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IMAGES OF INSPIRATION Christa Bortginon, masters track and field star, photographed by Alex Rotas
Photographer Alex Rotas Captures the Power and the Passion of Masters Athletes.
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GROWING BOLDER 3
CONTENTS MAY/JUNE 2015
FEATURE
LIFE IN FOCUS
DEPARTMENTS 5 | FROM THE EDITOR
14
6 | GROWING BOLDER WITH
13 | BOLDER SPORTS For “the Hackman,” the surf is always up. By Marc Middleton
7 | THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH TM Inspirational athlete shows it’s never too late. By Jackie Carlin
22 | ROCK STARS OF AGING TM Centenarian says “there’s something good about just showing up.” By Bill Shafer
8 | ROAD TO RECOVERY Become a force for healthcare transformation. By Robert Masson, M.D.
24 | BOLDER EXPERTS Learn from these common financial mistakes. By Joe Bert
10 | 5 QUESTIONS Now’s the time to make memories with loved ones. By Jackie Carlin
25 | BOLDER EXPERTS What dream is your home delaying? By Paul and Lyn Henderson
12 | MOVE FORWARD. GIVE BACK. TM Project hopes to put names to wartime faces. By Katy Widrick
26 | TEAM GB ELITE Team GB Elite is growing. Will you grow with us? By Katy Widrick
4 GROWING BOLDER
In her images of masters athletes, Alex Rotas finds personal inspiration and helps redefine our image of aging. By Marc Middleton
28 | SURVIVING & THRIVING TM How “Snow White” Michelle Knight slayed her dragons. By Bill Shafer 29 | BOLDER HEALTH With melanoma, early detection saves lives. By Lucky Meisenheimer, M.D. 30 | THE TAKEAWAY Want to change your life? Just change the channel. By Johnny Wimbrey ON THE COVER: Christa Bortginon, 77, holds 14 age-group world records and is considered the greatest all-around female athlete over the age of 75. Photo by Alex Rotas/ AlexRotasPhotography.com MAY/JUNE 2015
FROM THE EDITOR
A PICTURE OF HEALTH
Editor-in-Chief Marc Middleton Managing Editor Jackie Carlin Associate Editors Bill Shafer, Katy Widrick Contributing Writers Joe Bert, Paul and Lyn Henderson, Robert Masson, M.D., Lucky Meisenheimer, M.D. Additional Photography Alex Rotas, The Rescued Film Project Digital Development and Production Jason Morrow, Pat Narciso, Josh Doolittle, Mike Nanus
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All editorial content copyright 2015 by Bolder Broadcasting Inc. Growing Bolder is a registered trademark of Bolder Broadcasting Inc. Nothing may be reprinted in part or in whole without written permission from Bolder Broadcasting Inc.
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FLORIDA HOME MEDIA Group Publisher Randy Noles Art Director Jenna Carberg CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Harry Wessel Florida Home Media’s Family of Publications:
By marc middleton
O
ur cover story features Alex Rotas from Bristol, England. Alex specializes in action photographs of masters athletes, and when we saw her work, we immediately booked her for a transatlantic interview on Growing Bolder Radio. She was such an inspiring guest with a personal Growing Bolder story that we promised to stay in touch. We were thrilled when Alex emailed to say she would be visiting the U.S., and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to introduce her to world pole-vaulting champ Joe Johnston. Not surprisingly, the two hit it off and it was a win, win, win. Alex got some great shots, Joe had a great time, and we were able to shoot a great video story of our day together. Alex has witnessed firsthand the free miracle treatment that slows or even reverses the effects of aging; a treatment whose effectiveness in combating age-related diseases has been verified by hundreds of independent studies; a treatment used daily by Joe Johnston. That treatment is called exercise. “You could make the case that aging starts in muscle,” says Simon Melov, a professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Multiple studies show that without regular exercise, between the ages of 50 and 70 we lose about 15 percent of our lean muscle. After that, we lose 30 percent per decade. As we lose muscle, we gain fat. And since muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells, our metabolism slows down, leaving more sugar in our blood and making us more vulnerable to a multitude of diseases. Loss of muscle also means loss of support for bones and joints, making falls and breaks more common. Regular exercise can actually increase muscle strength, function and mass in older adults — even into our 90s. Exercise also appears to protect the mind by promoting the formation of neurons in the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with memory. The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia. Regular exercise not only prevents hippocampus shrinkage but actually increases its size. While crossword puzzles might be fun, their impact on brain-health benefits pale in comparison to exercise. Bruce Grierson, author of a book on Olga Kotelko, a masters track and field star who’s featured in our story this month on Alex Rotas, puts it this way: “For building cognition, Sudoku is a shovel and exercise is a bulldozer.”
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Marc Middleton, Editor-in-Chief marcmiddleton@growingbolder.com GROWING BOLDER 5
GROWING BOLDER WITH
GLORIA GAYNOR
65
Disco Icon
“Let me tell you something. Even after all these years, whenever I perform ‘I Will Survive,’ I become 295 percent, Grade A ham! I still remember the first time I read the lyrics for the song. I knew immediately it was a hit; I hadn’t even heard the melody yet. Then when I heard the song, I was like, ‘Oh yes. Everyone is going to be able to relate to this song. Everyone is going to make this song the theme of their lives.’ It’s so uplifting and so empowering. I’m not surprised that as I get older, the song doesn’t. Nearly 40 years later, I still feel so blessed to have this song in my life.”
