Beach walker here.
Barefoot beach walker.
That is until three years ago when I noticed the sand wearing away the skin on the bottom of my toes.
Yikes!
Those poor toes returned from a beach walk looking like I’d run a marathon on oyster shells. What gives?
The thinning skin of menopause. (Although it took me a year or so to understand this was the culprit). When the estrogen diminishes, the skin suffers. You can read more about it here.
Adaption!
I now wear my clunky walking shoes when beach walking.
Fine on a fall day when you’re sporting shorts and a t-shirt.
But it’s not a great look with a flowy beach cover up.
And talk about a nerd alert: Someone shouts from their blanket, “Beach walk!” and you say, “Sure. Just as soon as I put on my socks and shoes.”
I should have appreciated my barefoot beach walks even more than I did in those glorious hours.
I never imagined the upcoming woes of menopausal beach toes.
But, thank heavens, my shoes, socks, toes, and I continue to enjoy wonderful walks very close to the surf.
Like so much else about aging, it’s all about figuring things out and adapting.
My goal: To leave footprints in the sand as long as I can.
What about you? Any beach walk troubles?
Barbara Younger
Barbara Younger blogs from her home in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Along with Friend for the Ride: Encouraging Words for the Menopause Roller Coaster (http://friendfortheride.com), she writes books for children and adults. She lives in an old house with her husband Cliff. and collections of everything from dolls to buttons to bookmarks. She's the mother of two grown daughters and the grandmother to one adorable baby boy!
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