Growing Bolder Digital Digest | December 2022: Soar

Joan, age 89 GrandPad User

We’re all told the same debilitating lie that aging is an inevitable decline into disease and disability.

Fountain of Youth®, a new podcast from Growing Bolder in partnership with the National Senior Games Association, smashes the negative stereotypes of aging and delivers life-transforming lessons for us all.

Hosted by masters athlete, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton, Fountain of Youth shares the inspiring stories of men and women of all ages, sizes, and abilities who are redefining what’s possible and living active, engaged lives into their 80s 90s, and 100s.

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

YOUR TAKE

"I ziplined for the first time yesterday."

—Rebecca F.

"Paddleboarding in August for the first time."

Terri C.

"I just enrolled in the University of Connecticut Bachelor of General Studies degree program."

—Cat A.

"3 weeks and 2 days from today I will participate in my first-ever long triathlon."

Lou A. M. B.

"Glass blowing class in Sedona, AZ."

Cathy A.

"Everyday! Aging makes all things old, too new."

Cheryl G.

"Yesterday. I loaded the bobbin on a sewing machine. Pretty sure I broke it."

— Diedra H. B.

"Last week, for the first time I signed up for a Pilates reformer class."

Patti L.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

From the CEO

The theme of this month’s Growing Bolder Magazine is SOAR. You’ll find stories that interpret the theme both literally and figuratively. And a couple that interpret it both ways.

As we age, we have an opportunity to soar in life. That doesn’t mean we have to go skydiving like those in our cover story. It doesn’t mean we have to do anything dangerous, heroic or even adventurous.

Soaring is a mindset. It’s about rising above the insignificant. It’s about claiming the rewards from the battles we’ve fought and the lessons we’ve learned. Those rewards are nothing more and nothing less than understanding what’s important.

We all get a little beat up as we age up. There is no easy path to our 50s, 70s, or 90s. But along the way we’ve gained perspective. We know that we can’t always be happy, and we can’t always be healthy. We’ve become resilient and learned that this too shall pass.

We become increasingly aware of the value of time. We know that life is precious, and every day is a blessing that holds within it the opportunity to rise above the trivial and insignificant. Every day is an opportunity to soar.

The challenge is ignoring a culture that thinks soaring is about money, fame, youth, and beauty and that, for us, it’s too late. But soaring isn’t about any of that. It’s about knowing, accepting, and loving who you are. It’s about living authentically and not being controlled or constrained by the expectations of others.

As we look forward to a new year, I encourage you to lean into life like never before. Now is not the time for fear, doubts, or anxieties. You be you, without apology. Soar in 2023.

“Soaring is a mindset. It’s about rising above the insignificant. It’s about claiming the rewards from the battles we’ve fought and the lessons we’ve learned.”

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Season 2 airing NOW! Catch new episodes across Florida!

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Marc Middleton, What’s Next! features a team of well-known Florida broadcasters and personalities, including Secily Wilson, Amy Sweezey, and Bill Shafer, all shining the spotlight on ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

What’s Next! is a jolt of inspiration that helps audiences of all ages believe that it’s never too late to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities.

Watch all episodes at GrowingBolder.com/tv

BOLDER WITH Kermit Weeks

Kermit Weeks believes we are all born with a desire to rise above, to free ourselves from our earthly bounds and soar among the clouds. Flight is a common theme in mythology. In ancient times, stories about the sky represented knowledge, rebirth, and freedom. Weeks has been obsessed with flight, both literal and metaphorical, for most of his life. He owns one of the largest private collections of historic, flight-worthy aircraft in the world. He built his first flyable airplane when he was in high school. Out of boredom, he dropped out of college to design and build his second plane. He made the United States Aerobatic Team at age 24 and at 25 finished second in world competition. He would go on to win 20 medals and two national championships. As much as he loves flying, Weeks is enamored by the fantasy of flight just as much.

“The way I look at it is I’m not here to teach people about aviation or about aviation history or how an airplane flies,” he says. “I’m here to use aviation to teach people about themselves!”

In 1995 he opened Fantasy of Flight near Polk City, Florida where many of his vintage aircraft were on display. It was part museum, part restoration facility, and part test-flight area. There is currently limited public access on most weekends, because Weeks wants to take the facility to another level. He’s created a series of children’s books, written original music and has dabbled at a script for a feature film. What he ultimately hopes to create is a

Disney-like theme park based on aviation.

“Whether you like airplanes or not, every one of us at some level relates to the metaphor of flight for what it truly symbolizes: something beyond ourselves,” he explains. “We can all relate to the concept of reaching for the sky and reaching for the stars, but we can also do it from within. We soar in our imagination, and we fly in our dreams.”

Weeks does not have a timetable for this most ambitious project, but he does have a dream to see it through.

“What I hope to do is to create the next industry,” says Weeks. “On the surface it may look like an existing theme park with a great story, technology and rides, but the difference is everything we’re going to create here will be based on things that are real and that have a direct bearing on what we all experience on this journey through life.”

Weeks hopes to use our fascination with flying as a way of triggering our passion, to reignite the spark of curiosity, creativity and adventure in us all. At the age of 69 he admits he can hear the clock ticking, but believes it is never too late to reach for the stars and try to turn our dreams into reality.

“We are never too old to take a step beyond ourselves,” he said. “Your age or physical condition don’t matter, because this is the key; your perception of reality can be transcended by your belief system. You don’t have to climb Mount Everest or ride a rocket into space. All that matters is that you take a step beyond what you perceive yourself to believe. That’s what truly taking flight is all about.”

Photo Alberto E. Rodriguez / Staff via Getty Images

“Whether you like airplanes or not, every one of us at some level relates to the metaphor of flight for what it truly symbolizes: something beyond ourselves. In the physical world we can all relate to the concept of reaching for the sky, but we can also do it from within. We soar in our imagination, and we fly in our dreams.”

