Originally Posted by
woodlander
I haven't read the whole thread but apropos I always remember an old guy who cheered me up once when I was feeling a little bit down in the dumps. I wouldn't say that I've ever had depression but I've my grey days and I've had many exasperating times. Anyway this was the time when I'd just had my knee operation about 15 years ago and I was walking on the moors as part of my recovery and wondering about life, the universe and everything and if I'd ever get fit enough to run again etc., etc..
Back in the pub at the bottom of the hill I met an old guy aged about 80 or 85. He had his fishing rods with him. "Been running?" he asked. And I explained that I'd only been walking. "I used to run, " he continued. "Got too old for that, so I took up cycling. Got too old for cycling so next thing I took up walking. Got to old to walk so lately I've took up fishing. And when I'm too old for fishing, well then I'll think of something else."
I always remember those wise words. Now that I'm injured yet again I've got myself a couple of Nordic Walking sticks. And, what the hell, I'm enjoying the new challenges, the new experiences, tripping over the sticks, seeing the children laugh at me. "So it goes," as Kurt Vonnegut would say.
Hope this little anecdote helps someone somewhere.