Gloria Gaynor didn’t invent disco, but she certainly put it on the map with her 1979 anthem, “I Will Survive.” Today, the Grammy-winning artist is still performing around the world and has starred on Broadway and TV. A sexual abuse survivor, she’s also passionate about helping abuse victims by sharing her story and supporting several charities.
EDDIE MONEY
66
Rock Star
“Back in the 1960s and ‘70s, we all abused our bodies. For a time, I was all about the sex, drugs and rock-and-roll lifestyle. I mean, who doesn’t love the girls? Then, 25 years ago, I married the love of my life and we had five kids. I don’t have to look around anymore. She’s a great mother. She doesn’t drink or smoke, and runs five miles a day. You don’t want your kids growing up thinking their father is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Once I started raising my kids, I became more and more like my father. I even recently quit cigarettes after smoking for decades. I’m on the right track, and life is better than ever.”
Singer/songwriter Eddie Money has created a slew of songs that have become a part of our culture, and he’s not done yet. The man behind songs like “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Take Me Home Tonight” is still writing, still touring and still loving it. He’s also working on Two Tickets to Paradise: The Musical, which features several new Money-penned songs.
JIM ABBOTT
47
Retired Major-League Pitcher
“So much in life depends on creativity and accountability. You have to learn to do things in your own way. I had to learn to play baseball differently. And I meet people all the time who are charting their own courses, too. We also have an obligation to make the most of what we’re given. Sure, I was born without my right hand, but I also had athletic ability, great coaches and incredibly supportive parents. I was accountable to that. Don’t focus on what’s been taken away from you; focus on the opportunities right in front of you. Believe in yourself.”
Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott still went on to become an All-American pitcher at the University of Michigan, where he also won the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete in 1987. He was the pitcher for the gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team in 1988, and threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees during his major-league career. Now a motivational speaker, Abbott travels the country sharing his story. He’s also a guest pitching instructor during spring training for the Los Angeles Angels.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our entire Growing Bolder Radio conversations with Gloria Gaynor, Eddie Money and Jim Abbott.
6 GROWING BOLDER
MAY/JUNE 2015
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
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DeEtte Sauer reshaped both her body and her outlook on life through competitive swimming.
IN THE SWIM
Inspirational Athlete Shows It’s Never Too Late. By Jackie Carlin
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fter decades of inactivity, DeEtte Sauer became morbidly obese. Her doctors said she was certain to have a major heart event within five years. With one decision and the resolution to change, she not only transformed herself, she also discovered a hidden talent that’s now a major part of her life. Her turning point came during a family vacation in 1986. Everyone was going on a boat ride, and she found she was unable to stretch from the dock to the boat. She was mortified. “I went back to the hotel room and cried my eyes out,” DeEtte recalls. “Finally
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I just said to myself, ‘No more. No more. I’m not living like this anymore.’” When she got home, she slowly began making changes to the way she ate and, for the first time in her adult life, she started incorporating exercise into her daily routine. The first year was tough, but she discovered one of the keys of success — a weight-loss friend. “We supported each other, and I don’t think I could have made it through the first year without her,” DeEtte says. “Once I got through that first year, I’d established a pattern and sustainable habits. I was enjoying feeling better; I was enjoying being smaller and more active. Then it just became a part of how I lived.”
When she was at the gym one day, DeEtte, then 58, noticed a sign announcing a new masters swimming team. “I was bored with being on the treadmill all the time, so I figured I’d try out,” she recalls. “I’d watched my children swim, so I figured I could surely do it. But it was a mess. I could barely make it 10 feet and I was gasping for air.” But there was a young coach on the pool deck that day who wouldn’t let her quit: “She just said, ‘You can do this. You will do this.’ She was incredible. If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have done it.” DeEtte didn’t quit. In fact, she became a competitive swimmer who participates in the National Senior Games. She’s been so successful that Humana named her one of five game-changing athletes who exemplify wellbeing and inspire others to lead healthy lives. “Today, I’m 73 years old and I feel younger than I did when I was 40,” she says. “I feel stronger, and everything in my life is better. It’s really interesting. At 40, I thought I was old. And now I don’t.” Swimming took DeEtte out of her comfort zone and into swimming pools around the world. The experience has revitalized her body and her outlook on life. “I’ve met so many extraordinary people through swimming, and I’m enjoying traveling all over to compete,” she says. “I could have never foreseen that. I was not somebody who was excited about traveling. But now we have so much fun having all these experiences we never dreamed we’d have.” DeEtte’s lifestyle changes have even reversed her heart disease. “The last time I saw the cardiac specialist, he told me he never needs to see me again as long as I stick with this lifestyle,” she recalls. “He said, ‘You’re good to go!’” She hopes her story proves to people that it’s never too late to become who you should have been all along. “Life can get richer and more exciting as you get older, but you have to take the initiative,” she adds. “Too many people are complacent, and they’re not searching for those things that bring joy and passion into their lives.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our full Growing Bolder Radio conversation with DeEtte Sauer and to learn more about the daily habits she credits with saving her life.