Petrina Amsden

It was not a childhood to remember. Instead of laughing, playing and dreaming Petrina Amsden spent most of her time worrying, trying to elude the bullying she knew would come her way. If only she had someone to talk to, to encourage her and let her know she mattered. It is a feeling that has never left her, only now she’s fighting back; not with fists but with funds. She started a scholarship called iSparkle. The acronym stands for inclusion, support, protect, action, respect, kindness, lift and encourage.

She knows the toll bullying can take on a child, and she knows she’s far from the only one who’s experienced it.

“So many people have come up to tell me stories of how they were bullied,” she said. “So sad and unnecessary. And it made me realize that the way to defeat it is by standing together to give each other strength.”

Petrina is an entertainer who has been hired to perform at many fundraisers, and that gave her all the motivation she needed.

“I got to the point where I realized I was doing all this work for other charities,” she said. “What if I focused on this cause so very important to me? And that’s how it started.”

Normally an entertainer is used to having the spotlight on them, but she uses iSparkle to turn the spotlight on all the kids out there who are standing up for others and trying to be the best they can. She offers financial support, recognition, and empowerment.

“You don’t know what your future’s going to be like when you’re a child, do you? You don’t know,” said Petrina. “You know things are not right, but you just keep going. You

have fear, you have sadness but you also have hope and iSparkle wants to provide more of that.”

The support she’s received from her community of The Villages, Florida has provided hope for her, too.

“I’m so lucky to live here,” she says. “In a place surrounded by people who all want the same thing out of life, which is to live in a young-at-heart manner and to make a positive difference in the lives of others. They are such good people, and the friendships that have come from this blows my mind every time.”

Petrina credits support from the community for making iSparkle a success and it touches her heart to realize that an area comprised mostly of retirees care enough to make such a difference for people so young.

“I don’t even think about it until people ask me about age, but I will turn 55 next year and I’ve realized I’ve worked most of my life in retirement communities,” she said. “It’s funny, but I just don’t see it. I honestly don’t notice age at all. I just see caring, energetic people wanting to do whatever it takes to make a difference.”

Most of all, what Petrina wants us to know is that no matter who we are or what we’ve been through, there is something we can do that makes everything that much more worthwhile.

“Make a difference,” she said. “Be memorable. Do something good. Don’t hold back. You can live a better life, and you can make life better for someone else, too.”

For more on iSparkle, visit: Facebook.com/ iSparkleScholarship.

“If I could talk to myself as a child, I would put my arm around me as a little girl and try to convince her that it was going to be okay, that she was going to make it and that she was going to be just fine.”

5 Tips To Reach New Heights

This edition of the Growing Bolder Digital Digest is focused on the stories of adults who have taken a leap of faith, followed their dreams, and learned to soar. It’s something that all of us can do, but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start.

There’s a famous proverb that states, “Potential can only materialize into achievement when you allow it to.” As you reflect on the end of 2022 and turn the page to a new year, consider these five tips to target new achievements, seize your potential and reach new heights.

Photo by JAG IMAGES via Getty Images

Define Your Basecamp

It’s hard to know where you’re going if you don’t first identify where you’re starting from. Take a moment for self-reflection and answer some questions about your journey to this point:

→ What are a few memorable moments in your life when you successfully tried something for the first time?

→ What were a few opportunities to achieve something that you missed in your life, whether by intention or indecision?

→ What personal qualities give you belief in your ability to raise the bar on your accomplishments?

By establishing a basecamp, it will be easier to build towards your goals and lean on valuable past experiences and knowledge along the way.

If you need help taking aim at a specific goal, consider the following:

→ Make a list of the dreams you had when you were younger that you may not have reflected on recently

→ Write down the things you are passionate about that bring you joy today

→ Observe those around you, such as friends, family, and colleagues. What things do you see others doing that inspire you or even make you feel envious at times?

When we choose a focused, realistic goal, we can begin to map out a tangible gameplan to reach this new benchmark.

Set Smaller Milestones

By this point, you’ve taken aim at the ultimate goal you’d like to reach. While keeping that in mind, jot down a few smaller milestones you expect to hit along the way, with specific deadlines to reach them.

For example, if your intention is to write and publish your first book, break the goal into smaller bites of the apple. Set an early ideas meeting with a friend you can bounce your writing ideas off of. Mark a date when your first three chapters of your book need to be written. Circle a day on the calendar where you will spend a few hours researching and contacting publishers.

With each of these milestones, take a moment to reflect on the journey thus far. It’s an opportunity to reflect positively on how far you’ve soared already, and also to identify the lessons you may have learned from obstacles and failures.

Read About Others Who Have Reached This Goal

Take Aim at Where You’d Like to Reach

Reaching new heights can mean something different for everybody. Some may take it literally and want to climb a mountain or go skydiving. Others might want to take the leap towards a lifelong goal, like starting a business, writing a book, or learning a new skill. Focusing on a specific goal is the key. Rather than saying something vague such as “I’d like to be more adventurous,” hone in on a specific target like “I want to learn to scuba dive and take a dive excursion next year.”

Chances are, whatever goal you have in mind has been accomplished by someone else who was once in a similar beginner’s position as you are right now. Seek out the stories of other adults who have achieved similar goals to you and learn from their experience.

GrowingBolder.com

is full of stories of adults who have started a business for the first time, explored the world, gone back to school, learned a new instrument and so much more. Absorb the successes and failures of others to help form your own strategy.

Share Your Journey

Most experts point to having a community as the key to reaching new heights and maximizing potential. Tell supportive friends and family about your goal and your plan to reach it. Don’t be surprised when some of them may even want to join in on the goal themselves. Not only will you gain additional motivation to achieve your goal and a source of support to communicate with along the way, but you may inspire a loved one to soar in their own way too.

Sweet & Savory

Cherry Glazed Pork Chop

From Harvest

Brittany Driskell

Fall into a multitude of flavors with just one bite of this sweet and savory dish on our Harvest menu. You’ve got the bite from the vinegar of the reduced cherry balsamic glaze and the creamy savory taste of the goat cheese. Apricot adds a touch of sweetness to the savory pork chop. In 90% of my dishes, I try to balance those aspects as much as I can to give you a full experience when you taste it. With this dish you get a whole pop of that.

