Lessons from Planking

I work with a client who is over ninety years old. They regularly inspire me with their fortitude in strength training. For the last few months they have been working on increasing their ability to plank for 2 minutes.

A few weeks ago, they greatly surprised themselves by planking for over 3 minutes and 30 seconds. When they finished, they said, “I’ve never planked for that long in my life.”

We live in a culture that prioritizes and centers youth. We have been told that we lose value, that life goes downhill after 30, after 40, after 60, that we lose muscle mass and cognitive function and attraction. After a certain amount of time living, many of us settle into our perceived limits and lower them as we age.

To watch this client achieve something new, particularly something physical, after more than 90 years on this earth reminds me that we are ever-evolving. The adage that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks is a false one.

In that spirit, I’ve been thinking about the new things I’ve done this year: started playing tennis, made macrame plant hangers, changed a toilet seat by myself, pickled the cucumbers I’ve grown. None of these are grand or exciting, but they’ve reminded me to keep growing.

May we all be so lucky to try new things, and perhaps achieve our greatest planking record, the older we become.

Nora HarrisComment