In person-sharing similar concerns

[shootingstar]

Met up with some friends who have been cyclists, but getting back into it. One of the women is on a jogging streak and is loving it. Don't know her deeply but that's fine.

She and I chatted up. It is nice to occasionally to know and speak with another woman in person, similar in same age bracket (she is 57), who shares similar physiological changes due to age, health lifestyle efforts and thoughts for:

*increased effort in exercise and diet change to deal with gradual metabolism slow-down due to age

*what is considered "normal" in terms of body shape, weight now compared to ie. 30 years ago.

I realized last night when I do meet up with other (closer) female friends in my age bracket later next month, that this is probably a topic worth chatting up. But other times, we never seem to, even though I know very well, each of these long-term friends do make an individual ongoing effort to be healthy. These strong friendships are over 25-35 yrs. long and each formed originally on totally different shared interests/values that have nothing to do with cycling. However coincidentally each woman has taken upon at different times in life to change her lifestyle to something healthier. I feel so lucky that such long-term friendships have evolved with this added dimension as we become older. But many of these friends live in a difference province far away.

When we visit one another, which is only once/yr. or every 2-3 years, (we live separated by several thousand kms.), we end talking about other stuff. Rarely do we share about each other's health and our individual efforts to stay healthy.

But I would like to talk abit about this more with them in person, among other things. I would value their thoughts on this because after all, I value them for staying healthy and alive so far...so our friendships can continue and grow. I never inquired about their health when we were in our 20's. But over the years, superficially we have been asking each other for updates before diving into other topics.

Sorry for the ramble. But I suddenly feel like a lightbulb has been turned on and seeing good, long-term friends now in a different light: I want more to talk about and acknowledge their efforts.