Chef Brittany Driskell is Director of Culinary for FMK Restaurant Group. The Tifton, GA native is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts — Orlando and is the culinary specialist behind the FMK restaurant menus, creating Harvest restaurant’s menu from scratch. Driskell loves to use her culinary skills and passion to push people to experience new things and new flavors, and to put a smile on customers’ faces as they dine.

Photos by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Illustration by Volodymyr Kryshtal via Getty Images

INGREDIENTS

8 tsp garlic, salt, pepper, coriander combo (see instructions)

1 lb of diced sweet potatoes 8 oz apricot goat cheese (see instructions)

16 oz balsamic cherry glaze (see instructions)

4 cups spinach 2 cups cherry tomatoes 4 8 oz frenched pork chops

DIRECTIONS

Grill Pork Chop to desired temperature (medium) and season with garlic, salt, pepper, coriander combo. In a saute pan wilt spinach with tomatoes. Roast sweet potatoes at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

TO PLATE

Layer sweet potatoes on the bottom. Add sauteed spinach and tomatoes. Top with pork chop. Finish with 3 oz of cherry glaze and 1 tbsp goat cheese.

½ cup salt ¼ cup granulated garlic ¼ cup coriander 2 tbsp coarse black pepper 1 cup goat cheese 2 tbs apricot preserves ½ lb dark sweet cherries .55 cups balsamic vinegar 3 tbs brown sugar 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary 2 tsp cornstarch 1/8 cup tap water

Incorporate goat cheese and preserves with a spoon.

APRICOT GOAT CHEESE BALSAMIC CHERRY GLAZE

Cooking on medium to high heat simmer to reduce cherries, vinegar, rosemary, brown sugar by half. In separate container combine: corn starch and water until cornstarch is dissolved. Add cornstarch mixture to create a thicker consistency.

Master Class

A Lifelong Learner’s Quest Continues

When Charles Roberson’s company failed in 2016, he wanted to know why. The former Hewlett Packard executive had struck out on his own, creating a business that used computer gaming technology to develop training programs for pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging equipment. For 15 years it was successful, with a worldwide installation base. What happened?

Many people might have shrugged their shoulders and gone happily into retirement. Not Roberson. He wanted to figure it out. The then 78-year-old returned to the University of Florida in 2020, 47 years after he received a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and entered a master’s program in entrepreneurship at the Warrington College of Business, intent on solving the problem of why his company failed.

Returning to the classroom after nearly five decades might sound intimidating, but not to Roberson.

“When you’re in the corporate world, you’re always learning something new. So, you’re in classroom settings or you’re responsible for writing proposals. It’s the same kind of thing,” he said. “I’ve always been engaged in having to perform either through selling, through writing, through going to classes and learning new things. It’s unquestionable that technology is continuously changing and if you’re going to stay abreast of it, you have to spend some time learning.”

Those life-long learning habits and a knowledge of technology helped him navigate the Zoom classes necessary during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. But Roberson, who lives in The Villages, Florida, missed the human connection.

“I grew up in the world of handshakes and face-to-face meetings,” noted Roberson. “In the online world, you can certainly learn a lot. You can watch videos, you can interact with people through tools like Zoom. But I found it very difficult to develop solid relationships, so I did go to Gainesville frequently to meet with professors and meet with other students.”

The other students in the program were enrolled to maximize the potential of their future business careers, and were curious about why he was there, after several decades in the workforce. His answer: “I love learning; which is still a true statement, although I had the hidden agenda of wanting to answer a problem.”

Halfway through the two-year master’s program, he had his answer.

“I discovered that what I was doing when I was running the company was promoting the technology. I was not managing a business,” Roberson said. “I was walking into sales appointments and saying, ‘Let me show you my

cool technology,’ as opposed to really doing a good assessment of what the customer’s needs were and understanding how to price my product relative to the value that my product delivered.”

There were challenges in Roberson’s post-graduate journey. First, he had to convince the school of business administration to admit him to the program. His undergraduate grade point average was below the required 3.0, due to both working full-time and attending school full-time. He also found he had to hold back a bit, laying low in initial interactions with other students and gradually trying to earn credibility before jumping into conversations with knowledge absorbed from his decades of work. The research Roberson did on seniors returning to school prior to beginning classes provided another valuable tip:

“You never try to know more than the professor. Even if you have experienced things that the professor has not experienced, you kind of hold those things back. You don’t announce.”

That was helpful when the professor in a sales class favored a different terminology than the one Roberson had successfully used his whole career. “I had to relearn all of the various sales techniques using the professor’s terminology and approach compared to what I had successfully used in the past. I ended up getting a B+ in the class. It was a little bit depressing because I have been involved in a fair amount of sales.”

Roberson earned his master’s degree in entrepreneurship and graduated in April of 2022, and chose to attend the graduation ceremony. He was the oldest member of the University’s spring class, and it wasn’t just his family that took notice.

“I had older people who were attending the ceremony for their kids and grandkids come up to me and shake my hand and congratulate me, which was kind of amazing,” Roberson said. “I don’t think it was anything special. I went

through the steps. I earned the appropriate number of credit hours. I enjoyed virtually every class that I took. So, I still don’t think it was anything special.”

Since graduating, Roberson’s commitment to learning hasn’t slowed at all. He’s been taking advantage of the Florida statute that allows Florida residents 60 years of age or older to audit classes at state universities, tuition-free. Roberson has audited courses in the Department of Religion at UF, but it’s the UF College of Medicine that will have his time and attention in 2023. He’s been accepted into a specialty program in the study of gerontology.

“I begin that in January, and I’ll probably be full-time,” said Roberson. “It’ll take me a year to a year and a half to complete that program. At the end of that, I’m not certain what the next step is, but I’m looking to combine my interest in gerontology and the application of big data, artificial intelligence, and the concept of wearables, meaning devices such as Apple watches and things like that. Combine that and maybe look for either some business opportunities or investment opportunities and pursue that in a year and a half or two years.

