At 61, I did my first unassisted pull-up — something I considered impossible just nine months prior.
It was the goal I’d challenged myself to achieve in my 60s, following a pattern I’d established in the two previous decades. In my 40s, I wanted to finish a half-marathon, and in my 50s, I set out to hold a handstand. I accomplished both.
Reaching a physical milestone as I age spills into every area of my life, particularly when there are curveballs. Whether I’m helping one of my children through an issue, dealing with a health scare, or mourning a loss, I tap into the same mindset I use to do a pull-up, hold a handstand, or run 13.1 miles. It’s one of grit and consistency.
For me, setting physical goals at the top of each decade has improved my perspective on aging.
I first started seeking physical challenges in my 40s
Exercise has always been my anchor, and I’ve relied on it to navigate mental health struggles throughout the years. As I grew older, exercise and movement evolved into a means of coping with the effects of aging.
Instead of fixating on how my postpartum body looked or how my skin sagged, I started to focus on how my body felt and what it could do.
In my late 40s, a friend who is 15 years my junior coaxed me to do a half-marathon with them. By then, I’d gone through a divorce and rebuilt my personal and professional life.
Running helped me stay afloat through all the hard moments, so I decided to give 13.1 miles a go. Without realizing it, I’d set my first major goal. When I crossed the finish line, I cried.
I’ve found that the harder the goal is, the more motivated I am to accomplish it
I knew that I wanted to challenge myself further as I get older, channeling my strength through the highs — like marrying the love of my life and launching a new business — and the lows — like a close call with colon cancer and parenting struggles.
I picked physical goals that were completely new to me. Even when I did gymnastics in school, I couldn’t do a handstand, yet that’s what I worked toward in my 50s.
It took me years of tireless training, but I did it. The day I finally stood on my hands was a spiritual experience. Time felt like it stood still, and nothing else mattered.
Training for these challenges has given me a healthy perspective on aging
The goals I set have never been about achievement, though I do get a confidence boost when I master them. In my book, the win is working toward something that feels like a long shot and still staying the course.
I’ve found that when I’m running long distances, standing on my hands, and doing pull-ups, I focus on my endurance, strength, and stamina — not the skin sagging on my knees or the veins on my hands.
There’s so much in life I can’t control, including the inevitability of aging, but I can control how I approach it.
Working my body in new, challenging ways as I get older reinforces that I can be strong and visible, no matter how old I am. It also helps me feel better physically and mentally.
Yes, I have aches and pains, but listening to them and working around them is an art. I enjoy each step of the process.
Brainstorming what’s next is also half of the fun. At 62, I can do three overhand-grip, full-range-of-motion pull-ups. Because I want to see how far I can push myself, I hope to do five consecutive pull-ups by the end of the year.
As I look ahead at my 70s, I’m already eyeing a hike along El Camino de Santiago in Spain, where I was born.
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