We all tell children that they can do anything if they put their minds to it. Firstly, it is bullshit and, secondly, when you get to my age, you realise that there are some things that you just can't or won't be able to do. My list is -
Skateboard - have tried it over 3 times over 3 decades and have injured myself every time. Never going to try it again
Surfing - did it as a kid and swallowed half of the Bristol Channel. Did it a few years ago and was much more successful but after half an hour, my back gave way.
Tennis - Aside from my crap back and knee, my shoulder has an odd thing where it hurts when I am reaching behind me to take anything off or put it on something behind me. Unfortunately, this also means that I can't serve in tennis. Well, there's that and the fact that I have no hand-eye co-ordination.
Marathons - to be honest, this is possibly achievable. I did a half-marathon in March after 6 months training from scratch so it isn't impossible that I could do a marathon but, my body was so fucked by the end of the half, I can't see it.
Joining the Armed Forces - Happily, I am well over the age for this
but, interestingly, the maximum age for conscription was 51 so, if there were a war, I could still be called up if those rules still applied.
Actually, in a funny way, this list is more uplifting than hearing "You can do anything if they put your mind to it" as I am 48 and there is still only a handful of things that I can't start anew.
Anyway, what are yours? Normal stuff not the "I can't be a professional footballer" or "I can't be a world class ballet dancer" type stuff.
Skateboard - have tried it over 3 times over 3 decades and have injured myself every time. Never going to try it again
Surfing - did it as a kid and swallowed half of the Bristol Channel. Did it a few years ago and was much more successful but after half an hour, my back gave way.
Tennis - Aside from my crap back and knee, my shoulder has an odd thing where it hurts when I am reaching behind me to take anything off or put it on something behind me. Unfortunately, this also means that I can't serve in tennis. Well, there's that and the fact that I have no hand-eye co-ordination.
Marathons - to be honest, this is possibly achievable. I did a half-marathon in March after 6 months training from scratch so it isn't impossible that I could do a marathon but, my body was so fucked by the end of the half, I can't see it.
Joining the Armed Forces - Happily, I am well over the age for this
but, interestingly, the maximum age for conscription was 51 so, if there were a war, I could still be called up if those rules still applied.
Actually, in a funny way, this list is more uplifting than hearing "You can do anything if they put your mind to it" as I am 48 and there is still only a handful of things that I can't start anew.
Anyway, what are yours? Normal stuff not the "I can't be a professional footballer" or "I can't be a world class ballet dancer" type stuff.
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