100% Yes I do have arthritis/carpel tunnel syndrome/hypertension and many other age related complaints, I do know it's vitally important to keep moving and working with the enthusiasm of youth.
I'm 59, and work at a dog grooming shop as a bather. We call ourselves "professional dog wrestlers". We're all close to the same age, and sometimes we wonder how much longer we can handle such hard physical work. But then it's probably better for us than sitting all day, right?
Besides, what could be better than daily doggy kisses?
Instead of "you're as old as you feel," I'd rather say "you're as old as you allow yourself to be." Sometimes I feel old, but not often.
When I think as a young person thinks, I find I can act that way too. Even LOOK younger sometimes. (Mind over matter?) Hanging around with younger people also works. Try to forget you're old. Don't give in.
My husband has always said the same thing Robert Redford says about retirement. Maybe you get 5 good years after you retire, some more, some less. But 5 years is a fair estimate.
You're both fortunate, Elena. You know I mean Blessed. A person can take excellent care of him/herself - eat right, exercise, do all the right things - then get sick anyway, or have an accident, etc. I'm sure we can all cite cases like like. So when it's your time, it's your time. Not sooner, not later.
We are in the Lord's hands and trust him to take care of us in whatever way He sees fit. We have been truly blessed in our lives and have always known that it is from Him. We pray that His will be done in our lives now and as long as we live.