Often I hear from guys my age that they dread their birthday, especially the milestone years. 55. 60. 65.
I have a completely different outlook.
I love my birthdays. Especially the milestone years.
I do not see birthdays as countdowns. Not another year of loss. Not one step closer to the end. For me, birthdays are a measure of continuation. The milestone years are not something to hide from. They are something to wear like a badge of honor.
This is where mindset matters. A lot.
It is an awesome feeling when someone asks how old I am and I see the surprise on their face when I answer, “65.” Part of that is appearance. Part of it is style. Part of it is attitude. But the real driver is mindset.
In an earlier Note From the Field, I asked a question that has stayed with me: How old are you when you close your eyes? The more I think about it, the more I believe my mindset controls the answer. And that answer does not stay hidden. It shows up in how I move, how I dress, how I talk, what I try, what I still think is possible.
You can see it in other people, too. Not as judgment. As signal. Watch how people carry themselves. Watch how they talk about age. Watch what they have already decided is “not for them anymore.”
Sometimes the body follows the story.
Spending meaningful time with people who make you feel more connected to life instead of withdrawn from it helps. So does continuing to do things that keep you moving, curious, and engaged. For some people that might be skating, snowboarding, surfing, or rock climbing. For others it might be pickleball, golf, hiking, dancing, learning an instrument, traveling, or simply trying something new instead of quietly shrinking your world.
I still like the idea of trying indoor rock climbing again. It was one of the best whole-body workouts I ever experienced. It also reminded me how much of staying young is simply staying willing.
And that is the core essence of Forward Motion and LYDO. Especially the “Live Young” part. Living young is the key to dying old. But not tomorrow.
There is a reason people say “Happy Birthday.”
Because another lap around the sun is proof of forward motion.