I don’t feel, look or think like I’m in my 40’s…and that’s my secret!
When I completed my 40th year on this planet, I looked in the mirror and said, “Wait a second! This isn’t what being in my 40’s is supposed to look like. I’m supposed to be tired, fat, angry, and jaded.” Well, thankfully, that wasn’t the case for me then and at 45, it’s still not. I run faster, bike longer, laugh more and feel better than I ever have and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon!
We all have an idea of what being in our 40’s is supposed to look like. My dad was fat and bald. He would drink beer on the weekends, watch football and gamble. He died at 68 years old. His health and longevity was not his priority. I love my dad and everything he did for me. It wasn’t all great, but I know he did the best he could and he provided the foundation for me to become who I am today. And for that, I will be eternally grateful. In many ways he showed me how I don’t want to end up and sometimes that is exactly what we need.
Today, I continually examine how I’m feeling and work on keeping balance in my life. I love to exercise, but I know I need recovery. I love to spend time with my wife and I know I need time alone. I love to travel, while I know it feels great to stay home and nest. I love to teach others to be healthy, happy and fit, but I know if I don’t live by that same code of ethics, I’m a walking hypocrite.
So, I schedule workouts, I think about and eat good food, I schedule events in order to spend time with loved ones and friends. There is a simple formula to it all, I think we have a tendency to complicate things and/or fall into the traps that society sets for us. Don’t make life more complicated than it needs to be, let go of any grudges and guide your boat down the amazing river of life. Don’t try to control the river, you’ll drown!
My 3 secrets for staying young:
Exercise: This is the best way to feel young. It’s hard, I know, but it’s rejuvenating and it moves your blood around like nothing else. The benefits are incredible. It’s one thing that everyone from the 90+ Study has in common. So if you want to feel young, you better workout.
Controlling your mind: It’s not A Clockwork Orange experiment, but it is important to understand your mind and to be able to direct it toward a positive state. It’s also important to let go of anything you might be holding on to in your mind. Life is too rich to live with regret. It will take you away from the beauty of life.
Being childlike: At some point in our lives, we decide that we have to “be cool.” We make the decision, usually sometime in elementary school, to start caring about what people think. That’s the beginning of allowing our mind to control our actions and the end of childlike innocence. To stay young, find those things that make you feel like a kid and start doing as much of them as you can! See you on the playground! @teddymcdonald
Photo Credit: teddymcdonald.com