“I think it’s the year 2050 or something close to that, where the people over 65 will outnumber the people under 65,” Roberson continued. “So, the medical community —both the geriatric world and the gerontology world — is a prime opportunity for people to get in on the ground floor of learning those specialties because the demand is going to be significant.”

And who is more ideal to study it all than someone in the later stages of the aging process?

“When I applied to the College of Medicine to get into the gerontology program, my graduate GPA was well above 3.0 and I already had a master’s degree. But I made note in my letter of application that I was 80 years old,” Roberson said. “I thought to myself, how can they deny entry to their gerontology program from somebody who is there right

Photos by Benjamin Simons, UF Warrington College of Business

now?”

I had older people who were attending the ceremony for their kids and grandkids come up to me and shake my hand and congratulate me, which was kind of amazing.

CHARLES ROBERSON

To hear Doro and Tricia’s interviews with Ellen Warner, Christopher Willard, and many more innovative thinkers, plus a library of guided meditations, check out and subscribe to The Health Gig podcast at bbrconsulting.us/health-gig-podcast.

“That’s life: starting over, one breath at a time.”

Mindfulness

Preparing You For Liftoff!

When someone tells us they’re feeling stuck, our go-to response is to ask how they can get curious. We encourage our wellness clients to ask questions about how certain foods or activities make them feel, but anyone can benefit from curiosity.

In our recent interview with Ellen Warner, author of The Second Half: Forty Women Reveal Life After 50, we were inspired by the stories of women from around the world. One of the consistent themes in her interviews with these women — who reflect on their lives and offer advice for younger women — is to stay curious.

When we move through life on autopilot, we miss a lot. It’s when we pause to examine our habits that we create a possibility for change and expansion.

And that’s what we want of our lives, isn’t it? We are truly vibrant when our experiences are not stifled and limited but dynamic and wide. Soaring does not mean we have to scale cliffs or become experts in multiple fields. We just have to be open and willing to ask questions and take risks.

Sometimes going out of our comfort zone means mentoring or showing up for other people. Purpose is a huge component of a fulfilling life. It’s not necessary to be famous to play an important role in the lives of others. When we consider the experience and happiness of other people, we elevate ourselves.

Staying in a narrow lane is limiting, both for what we lose in knowledge and what others lose by not engaging with us. When we try new things and consider new avenues, we appreciate a wider diversity of people, cultures, and places. We feel grateful for what the world has to offer, and

for the simple fact of being alive! Gratitude is one of the biggest predictors for happiness.

Forgiveness is also key to reaching new heights. Anger, resentment, and sadness weigh us down and keep us from truly being happy and fulfilled. Professor Richard Davidson writes about neuroplasticity and explains that we can change our brains by changing our minds. There’s no reason to waste the time we have left plodding down the same worn paths when we can explore new ones.

It may be true that it takes work to throw off our baggage, but the results can be transformative. We recently had the opportunity to interview Christopher Willard about his new book, How We Grow Through What We Go Through: Self-Compassion Practices for Post-Traumatic Growth. In it, he explains how going through a traumatic experience can actually make a positive difference in our lives. We always have the ability to rewrite our story.

At first blush, it might seem difficult to imagine how trauma can benefit us. If we build a solid foundation of mindfulness, we are more resilient and better able to bounce back from difficulty. A mindfulness practice helps us be curious, grateful, and forgiving.

We don’t get there overnight, though; it’s a muscle that has to be practiced in order for us to be able to activate it easily. If we put in the time to sit in meditation and go about our daily tasks with intention, we’re better able to let go of things that might drag us down and to instead grab the reins of opportunities that will help us soar.

As Sharon Salzberg says, “That’s life: starting over, one breath at a time.”

Photo by Alex Ratson via Getty Images

Doro Bush Koch and Tricia Reilly Koch

IS NOW ON

We're sharing our message of passion, possibility and perseverance on a new platform! Join our TikTok community for more stories of Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives.

Photo

Bold Social: Keep Soarin’

Across social platforms, older adults are proving that age isn’t a barrier or limitation, but an opportunity. There’s nowhere that’s more true than on TikTok, where adults 50+ are sharing stories, advice, dance moves and proving that we’re capable of much more than we think is possible.

Vegan Chef Babette

Vegan chef and fitness influencer Chef Babette is opening our eyes to what 72 can look like. She shares recipes, fitness routines and lets viewers take a peek into her everyday vibrant life. Eat your veggies, folks!

@ChefBabette

Cancer Survivors Jeri and Mike

What’s more powerful than a love story? 71-year-old Cancer survivors Jeri and Mike have been happily married for 45 years. She’s an extrovert. He’s an introvert. He’s a Gemini. She’s a Scorpio. They began their interracial marriage in a time when people automatically said it wouldn’t last. But, through flashback videos and present-day sweet videos, they prove that love conquers all.

@JeriandMike

Illustration by Rudzhan Nagiev via Getty Images

Do you follow any bold influencers? Share your favorites with us at feedback@growingbolder.com.

Nana Banana

Alzheimer’s patient Nana and her granddaughter show the beauty that caregiving can bring. Nana’s granddaughter describes her as her “Queen filled with laughs” and her sweet, playful demeanor proves that to be true in so many of the videos. Their relationship and appreciation for small moments of joy are proof that life does not have to end with a challenging diagnosis.

@NanaBanana1932

Erika Rischko

82-year-old German Erika Rishko’s posts will get you groovin’! When she’s not jumping on TikTok dance trends with her hubby, she’s pumpin’ serious iron in the gym with a smile on her face. As an added bonus, she’s often filming in a beautiful location so even her backdrop is gorgeous. She’s an inspiration to never stop moving, grooving or traveling!

@erikarischko

Star Monroe

In a recent post, Star asks her followers, “Anyone in their 50s feeling like they are just entering the prime of their life?” Star describes her mission as leading women into their boldest, most brilliant, bodacious midlife! Her posts are honest about what it’s like to be in her 50s and dating in the year 2022. She’s not afraid to be a little risqué, because who says being sexy is just for youth?

