SUNDRE — A little dash of fresh air mixed with a daily dose of exercise are important ingredients that go a long way in the recipe to improving one’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Peggy Stockwell, a resident at the Mountain View Seniors’ Housing campus of care in Sundre, is an inspirational example who begins her daily routine with a walk.
While the 92-year-old used to stroll every morning over to the nearby Tim Hortons and back — amounting to a nearly three kilometre round trek — and also participated in a weekly exercise session at the Sundre West Country Centre, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in those gears.
“We can’t go downtown, we’re in lockdown here,” she said.
“I used to walk up to Tim Hortons every morning. I miss it.”
But even though the spry senior’s options have been substantially restricted as a result of the lockdown, even a pandemic is not enough to dampen Stockwell’s spirit and enthusiasm for exercise. So although she cannot go very far, she still gets up at about 5:30 a.m. to walk along the perimeter of the lodge’s grounds every day before breakfast, and heads out again several more times afterwards.
“I do that five times every morning — I like to go out there.”
Stockwell said she enjoys staying active — come the biting cold of winter or the scorching heat of the summer sun — because the fresh air and exercise helps maintain her mental and physical health.
“You have to use it or lose it!” she said with a smile.
Asked what motivates her to maintain her morning routine, Stockwell said she is just naturally inclined to wake up early.
“That’s a good time for me. I like to be up early. I like the mornings. It sets my day right.”
Stockwell said she also enjoys the community atmosphere of residing in the lodge. Moving to Sundre from Turner Valley in 2002, she emphasized she was never compelled or convinced to relocate to the Sundre Seniors Supportive Living facility, but rather did so of her own volition after deciding in October of 2018 to sell her duplex in the southwest where she lived by herself.
“I was tired of living alone,” she said.
“It was my choice. This is a very good place to live. I like it here,” she said, praising the staff as wonderful and the meals as appetizing.
And up until the lockdown, she said there was plenty of activities every day and nice people to visit with.
Although she looks forward to the end of the lockdown, Stockwell encourages people to in the meantime — perhaps as the Beatles might have said — take a sad song and make it better.
“I don’t want to hear people say they’re bored. There’s just no excuse to be bored,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s fun to be bored either,” but there are plenty of activities people can pick up — they just have to start doing them, she said.
“There’s lots of things to do, it’s your own choice.”
Her example certainly seems to have inspired other seniors in the community as well.
Anne Downey, who lives in the Eagle Hill aarea and considers Sundre her hometown, met Stockwell through the weekly exercise classes hosted at the West Country Centre prior to the pandemic.
“She’s part of our group. She’s very nimble,” said Downey, who misses not just the weekly class but also Stockwell.
“We’re all at least 10 years younger than her, yet she does as good — if not better — than the rest of us. She’s quite amazing!”
When temperatures drop well below zero and many people prefer to hunker down at home, Downey said Stockwell nevertheless braces for the biting cold simply by adding on a few extra layers of warm clothes.
“She’s quite the character,” said Downey.
The group that exercises with her at the West Country Centre miss Stockwell’s energy and enthusiasm, and Downey said they all look forward to the centre being able to reopen as restrictions are slowly but surely relaxed.
“We miss her.”
For her part, Stockwell said she also looks forward to being able to rejoin the group once it's safe to do so.
“I’ll definitely go back when they open again,” she said.
During Sundre council's May 25 teleconference meeting, a motion was carried proclaiming June 1-7 as Seniors' Week in honour and recognition of the past, present, and future contributions of the seniors of the community and throughout the province.
