Before My Last Breath

Warning: If you’re young and healthy and never think about getting older and the world is your oyster and you are under 50 don’t read any further.     “Going cold turkey”.  The connotation is that we are giving something up.  Usually for good.  Things like heroin, or booze, or Oxy.  Things that really aren’t that good for you.   My cold turkey moment was bicycles.  Wait.  Aren’t bikes supposed to be good for you?  Yes, absolutely in theory.   However, in my case, not so much.  Of course, I loved the feeling of riding a bicycle – the rush of the wind, the freedom of motion, the ability to push my limits, and the boost in fitness.   All healthy benefits for sure. Except when crashes happen.  They will and they do. Typically, it’s some road rash or bloody knees and elbows with dirt applied. In my case it’s been all the usual get offs plus head trauma. It’s the “plus head trauma” that has me hanging up the bike for good.  I just can’t seem to keep from bashing my head when I do

Since we are human there’s a good chance we’ve made some questionable choices in our lives.   Maybe exhibited some less than stellar behaviors? Tossed a few hand grenades into a bunch of relationships? Looked in the mirror and went “MEH!”? ******* I’m guessing there will be more than a few heads nodding affirmative. And herein lies the rub: do we keep sitting on the pot?  Or do we say enough? And when we’ve raised our hand and made a choice to walk out of the garbage strewn around our life that’s when the magic happens. Just showing up for that choice opens a huge doorway to transformation. ******* How’s that you ask? This is what I tell my clients: these four words when unpacked can completely alter and change your experience of Life. Here they are: Belief . What is a belief?  Can it really change?  Looking at our beliefs is the beginning to unraveling the mystery of us. Story . What’s the story we tell ourselves about our world, the characters in it, t

It’s a mindset.  And one that until you reach certain milestones around age, you really don’t think too much about it.  Here are some obvious milestones: Puberty. Getting your driver’s permit at 16. Being able to vote in your first election at 18. Legally able to drink at 21. Then the next couple milestones might be around 30 or 40.  The realization sinks in that you’re not 25 anymore. A deep dive into middle age is on deck. ******* I have felt youthful my entire life.  And by good genetics or a Peter Pan outlook on life I never really felt my age. Turning 50 was no big deal.  Turning 60 also didn’t feel that momentous. I did have a total knee replacement that year and that was an indication that some things with my body were worn out.  But that was a game changing operation allowing me to continue my very active lifestyle pain free. But this past year being 65 has fucked with my head. I see the manifestations of aging showing up on my body. Hair loss. Muscle loss. Whi