GROWING BOLDER 7
ROAD TO RECOVERY Masson says changes in the healthcare system mean we need to leverage our influence to improve performance and outcomes.
DEMAND MORE Become a Force for Healthcare Transformation. By Robert Masson, M.D.
I
t’s become very popular to criticize the American healthcare system, and there are many aspects worthy of criticism. There’s a great deal of bureaucratic and political chaos right now, but much of the criticism is simply the result of a changing system — and change is scary. The reality is, the change is occurring for a reason. Our healthcare system is built on old standards that need changing. As we navigate this change, I see a huge opportunity to push the system to a far more functional level than it has ever been. In my 25 years as an M.D., I’ve never 8 GROWING BOLDER
been more optimistic about the opportunity for great and meaningful change than I am right now. There are two ways we can react to this sometimes frustrating but necessary process. We can play the victim and simply complain about it. Or we can become part of the cultural transformation and become a voice, a force, in the change. As a patient and a consumer, you have the power to moderate and influence the behavior and the performance of physicians, hospital systems and healthcare providers of all types and sizes.
You have more power than you know. By asserting your voice, by asking questions and making demands, you can influence the performance of healthcare workers and ultimately improve your own outcome. The healthcare system is learning to leverage the amazing digital and information technology now afforded us all. It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t be without some significant challenges. Change is rarely easy, but by being actively involved and highly motivated — by being an aggressive advocate for your own health and healthcare — you can influence that change. Embrace the opportunity to demand higher performance and better outcomes from every part of our healthcare system.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to watch more of Dr. Robert Masson’s Road to Recovery Minutes.
MAY/JUNE 2015
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5 QUESTIONS Yogi Roth and his father, who had just received a cancer diagnosis, deepened their relationship during a three-week walking journey along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Before It’s Too Late Now’s the Time to Make Memories With Loved Ones. By JACKIE CARLIN 10 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
MAY/JUNE 2015
YOGI ROTH
calls himself an “adventure-preneur.” He’s also a TV host, college football analyst, motivational speaker, actor, expert traveler and Emmy-nominated filmmaker. He currently works with Pac-12 Networks and has worked with ESPN, FOX Sports and NFL Films. He played and coached Division I college football. He’s also written several books, including the New York Times bestselling Win Forever with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Yogi is the creative force behind a new documentary film called Life in a Walk, which encourages us all to spend time with loved ones while we still can.
Where did the idea for this project and your film come from?
As a lifelong athlete, I’m a naturally competitive person. After my playing career ended, I was always chasing the next big thing. I spent my 20s running myself into that wall that doesn’t ever break down. I was working all the time and it bled over into my personal life. I wasn’t returning phone calls and I wasn’t having a lot of meaningful relationships, including with my parents. Then, when I was 26, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I realized I needed and wanted to spend more time with the person who had shaped me most — my father. You asked him to go for a walk. Most of us would have just meant around the block, but you had a bigger and bolder idea in mind. You picked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a path famous for those who embark on it for spiritual journeys. Why?
I’m an adventurer, and I grew up in a very adventurous house. My father has always loved an adventure himself. And what I’ve learned from these trips is, not only do you see the destinations, you also see yourself in a different light. For this trip, I really wanted to choose a destination that had a lot of meaning. When my father was battling cancer and going through treatment, he would walk all the time, sometimes at midnight. His whole life had been about processing adversity through exercise. When thinking about this trip, I GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
thought, “How am I going to handle uncomfortable moments asking my father hard questions I’ve never asked?” I knew I wanted to ask him about love, life, heartbreak, getting hired and fired, having kids, getting married — all of these things. These were questions I couldn’t ask while walking around the block or sitting at the kitchen table. I knew I’d need to be where I was feeling adventurous. I said, “Let’s just go take one of the coolest adventures in the history of the world, and let’s do it together.” It was, by far, the most powerful few weeks of my life. The worst thing that can happen to us is to regret not spending more time with our parents or loved ones. What do you think now about the importance of pausing to spend that time with them?
As we age, I think we forget how much our parents have influenced us. We forget how much we’re attracted to the examples they set just by being who they are. There are so many little quirks and little lessons our parents share that we embody, or that we don’t even realize we embody. In life, too often, we’re rushing toward the next goal or the next challenge. So we miss the simple joys. I’m so lucky that I caught it before it was too late. Thankfully, my dad is doing and feeling great today. What are your hopes for this project?
In the beginning, I was just trying to give a nudge to those close to me to spend more time with their parents. Then, our entire proj-
ect became a conversation. And now, with this movie, I’m really hoping we can become a movement around the simple idea of stopping and asking those hard questions to the people who influenced us the most. That, to me, would be the greatest gift of this film. And I think this lesson applies to everyone — if their parents are still around, if they have kids or if they have friendships they want to keep strong. I have no problem using my story, which was almost a really sad story, as an inspiration to people around the globe. You’ve worked closely with Pete Carroll, with whom you spent a lot of time thinking about philosophy and the meaning of life. After all you’ve been through, what’s the Yogi Roth takeaway?
We all get to paint any dream we want. As children, we start to cultivate our dreams. But it’s easy for them to get shot down, sometimes because we’re not strong enough to hold on to them. I’m passionate about trying to help people get back in touch with those dreams. Compete relentlessly to make them come true. Fight for them. To me, that’s living a life without limits. Jump off the high dive with a smile on your face, your arms pumping, yelling loudly and enjoying it versus jumping off, holding your nose and praying to get down as quickly as possible.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to listen to our Growing Bolder Radio conversation with Yogi Roth and to watch the trailer for Life in a Walk. We’ll also tell you how you can see the film.
