I've had weeks where I just felt... flat. Tired for no reason. Foggy. And my first instinct was always to blame it on getting older. Turns out that's not always the right answer.
A recent episode of "Aging Untold" dug into exactly this, and it's worth paying attention to, especially if you've chalked up feeling "off" to just another birthday.
Don't Feel Like Yourself? Check Your Vitamins
Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, says that when people don't feel like themselves, the culprit is sometimes a simple nutrient deficiency. Two of the most common ones as we age? Vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
Here's the catch, though. Rogers points out that a blood test is a smart first step, but it has limits. Numbers on a lab report don't always tell the whole story.
That tracks with something I've learned living a pretty unconventional life on the road since 2017. Your body changes how it absorbs nutrients as you age, and what worked for you at 40 might not cut it at 68. I've started paying more attention to what I'm actually putting in my body, not because I'm worried about aging, but because I want to keep moving, keep exploring, keep saying yes to the next trip. Feeling sluggish isn't an option when there's a new country to figure out.
So if you've been feeling a little gray around the edges, don't just shrug and say "I'm getting older." Ask why. Get checked. It might be something as fixable as adding a supplement or adjusting your diet.
The Power of Me Time
The second story on the episode hit close to home for me: the value of spending time alone.
Gerontologist Sam Cradduck says she actually wants and needs more solo time as she gets older, not less. And aging expert Amy O'Rourke has a great tip for people adjusting to being alone, especially after losing a partner: pair something you already enjoy with doing it solo. A walk. A coffee. A drive somewhere new.
I spend a lot of time alone by choice. Independence is the whole point of the life I've built. There's something clarifying about a long solo hike or a quiet morning in a foreign city with nobody to answer to but yourself. It's not isolation. It's freedom. And apparently, it's good for your mood and your confidence too.
If being alone scares you a little, O'Rourke's advice is solid: start small. Combine something you love with some solitude, and see what happens.
A Young Mom's Wake-Up Call
Then there's Brittany Auclair's story, and it's the kind that stops you cold.
Auclair was 29, with an 8-month-old son, when she noticed he favored one side while breastfeeding. Then, while pumping, she found a lump. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, cancer rates are climbing among people under 65, and women are now more likely than men to develop it. That's a shift worth noticing, whatever your age. Early detection saves lives, and Auclair's story is proof that paying attention to small, strange signals in your own body matters at every stage of life, not just after 50 or 60.
One More Stop: Robert's Western World
The episode wrapped with a visit to Robert's Western World, a honky-tonk on Nashville's Lower Broadway that's been slinging traditional country music for more than 30 years. No TVs on the walls, just photos of legends like Dolly Parton and Waylon Jennings who used to be regulars. Beer starts at $2.50.
It's a small detail, but it's the kind of place I'd detour for. No frills, just history and music done right. That's the thing about adventure. It doesn't always mean a mountain or a border crossing. Sometimes it's a $2.50 beer under a red boot sign, paying attention to the stories a place has to tell.
Whether it's your vitamin levels, your alone time, or a lump you can't explain, the lesson's the same. Stay curious about your own body and your own life. Ask questions. Don't assume. There's always more to discover, no matter your age.
Source: WOWT
Related reading from us: Balance Exercises for Seniors: Why Strength Training Beats Aging at Its Own Game
