They say age is just a number but in truth it's also back pain, grey hair, wrinkles and any number of other age-related fuckassery that happens to come along. It's specific to the individual and some suffer worse than others; I'm no different and at fifty one...Well, I'm not 30 anymore y'all, let's just say that. Don't get me wrong, I'm rocking it, but I'm not as strong, fast, supple or resilient as I used to be. On the flipside I'm not as stupid, reckless or prideful and so I think it's reasonably balanced. I'm content...Have no other choice!
Overall I think I'm going ok and despite some issues like being diabetic, back issues from past dumbassery, a few wrinkles here and there and not being able to bench press 100kg anymore I'm in reasonable condition. What I have noticed over the last few years though is that my eyesight is diminishing; It gets in my way a little, I'll be honest.
I wear glasses to read my computer, mobile phone and reading books now although have very good long-vision. Anything up to an arms length as far as text goes though...It's a little blurry. So reading glasses...It doesn't impede me much although a hobby suffered.
I've been a shooter for more of my life than I have not starting at around the age of nineteen. For thirty one years I've been pulling triggers doing various activities and have sent many thousands of rounds downrange and been very good at it; Not immodesty, just fact. But a couple years ago my eyesight started making things more difficult; Shooting with eye problems? It's not legit.
Seeing the sights on a rifle or handgun is critical. Sure, there's a range at which one doesn't need to use them, but shooting inside a building at a target only a couple feet away isn't all there is to shooting. Generally one needs the sights or accuracy suffers. Yes red dots can help but are limited to certain situations...I had to find a different solution.
Over the last year or two I've had increasing trouble seeing the front sights on my hand guns clearly. Front-sight-focus is imperative to accurate fire and considering the sights are at arms length, right in the blurry-zone for me, I had to deal with it. The same went for the reticle in my rifles. You can see one above. That target you're looking at is at about 760m down range and being able to see the reticle [read: crosshairs] clearly is shot-critical. I had to get something done or my accuracy was going to suffer.
I saw my optometrist and after some dud advice decided a change was in order. I found a new one, not a franchise-group with fresh-out-of-university optometrists, but an independent business with very experienced operators and the process began...The expensive process I might add, although what choice did I have - Seeing is important.
I ended up with two new pairs of glasses and was lucky that my health insurance covered $1200AUD of the cost so I was only out of pocket $950. Yeah, still costly right?
For the first time I got prescription sunglasses - I only ever wear Oakley® sun glasses and I was pleased that they could create prescription lenses to replace the originals. I also need wrap around glasses to prevent possible foreign objects entering my eyes when I shoot so again, was really pleased this was possible.
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I had to purchase the Oakley® glasses then they popped the lenses out and inserted the prescription ones. Basically the lenses are non-prescription when I'm looking straight but when I drop my eyes I look through the prescription section; They're bi-focal. It means I can read with them but wear them all the time and drive with them on and so on also.
When shooting it's a little problematic though as I have to use the prescription portion, the lower third of the lens, to get a good clear sight-focus, so my head position is just a little higher [tilted back ever so slightly] than I would like to make that work however after shooting with them once it ceased to be a concern. They work perfectly and the head position doesn't worry me at all...I don't even notice.
I do a lot of run and gun shooting so being able to run around is quite important. With the bi-focal lenses I found it a little difficult at first because tilting my eyes down means I'm looking through the prescription part of the lens and anything further than arms length is distorted but I've learned to work around it and am now just as quick as before.
Getting old sucks really. I mean it's cool to have the experience, knowledge and wisdom gained over my years but the other stuff isn't so cool I suppose. Having said that it's something I can work around like with the glasses. Sure, I might not look young, be as strong or fit as the younger me however in most ways I'm the same man I was, probably better, and what I lack in brute force I pick up in experience; I like to think so anyway.
One thing that hasn't suffered though is my shooting. In fact I seem to just get better at it the longer I shoot; Certainly once my new Oakley® prescription sunglasses came along anyway. So...G-dog's still rocking it in all most ways y'all.
