My life was going fine until October 16, 2007. On that day I lost my job after 22 years. The separation took barely 10 minutes: no ceremony, no accolades, no gold watch, just a pink slip; just an explanation of the facts.
My separation pay, vacation pay and other details were explained during the brief telephone call from my manager. I had worked for the company from my home for all those years. I was reliable and dependable (not very popular words in resumes today), with no black marks on my record. It was just another simple case of a company reorganization: nothing personal.
But what about me? I WAS TOTALLY STRESSED OUT!
Almost immediately I began to feel the effects of stress. What could I do? At my age what employer would consider hiring me? I was “over the hill,” too old to start over.
A few days later I took my bike from the garage, mounted it on my car’s carrier and drove a few miles to a bayside park in my hometown. I parked my car, got on my bike and rode from Englewood, Fla., to Venice, Fla., a distance of about 12 miles.
I reached the Intracoastal Waterway in Venice in approximately one hour. The city of Venice contains a trail following the Waterway on both sides. I proceeded along the trail on the “island” side and continued to the end, at Casperson Beach.
Then went in the opposite direction to the other end of the trail, crossed over a drawbridge and picked up the trail on the opposite side of the Waterway and back to the drawbridge. Then I biked back to my car. I was amazed to note on my odometer that I’d logged nearly 50 miles in roughly four and a half hours!
After I mounted my bike on its rack, instead of returning home, I took a detour and drove less than two miles to the beach. There, I relaxed under a pavilion and mentally reviewed my day.
During my ride I thought of many things: Could I live the remainder of my life on my investments, 401(k), savings, etc., or would I outlive my assets? Health care and prescriptions were things I never thought about since they were perks that came with my job. More stress.
When I finally returned home, as a matter of routine, I tested my blood sugar since I’m a Type 2 Diabetic. I tested it three times since the reading was so low compared to the norm. Each time it read 82. I was elated! I took my blood pressure. The reading was an incredible 117/62!
It was the bike ride. I knew that physical exercise is good for Diabetics and I knew that exercise can lower blood pressure,
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