insult to injury. If I ever made it to the big leagues, fans of my team would quickly turn on me as the "injury-prone guy."
Welp, time to get my peaceful warrior on...
God we took those stretching circles for granted, all those cat-dog-frog-seal's we did. Yeah if I don't stretch before playing sports, it's over for me now, and even sometimes when I do stretch lol
Love the way you have chosen to look at the enforced layoff - similar to the legendary recuperation Bob Dylan had after a motorcycle accident in 1966. Burnt out from five years of touring, he took the opportunity to get out of the rat race and heal physically and emotionally, after which came a new period of heightened creativity and some classic songs. You've heard me talk often enough of the baseball injury that left me with three torn ligaments and trapped me on a couch I couldn't escape from when my writing partner came over. By the time I healed up we had two scripts written and I was making the transition from acting to writing. That was almost 40 years ago and I've had to do yoga regularly ever since to keep the leg flexible and my back in alignment. The silver lining is that I have the flexibility and balance of an adolescent lemur.
I wish I could give you more shit but you really are pretty damn flexible for someone born during the Truman administration
Just keep moving. If you can't run, walk
If you can't walk, take up mountain biking.
Inertia is a powerful force!
Oh, right, like you’ve been on a mountain bike.
Well. I've been on a mountain and I've ridden a bike. Does that count?
I think I just pulled something by reading this.
Maybe I should start putting a legal disclaimer that I'm not liable for any reading injuries...
Ha ha, good idea!
Like everyone, you are coming to an accommodation with your body, ask your parents and everyone else who's at least 10 years older than you about this, and you'll probably get the same answers. We all get daily reminders that we're not the guy/gal we were previously. If we listen to those warnings, the chances that we do ourselves some real harm decline. If not, well your essay illustrates the outcome. The lesson is to listen, to our bodies, our elders and medical experts. Learn to take the same pleasure from activities that don't over stress our joints and muscles, and treat ourselves a little less roughly with each decade. A little prevention will yield a better life as a senior citizen. Besides, as I've said many times: "You're only young once, but you can be immature indefinitely."
Great advice throughout!
Great piece! Years ago when I was a long distance runner in law school and almost a decade afterwards, I stretched religiously and carefully monitored things. Still, between football, baseball and basketball prior to those days, it was too late and things started breaking down and haven’t stopped. The lessons you describe are important and should be taught in kindergarten before you fly off the monkey bars into the tether ball pole. Good on ya! Take care of that back!