Why Honest Aging Softens Aches and Restores Peace

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Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Written by Cheryl Richardson

Why Honest Aging Softens Aches and Restores Peace

“Discover why honesty invites lasting ease” ~Crystal Wind

When the same ache returns, the body is rarely asking for more force. This letter follows a familiar visit to the chiropractor into a quieter kind of care, where admitting age becomes the first kindness. What changes is not only the joints, but the way we listen.

Read Time: 3 min | Exclusive Publication | Crystal Wind News Service |

I was lying on the exam table while my chiropractor, Adam, evaluated my left hip. I’d been having a tough time sleeping through the night again because of lower back pain that seemed to be coming from that area. I’d seen Adam several months earlier and felt like I was back to square one.

Is this what happens when you get old? I asked Adam, half joking, half wondering for real. Are aches and pain inevitable?

Adam laughed and told me he was asked this question several times a week.

“Well,” he explained, “when we’re younger, it’s as though we’re made of rubber and our bodies bounce back quickly from overuse or strain. But as we age, time takes its toll, and if we want less pain, we need to take better care of ourselves.”

I groaned as I gathered my things, thanked him for his help, and made my way to the front desk. I left with a prescription and a promise that things would get better as long as I stuck to the program and made changes to how I cared for my body.

Walking to my car, I remember thinking that I needed to take his advice seriously. Months earlier I’d seen him for the same problem but hadn’t really followed through. “I’m becoming my Mother,” I told myself as I slipped into the driver’s seat and started the car.

My Mom began losing her hearing years before she passed, but she was too vain to wear a hearing aid (“vain” was her word). When her great-grandchildren visited, she would often complain about not hearing them, but when I offered to buy her hearing aids, she refused. “Hearing aids are for old people,” she told me.

My Mom was eighty-five.

As I’ve aged, I thought I was different. I’ve done a good job of doing some form of cardio every day and lifting heavy weights three times a week. My heart is in great shape, my bones are strong, but my joints and fascia have paid a price. Like many of us who were never taught how to form a loving relationship with an aging body, I kept ignoring the signals that told me something had to give. That was until the bliss of ignorance came face-to-face with reality.

I thought I was aging consciously, but when it came to my body, I was still acting like I was forty. But my last visit with Adam woke me up. Soon after, I began working with a yoga teacher who specializes in supporting active older clients who are also dedicated weight lifters. She’s helped me craft a practice that invites my body to gently unwind and recover. The practice, along with a pillow between my knees when I sleep, has made an enormous difference. I’m nearly pain-free, and yoga has given me a beautiful new way to stay aware of what my body needs at this stage. Not only that, it’s become a special time dedicated to reconnecting with my inner life.

"The bottom line? You can’t love an aging body well until you admit you have one."

In a culture that offers us a billion ways to extend life, it’s easy to fall under the spell of denial. So, I thought it might be a great topic for a Zoom gathering. What are you ignoring about your own aging process? Where do you need to face reality so you can enjoy your Wisdom Years? Join me this Wednesday, 8/26, at 3pm ET/12pm PT. If you’ve been with us before, you’ll get an invite. If not, you can sign up here.

Love,
Cheryl

Author

Cheryl Richardson For the last twenty-five years I’ve dedicated my life to the practice of self-care because it’s good for people and it’s good for the planet. From personal experience, as well as coaching a diverse group of clients, I’ve come to understand that when we care deeply for ourselves, we naturally begin to care for others — our families, our friends, the environment, and the whole world — in a healthier and more effective way.
Please email: . © Copyright 2024. Cheryl Richardson, P.O. Box 13, Newburyport, MA 01950.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is presented for educational and informational purposes only. Views expressed are those of the contributing author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CrystalWind.ca, which makes no claims regarding the accuracy of any content herein.