I know that caring for my feet is vital, yet I fail to do it as often as I should and as a result, I’m sometimes in pain that could have been prevented. First a disclaimer. I do some part time work for Footcare by Nurses, a local company that serves older adults at clinics and in their own homes. I am a believer, yet I procrastinate, and the consequences of putting things off dawned only recently after I’d had a footcare appointment and realized how much better I felt. I’d been walking around in pain until it became invisible to me.

It made me wonder how often people do that, especially as we get older. We come to accept physical and emotional pain as part of life. We stop noticing. I turned 80 recently, and most of my friends are right there or beyond. We have eye doctor appointments, and teeth cleanings, hearing tests, foot care, haircuts and reminders from the pharmacy that a prescription is ready. Sometimes it’s hard to add one more thing to a schedule that involves so much maintenance, and that’s not counting changing furnace filters, engine oil, dryer vents and more. I thought we were supposed to be having fun.

We mean to be kind to tend to our aging bodies while we are also lured to the peace and quiet days without any appointments. Some of us are quick to help others, but reluctant to care for ourselves. I have a friend who needs to get her hearing checked and she just can’t add one more thing.

I get it. I read ads for spas that promise abundant luxury and nurturing, and I’m torn. Yes, wouldn’t that be nice, I think, quickly followed by, isn’t it a bit self-indulgent, especially in this troubled world? That pause when I second guess an idea means it probably won’t happen. Whatever I’m seeking to heal will go untended until I barely notice the pain.

When the small callous on my foot was removed and my twisted long nails were trimmed, I could walk more lightly, relax and use my feet for balance. I was safer and comfortable. I love how my teeth feel after cleaning, the way the world is clear again with new glasses, the x-ray that said I don’t need hip surgery, the way I feel after physical therapy for that sore hip, but I dislike the calls, the long waits on hold, the portal directions that never like my password. And that leads to procrastination, and that leads to guilt, and then I remind myself that mental health needs tending too, walks help a lot, and I bundle up for a walk unless my feet hurt.

This year I have promised myself to get them cared for more frequently and to look inward and outward at whatever else needs care. I’m keeping my tending close, making changes where I can. Figuring out how to live for the next decade and possibly more requires some deep breathing, a little prayer or meditation, and attention to pain in others and in myself. What hurts? Why? Can I fix it? Should I try? Could it be prevented? What else needs tending? Asking often is a good exercise. I recommend it.

Lee Wicks lives in Montague.