natural selection n.
the process by which forms of life having traits that better enable them to adapt to specific environmental pressures, as predators, changes in climate, or competition for food or mates, will tend to survive and reproduce in greater numbers than others of their kind, thus ensuring the perpetuation of those favorable traits in succeeding generations.
Yeah, life can involve trade-offs. Fewer people on the planet doesn't seem like such a bad thing. Voluntary decline in progeny vs. war, famine, or pandemic...think I'll opt for the slow decline.
More than a dozen to her line, down to a third generation...great grandchildren. Hard work. The right attitude.
Her: (smiles) You look like you are down to fighting weight.
Him: (sits up straight) I'm not a fighter.
Her: (head tilts forward, without missing a beat) I didn't say you were a fighter.
Her first time she had tried pull-ups, she had done almost a full dozen.
Wisdom...the kind of wisdom that is capable of more than just getting by, but wisdom that knows what it takes to survive...
Not too long after her first attempt at a dozen chin-ups, well into her sixth decade of life...
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| Yeah...she's a 'great'-grandma |
She smiles again and asks, "Now, tell me about Japan."
Everybody laughs.
Pullups and dips are hell on the shoulders but everything else is o.k....thankfully!
ReplyDeleteI was never really a fan of either, but it's kind of cool how they can be done just about anywhere.
DeleteDamn, that's a rock-climber's shoulders! Had a pair like that once... when I was climbing.
ReplyDeleteA lifetime of work that changes with each season; last season there was a tree that needed to be chopped, split, and stacked.
DeleteChrist, a dozen is good going at any age. Even at my fittest I could only just scrape double figures. Though as I get stronger I also get heavier, so for chins it kind of cancels out.
ReplyDeleteChris - I gave up on dips years ago, for just that reason. Chins have always been fine though.
Seeing what people have done with their lives has been an encouraging and gentle reality check, for me anyway.
Delete"I'm not a fighter."
ReplyDeleteBrother, we're all fighters. Most of us are just fortunate enough to live in a modern world with all of its modern conveniences...
Fortunate. I never want to forget how fortunate I am even while being surrounded by people who may be upset, unhappy, and trigger-happy with blame, shame, and all that other ammo.
Delete