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 11
MOVE FORWARD. GIVE BACK.
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The Lost Film Project is looking for people who can identify some of the places and faces from dozens of rolls of previously undeveloped photos from World War II. Above are just a few examples of the hundreds of images the project team has uncovered.
Project Hopes to Put Names to Wartime Faces. By Katy Widrick
D
o you know the people or places in these photos? They feature World War II veterans captured on film but so far, unidentified. The Rescued Film Project (rescuedfilm.com) has tackled a massive task — taking previously undeveloped rolls of film, found in locations all over the world, and processing them in hope that someone can help put names to the faces and places featured in the photos. The Rescued Film Project’s hardworking team believes that the images are important and warrant the effort and attention. Here’s how they describe their work and its purpose: “Every image in The Rescued Film Project, at some point, was special for someone. Each frame captured reflects a moment that was intended to be remembered. The picture was 12 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
taken and the roll was finished and wound up. Then, for reasons we can only speculate, it was never developed. These moments never made it into photo albums, or framed neatly on walls. We believe that these images deserve to be seen, so that the photographers’ personal experiences can be shared — forever marking their existence in history.” The undeveloped film strips aren’t always in good condition — they’re often degraded by weather and storage conditions. And with each passing day, it becomes more difficult to not only restore the photos but to find people who can identify the people shown. The project’s origins are both fascinating and inspiring; it all started when the team recovered 31 rolls of undeveloped film taken by an American soldier seven decades earlier.
Editor’s Note: Copyright of the collection of images featured in this article and on rescuedfilm. com is owned by The Rescued Film Project. Duplication of any images without prior consent is prohibited. Growing Bolder received permission to use and share these photos.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolder.com to watch a video showcasing the development process and an interview with the project’s leader.
MAY/JUNE 2015
PHOTOS: The Rescued Film Project
LOST HISTORY
From there, they started collecting other rolls and working to connect the historical dots. Some rolls are accompanied by letters or notes; others are total mysteries. And that’s where you come in. Do you know the people or places in these photos? If you see something or someone you recognize, you can reach out to The Rescued Film Project to share the information. And if you have film you think the project should see, even if it’s expired or old, you can contribute it for free processing and archiving. The team is also taking donations that go toward supplies used in the restoration process.
BOLDER SPORTS At age 45, Dave Hackett became the oldest person to ever complete Tony Hawk’s infamous “Loop of Death.”
BALANCING ACT For the Hackman, the Surf is Always Up. By Marc Middleton
PHOTO: Daniel Harold Sturt
A
sk Dave Hackett what he does and the answer is “surf.” He doesn’t mention the fact that he’s also a successful entrepreneur, life coach, fine artist, commercial graphic designer, business consultant, addiction recovery expert and skateboarding pioneer. Nor does he mention the fact that he’s a former skateboarding World and U.S. Open Champion who’s been featured in just about every important book and movie ever made about the sport. “If I could do only one thing,” Hackett says, “it would be surfing. Surfing and connecting with Mother Nature is the most healing, most amazing thing for the soul.
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We only started skateboarding because it was an extension of surfing.” To this day, the now 54-year-old skateboarding icon surfs every chance he gets. If the waves are rolling, Hackett is headed to the beach. Extreme skateboarding began in the early ’70s in Southern California as a kind of cross training for surfing. Hackett, known as “the Hackman” to his many friends and fans, grew up in Malibu and was friends with members of the Zephyr Skateboard Team (the Z-Boys) from the nearby West Los Angeles neighborhood known as Dogtown. He was among the first to skateboard in empty backyard swimming pools and to turn his passion into a payday. Says Hack-
ett: “Our vision was, ‘Let’s become professional skateboarders, let‘s get paid for this. Let’s follow our hearts and make it our living.’ And that’s exactly what we did.” Thirty-five years later, Hackett is still a professional skateboarder, and is regularly featured in skateboarding publications. In 2006, at the age of 45, he became the oldest person in history to complete Tony Hawk’s infamous “Loop of Death.” “I absolutely had no plans to even try the loop that day,” Hackett recalls. “I saw these young guys attempting it and nobody could do it. You have to be absolutely sure in your mind, body and soul that you can do it, because there’s only two ways to end up. One, you do it. And two, you go to the hospital. I knew I could do it.” Hackett knows that extreme sports and middle age aren’t supposed to mix, but he disagrees. “I don’t care how old you are,” he says. “If you really want to do something, you can do it. I don’t really see age like everybody else does. All I see is, I’m going to do things, and I’m not going to let anything stop me.” Adds Hackett: “I don’t see age as a block. There are no limits to what you can do in this lifetime. If you put your focus on something, think positively and keep your goals in alignment with your actions, you can achieve anything.” Even colon cancer was nothing more than a bump in the road to the Hackman. “Life is a set of challenges, and just because we have something great going today doesn’t mean that it’s going to last forever,” he says. “Staying in the moment and handling anything that comes up — and knowing that you’re going to get through to the other side — is the secret.” Of course, he adds, it’s necessary to adopt a physically and emotionally healthy lifestyle. “Pray, meditate, exercise, eat healthy and don’t put things in your body that are going to mess you up,” Hackett says. “I don’t drink or use drugs. I stay sober. It’s important to always be going for a goal — to have a gleam in your eye for the future; a vision of what’s to come. “I know one thing for sure about my future. I’ll be surfing.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our conversation with Dave Hackett and learn more about the early days of extreme sports in Southern California.
