Hello everyone

[Old Mike]

I'm a retired teacher now aged 82 and have only just realized what an effect my dyspraxia has had on my life. I think I always accepted that team games were a no go area and bike riding was just impossible as were any careers that involved manual dexterity. I would have loved to play a musical instrument to a reasonable standard, but, alas, Cello Grade One and Piano Grade Three were my peak. Fortunately when I wanted to do O Level (GCSE for those under 40!) Music my teacher suggested Singing and I got to Grade 8 and have done choral singing in a variety of choirs ever since.
When I started school we used dip pens - a real catastrophe for a clumsy left hander - I thank whatever gods there are that my senior school allowed the use of biros! I remain clumsy and prone to break things unless I concentrate, which is fine - except the ageing brain finds it harder to to keep focussed. I suppose this is how we cope, either by avoiding activities like team games, or finding a way round like singing for instrumental music, or by persevering as when I passed my driving test - on the fifth attempt. What has been more difficult to cope with has been a deep sense of physical incompetence that has fulled a lifelong tendency to bouts of pathological anxiety, although CBT, medication and meditation have proved very helpful. I look forward to reading others' life experiences - it's never too late for me to learn.

[Tom fod]

Hi Mike

Welcome to the Forum.
It's regrettably not as busy as a lot of the discussion takes place on social media.

There's definitely an emotional impact as we naturally compared ourselves or are compared to our peers.

I don't drive at all and while that has been limiting I have muddled along reasonably well since discovering about 15 years ago when I was in my mid-30s.

[Old Mike]

Thanks, Tom, for the welcome. Personally I prefer the slower pace of a web Forum to the frenetic world of social media - though that may just be my age! I need to focus on one task at a time.

[giannar]

hi! i am new here!

[Tom fod]

Hi Giannar
Welcome

[emmaross]

HI! I am new here!

[emmaross]

Hi!

[EddyScope]

hello everyone..!

[Tom fod]

Hi Emma and Eddy

Welcome to the Forum!