@StarMonroe

Bobby Weir

Some may remember Bobby as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Well, he’s far from dead and we’re grateful he’s on TikTok sharing new music while he’s showin’ the young kids how it’s done in the gym. This 75-year-old will inspire you to up your strength game and will give you some great ideas for a new workout playlist.

@Bobbyweir

The Power Of Planning

What Is An Estate Plan And Why Do I Need One?

Vanessa J. Skinner

Photo by Ildar Imashev via Getty Images

If you do not have an estate plan in place, you are not alone. According to an online survey conducted by Caring.com in December 2021, in which more than 2,600 people ages 18 and older nationwide participated, 67% of Americans indicated that they have no estate plan.

People put off doing their estate planning for multiple reasons, including cost. Most notably, they want to avoid having to confront their own mortality and address certain challenging family dynamics, including blended family considerations, children with special needs or substance abuse issues, and elderly parents requiring critical long-term care.

However, the complex considerations that often hinder folks from developing an estate plan make advance planning that much more critical. Further, the notion that only the wealthy need an estate plan is a common misconception. Estate planning is important for everyone, regardless of your level of wealth, because it serves multiple purposes.

A key purpose of estate planning is to transfer wealth at death. This can be accomplished by establishing a will and, where appropriate, a trust agreement. Assets can also be transferred by title, contract, and the use of other will substitutes, such as payable/transfer on death beneficiary designations. In my next article, I will discuss each of these planning tools in detail and explain the pitfalls that can result when you fail to plan, including your state’s laws dictating the distribution

Vanessa J. Skinner is a shareholder with the firm of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A., where she chairs the firm’s Wills, Trusts & Estates Department. She was recently named one of the Best Lawyers in America in the area of Elder Law for the third consecutive year. She is the host of The Power of Planning Podcast, anchor.fm/thepowerofplanning

of your assets at your death.

Planning for lifetime incapacity is a second crucial purpose of estate planning. Cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s or dementia or an accident causing a comatose state can render you unable to make financial and medical decisions for yourself. Advance medical directives and a durable power of attorney enable you to direct who will be entrusted with handling your health and finances in a manner that is inexpensive, private and flexible.

In the absence of such documents, a legal proceeding may need to be initiated where the court appoints a guardian to supervise your care and to protect, invest and disburse your assets. A guardian must gain court approval for all expenditures and many decisions regarding your care. Therefore, guardianship is cumbersome, intrusive and quite expensive.

Advance medical directives typically include a designation of health care surrogate, living will and organ donor card. A designation of health care surrogate outlines who will make your health care decisions if you are incapacitated. The living will provides that if your physicians have determined you are terminal, in a persistent vegetative state or end-stage condition with no reasonable degree of medical probability that you will recover, life-prolonging procedures shall be withheld or withdrawn if they are merely going to artificially prolong the process of dying. An organ donor card permits you to state your wishes regarding organ donation and donating your body to science.

In a durable power of attorney, you designate an agent or attorney-infact who will manage your financial affairs for you. Many states permit a springing power of attorney that only becomes effective upon a determination of your incapacity. In other states, the durable power of attorney is immediately effective upon your signing it. Therefore, it is critical that you name someone you can trust wholeheartedly to serve as your agent. You can grant powers as broad or as narrow as you wish under the durable power of attorney, including paying your bills, buying and selling real estate, filing your income tax returns, and executing contracts on your behalf. A durable power of attorney is preferred over a general power of attorney because it remains in effect upon your incapacity, which is arguably when it is needed the most, and terminates upon your death. A general power of attorney terminates upon your incapacity or death.

Although the estate planning process can be daunting at first, please remember you have the power to plan, and by doing so, you will achieve peace of mind, which is invaluable.

Changing The Way The World Treats Weight

It’s About Biology, Not Willpower

This article was created in partnership with our friends at Calibrate

For decades, the United States has maintained a culture of diet fads and weight loss trends that have sent a shameful subconscious message to those who are living with overweight: if you are having trouble losing weight, you just aren’t working hard enough.

Amidst the echoes of these outdated messages and yo-yo diets, one organization has emerged with a mission of changing the way the world treats weight. For Calibrate, losing weight is about biology, not willpower.

“95% of diets fail, and it is not for a lack of effort,” Dr. Kim Boyd, Chief Medical Officer at Calibrate, told Growing Bolder. “It’s not that people haven’t been trying hard enough. It’s that what we’ve been

doing hasn’t been the right approach, it doesn’t work.”

Instead of shining a shameful light on those who have struggled to shred unwanted pounds, Calibrate has taken a scientific approach to understand what is going on underneath the surface.

“Obesity is a chronic disease, so we treat it as a chronic condition using GLP-1 medications. These GLP-1s work on a hormone that’s naturally produced by the body and has impact in many different systems,” Boyd explained. “It influences inflammation. It affects how our insulin is secreted. It regulates digestion. We’re addressing the physiology that’s most important for obesity and metabolic health over the long run.”

While most wellness programs can make you feel like you’re on your own, the Calibrate program matches its members with a coach for 1:1 virtual support, to work together to make meaningful changes to Calibrate’s Four Pillars of Metabolic Health: food, sleep, exercise, and emotional health.

“The accountability coaches help our members with goal setting,cheerleading,full support and troubleshooting. That human connection matters. We need to have somebody who’s in our corner on good days, celebrating our successes, and on harder days helping us to remember how far we’ve come and how much power we actually do have in our own lives,” Dr. Boyd said.

By combining a biological component, a human support system, and a robust digital platform of educational resources, Calibrate members have found results that speak for themselves.

Average Calibrate Results

report improved food habits

“It truly is never too late, and that’s research backed,” Dr. Boyd said. “We know that people in their 80s who make changes to exercise regimens are able to build strength, they’re able to shift metabolic health markers, so there’s no excuse. Rather, [older adults] are all the more motivated and have that perspective of what really matters, and a reason for why you should do this.”

Their mission of changing the way the world treats weight is a lofty one, but it’s a mission that Dr. Boyd says has impact far beyond what you might see in the mirror.

