STAN'S STORY

Hello Carson City! I’ve been reading these stories for months now and I find them very interesting. As I am part of the Paradise community I find the tales give me a sense of pride. 

When I read the stories as a person going into life’s 3rd act they give me hope. I am so happy for the people featured in them because they have overcome so much. 

But as fascinating as the stories are, I noticed there was something missing from them. My story is totally different from all the stories so far, so I told Starr and Perry that I wanted to tell my story. What’s different about me is that there was nothing seriously wrong with me when I came to Paradise. I was merely suffering from sitting disease and since I retired, a case of house gravity.

I swear, Hollywood could make fifty films based on the lives of the struggles of the people in the Paradise community. 

So far as I know, there are no Supermen working out at the facility. There may be a spy, or two, but if there are they are really good, ‘cause they’ve got me fooled! So I am not talking about those kinds of movies. 
I’m talking about films about every day people overcoming every day, but terrible physical problems. Real heroes overcoming real problems. My problem is a fear of drowning, not water, just drowning. 
But here is my message to you – don’t let your health get so bad that someone could turn your life into a heart breaking, disaster film. That’s no way to treat your family. 

I don’t have any major physical problems. I am fairly fit for a man my age. And I plan to stay that way. That’s why I came to Paradise in the first place. 
I wasn’t exactly ready for the Senior Olympics, mind you. I had my aches and pains. And things that were so simple when I was young, and/or younger, had become challenges. Things like climbing stairs two at a time or squatting down to pick up a quarter off the floor. Before I started coming to Paradise, I was starting to wonder when Washington was going to abolish stairs in favor of escalators! 

Now? I don’t mind taking the stairs, and I’m comfortable getting in the water to exercise. 

I guess what I’m saying is… wake up, people! We’re all getting older, and there is no Fountain of Youth. Actually, there is. It’s here at Paradise. 

Taking an hour long pool exercise class three times a week is not going to make you look like Johnny Depp or Madonna. But… hey, wait a minute. They’re both pushing sixty, so maybe you can look that good… if you’re 45! For sure, you’ll feel stronger and more energetic. 
It’s pretty simple stuff, friends. A healthy life is a better life. No matter what other problems you may have in this strange experience we call life, being healthy makes them easier. Ask anyone here, they’ll tell you so. But you already know this, right? Do you really need to suffer a major health setback to get your act together enough to do what you already know you need to do?