Every Thursday evening Sam and I go country dancing. The majority of the people there are older than us, and they are quite a lively bunch.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been getting to know them, and through chatting I’ve discovered that most of them have some sort of disability. One lady has bad arthritis and walks with a stick, another chap has Parkinson’s disease, and another is visually impaired with Stargardt’s disease. There are ladies with osteoporosis, and so on.
However, none of these people let their disability get in the way of dancing and having an enjoyable evening. The lady with arthritis puts her stick down and dances for as long as she is able to. The chap with Parkinson’s also does his best. Nobody is miserable or whines about their ailments.
When speaking to the chap with Stargardt’s, he summed it all up. He said that yes as we age then it’s likely the body will get something wrong with it, but it’s how we cope with our disability that is important. We can either give up, sit at home and wait to die, or get out there and do something enjoyable to take our minds away from illness.
He’s right. Some leave early because of the frailty of their bodies, but hey, they’ve had the courage to turn up in the first place and have a go! They’re keeping it all moving, and are happy while they’re doing it. I’m learning a lot from my country dancing companions, and it’s all good.
Unfortunately we’ve got to miss this Thursday’s session as we’ll be at the van. Even Sam feels the benefit on his weaker leg that suffered an Achilles’ rupture, and surprisingly enough he’s really enjoying the exercise.
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Thanks for the link-up!
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The Who before they were the Who. Gotta Dance to keep from Cryin’!
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Lol, they look so young!
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Good for you and Sam! And good for those who push themselves to keep active! Enjoy ‘the van’ 🙂 x
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Arrived earlier this morning. Just got the Internet going, but it keeps cutting out. Never mind – at least it’s working now!
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Lol, enjoy!
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How fun! I love to dance!! Your post made me happy!
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I love to dance too. I like ballroom dancing, but Sam has two left feet when it comes to waltzing etc.
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How wonderful that people do not let disabilities or old age stop them from enjoying life. I am so impressed and inspired. Dancing is good for the soul. Have a great trip to the Isle of Wight. xo
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Thanks Darlene. Finally off in ten minutes!
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A terrifically inspiring bunch of people Stevie. Dancing is indeed a joy no matter what your age or physical abilities.
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Enjoy the Island, Stevie. Glad it wasn’t you on that double decker bus – I feared for you when I heard that.
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Our friends who we’re meeting up with on Thursday were caught up in the traffic jam, but thankfully were not involved in the accident. No, we’re not there until tomorrow morning – staying overnight at Portsmouth today to avoid the M25 morning rush hour.
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I love this post, Stevie. I go to classes for the retirees. The poetry class has a member who is 94 years old and she is still writing new poems. I used to go to a chorale group but hasn’t gone for a year. One singer is in her late 80s. She used to be a ballet dance instructor. We have tap dance and other dance classes also.
All these classes are offered by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in the universities of 26 out of 50 States in the US.
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Great. Keep up the classes, Miriam!
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I will, Stevie. It’s easy to be lazy but I must keep up with the classes!
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Such a lovely post!
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Thanks Lucy.
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I’m not a dancer, but a friend of mine is one of those people who has an accordion, a head full of tunes and dances, and she can just make an evening so much fun that even I get dragged out onto the floor 🙂
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Dancing is great fun, especially if you’re musical like I am. I can’t sing anymore, but at least I can still dance.
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I am doubly gifted, I can neither sing nor dance 🙂
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Lol!
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Wow that is so good to hear Stevie and so nice to give up all your aches and pains and simply dance and be yourself. Great post.
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Thanks. It’s a fun way to exercise.
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Yes absolutely true, Stevie.
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I enjoyed this post, Stevie. My mom is 80 and she is a cancer survivor but she is amazingly active. It really is good mentally and physically to be like that.
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Yep, we’ve got to keep it all moving as we get older. No good sitting in an armchair all day!
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Stevie, what fun! It’s always nice to meet a bunch of older people who are “raging against the dying of the light.” Hope you guys get there next week.
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We’re just about to go off for a few days’ break, but will definitely be there next week. It’s great fun.
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Love this post!💕
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Thanks Laura.
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