“It’s about a whole lot more than the number on the scale and whether jeans fit or not. It’s about being able to spend meaningful time with friends and family, doing the things that you love, moving your body.”

To learn more and find out if you are eligible, visit JoinCalibrate.com.

“It truly is never too late, and that's research backed.”

DR. KIM BOYD, Chief Medical Officer at Calibrate

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Balancing Acts

How Creativity Helped Save Cirque du Soleil

The lights come up on a Cirque du Soleil show, the music starts and the mesmerizing choreography and the soaring acrobatics that keep each audience member on the edge of their seat begin. Every sense is awakened as audience members are transported by imagination and creativity.

Creativity is the essence of every Cirque du Soleil performance, and it took that same powerful creativity for the 38-year-old company to survive a recession, failing shows, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Survive they did, flourishing in fact under the leadership of then president and CEO Daniel Lamarre — a businessman who learned from the creators surrounding him.

Prior to joining the Cirque family in 2001 as president and chief operating officer of new ventures, this traditional businessman was, by definition, very traditional. That all changed when he joined the circus, thanks in part to a special assistant that founder Guy Laliberté hired for Lamarre.

“I said, ‘Guy, I’m capable of hiring my employees myself.’ He says, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no. I’ve hired you a clown. Daniel, isn’t that fantastic? You’re going to have your own clown.’ And that’s how it helped me to cut from the traditional business world to the creative world of Cirque du Soleil, by having this clown, Madame Zazou, making fun of me all the time. That was a huge symbol, not only for me, for the entire company, to remind ourselves every day that’s what we do in life. We do entertainment.”

For the next two decades, Lamarre had a front-row seat to creators on a day-to-day basis. He also learned from

the partners the company worked with — creative geniuses like The Beatles and James Cameron, to namedrop a few. “Just observing the creativity of those visionaries, of those geniuses, it really helped me to find in myself my own little creativity,” Lamarre said.

Working with George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono (representing the late John Lennon’s interests) for the creative collaboration of “The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil” show was in itself a challenge. The iconic group had never let any other live entertainment company work with their music.

“That was a very tough negotiation because what people don’t know is that each Beatle has a veto right,” Lamarre explained. “So, if Paul, Ringo, George at the time, or Yoko would’ve said, ‘No’ — the party was over. We had to convince them one by one, and the most difficult thing was to establish the trust between the two creative forces. We had to build the trust, and that’s how we finally succeeded in getting their rights and their support.”

Then came 2020. The Cirque team was anticipating another iconic collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering — the April 2020 opening in Disney Springs of “Drawn to Life,” a love letter to the art of Disney animation. Lamarre was excited for the opening and was also positioning himself for retirement as his 67th birthday approached. Then in March, the world shut down.

“It changed my life in a few hours,” Lamarre said. Photos

To learn more about Daniel Lamarre’s story, read his new book, “Balancing Acts: Unleashing the Power of Creativity in Your Life and Work.”

“First, I was thinking of transitioning and giving my job to someone else, and life was good. And then all of a sudden, I couldn’t leave the ship because the pandemic was causing the most important crisis in our history, and I had no choice. In 24 hours, we went from 44 shows to zero shows. From a billion dollars of revenue to no revenue. I had to let go all our employees basically within hours, and then not knowing when we will be able to relaunch the organization. That was by far the toughest challenge in my life.”

With all the shows shut down, Lamarre and staff had to return all of their employees stationed around the world safely back to 39 different home countries, an easy task compared to what was next. To have any hope of surviving, Cirque would have to file for bankruptcy protection and restructure the company. The next months were devoid of performances, and full of meetings with accountants, attorneys, and investors. The goal was settling the company’s $900 million debt to its creditors and infusing many more millions into the corporation so they could move forward whenever that was possible. Enmeshed in legal logistics, Lamarre kept his focus on preserving what he had come to value as the essence of Cirque du Soleil: returning the people and their artistic expression to stages around the world.

“Yes, I had doubts, like anybody would have doubts, but I was trying to get rid of my doubts every day to say, ‘No, no, no, no, no. We’re going to come back’,” Lamarre noted. “And I was visualizing that like a sports person would do. I was visualizing me in a seat watching one of our shows, and I was saying to myself, ‘That’s what I need to do. Not only for me, but for those thousands of employees that want to come back on stage.’”

In the end, the company’s creditors rejected the proposed settlement…because they wanted to buy the company themselves. By November of 2020, a new ownership group was in place, allowing Lamarre and staff to provide payments to laid-off employees and freelancers and begin to stage a comeback. In June of 2021, Cirque relaunched Mystére in Las Vegas, declaring “Intermission is Over!” In November of 2021, “Drawn to Life” opened at Disney Springs. Lamarre’s vision was fulfilled, and he handed over the reins of the company to chief operations officer Stéphane Lefebvre, staying on as executive vice chairman of the board, and committed even more to the importance of creativity in one’s life.

“I think on a day-to-day basis, if you spend time to think about what you want to achieve in life, then your creativity will spark, and then it will have a huge impact on the way you do things,” said Lamarre. “It doesn’t mean that it will change your life overnight, but it will fill it with much more happiness, because then you will be more creative, and then what will happen will be innovation. Then you will create something new that the world was waiting for.”

Go The Distance

From an outsider’s perspective, competing in a triathlon may seem like a challenge that only rewards physical fitness. Of course, it’s a difficult task that takes training and physical might to have the stamina to swim, bike and run all three legs of the competition. But for those who continue to compete in triathlons into their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond, these events impact life on a broader scale and can be used as tools for self-reflection and goal setting.

Bob Hobbs was only a teenager when he decided to enter his first triathlon back in the 1980s and began a journey in self-discovery that went hand-in-hand with his training.

“At age 14, I was watching a triathlon on the Wide World of Sports,” Hobbs, 56, told Growing Bolder. “Of course, I said ‘I’ve got to do one of those!’ Ironically, I didn’t know how to swim. I was not a swimmer. I swam a Tarzan stroke for half a mile, rode an iron-type bike with a headlamp still connected to the wheel, and I ran the 10k in a pair of high tops.”

