This afternoon, my husband and I ventured outside with our dog, Chaka, to take her for a walk around the Clubhouse. We often try to walk Chaka together when we can, enjoying one another’s company and watching her scamper in excitement, stare at squirrels in awe and trot in front of us like a scaled-down horse. She really does trot, you know.
As we walked past the playground where a father played with his young children, past the swimming pool that looked pleasantly inviting and past the tennis court that was oddly empty on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, we neared the large, open greenspace where we’ve often seen dogs and their humans playing fetch. The deep rich hue of the grass spread out like a carpet, hugging the earth and practically begging for someone to do a cartwheel. So that’s what I did. Or at least I tried. The outcome was hysterically ridiculous. My legs barely made it off the ground. It was so bad, my husband laughed at me. That’s okay because I laughed at myself.
Here’s the part where, if I were one to make excuses, I would tell you that my body isn’t what it used to be. With humiliation dripping from my every word, I would impress upon you how my 52-year old limbs can no longer master the seemingly simple feats of childhood. “My thigh muscle is a little sore from working out this morning,” I might utter half-heartedly. My mind would wander back longingly to the little girl who once upon a time could flip through the air doing a no-hand cartwheel.
But that’s not me.
I can no more do a proper cartwheel now than I could wrestle a thrashing 10-foot crocodile in a fit of hunger. But here’s the thing: I can’t do a cartwheel not because of any of the reasons mentioned above. I can’t do a cartwheel because I’ve been out of practice for years. I don’t think I’ve even attempted a cartwheel for over 30 years.
In midlife, many women yearn to make bold life changes. We fantasize about how we plan to reinvent ourselves and try things that, just a few years earlier, we would never have dreamed of doing. Sometimes we get a bit overzealous and we try to catapult ourselves from our launch pad at warp speed, going from zero to 60 in record time. We jump in feet first, not realizing that we’re barefoot and landing on broken glass.
Much like that botched cartwheel that will likely have my body sore all over by tomorrow morning, transitioning in midlife isn’t as easy breezy as it may look on TV. When we affect change, we need to be mindful of what goes into that change and seeing it through to fruition. Sometimes moving from one phase of life to another is effortless, painless, a piece o’ cake. Other times, there’s an array of bumps that dot the path, making the journey through midlife one which we tiptoe through for fear of stumbling.
It’s okay to stumble, just as it was okay for me to bungle my cartwheel in a most magnanimous manner. I wasn’t really prepared to attempt that cartwheel and, as a result, I faltered. And that’s okay, too. Practice may not make perfect, but it will make better. By the time I try my next cartwheel, I’ll be ready.
Are you prepared for whatever changes are coming your way in midlife? Tell me about it in the comments below.
Great article! My mind does cartwheels on a daily basis…the body not happening! Totally can relate!
Hahaha! Well, I tell ya, Vilma, I tried that cartwheel and for that I give myself 8 points (out of 10). Perhaps one day I’ll be able to do a real cartwheel again…I first need to get prepared. 😉
I am so not ready! Well, many times, I think I am ready. But life does have a way of throwing the most unexpected things at you. (and, I do wish for those days when I didn’t have a bad back…)
I have to say, Alana, that I was sort of caught off guard by midlife. It’s hard to put into words, but I didn’t realize I was IN midlife until after I turned 50 (even though I was already steeped in it by that time). I’m handling it fairly well, but I am going through transition — for the better, though. I’m staying positive and welcoming the positive into my life.
Great post. Made me feel like working out a bit each day until I could manage to do a cartwheel again. Sure wish I could be at the BAM conference.
You know, Pat, since I failed at my first cartwheel in years, I’m determined to master the cartwheel! By this summer…it’s on! Sorry we won’t see you at the BAM Conference.
I am not doing cartwheels any time soon but I have worked my way into midlife slowly and happily – not gracefully, for sure, but happy to do Zumba and anything where I’m not turned completely upside down (literally or figuratively)!
I feel like I absolutely HAVE to do that damn cartwheel now…it’s sort of a challenge. Yeah, that’s it — a challenge. The gauntlet has been thrown. 😉 Usually, turning upside down is scary, but in this case… well, ya know. But you keep up with Zumba, Lois. I used to do Zumba in Stamford; perhaps I shall take it up once again.
Valerie,
This is one of the most insightful blog posts I’ve read in a long time. What a great reminder that transitioning through mid-life is not always the smoothest or easiest process.
Look forward to seeing you at BAM. Thanks for including 1010ParkPlace in your list of mid-life blogs!
XOXOX,
Brenda
And to think, Brenda…it was all sparked by a goofy cartwheel! See you at BAM next month!
Hi Valerie,
Nice to meet you today. I have shared your post on Tumblr, Google+ and Twitter. I can’t do cartwheels. Only my middle daughter can; she was a gymnast. Don’t feel bad.
Janice
And you as well, Janice. I’ve been thinking…I think I need to start a Women’s Midlife Cartwheel Brigade…we practice practice practice and then, voila!, we all do cartwheels in sync! Whatcha think?!?
Great post! I jump in with feet first myself and always wake up the next day achy and sore saying now why did you do that … you know your body doesn’t work that way anymore .. but heck we have 1 life and I’m gonna live it to the fullest!
Bravo Carla! Sometimes you’ve gotta just go in with all you’ve got and deal with the consequences. Have fun girl!