I’ve titled this post “laoren” / 老人 — a common Chinese term used to describe an elderly person. I’ve started using it a bit tongue-in-cheek, but also with some acceptance of reality.
When the Body Starts Talking Back
Back in February, I did what I used to do quite comfortably in my earlier years: walking over 30,000 steps in a day. Somehow, despite being careful, I ended up straining my ankle. Around the same time, I was still following my old workout routine almost every day, as if I were still in my twenties — no rest days, no real adjustment. Even with good form, I eventually ended up injuring my lower back as well.
That was when I started noticing a few changes. I don’t recover as quickly as I used to, and it almost feels like I’ve “shrunk” in resilience. It became clear that I needed to slow down — to introduce rest days, stretch properly, and actually listen to my body instead of pushing through as before.
Work, Deadlines, and a Lost Balance
Life-wise, nothing dramatic has changed, but the past few months at work have been intense. There have been constant deadlines, and naturally, I’ve taken responsibility seriously and wanted to deliver good results. But I’ve also noticed that something has shifted — I’ve been losing that balance I used to have between work and personal life.
Learning to Move Differently
I still enjoy walking and being outdoors, so I make a conscious effort to get out whenever I can. However, I’ve also started to accept that my body isn’t as resilient as it once was. I now take things slower, sometimes even choosing the bus instead of walking everywhere. I’m learning to be more patient with myself, and to accept that rest is not a weakness but a necessity.
Travel, but at a Different Pace
Travel has also remained important to me. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I try to get away for a bit. Travelling has always helped me reset — experiencing different cultures, observing how local people live, and appreciating how fortunate I am to be able to explore at all. That said, I can no longer travel the way I used to, jumping between a dozen places in a single day. Now, I take it slow and actually spend time in each place.
Accepting the Change
As much as I still want to do more, there are moments when I feel a bit down about how my body is changing with age. It’s not what it used to be, and that reality can be hard to accept at times. But I also know I’m still lucky to be able to move, walk, and experience life. The important thing now is learning to manage stress better, slow down when needed, and genuinely enjoy life instead of only focusing on work.
I don’t want to spend all my time working for others and miss out on actually living my own life while I still can.
So, Am I a Laoren Now?
So that’s really what this post is about — a quiet admission that I might be becoming a laoren, or perhaps already am one in some ways. But more importantly, it’s about accepting ageing, adapting to it, and finding a way to still live fully, function well, and make the most of the years ahead.
With that said, it’s been quite a gap since my last post — life got busy. But over the past couple of months, I managed to sneak away for a few long weekends just to breathe and recharge. I hope you enjoy the photos; they remind me to appreciate nature and, more importantly, to actually live.
