Imagine if at every change of year, those of us who have aged into seniorhood got a year younger. If the new year were really a NEW year for us rather than just the flipping of a calendar page, wouldn’t that be great? We could look forward to a burst of fresh energy and in a decade, we’d be downright bouncy and peppy!

I wish it worked that way. Instead as the year flips, we are a year older and just a wee bit more tired. From a health standpoint, this has been a difficult year for many of us. My little complaints seems silly compared to the seriousness of many other people who are fighting to stay alive while all I’m doing is hoping to feel a bit better. Mind you I’m not (at least I don’t think I am) seriously ill, but I’m battling flaring rheumatoid arthritis that has left me so tired all the time.

I’ll know more — at least I hope I’ll know more — after I see the hematologist in the beginning of January. I’m also anemic, so the combination of RA and low red blood cells have left me dragging around feeling too tired to do much of anything. Yet I’m not ill. I don’t have cancer. My heart is functioning fine though I’ll need a new battery in the pacemaker pretty soon. It’s a minor surgery, but unavoidable.

I’ve been anemic before. Actually, I’ve been slightly anemic most of my life, from childhood on. I’m older, so it’s worse. That’s the thing about aging: everything issue you’ve got gets a wee bit worse with each passing year. So even if you aren’t seriously ill, it’s difficult to find the sizzle you used to have.

My wish for the new year is to find some energy. A bit of zip! Even if it’s just for a couple of hours a day, I’d like some verve back. It’s not a big “ask,” so whoever is in charge of giving out this kind of thing? Send some this way please!

Also, while you are at it? Cast a spell over Earth and make it less depressing. It’s hard to feel bubbly when everything seems so bleak.

Categories: Anecdote