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 13
Alex Rotas retired from academia and discovered a new passion for photography.
LIFE IN
FOCUS In Her Images of Masters Athletes, Alex Rotas Finds Personal Inspiration and Helps Redefine Our Image of Aging. By Marc Middleton 14 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
MAY/JUNE 2015
Long-jumper Jhalman Singh, 80, from Great Britain, competes in the 75-79 age group.
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 15
Sheila Champion, 79, from Ireland, goes for the gold in the women’s javelin throw.
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lex Rotas has advanced degrees in geography, special education and visual culture. She’s taught language skills to preschool-age deaf children, visual theory to university students and developed palliative-care training programs for hospice. She’s an academic superstar who likes being the teacher but loves being the student. “I love being a beginner,” she says. “I love being at the bottom of a steep learning curve. I keep finding that one thing leads to another.”
Alex lives in Bristol, England, and when she retired from academia in her early ’60s, she wondered, like many retirees, “What’s next?” She began looking for inspiration in the form of photographs of older people actively pursuing their passions. “I was astonished,” she says. “Not only does our culture fail to celebrate this kind of 16 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
activity, it mostly ignores it. And at the same time, I became painfully aware that most of the images in the media of people my age and older were predominantly depressing.” Alex failed to find the inspiration she was looking for. That failure, however, became her inspiration: “I began thinking that this was an opportunity, and if I
couldn’t find the kind of images I’d like to see, I could learn to take them myself.” She bought a camera, found a mentor, took photography classes and fearlessly forged ahead. A former competitive tennis player, she knew how to relate to athletes, and quickly became a regular at national and world masters track and field championships. At those events, she took MAY/JUNE 2015
Leontine Vitola, 78, from Latvia, shows her relief upon crossing the finish line in the 400-meter run.
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 17
On a recent trip to the U.S., Alex met 71-year-old polevaulting and heptathlon star Joe Johnston (below and facing page). She took a few photos and soon found herself literally swinging on a trapeze from the rafters of Joe’s homemade backyard pole-vaulting space, dubbed the “Joe Dome.”
action photographs of many of the world’s best older competitors. The more Alex got to know those she photographed, the more inspired she became. She learned that even world-record holders aren’t genetically superior individuals, immune to the physical disabilities that we all face as we get older. In fact, the opposite is often true. Says Alex: “Most people would have 18 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
the impression these older athletes are super human; that they don’t have the hip replacements, the knee replacements, the heart attacks or the strokes. But they do. Sometimes they have a combination of all of the above. They just don’t let these things defeat them.” One of Alex’s favorite subjects was 37-time world-record holder Olga Kotenko, an international age-group superstar who competed
in track and field until her death at age 95. “One day I said to her, ‘Olga have you been doing track and field all of your life?’ And she said, ‘Heavens no, honey. I only took it up when I was 77 years old,’” recalls Alex. Olga, she notes, also had no idea she could write until she wrote her first book, at age 93. “Olga was still learning about herself and discovering new talents in her 90s,” adds Alex. “If that’s not encouraging, what is?” MAY/JUNE 2015
Alex’s photographs were powerful individually. But she knew they’d carry even more impact compiled in a book along with revealing inside stories about the athletes she’d befriended. So, at age 64, she published Growing Old Competitively, which is packed with the kind of inspiring photos she couldn’t find anywhere else just a few years ago. English shot-put champion Cliff Taylor is GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
among the many greats featured in her book. “I saw him at a meet,” she recalls. “I said, ‘Cliff, here’s my book and I put your picture in it!’ And he said, ‘Alex, why did you put me in your book of old people?’ He’s 84, and wondered why he was in a book of ‘old people!’” That question sums up the attitude of most masters athletes. They don’t consider themselves old, so they don’t act old. And, to a large degree, they don’t get old. They
remain active until the very end, which is exactly what happened to Olga Kotelko. “I was convinced I would be photographing her when she was 100 or 105,” says Alex. “I was shocked to hear that she’d died two months after I’d last seen her. But it was actually a terrific death. She did what they call ‘squaring the circle.’ She didn’t decline. She lived like a blaze, and then went to bed one night and didn’t wake up.” G R O W I N G B O L D E R 19
Cliff Taylor, 84, from Great Britain, set a new British record in the shot put.
