They say as you get older, you become more afraid, unable, or unwilling to try new things. Even things you may have done without thinking twice before become a “no thanks.” I used to assume we had to accept aging came with limitations.
But friends like Dan Thurmon and Chris Crowley taught me to challenge this assumption.
Last year during the National Speakers’ Association conference, I witnessed Dan propping himself up to do a headstand — while balancing on a lectern! This guy is in his 50s!!!
I couldn’t do a headstand on a lectern when I was in my twenties, but even if I could, you’d think by 50 it would be a lot harder. That’s not the only thing Dan does. He rides a unicycle, juggles, plays disc golf and does all sorts of acrobatic stunts.
So I asked him about it. “How do you stay so young and active? Are you scared of getting hurt? Has it gotten harder?”
Dan gave me advice which has stayed with me since.
“You have to keep saying yes,” he smiled. “As you get older, it only takes a few times saying no to something before it becomes something you no longer do.”
As the years pass, we say no to more things. Maybe because we perceive risks we didn’t perceive before; maybe it’s because we lose interest in the thrills that once excited us; or maybe it’s because our lifestyle habits affect our weight and health, making it more difficult to say yes to certain activities.
Similarly, Chris Crowley posits all we need to stop the aging curve is to keep doing the hard stuff. Do some strength training and keep skiing, riding, or playing the sports you’ve always loved. In essence, keep saying yes.
One day, I went to a water park with my three boys. On one slide, you walk into a cylinder vessel and stand on Plexi glass. With your arms and legs crossed, you wait as the clear plastic door shuts and the Plexi glass slides open beneath you, dropping you at a rapid speed into a dark, winding tunnel.
My first reaction to this ride was “no thanks.”
I was perfectly happy never experiencing the adrenaline rush of this adventure. But my kids asked me to do it.
I thought of Dan and the kind of “older person” I want to be — young, active, and vibrant. I want to have fun with my kids and do things without being paralyzed by fear or creating unnecessary limitations for myself. I also recognize trying new things is important to activate new neural pathways in my brain!
And guess what? I did it twice last year and did it twice again this year. Much to my surprise, this year was less scary than last year!
Don’t get me wrong, I have certain limitations (I am still not doing a headstand while balancing on a lectern) but my limitations are not getting worse with the years. I do more now than I did when I was younger.
You don’t have to be an acrobat, marathon runner, or roller coaster junkie to stay young and active. Just keep saying yes to new things (and the things you enjoyed when you were younger too!) Don’t let your chronological age govern your choices. You’d be surprised how much you can toll your aging curve just by adopting this philosophy.
What will you say yes to?