Despite these initial obstacles, Hobbs felt an immediate connection with the event.

“After I did that one I was hooked. It gets in your blood. It’s just that buzz, that feeling of being able to do something for your entire life.”

Triathlons have been in his blood now for 41 years. Although Hobbs won the gold medal in his age group at the 2022 National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, he believes the real reward of competing is the

BOB HOBBS

opportunity to reinvent himself.

“My first race I did, the eventual goal was just to get to the Ironman distance,” Hobbs explained. “I’ve now done four of those, and they can become life changing when you complete one. My first one, I switched careers over to the medical field. I changed careers completely. My second one, I wrote a book. The third one, I opened up a primary care practice. My fourth one, I started on my doctorate. It just gets you going.”

“You get that dedication and inspiration but that just kind of carries over into life,” Hobbs continued. “You know, you do this for an hour. Maybe at most, exercise six to nine hours a week. There’s a lot of other hours in the week and all that stuff that we do, the dedication and the drive, it just carries forward into life. It’s not about competing and trying to win a medal. It’s about learning more about yourself and what you can do in the rest of life.”

A career change. A primary care practice. A published book, and a doctorate. All of these life changes were spurred on by matching life goals alongside fitness goals, something that Hobbs knows can happen at any age.

“I’m glad to be able to race at 56, but I’m even more grateful to see people much older than me doing this,” Hobbs said. “It just gives you lots of inspiration. I’ve had competitors beat me in their 80s a couple years ago at the National Senior Games in Albuquerque. You can do this your entire life and there’s no reason not to.”

Use Athletic Competitions To Energize Your Pursuit Of Larger Life Goals

“You can do this your entire life and there’s no reason not to.”

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One of the biggest keys to connect family members of all ages is to create common ground. By sharing in a group activity, grandkids, parents, and grandparents can create memories that last a lifetime. Whether it’s completing a puzzle, going for a hike, playing a board game, or watching a sporting event together, these family festivities establish a baseline where a young grandchild can interact with an older grandparent in a meaningful way, and create little moments of joy.

But what happens when family members are spread out, living in multiple locations? Instead of waiting for the handful of weekends where families can travel to get together, a company called GrandPad has created a oneof-a-kind tablet that keeps older adults connected with the rest of the family daily, no matter where they live. In addition to video calls, messaging, and photo sharing, GrandPad has now crafted an incredibly easy gaming platform to allow grandparents to play their favorite board games online with their grandchildren, starting with a cherished classic: checkers.

“It really comes back to the founding idea of GrandPad, which was, ‘How can we stay in touch with my grandparents who lived across the country?’ We’re not going to do video calls all day long, but we’d want to be able to make a move in a game like checkers,” Isaac Lien, GrandPad Co-Founder told Growing Bolder.

“You have that lightweight connection and it’s just a fun way to play games like I’m already doing with my friends, but my grandma was left out of that loop. That’s why we decided to make remote multiplayer games on GrandPad.”

Rather than copying the interface of gaming products designed for younger adults, GrandPad leaned on the advice of older adults, called their “Grand Advisors”, to create a product specifically for older adults to use.

“In those one-on-ones, they’re working through the flow before we build it. We’re getting that feedback very early, so we can make those changes that are beneficial for older adults,” Justin Prate, GrandPad’s Senior Product Manager of Games & Entertainment, explained while playing checkers against Growing Bolder Founder & CEO Marc Middleton.

Where other modern gaming systems on smartphones and computers can be overwhelming and difficult for older adults, gaming on GrandPad only uses a touch screen. The user only needs to tap the face of the family member they want to play with to begin a game, and then simply tap their checkers right on screen to move them.

GrandPad Multiplayer Games Key Features

→ Safe and secure network for users to connect with their friends and families

→ Game user interface layouts are designed specifically for older adults

→ Enhanced color and contrast, vital for those with visual impairments

→ Helpful messaging to make sure users know what is going on within each game turn

→ Fun art and special effects that were designed and developed in collaboration with GrandPad GrandAdvisors

→ No distracting advertisements when playing games

→ Gameplay was developed and tested in collaboration with GrandPad GrandAdvisors

“As long as we’re playing games and having fun, they help start conversations. Sometimes I’ve heard my son talking to his grandma and that conversation is hard to get going, because he is a little shy and doesn’t want to start talking,” Prate revealed. “Once you get playing games, people open up. That’s the main focus, just connection. Using games as a tool to connect our users.”

“Research continues to show that being lonely or isolated is really detrimental to your health. It speeds up the onset of all sorts of other issues,” Lien added. “Anything we can do to help everyone have more social engagement, whether it’s the older adult who’s using the GrandPad or even the young grandchild, and not only are we connected, we’re having fun.”

GrandPad is leaning into gaming for benefits of all kind. In addition to the social connection to younger family members, research has shown games can improve manual dexterity, improve memory, boost problem solving skills and even relieve stress. For the GrandPad team, checkers is only the beginning of a masterplan to capture the health benefits of gaming.

“We have other games that are on the roadmap that we’re going to be coming out with,” Prate said. “Chess will be the next one. And just like Marc and I are talking right now while we’re playing, users will be able to play checkers while in a video call.”

To learn more about GrandPad's unique features and why countless older adults are choosing this easy-to-use device to stay connected, attend a product demo webinar by registering at GrandPad.net

Jumping For Joy

...And For The Record Books

The skydiving record book has been rewritten lately. Jumping in Motala, Sweden Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson has become the oldest skydiver ever after taking a tandem jump at the age of 103 years and 259 days old. And don’t think it’s too late for you — she didn’t take her first jump until she was 102.

Closer to home, at Skydive Deland in Central Florida, 85-year-old Maria Yegella made a solo jump to become the world’s oldest active skydiver. “All I had to do was jump out by myself, pull my parachute and land by myself. There were no required movements.”

