69th Update!

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2024, Uncategorized

This is it folks – I turned sixty nine years old yesterday.   In one short year,  I am going to hit my seventies and I am going in as prepared as I can be,  for whatever lies ahead!

This is what I am starting with.
From where I was last year…
And the year before…
And this one was taken in late 2019, four months before I retired.  I felt every bit as terrible as I looked. (Even Cason seems concerned. šŸ™„)

Anyway, you get the idea.  I’m not (just) getting older.   I am getting better.   I have put in the work and I am feeling infinitely better – body, mind, and soul.

The first step I took to better health was to retire.  I needed to remove myself from a toxic environment and spend some time resting and healing.    That helped, but by February of 2022 I realized that I needed to do more – way more.

I gradually became more active and ultimately started doing morning aerobics on a regular basis.  Eventually, I added evening  strength training with lightweight dumbbells.   When I struggled with physical setbacks last year, I stepped back on the aerobics and weights and stepped up on  reading and meditation.

So far, this year has been full steam ahead.  I have upped the morning aerobics and added back the weights on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.  This week, I bumped up the weights to ten pounders, thanks to my birthday present from Dan.

I have continued meditating daily as part of my late evening/bedtime routine. 

Last night, I added a new habit to my health and wellness journey.  For the first time EVER I started ‘journaling’ before I start my meditation.  I have often read that journaling is very therapeutic and offers many benefits for mental and emotional health.   This seems as good a time as ever to give it a shot and I am super excited to see how it goes for me. šŸ‘

As much as I have worked hard to get where I am, and am determined to work even harder moving forward… I have hardly done it alone!  I cannot be more grateful for all of the support and encouragement I have received since I began this health and wellness journey.   To everyone – my husband Dan, my family, my friends (online and and off), my online family (Dwight, Jackie, & Barb) THANK YOU!   Without you, I would not be where I am today, living my life as I am, and totally excited about my future. ā˜ŗļø

The orchid Dan gave me for Valentine’s Day.Ā  Ā  ‘THEY‘ said it would only bloom once a year – but look at it now.Ā Ā  Just like ‘THEY’ said it’s all downhill after 40.Ā Ā  šŸ˜‚

Take care and have a great day! šŸ’žšŸŒž

47 thoughts on “69th Update!”

  3. Happy Birthday! I donā€™t think you look terrible in that picture but I get that you likely felt tired and ā€œnot with itā€ at the time. I have been following your journey without saying much, but I have been very impressed with your progress, even while you were healing from that doggy tumble. šŸ¦® Hereā€™s to many more happy, healthy years!

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  5. Happy Birthday, Anne! You look “marvelous” which was my long-time friend’s word of choice and I can still hear him saying it! You can see how much work you have put into your health and well-being. I have to agree with Back Roads–our 70 is not the same as our grandparents. You are doing the work and now you reap the benefits! And, journaling is a great addition! I am a firm believer in its benefits, too!

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  9. Thank you! I looked and felt terrible but it pushed me to live my life on a better path so I could feel so much better now. For that I am grateful. I was lucky to heal so quickly from my collision with Molly. And really lucky that my husband has taken over the dogpark duty with Molly. šŸ’žā˜ŗļø

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  15. Every day I have the privilege of a front row seat of watching you focus on making yourself who YOU want to be. I see the daily actions and the blood, sweat, and tears figuratively that come with growth. Advancements, setbacks, and struggles all ebbing and flowing. At the end of the week it all goes into the recipe of being the best you. Itā€™s real, raw, and beyond amazing! Right on, Anneā¤ļø

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  26. Belated Happy Birthday, Annemarie! Never mind 70 – concentrate on enjoying 69. Keep up the good work. You’re going to be around for a long time šŸ˜Š

    Paul (83). Betty (80 )

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  27. Thank you Paul and Betty. I do what I can to enjoy every day as I go. You are probably right, longevity is a thing in my family. I just want those years to be quality ones. šŸ¤ž

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  35. Happy birthday Anne! What a transformation, you look fantastic and I know how much better you feel too! What a testament to all you are doing to head into the future with your health so much better. You are such an inspiration, thank you for sharing! Sending warm hugs your way on this special birthday weekend! šŸ’ž

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  36. What I appreciate the most from this series of pictures is that you keep looking better, but you still look like you! That is refreshing as so many people now photoshop and filter their posts giving us a fantasy that we will look 35 again! I just want to be the fittest 77 year old I can be.

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  37. Thank you, Elizabeth! I don’t want to be or look 35. I want to look at healthy and strong as I can be at every age. It annoys me that young people are encouraged to fear aging or to believe that ‘age related’ health issues are inevitable. We are all going to die eventually, but we shouldn’t spend our entire lives worrying about it. šŸ™„šŸ’ž

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  38. Thank you, Diana. I feel really good. I was just at my respiratory specialist’s to get the result of a test I had done last week. In the past year, I have gone from 75 percent lung function to 78 percent, so YAY. If I can reach 80 percent, I go from moderate COPD to mild. šŸ˜Š

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  41. I’ll be 70 in 11 days. Meditation is an essential part of my routine, and exercise. To keep my mind busy, I’ve been studying Japanese. There’s a lot more I could do, but I prefer being a hermit due to the distractions of social life. Drawing sometimes.

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  42. Happy Birthday. Other than my husband and my dog, I spend most of my time alone. After decades of never getting two minutes to myself, I cherish my ‘me’ time. Your life sounds healthy, fulfilling, and all around charming.

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  43. I think so. But it is at the same time lonely, dysfunctional, and frustrating. But it is the path I deliberately chose for myself, and I am satisfied with it, there is nothing else I need to search for. I can play the game of life now, with no biological imperatives, with a firm understanding of morality and purpose.

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  46. We are ok! I know it’s been forever. Just one thing after another. Between Dan retiring, me being healthier and working out more than ever, getting things done around here – a couple of major projects to get done before Christmas. And Molly! I’m still trying to finish a book I got in July. šŸ¤¦ Thank you for asking. I will try to post something one of these days. I hope all is well with you. I’m sure it will be a difficult holiday season for you and your sister. Maybe this year she will be able to come to spend some time with you?

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  47. That’s good news! I’m glad that you are staying so busy, always good for the mind and body. It will be difficult this month, we are having Christmas soon, in a week or so due to how things are happening.

    My sister Linda has done a ton of work taking care of what has to be done with the estate, amazing. We talked about her coming back to visit me but I told her to not bring COVID next time! Be well, Anne Marie!

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