On a recent trip to the U.S., Alex met 71-year-old pole-vaulting and heptathlon star Joe Johnston. She took a few photos and soon found herself literally swinging on a trapeze from the rafters of Joe’s homemade backyard pole-vaulting dome. A photo session became a play day, with more smiles and laughter than second-grade recess. What did she think of hanging out with Joe? “Where to start? I mean, it’s eccentricity in the best possible way. He’s just his own person, isn’t he? You meet somebody like Joe Johnston, and your life gets a little bit bigger because you’re seeing somebody living in a way that’s totally his; totally unique. It doesn’t matter what age he is.” 20 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
Alex is using her book to pass along the inspiration she’s received and the lessons she’s learned from the world’s greatest masters track and field stars. “People are hungry for positive stories about our increased longevity,” she says. “We endlessly hear about how we’re going to live longer, but it’s all doom and gloom. Our culture casts a very negative light on longevity. There is an alternative narrative of joy and inspiration, and I’m grateful to be a part of spreading that.” People in their 20s and 30s who come to her exhibitions “are excited because it changes their vision of the whole aging trajectory,” Alex says. Suddenly, she adds,
they see opportunity, not disability, “and realize that a sad, sedentary later life is not inevitable.” Alex is changing the narrative around aging, not just with the pictures she takes but with the life she lives. She has a love of adventure and no fear of failure. That’s a powerful combination that has enabled her to create a new life in which she sees the world through the eyes of others — while sharing their passion and understanding their purpose. “The message is, never give up and it’s never too late,” she says. “There are athletes breaking world records who didn’t even start until their 80s. And they don’t MAY/JUNE 2015
The legendary, 37-time worldrecord holder Olga Kotelko, 95, from Canada, before competing in her first event in the 95-99 age group.
start to break records. They start for the fun and the fitness and the camaraderie. They want to live like Olga did — active, engaged, social lives until the very end.” Just when she’s beginning to master a subject she loves, Alex is forcing herself to move on to something new. Her next challenge will be taking portraits of older gardeners. “There are lots and lots of people in their 80s and 90s who get immense pleasure from gardening,” she says. “Capturing their passion in portraits will be a much different challenge than the action photographs I’ve been taking, but I can’t wait to get started. I’m totally blessed to have found something that I love doing that’s giving me so much. I’m having a blast. My life is getting bigger instead of just closing down.” Alex Rotas has discovered the difference between growing older and Growing Bolder.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our video feature story of Alex Rotas and Joe Johnston playing in the Joe Dome. We’ll also provide a link to Alex’s website, where you can see many more of her stunning photographs.
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 21
ROCK STARS OF AGING
TM
Dorothy Turner Johnson looks back over a century of living that included stints as a librarian, an educator and, during World War II, a member of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
HAPPY AT 100
“There’s Something Good About Just Showing Up.” By Bill Shafer
I
f you want to catch up with Dorothy Turner Johnson, don’t check at home because she’s hardly ever there. “At a very early age,” she explains, “I realized there’s something good about just showing up.” This day would turn out especially good. She’s getting all dressed up for a very special occasion — her 100th birthday party. She hops on her tricycle and pedals about a half-mile down to the clubhouse. There she leaves her trike under a tree and walks in unassisted. “My gosh,” she says. “Would you look at all these balloons?” 22 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
Dorothy greets all the guests personally, one at a time, with a hug and some small talk. Most remark that she doesn’t seem to be 100, which makes her laugh and say she can’t quite believe it, either. She’s visibly surprised by how many have shown up to help her mark the occasion. “I didn’t know I had all these friends,” she says. “It’s wonderful to have friends, isn’t it?” Dorothy makes friends everywhere she goes — and she goes everywhere. She was one of only a few African-Americans she knew who attended college. She also went to war, serving overseas in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
As a librarian and an educator, Dorothy broke racial and gender barriers — and her retirement years have been every bit as active. She goes to the theater and the opera, and she volunteers at the local school. She’s also there to support her family and friends. Dorothy’s philosophy of life is simple and elegant: “Everyone who lives in this world takes something from it, and should add something to it,” she says. “And if we become aware of that responsibility, it will greatly enrich our lives and our souls.” As Dorothy prepares to climb back on her tricycle and head home, she tells us she has no plans to slow down. In fact, she adds, she still has many places to go. Pedaling away, she looks back with a smile. “Yes,” she says. “There’s something good about just showing up.”
GB EXTRA You’re invited to Dorothy’s 100th birthday party! Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our video of this fun day!
MAY/JUNE 2015
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 23
BOLDER EXPERTS Bert says, if possible, avoid taking Social Security early. In fact, if you can wait until age 70, your benefit will nearly double.
FISCAL FOUL-UPS Learn from These Common Financial Mistakes. BY JOE BERT
I
’ve been a certified financial planner for nearly 40 years, and I know dealing with these issues can be confusing. My No. 1 goal is to help you protect your assets and ensure the money you’ve worked so hard to earn is there for you for the rest of your life. To set your course for a fiscally sound future, avoid making the same missteps I see other folks making. The most common mistake I see when it comes to retirement planning is people taking Social Security early. Now I know in some cases, you simply don’t have a choice. Bills, sometimes from health crises or other major events, pop up and need to be paid. But some folks think, “Let me get my Social Security now, because it may not be there tomorrow.” Let’s put that myth to bed right away. For those at or near retirement age — and I mean most of the Baby Boom generation — Social Security checks will keep on coming. Congress knows, without a 24 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
doubt, that shutting off the Social Security spigot would be political suicide. Now, as for our kids and grandkids are concerned, it’s going to be a different story. They’ll have to wait longer and will probably get less. But Social Security will be there for them, too. Let’s get back to the cost of taking benefits early. First, if you continue to work between 62 and 66, you’ll give back $1 for every $2 that you earn over about $11,400. So, if you plan on working and will earn that much or more, forget about taking Social Security early. Plus, if you wait, your final benefit will continue to grow. Also, if you take Social Security at 62, your lifetime payments are cut by about 30 percent. However, if you can wait until 70, your check will nearly be double for you and your surviving spouse. Another common mistake I see is Mom or Dad putting the kids’ names on their deed, bank or investment accounts. This is not a good idea.
