Idealistic Expectations

Long ago and far away , in another lifetime , I did a bit of geriatric home care . Having a pet theory about aging , my charges were questioned about its validity...they , of all people , should know ! The theory goes like this : despite one's chronological age , there is the age of our perception , separate from that dreaded line on our driver's license and the harshly-lit mirror . It is how old we feel in unguarded moments ( before the creaks and wheezes tell us otherwise ) . I figured that to be somewhere between 19 and 22 years old . After getting over the initial shock of such a question , they each pondered the matter for a minute or two and , with surprise , concurred ! Every person of a certain age I have asked about this since then, has also agreed .
I bring this up as much as a topic of interest , as somewhat of a justification for Idealistic Expectations... the old "biting off more than I can chew" scenario , so oft repeated in my life . I tell folks who tsk tsk about my frequent overdoing , that my brain says "Schwartzenager", my back says "Tinkerbelle" and the gap between is filled with Tylenol ! Just my real age contending with that perception .
This week's madness began with confronting the scale after the" Holiday Indulgence" diet . I'd just began to make a bit of headway toward a former size , when the "Let's celebrate your natal anniversary with rich foods " diet presented itself . Aaaaagrrrgh ! I've always loved dancing and figured moving to a lively beat might be just the ticket to a sensible exercise regime . A getting-fit CD was unearthed , dusted off and tucked hopefully into the little boombox .What emerged was a re-creation of those old 80's medleys where a bunch of unlikely songs are strung together by a driving bass beat . I stepped up to the task at hand , trying to remember the moves from the infomercials . Within very short order , the Ever Expanding Cat had fled to safer environs , my heart was thumping to the rapid beat of the music and I was seriously doubting the wisdom of this whole endeavor ! Huffing and puffing , with the scary assurance that tomorrow would see a sorry girl , I stopped .
Somewhere inside my poor brain was a Yoda-like voice saying "Wisdom is in moderation , Grasshopper " . hmmmph... The voice of reason...again ! Oh , well , tomorrow , a friend is dropping off a Dancing with the Stars cardio-Salsa DVD...whahoo ! Okay , Okay...I'll just watch it first...then try the beginning steps...and try to act my age...one or the other... Tylenol , anyone ??