On the day I turned 74, I went to the gym. It stands just a hundred meters from where I first worked as a cub reporter for a Cebu-based news agency, fifty-seven years ago.
A Journey Back in Time
Back then, I used to sneak inside the compound that now houses the gym, accompanied by our messenger and his bicycle. That ended when I crashed into a plant pot and a security guard chased us out. I never learned to ride a bike. Now, the guards are friendlier and more welcoming.
The irony was not lost on me. Fifty-seven years ago, I wanted to bike not for exercise but because I envied my friends who could ride. This time, I went to the gym because I needed it—badly.
Health Challenges Over the Years
Actually, I needed it long before my 74th birthday. Gone are the days when I crisscrossed the waterfront on foot, covering my beat, then walking back to the editorial office on Ramos five days a week. So are the days when I could run up five flights of stairs without pause, play endless sets of tennis or badminton to finally score a win, and jog 25 laps in Abellana. The spirit is willing, but the muscles are weak.
I have faced two serious health issues in the last 20 years. I am 10 kilos over my fighting weight, my waistline has progressed from svelte to corpulent, and my family had to install railings to prevent me from stumbling. I still walk in Abellana but with a limp. I can no longer read fine print despite lens replacement two years ago. I learned to lipread to mask my impaired hearing, and Gaviscon and Omeprazole have become constant companions since an acidic stomach became known as GERD.
Gratitude and Determination
It can be frustrating, but I am not complaining. I prayed for a long life, and God heard my prayer. The inability to do things I once did with ease is part of the package. If I wanted my inconveniences more bearable, I had to take action myself. That is why I went to the gym.
