FLATIRON JIM
Jake and I recently went on a hike in the SouthWest.
The hike was straight uphill, with several sections that involved hand over foot climbing, and traversing over giant rocks.
On the way up, I was grateful to meet Flatiron Jim.
Flatiron Jim wore a shirt that said:
“90 and Still Kicking!”
But the 90 was crossed out in permanent marker and replaced with 91.
Flatiron Jim is 91 years old young and has done this hike 30 times in the last calendar year.
In total, he has done the hike over 300 times.
He had a smile on his face the entire time.
He never appeared to break a sweat.
He had packed snacks, which he enjoyed on top of a rock at the halfway point.
Like Nancy, who opened Outrageous Boutique at the age of 91, Flatiron Jim is living his best life in his older years.
Research tells us that both “embracing new experiences” and “pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone" help us to thrive as we age.
Clearly, Flatiron Jim is doing both.
We can do these things too, even if we aren't quite 91 yet.
Here are a few appearances he's made on YouTube in the last couple of years:
If you’re interested in casting your own vision for the future and considering how to put your values into action both now, and in the future, you may enjoy reading Expansive Impact: an invitation to lead in everyday moments. Within, you’ll find prompts for finding your own north star, aligning your values with your actions, and creating alignment in both leadership, and life.
You may also enjoy Steven Kotler’s book, Gnar Country: Growing Old and Staying Rad which aims to decode the secrets of peak performance aging. Kotler believes, “A proper mindset towards aging is also a growth mindset. If you have a fixed mindset around aging, everything about lifelong learning is going to be worthless.”
And in this Healthier Together Podcast episode, Busting Myths About Aging: Live Longer and Feel Better with Dr. Becca Levy, Liz Moody interviews Dr. Becca Levy, author of the book Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live.|
Here's to celebrating Flatiron Jim and perhaps even channeling him as we ponder on some self-reflection questions:
What is one thing that makes me feel alive?
What is one thing that connects me to a feeling of vitality?
What did I love to do when I was younger? What could it look like to incorporate something along these lines into my present day reality?
Interested in joining the conversation, through weekly reflections and resources on leadership and life?
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