Adapt and Do Your Thing
Bob Eaton’s Approach to Aging Well
At 79, Bob Eaton isn’t slowing down. On any given day, you’ll find him in motion — working in the garden, out on the golf course, or cruising the Connecticut River with his granddaughters.
“I like to garden. I like to golf. I like to go fishing, and mow, and work outside and everything,” he says. “When the granddaughters come up for camping for a week in the summer, we’ll rent a pontoon boat and go on the Connecticut… It’s the best – you see geese, you see deer swimming across the river, you see the eagles up in the trees, and all the wildlife. Sharing that – there’s nothing like it.”
It’s these moments – time outside, time with family – that matter most to him. And staying active is how he stays connected to them. So what’s Bob’s approach to maintaining that activity as he ages? If you ask him, it comes down to three things:
1. Move with intention.
“It’s hard at times because it’s very easy to sit around,” Bob admits. “I like to read, and occasionally there’s something good on Netflix… but when the weather’s nice, you’ve got to get up. You’ve got to get out there. You have to want to do something and make up your mind. I’m not going to sit around watching TV and shrivel away. I’m going to keep going.”
It’s not about perfection. It’s about staying engaged — physically, mentally, and socially — and choosing activities that keep him in motion and in touch with what he loves.
2. Adapt as you go.
“It’s just a fact of life: You’re not 20 years old, 40 years old anymore… About five or ten years ago, I went to throw a stone or something. I used to play baseball and wing it from center field to home plate. The darn thing only went maybe about from here to the wall! So now I underhand and wing it that way.” He grins and shrugs. “You adapt to what you’re doing.”
Or, as he elaborates:
“The best answer is to be able to adapt or figure out other or better ways of doing things as my range of motion or strength changes as I age… and keep moving.”
3. Don’t go it alone.
When aches, pain, or serious setbacks pop up, Bob doesn’t tough it out — he gets help. Over the years, he’s worked through back pain, muscle strain, and major procedures, including a knee replacement, heart valve repair, and most recently, a hip replacement.
“Through it all, I called Taylor,” he says of Physical Therapist Taylor Daley. “I tell her what’s bugging me, and her fingertips confirm. She’s got the experience, she knows the anatomy, and finds exactly where the problem spots are. I swear she’s got X-ray vision! It’s been multiple different things, from my hip to my knee to whatever. I just go with the flow. I listen to her, do what I’m supposed to do, and it just works.”
And he’s quick to share that advice with others…
“We’ve told people, ‘Hey, why don’t you try this?’ And within three or four sessions, all healed up and ready to go… Bing, bang, there you go!”
By staying active, adapting when needed, and reaching out for support, Bob continues doing the things he loves, surrounded by the people and places he cares about most.
“You just do your thing the best you can.”
Meet Our Team. Cioffredi & Associates Physical Therapy in Lebanon, NH and Grantham, NH:
Our Team
Learn more about Cioffredi & Associates Orthopedic Physical Therapy services:
Physical Therapy
