Have you ever Googled a symptom and ended up more worried than when you started? If you’re retired, you’re probably not alone.
Retirement gives us something most of us didn’t have while we were working.
Time.
Time to notice things.
Time to think about them.
And sometimes…time to worry about them.
I’ve discovered that’s one of the unexpected parts of getting older. Just like I learned in Retirement Isn’t a Destination, retirement doesn’t mean life suddenly stops changing. In many ways, it changes more than ever.
Recently, I found myself taking a trip down a rabbit hole that started with a simple observation—and ended with my doctor laughing.
Watch the Video
Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s the full story, including the photo of my less-than-perfect parking job and what my doctor said when I brought it up.
It Started With Dr. YouTube
Believe it or not, this story didn’t begin with Google.
It started with YouTube.
I was watching a video about possible early indicators doctors sometimes pay attention to when evaluating future dementia risk. The presenter wasn’t saying these things cause dementia or that one symptom means something is wrong. He was simply discussing observations that can sometimes be worth mentioning to your doctor.
One point immediately caught my attention.
Changes in the way people park their cars.
Now, that probably wouldn’t mean much to most people.
But it meant something to me.
Because I’d already noticed that my parking wasn’t quite what it used to be.
Not terrible.
Just…crooked.
I’d get out of the car, look back, and think, “How did I end up parked like that?”
That’s when my curiosity got the better of me.
Then I Visited Dr. Google
Like many people, I made the mistake of searching online.
You probably know exactly how that goes.
One search becomes another.
One article leads to another.
Before long, you’re reading about conditions you never even considered five minutes earlier.
It’s amazing how quickly curiosity can turn into anxiety.
The internet is full of information, but it’s not always full of perspective.
Then Came My Actual Doctor
The next day I had my routine doctor’s appointment.
So I decided to mention it.
“I’ve noticed I’m parking crooked more often than I used to.”
He smiled.
Then he said two words.
“Me too.”
That was it.
No concern.
No panic.
Just a reminder that sometimes the things we notice about ourselves aren’t nearly as unusual as we imagine.
Retirement Gives Us Time to Notice Everything
When we’re working, life is busy.
Jobs.
Families.
Bills.
Appointments.
There’s always something demanding our attention.
Retirement changes that.
We finally have time to slow down.
Unfortunately, slowing down also means we notice every little ache, pain, and strange symptom.
A sore knee.
A forgotten word.
Waking up at three in the morning.
Parking a little crooked.
None of those automatically mean something is seriously wrong.
But they can certainly get our attention.
I’ve learned that retirement isn’t just about managing money. It’s also about learning how to manage our thoughts. That’s one reason I wrote Why Housing Matters More Than Social Security. Peace of mind often comes from much more than our finances.
My Blood Test Rabbit Hole
This wasn’t the first time I’d scared myself.
A while back I had routine blood work.
Everything looked good except one number that was just slightly above the normal range.
Instead of waiting to hear what my doctor thought…
I Googled it.
Within minutes I had convinced myself it could be something terrible.
Meanwhile, my doctor wasn’t worried in the slightest.
Looking back, I realized I’d completely ignored all the common, harmless explanations and focused only on the scariest possibilities.
I’m guessing I’m not the only one who’s done that.
Why We Do This
Search engines aren’t diagnosing us.
They’re simply giving us information.
The problem is that alarming possibilities naturally grab our attention.
Once that thought enters our mind, our brain starts looking for supporting evidence.
“I’ve been more tired lately.”
“I forgot someone’s name yesterday.”
“My shoulder hurts.”
“I parked crooked.”
Suddenly everything feels connected.
Sometimes it is.
Often it isn’t.
That’s why internet searches should never replace a conversation with someone who actually knows your medical history.
There’s a Better Approach
I’m certainly not suggesting we ignore symptoms.
If something concerns you, talk to your healthcare provider.
That’s exactly what I did.
Doctors know your medical history.
They know what questions to ask.
They understand what deserves further testing—and what simply deserves watching.
Dr. Google doesn’t.
Growing Older Doesn’t Mean Every Change Is Serious
One of the biggest lessons retirement keeps teaching me is that growing older means accepting change without assuming the worst.
Sometimes our bodies change.
Sometimes our habits change.
Sometimes our eyesight changes.
Sometimes we simply notice things we never paid attention to before.
That doesn’t mean every change is a crisis.
It just means we’re getting older.
Like I shared in How I Downsized More Than Just My Home, retirement often becomes a process of letting go of unnecessary worry while focusing on what really matters.
I’m still probably going to Google things from time to time.
Old habits die hard.
But I’m trying to remind myself that every little ache, every unusual blood test, every forgotten word, and every crooked parking job doesn’t automatically point to something serious.
Sometimes…
you just park crooked.
Apparently…
so does my doctor.
Final Thoughts
Have you ever convinced yourself you had something serious because of what you found online?
I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
Chances are, we’ve all visited Dr. Google more times than we’d like to admit.
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