What do a bouncy 14-month-old and a drunken sailor have in common? Sooner or later, they are going to fall… and so are you! It is inevitable; unless you curl up on the couch for the rest of your life, you are going to lose your balance and fall. Even if you possess the grace of a stork on one leg or the agility of a Wallenda walking the line, unforeseen hazards like slick floors, stealthy patches of ice, mischievous bumps in the sidewalk, or Fluffy’s chew can still pose a threat.

Given that the prospect of taking a fall is practically unavoidable, the question becomes: What can we do to improve our chances of remaining upright? Surprisingly, the answer lies in practicing falling. Now, before you lock me in a padded room, hear me out.

Our younger generation, God help them, loses their balance exponentially more than active seniors. However, they do not fall nearly as much, and when they do fall, the repercussions are significantly less damaging. What gives? Of course, we can always point the finger at too many revolutions around the sun, but what specifically? Continue reading →