Crooked Thumb

Photo: Looking forward. Roaring Fork Pass, Wind River Range, WY

Skiing the last 100 yards to the parking lot I was feeling my age. My son Charlie and his friend Aiden were waiting at the car; just as they waited for me earlier at the top of Mavericks, a 5 mile, 3000 foot vertical backcountry ski run in Grand Teton National Park. It was January 2024, just two months shy of my 70^th birthday and I had been on my skis for over 6 hours. I clipped out of my bindings and dropped my pack. The afternoon sun warmed my tired body. I turned to Charlie and said, “There is a day coming when you won’t want to wait for me anymore.”

Charlie gave me a wry smile and said, “Not yet.”  

In this edition of What I learned this Week, I’m writing about Reflections on Turning 70: Lessons from the Blue Zones. This a look forward using the ideas learned from Dan Buettner’s book The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer. I believe in adding life to my years. I wrote about this in a previous article: Don’t Let The Old Man In: Seven Strategies For Adding life To Your Years  Over the last several years, my power output has decreased and my recovery time has increased. But if you ask me am I slowing down? I will answer, “Not yet.”

Keep Moving

I believe in strenuous exercise. It is a common theme across Buettner’s Blue Zones. I incorporate high intensity in my client’s workouts. We work up to it, but I have seen the benefits both for weight loss and overall fitness. Medical research on aging confirms intensity matters.

As you age you need more recovery time. I will alternate hard workouts with low intensity workouts or rest days. For more detail on recovery see my article: Recovery: The 50+ Athletes Secret Weapon

Control What You Eat and Drink

Eat slowly. Eat less frequently. It’s okay to feel hungry. Limit your meat intake as you get older. Meat is hard to digest. Eat more fruits and vegetables. The benefits of a vegetarian diet are well documented. Get more fiber in your diet. Ground flax and chia are great additions to a smoothie. From the Blue Zones I have added more nuts, honey and tea to my diet.

Find Purpose

Do something meaningful with your life. Have a sense of purpose. In the Okinawa Blue Zone, the Okinawans call this Ikigai, “A reason to get up in the morning.” I am lucky. I have found a reason through my personal training business and my writing  

Learn something new: a sport, language or hobby. Every decade I learn a new sport: in my 60’s Nordic skate skiing, 50s paragliding, 40s tennis, 30s multi-day big wall climbing. Read my article: Old Dog, New Tricks: Living Longer and Happier My partner, Sarah is Korean-American. I am learning Korean much to her amusement.

Reduce the Chatter  

One of my favorite things to do is going for walks in the woods and prairies. I walk, listen to the birds, the wind, and feel the sun on my face, feet on the path. It may be counter-intuitive, but to reduce stress slow down, learn to meditate. Reduce the stress hormone cortisol and live longer, lose weight.

Nurture Your Spirit

Explore your spirituality. Having faith is a powerful component of the Blue Zones. I’m a recovered alcoholic. My faith is critical to my continued recovery. Frankly, I’m nervous writing this, but I think it is important.

Be Part of a Community

Not only is this important in the Blue Zones community, but it is backed up by extensive research. Humans are social creatures. If we isolate ourselves as we age, chances are our lives will be shorter. Loneliness is a killer. Develop new relationships. Reach out to friends and family on a regular basis. As we get older our circle of friends shrinks. Those who are part of a community live longer and fuller lives.

Conclusion

Nobody makes it through life without a few scars. Some of us have more scars than others. We may not be to blame for our problems, but we are always responsible for our choices to move on and make the best of a bad situation. We can learn lessons from others on how to do this. It is up to us to give up or say, “Not yet.”

Photo: Controlling what I eat: 7 day solo backpack trip Wind River Range, WY