If you do this, aside from any gift tax considerations for which you’ll be responsible, you’ll put those assets in jeopardy by opening them up to claims from other creditors. If your child gets in a car accident, or gets sued because he or she defaulted on a mortgage, those re-titled assets are now at risk. Also, if your son or daughter gets divorced, your assets could be part of the settlement. And transferring assets, either in whole or in part, may exclude you from some very good tax benefits. If you transfer assets during your lifetime, the donee (that’s the recipient) takes your cost basis. In other words, that house that cost you $50,000 and is now worth $100,000 keeps its original cost basis when your donee goes to sell. If the house is inherited instead, your donee takes it over at fair market value and can sell it the next day, paying virtually no income taxes. So you see, it’s important to take control of your finances. See a certified financial planning practitioner for more details. Joe Bert CFP®, AIF®, founder of Certified Financial Group, has been in the financial planning profession since 1976. He’s also president of Certified Advisory Corp. and is a Certified Financial Planner™. Bert is past president and chairman of the Financial Planning Association, and is a regular contributor to Growing Bolder TV. Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to watch Bert’s Growing Bolder With … Minutes for more tips. MAY/JUNE 2015
BOLDER EXPERTS
It’s Time to Make Your
GreatTRANSITIONS® What Dream is Your Home Delaying?
By Paul and Lyn Henderson
A
home should be a place where you feel comfortable, where you have just the right amount of room, and where you’re located near the places you visit
most often. But in many cases, as we age, a home can become a tether, a chain that binds us, that prevents us from doing things and going places. Do you ever catch yourself saying any of these things? We can’t be gone that long. Who will take care of the yard, pool, etc? Wish we could go away for the weekend.
It might be time to think about making some GreatTRANSITIONS®. It might be time to right-size to a home that takes less of your time and money to maintain. Here are some things to look for: Smaller or zero-lot-line home. Single-story home. Condo or townhome (to eliminate outdoor maintenance). A 55-plus community for activities and people with similar interests. The right living situation can open up your world, let you take that dream vacation, visit the grandkids, take up hobbies and help you live life to the fullest. Isn’t it time for your GreatTRANSITIONS®? For more information, visit GrowingBolder.com/greattransitions. GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 25
TEAM GB ELITE
NEW VOICES
Team GB Elite is Growing. Will You Grow With Us? By Katy Widrick
E
very day at Growing Bolder, we strive to deliver three things: hope, inspiration and possibility. It’s work we love to do, and we’re constantly encouraged by the support and enthusiasm we receive from all of you. So we’re constantly looking for ways to get even better, even bolder, and we’re very excited to announce that our team is growing! We want to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of Team GB Elite, who’ll be offering their views, opinions and anecdotes through blogs that you can find at elite. growingbolder.com. John at Late Night Musings: An astute observer of life — from the inane to the profound — little escapes his attention. Follow John’s musings at latenightmusings.growingbolder.com. Mary at Mary T. Wagner: A former newspaper and magazine journalist who became a criminal prosecutor, Mary has returned to writing. See what makes her so passionate about Growing Bolder at marywagner.growingbolder.com. And stay tuned! We have more contributors joining the team this summer, and we’d love to hear from you if you’d be interested 26 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
“John,” who writes using only his first name, and Mary T. Wagner, a writer and former criminal prosecutor, are the two newest members of Team GB Elite, our collection of superstar bloggers.
in becoming a member of Team GB Elite. Just send an email to marcmiddleton@boldermediagroup.com and tell us what you’d like to write about, why you’re passionate about Growing Bolder, and share anything else that you think we should know. We’re reviewing applications all the time — and we really appreciate your consideration. MAY/JUNE 2015
Is today the day you begin the next phase of your life?
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SURVIVING & THRIVING PRESENTED BY FLORIDA HOSPITAL TM
Michelle Knight believes in fairy tales. And why not? After surviving a childhood filled with bullying, losing several loved ones to cancer and a recent double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, she’s earning raves reviews for her role as Snow White in the smash-hit OffBroadway production of Disenchanted.
DISENCHANTED
How “Snow White” Michelle Knight Slayed Her Dragons. By Bill Shafer
D
o you believe in fairy tales? Michelle Knight does. She’s had to. It’s the only thing that got her through years of being a victim of bullying at school. “Every morning I’d be in tears,” Michelle says. “Total hysterics, knowing I
28 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
was going to be shoved, punched and told how ugly I was.” Looking for a place to hide, she immersed herself in singing and acting. “I was so desperate to be liked, and pretending to be someone else seemed to be my best chance,” she says.
