“Don’t Let the Old Man Into Your Life”
Hello Friend!
“Do You Invite the Old Man or Old Woman Into Your Life Every Day? Stop It!”
A friend (let’s call her Ann) called me this morning and during the conversation asked me how is it that Hollywood’s Clint Eastwood, now over 90 years old, is “still acting in, directing & producing movies.”
I told Ann that Clint Eastwood once said in response to a question about how he still does it at his advanced age, “I just get up every day and don’t let the old man in.”
Ann said, “You should write about that.” And so, I am.
My encouragement to you, “Don’t Let the Old Man Into Your Life,” is not about age.
It is about a mindset that could become limited with each passing year of life.
I don’t care your age. Doesn’t matter to me whether you are 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85…years of age. I don’t care whether you are a man or a woman. I don’t care what you have experienced in your life.
I know people who are in their thirties who HAVE let the old man into their lives.
I know people YOUR age who HAVE let the old man into their lives.
These people are so negative about and/or uncurious about and/or uncommitted about their own lives that they have…
…dug their own graves and are standing at the edge waiting to jump in.
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Have you let the old man (or old woman) into your life? Get him/her out and never let him/her back in.
He/She ain’t a friend! The Old Man wants to destroy you.
“Don’t Let The Old Man Into Your Life,” so that you can protect your thinking – your mind – from atrophying.
Atrophying is defined as the gradual degeneration, decline, or decrease in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect.
EVERYTHING atrophies when you let your thinking atrophy. What atrophies?
- Your health & physical well-being atrophies.
- Your curiosity atrophies.
- Your ability to think independently atrophies.
- Your happiness atrophies.
- Your ability to bring joy to others atrophies.
- Your freedom atrophies.
- Your desire to live atrophies.
15 Things you can do so that you “Don’t Let the Old Man Into Your Life”
- Don’t stop fighting for what you want to do in life.
- How would you act, think, and experience life if you did not know the year that you were born? Act the way you’d act if you were 10, 20, 30, 40 years younger…with this one, delicious, advantage: Think with the wisdom that has come with your actual age. Your experience should have made you smarter. Right? Right???
- Don’t let yourself slide into inactivity and become less fit and less healthy.
- Don’t stop being adventurous.
- Don’t stop trying new things.
- Do set Big Goals and pursue them.
- Don’t stop learning new things.
- Keep your mind active.
- Do stay positive.
- Don’t be a poisonous personality.
- Don’t become disconnected from good friends.
- Don’t stop dancing.
- Do something new or different or differently as often as you can.
- Stay curious.
- Live excited!
Don’t dig your own grave and wait at the edge. You’ve got lots more to do, to accomplish, to become. As long as you’re breathing, fight!
Don’t dig your own grave and wait at the edge. You’ve got lots more to do, to accomplish, to become. As long as you’re breathing, fight!
Before Your Head Hits The Pillow Tonight
Pick the age you last remember when you were operating at your most optimistic, energetic, and engaged in life. Let’s call that age your “Best Life Roadmap Age.”
Resolve – before your head hits the pillow tonight – that when you wake the next morning, you will think and act with at least (more is better) the same thirst for life, happiness, optimism, energy, and engagement as you did when you were your “Best Life Roadmap Age.”
Okay – if you are one of those people who can’t recollect an age when you were at a high point of happiness, optimism, energy, and engagement, that’s okay… Or, if you are too young to have yet had a high point… Send me a message letting me know so we can set up a talk. By the time you and I finish our conversation, you will have your “Best Life Roadmap Age.” Guaranteed!
A Book I’m Reading
I am reading “Great Day for Up” by Dr. Seuss. (Get it here: https://amzn.to/3fvVs09 ) The book’s message is for kids who are age 3 to 103. Quick tip: The last page of the book is about a person who HAS let the old man into their life. Don’t be that person.
A Quote I’m Embracing
Benjamin Franklin said, “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” Do whatever you need to do so that you don’t get old too soon. Join me in this focus. Together, we win.
Something to Sing
So you want to keep the old man or old woman out of your life? Check out “Back in the High Life Again” by the very smooth Steve Winwood. (Listen here: https://youtu.be/Adw772km7PQ )
The lyrics will make you dance to life with one hand free! Here’s a taste:
“I hope that you’re still out there and you’re like you used to be. We’ll have ourselves a time, And we’ll dance ’til the morning sun, And we’ll let the good times come in, And we won’t stop ’til we’re done.”
Let’s commit to not stopping until we’re done.
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Click Here to get your free subscription to Talented the Newsletter from Catapult Leaders that’s all about getting your dream job, keeping your great job, interviewing like a pro, writing great resumes, dealing with workplace stress, getting promoted, negotiating for more money, thriving while being “the only” or “one of the few” like you in your workplace, managing bosses, knowing when it’s time to move to a better job…and more!
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Here’s the key:
We are the leaders we need.
One more thing:
“In life, you don’t get what’s fair,
you don’t get what’s good,
you don’t get what’s nice,
you don’t get what you deserve,
you don’t get what you wish for,
and – you do not get what you need.
In life, my friend, you get what you do. Period.
Make the person in the mirror (that’s you!) do the right things and you will win at the game of life.”
The Best is Yet to Come. Enjoy Life!
Darryl L. Mobley
CEO – Catapult Leaders
Life & Executive Coach