If you've had similar experiences as far as getting older and adapting to the changes, eyesight issues or even if you're young but have still had to adapt and overcome physical limitations let me know if the comments below - I'm interested to hear your story.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Discord: galenkp#9209
I'm right there with you on all aspects, just swap the shooting a rifle for shooting photos and painting. I'm four years older than you and had to wear glasses after I started working with computers beginning of the 90s. For convenience purpose I actually opted for contacts and have been wearing them ever since. Sure I also have glasses and had prescription sunnies, but contacts are just too convenient to me. I have been near sighted now for about 30 years and it got worse and worse, so eventually I had to get bi-focals as well. Luckily by now even contacts come as bifocals. But with age the difference between near and far sight got so big that I now have over the counter reading glasses with me all the time, just in case 😁. Still, it is somewhat inconvenient and costly, but the 'alternative' is so much worse.
Im glad you found a good optometrist and were able to adapt your lifestyle to wearing glasses.
Hmm, contact lenses...I must be odd because I can't seem to get them in...tries a few times and keep messing it up. Gave up.
I kept forgetting my reading glasses and ended up squinting all the time trying to read things at the supermarket and menus and things. Annoying. Now...I just drop the sunnies off my forehead and I'm gtg.
Of course I have to sometimes endure someone saying sarcastically, gee it's dark in here.
Sometimes I reply with something I won't repeat right now, and sometimes with, gee it's judgemental in here. Both of which come with my patented look of disdain.
Good day. A good and vital post, such a publication is easy and pleasant to read. I am also an aged man, my eyesight falls and of course wrinkles appear. I try to walk a lot, about 10-15 kilometers, I do this almost every day in any weather. My walks are a real cure for all diseases. One of the ancient thinkers said - Walking is the best healer. I unfortunately do not remember whose words these were. But it really helps me. Thank you so much for the interesting publication. I wish you good health and all the very best.
Walking is of such great benefit and with the amount you do I think you'd be quite fit and healthy. Nice work and thanks for your nice comment.
G-Dog is still lookin' sharp though!!
I'm turning 35 next month and I gotta say, I've never been in better shape before. But it isn't hard to say that given that in my late teens to late 20s I put my body THROUGH HELL and back! lol
I was not a good person in my 20s, was with the wrong crowds and had major substance abuse problems.
It was not until I had a child that I smartened up but even then was still on the bottle pretty hard. A couple of years ago only when I started getting into the fishing, hunting and outdoors is when I put the bottle away for good and started to exercise and improve not only my physical health but my mental & emotional health as well!
By the way, the handle I use "Outdoors Anonymous" is a play on words from "Alcoholics Anonymous" as I replaced one addiction with another. Except the one I have now is a lot healthier and better for the soul :)
Can't say what I'll be like in my 40s yet but that's fast approaching, only time will tell!
Hey mate, it sounds like you've had an interesting journey, like most of us, but maybe just different roads. What's good is you came through and made a few changes along the way. Good work. So many do not.
Your 40's will reflect some of those changes you made and will evolve commensurate to the efforts you put in...I have a suspicion they'll be fine.
Nice work on the name too, works well. ✅
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks mate appreciate the encouragement! 🤠
Personally, i hold a strong conviction that it's not age that leads to degenerating health, but the unhealthy choices we make over time. I also think that virtually all dis-ease is reversible by changing those choices and detoxing the body, and most importantly reprogramming the mind.
For example, yoga for the eyes and/or wearing pinhole glasses, urine therapy for the eyes, drinking wolfberry juice can all go toward restoring eyesight to 20/20 vision. It takes practice and patience, and being prepared to sit with the emotional discomfort which arises however, and most of us are not prepared to do what it takes, me included to some extent.
I'm happy to share more about this (not just eye stuff) on request.
Also, these words are only relative truth, ultimately no-thing is true.
Namaste
Atma
#naturalmedicine
This could be true for some I'd say, not all though.
My father died last year, at 84, after suffering from renal failure, cancer and dementia...He was the healthiest-living person I have ever met and was all his life. My mother died after a battle with cancer also and the same for her. Both never did drugs, drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes and ate well having grown most of their own food; Both were also quite spiritual and cared for their emotional well-being.
So...I think your statement certainly works for some but not others. Oh, my mother also went down the route of natural medicine and mind-over-matter practices for her cancer and died in intense agony, barely more than skin draped over her skeleton...So, it's not a method I'd personally use myself.
I appreciate there's some valid alternatives to traditional medicine out there and if they work for some that's great. Clearly not everyone benefits though.
