Gotta Stay Active

I had been playing ice hockey for over 30 years but thanks to Covid and scheduling conflicts I sat out last season and am sitting out this one. At my age that could mean the end of my ice-skating days which makes me sad as it was one of my favorite activities. I love the game, and my team is made up of a great group of guys. Tough to let that go and I’m trying to get motivated to get up early on Sundays to play roller hockey with another good group to get my hockey fix and get back into skating shape.

Thankfully I still have a lot of other things to keep my body and mind busy. Spring and summer bring softball – out team is not very good, but like my hockey team, it is made up of a great group of guys who support each other win or lose. That positivity makes it fun to play no matter the outcome. And heading to our sponsor’s pub after games is a nice reward.

Disc golf is a major part of that time of year too. Didn’t get out as much this year though due to less motivation to do yet another activity by myself. I did have the pleasure of introducing a friend to the sport and watching him catch on quickly for a fun round. Also got to coach another friend who was new to the sport on one of the nicest courses in the area – Tinicum Park in PA. That and a stop at a disc golf store got me thinking about the potential to give disc golf lessons which would provide me the opportunity to combine teaching with a sport I love. I’ll be looking into that more over the winter to see what I can make happen come spring. Yet another possibility I would never have thought of without those encounters – gotta keep your mind open.

I’ve written before about cycling, and that too was curtailed a bit this year as my riding partner and I haven’t been able to connect as much as last year. Still riding a couple of times a week at least, though Hurricane Ida did a job on the D&R Canal near me so I’ll be sticking to the road for the most part. Hoping to get a few more rides on Columbia Trail as long as the weather cooperates. That’s still one of my favorite trails in NJ.

In addition to the physical activities I keep my brain busy too. As an advisory volunteer for a local cancer support organization it’s been rewarding to help them develop a web-based system to enable more people to be part of the organization. I’ve also been preparing for training with Productively Funny, combining facilitation, coaching, teaching, and improv to help others improve how they communicate and work, while stretching my comfort zone. And of course blogging and all that goes with it have helped keep my brain busy.

A wide range of physical and mental activities is important at any age, and especially important as we re-invent ourselves in the next phase of life that isn’t your grandfather’s retirement. It’s also important for kids to help them develop into well-rounded, functional adults. Too many kids are forced into a single activity year-round, which may help them excel at that activity, but at the expense of their overall development. It is through varied activities and experiences that we benefit the most – at all ages – so stay active, try new things, and never stop learning and growing.