What you're going through -- struggles with a basic physical ability like walking -- seems like something most people face when they're much older.

I'm sorry. It's not fair.

I've always hiked and walked. It's my most important psychological relief. Now I have numbness starting in my feet, and the neuro says the motor nerves are weakened as well. So it may be the neuropathy which finally ends my walking.

But I'm 57 years old! That makes it different. I've reached the point where I know that something will start taking my abilities away. You're shouldn't be there yet!

Again, I'm sorry.

Therapy, yes! Double yes.

I hope your therapist is a good fit for you -- if she's not, find one who is. You should walk out of a session feeling emotionally cleansed, newly open, with something like a calm center beginning to grow inside. That would be a sign of good therapy.

If you walk out of a session feeling bruised and confused, find someone whose personality fits you better. Don't hesitate or be shy about it -- therapists are professionals and all of them should know that personalities must fit for good work to be done.

My beloved girlfriend does an exercise when her health class reaches the topic of aging: she hands each student five slips of paper and has them write their five favorite activities on them. Then she goes around the room and takes away one slip from each student -- "That's what aging does to people," she says. Then she goes around and takes away another slip...

Now here's the punchline: I told that to a therapist recently. Without missing a beat he said, "She took away what they wrote, but she didn't take away the pen!"

Right! Even though we lose abilities, we can still write ourselves a strange and beautiful life.

Keep posting, and tell us how things are going.