Thanks for your point of view, and sorry for your loss.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Where to begin, I have worn glasses since grade school...I'm 66 now. I went to titanium framed glasses forty years ago, with transition (automatic sunglasses) lenses; with progressive lenses now. These are no line bifocals, that have a significant advantage. Depending on the part of the lens I use, the power is different, so my eyesight has actually improved! With the transition lenses protecting my eyes from UV, they are actually younger than I am, effectively. I also wear a hat for further protection.
Now, for the aches and pains...I treat a lot of age related problens with herbals and suppliments. In many ways, I am better off today than when I was 40. I used comfrey to promote healing, and naturally extracted vitamins for the raw materials. Inflammation is easily reduced with tumeric, which removes pain, and promotes healing. Comfrey actually reverses arthritis; and restores joints to original function.
Study, and outsmart the doctors, and live better! I shoot the 300 win mag on a shoulder the doctors told me would need replacing five years ago, after surgery. But it has healed instead, and is sturdy enough for full recoil. Never accept age related reductions, but rather reverse or bypass them. I plan to shoot heavy rifles long term, by maintaining, and enhancing, functions!
Never go easy, LOL!
♡♡♡♡I was really hoping to read that you are 70% bionic and have super human strength but alas that wasn't to be. Having good eyesight is a good secondary protocol though. You're a pretty active bloke and are a good example of what can be achieved with a little effort and research. Thanks for chiming in with your situation. You're a good example.
I never said I wasn't bionic....
I designed a bone growth stimulator in the mid 1980s, and it was the size of a suitcase, and plugged into the wall. After a car wreak, I was forced into a lower back fusion. They implanted a bone growth stimulator, about the size of a Zippo lighter in my back; that used my research waveforms! It's still there, LOL!
The fun part was when they tried to explain to me...how it worked!
But I carry enough steel, that I can't get through an airport metal detector that is functional. Often they are off....
I cheated a little on the glasses. I designed the equipment to cut eyeglass lenses; so my first pair, I cut in the R&D Lab.
:)>So you are the six million dollar man! 🤣
Yes, before they rebuilt him, ROFLOL! I sure wish they would finish the repairs....
I designed some equipment while I was sleeping last night. Solved a big design problem that has been bothering me.
I need to get out to the Range, and get refocused!
♡♡♡♡♡Range time always helps to focus the mind.
So true, and I need to fire that experimental black powder pistol....
We just the world's largest gun show last weekend, and I was so busy I forgot about it! I Really need that refocus, LOL!
:)>Absolutely agree with your assessment re: the pros and cons side of ageing. There's a wealth of good stuff such as being quick witted, sharp and acerbic enough to burn all in range knowing that you are likely right as opposed to the smart-ass of our youth who always 'thought' he was right.
That is of absolutely no utility on a cold morning when the bones are 'feelin' it' though and those weak points are suffering. I have always worn glasses due to double astigmatisms and lovelovelove the prescription sunglasses, they were a great choice, but as you say, they are not cheap. I struggle even with them sometimes but have noticed a blurring of my vision when my diet and lifestyle is not A1.
I researched this after opticians and Dr's repeatedly told me it is a natural part of ageing and found it can be due to slightly volatile blood sugar levels as like you I too am diabetic.
Don't be too hard on the 'old' G-dog, he ain't doing too bad at all, sharp. erudite, in shape, in fact, while there's just us here, be honest... Sometimes you look at some of the other 50 year old dudes and think Wow! Life's been tough on 'that dude', right?
C'mon, don't pretend it's just me! 😂
We all have this trait in common, we live and learn man! Wishing you and Faith a great new week 😎👍
I didn't know you're diabetic. I'm type-2 and take some pills...I don't inject anymore. Got it at the age of 39 and after I found out I became quite healthy and realised how bad I was actually feeling. I have a good diet and exercise a lot so it's all good. I hope you're managing it well also.
I do this at times, but never out loud. I take good care of myself, don't drink to excess or smoke at all, never took drugs, literally never other that prescription medication, and generally look after myself. The alternative doesn't seem so smart.
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Ah, the good and bad of getting older. But, until there is a way to reliably stay younger, it beats the alternative of not getting any older.
I tend to agree with you, not getting older and seeing those around us age and die doesn't seem so good.
Ssffers. Lol.
Far too kind...But thank you...I love your bad eyes.
Trash-talk therapy...Could be a medical breakthrough. 🤣
How good is sleep! I love it, although sometimes it eludes me. I keep practising though.