The little girl grew up and blossomed into a multitalented tour de force in the performing arts. Searching for “the happiest place on earth,” she became a performer at Walt Disney World, where she played a variety of roles. “I loved to interact with the kids,” Michelle says. “If you take just two seconds to say hi, you can see them feel so valid and important in that moment. It’s a life changer.” She then went on the national tour of Grease with Frankie Avalon, the national tour of Annie with Mackenzie Phillips, and to Broadway with Jersey Boys. Her career was exploding, but a family history of cancer threatened to destroy her hopes for a fairy tale ending. After losing three aunts to breast cancer and both her great-grandmother and grandmother to ovarian cancer, Michelle feared she might be next. She decided to undergo genetic testing. “I forgot about it for six weeks,” she says. “And then I was at a restaurant when my doctor’s office called me and said, ‘Oh, by the way, you’re BRCA1 positive and it’s the deleterious mutation, which is not good.’ Three weeks later, I had a double mastectomy. Then a week after that, I had a reconstruction. My whole life was turned upside down.” Once again, the theater helped Michelle find her way forward. Just months after surgery, she was back on stage as Snow White, the lead character in the Off-Broadway production of the musical Disenchanted. She and the show took New York by storm. After a limited initial engagement, it was picked up by a larger theater and signed to an open-ended contract. “I’ve learned so many lessons from this so far,” Michelle says. “Cancer is not a blessing, but taking time to notice the everyday beauty in the world around you is. And because of my struggles, I’ve learned to do just that.” It would seem that despite all that she’s been through, Michelle Knight has found her happily ever after.
GB EXTRA Surviving & Thriving, presented by Florida Hospital, is our Emmy-nominated TV show that airs on WKMG Local 6. Visit SurvivingandThriving. tv to share your story of survival and watch complete episodes.
MAY/JUNE 2015
BOLDER HEALTH Meisenheimer encourages everyone to follow the “ABCDE’s” of melanoma detection.
IT’S SKIN DEEP With Melanoma, Early Detection Saves Lives. By Lucky Meisenheimer, M.D.
A
h, the month of May. Imagine Mother Nature, flowers, sunshine and, to give balance to the sublime, Melanoma Awareness Month. Yes, that nasty little skin cancer nobody wants to think about has its own month. To be fair, we’re not honoring melanoma; we’re merely trying to stamp it out. Similar to fire ants and zombies, nobody would shed a tear if melanoma was wiped from the face of the Earth.
GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
Sadly, due to the nature of the cancer, we’re not going to be able to prevent it entirely. But we can realistically make a dent in the number of deaths occurring. That number is about 10,000 a year in the U.S. That’s the equivalent of a small town dying annually. Melanoma can strike at any age, but the majority of deaths occur in those over 50. Unfortunately, many of the risk factors — fair skin, large number of moles, childhood sunburns and family history — are beyond our control as adults. Therefore, the key to
melanoma survival is early detection. Dermatologists are always chanting that you should “follow the ABCDE’s” of melanoma detection.” Here they are: Asymmetry in a mole Borders that are irregular Colors that are varied Diameter larger than a pencil eraser Evolving change. Regular exams by your dermatologist are fantastic, but you’re the guardian of your own skin and spots do change. If a previously normal mole suddenly starts bleeding, growing or getting sore, get checked now, not three months from whenever.
GB EXTRA Lucky Meisenheimer is a boardcertified dermatologist and chief of the Dermatology Division at Orlando Regional Hospital System. Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to see some of our feature stories on the one-and-only Doc Lucky. G R O W I N G B O L D E R 29
THE TAKEAWAY
JOHNNY WIMBREY C
Want to Change Your Life? Just Change the Channel.
hanging your life is as simple as changing the channel on your TV. I know because I did it, and I know you can do it, too. I probably had much further to go than you. I started smoking weed at 8. I was dealing crack at 14. I was homeless, armed and in a gang. I could see where I was headed, and when my friend was murdered, I knew I had to change. His death made me desperate to change. Nobody changes unless they hunger to. Do you? If so, all you have to do is flip the switch. It truly is that simple. Think of yourself as a television set. Millions of channels are swirling around you all the time. You just need to tune in to a different frequency. What do you want to tune in to, hate or love? Failure or success? Change your channel! Tune in to the you deserve it channel. Tune in to the where you’ve been doesn’t have to be where you’re going channel.
Remember, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. All you have to do to start is to change the channel. Turn to positivity. Turn to possibility. Age makes little difference. You just need to be bold, and to believe that you can change. Personal change has nothing to do with stepping on other people and everything to do with stepping up for yourself. You need to believe you’re worthy. Not in a cocky way, but in a determined way. Arrogance is when you think you’re better than someone else. Confidence is when you finally understand that no one is better than you. Don’t worry about the past. We all have messes in our lives. You may have screwed up many things. You may have let many people down. It’s never too late to turn your mess into your message. And don’t think somebody or something is holding you back. There isn’t. Stop holding yourself back. Make a hostile takeover of yourself. Take over your life, take responsibility for your actions. Do you really want to change your life? Just change the channel.
Don’t worry about the past. We all have messes in our lives. You may have screwed up many things. You may have let many people down. It’s never too late to turn your mess into your message.
Johnny Wimbrey is a best-selling author and a world-renowned motivational speaker. He’s a personal development coach and a sales training professional who works with celebrities, athletes, executives and young people to help them break free from the life he escaped. He writes about his harrowing childhood experiences in his book, From the Hood to Doing Good.
30 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our complete interview with Johnny Wimbrey and find out more about his commitment to helping young people break free from the life he escaped.
MAY/JUNE 2015