Maria didn’t have to do anything fancy, but she did — pirouetting, flipping, and spinning in one graceful, acrobatic move after another. It’s a feeling of creative freedom that she can’t get anywhere else. “The free fall, flying through the air and looking around, is a feeling you just cannot describe to anyone who doesn’t do it,” Maria says. “I just love to either run out of the airplane or dive out the airplane and make some turns and back loops.”

While Maria was setting an individual record, another group was gathering for a group formation record attempt in which all skydivers in the jump are over 80 years old. “The world record is six at this point and we’re going to try to do 10,” said Texan Cliff Davis. “We’ve got 10 jumpers over 80 from all over the U.S. converging here in Deland.”

They call themselves the JOES — Jumpers Over Eighty Society — and they’re all pioneers of the sport. Most began skydiving in the 1950s and 60s and never

stopped. “Most people think that 80 year olds ought to be sitting in a chair watching TV all day,” said 81-year-old Scotty Gallan from Arizona, “and we are just not that way.” “We just really enjoy the freedom of falling out of the airplane and the camaraderie of making formations,” added 81-year-old Floridian Dick Williams. “And then of course all the socializing afterwards.”

To set the record, at least seven of the group have to come together in formation on a single jump. “We just don’t know how it’s going to work out,” Davis admits. “We don’t want to get overconfident,” says 84-year-old Bill Morrissey. “We are in our 80s, after all.”

Before they skydive, they dirt dive – practicing on the ground with United States Parachute President Chuck Akers, who has flown in from Houston to help engineer the record attempt. “I started jumping in 1985, and if you were over 40 years old at that time, you were a very rare breed. And now as you can see, we’ve got a bunch of guys that are over 80 years old, and they’re all still hopping and jumping and having fun. I’ve been doing it for 62 years,” said Morrissey. “It’s still as exciting as it was when I was 20 years old.”

Most of the JOES are here with their wives who not only support but encourage their passion for parachuting. “Well, I’m still jumping, too,” says Louise Gallan. “So, as long as he keeps jumping, he’s happy. If we go more than a few weeks, and we haven’t made a jump, I can see that he gets edgy.” “I think they all have a special something,” adds Judy Williams. “That is a need to push themselves to their limits, and to never feel that they’re finished. There’s always more to accomplish.”

Once suited up, they pose for a picture for the Skydiving Hall of Fame. And it’s go time. They board the plane and climb to 14,000 feet for attempt number one and let’s just say it didn’t go well. “It didn’t work out at all,” says Davis. “We’ve got to regroup. That sucked.”

Attempts number two and three sucked less. Attempt number four didn’t suck at all. Six jumpers came together in formation to tie the world record. Seconds later number seven and eight joined the formation and the record was theirs alone. Those now in the record book include Cliff Davis, Walt Green, Scotty Gallen, Woody McKay, Sky Humanski, Paul Hinen, Ted Williams, and Jim Culhane. “Many of us have made significant contributions to the modern sport of skydiving and we’re proud to demonstrate that the skills we’ve acquired are timeless and always evolving,” said Davis.

What’s the moral of the story? Louise Gallan, Scotty Gallan’s skydiving wife, summed it up best. “Do the things that are difficult for you. You have to keep on moving, keep on adventuring, in order to stay young. If you stop moving and stop adventuring, I think you get old.”

RUT LINNÉA INGEGÄRD LARSSON

Oldest Skydiver at 103

free fall, flying through the air and looking around, is a feeling you just cannot describe to anyone who doesn’t do it.”

“Do the things that are difficult for you. You have to keep on moving, keep on adventuring, in order to stay young. If you stop moving and stop adventuring, I think you get old.”

LOUISE GALLAN

Jumpers Over Eighty Society Member

“The

MARIA YEGELLA

World’s Oldest Active Skydiver

Photos by Randy Forbes

J.O.E.S Jumpers Over Eighty Society

MORE DAILY MEMES:

The secret to having it all is believing you already do.

Erin Nolan

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Need a fresh set of eyes?

A second opinion from an expert is the first line of protection for important health issues. Our two decades in geriatrics focuses on every aspect of your wellness so you can feel better. With MetroHealth’s dedicated primary care for seniors, including transportation assistance and house calls, you’ll live younger. metrohealthinc.com/feelbetter

Winging It!

Myrt Rose And Her Life Of Adventure

Amy Sweezey

Wanderlust

After graduating from Endicott College in 1956, Rose became an art teacher; but her wanderlust wouldn’t let her stay in one place for too long. She moved to Peru to spend a year in the Amazon jungle before heading to the Bahamas to dive for treasure with her first husband, Ted Strong.

The Strongs owned a parachute company in Massachusetts which later moved to the Orlando area. Myrt jumped out of airplanes hundreds of times, beginning in her 20s.

“They put you in the door of the plane, and the wind is just grand,” she recalled. “Your feet slide sideways, and you start to wonder, ‘What am I doing?’ But once you’re out, it is so quiet, and you’re just floating. It’s a wonderful feeling.”

Wing walking

In her 40s, Rose went from parachuting out of a plane to standing on top of one. She performed as a professional wing walker for the first time at the 1976 Oshkosh Air Show. The plane climbed 1,500 feet then dove toward the ground at 170 mph with Rose strapped to a pole attached to the wing. All the while, the pilot performed maneuvers and flips requiring Rose to have nerves of steel.

At first glance, 85-year-old Myrt Rose is the epitome of class: sophisticated, educated, and glamorous. But a few minutes into a conversation with her, one quickly realizes this remarkable woman knows no fear and has lived her life with a wild sense of adventure.

“You can’t just sit home and be afraid,” Rose told Growing Bolder.

What’s even more incredible, Rose’s training had been canceled due to weather, so she was forced to debut her first wing walk without any practice.

“I had already been parachuting and flying,” Rose said. “This was just kind of a next step. It was fun. I had a great time.”

Rose and her husband eventually divorced but remained good friends until his death in 2011.

Flying high

It was at the Oshkosh Air Show in 1985 that Rose met her second husband, Bill Rose. Together, they collected and flew antique airplanes throughout their 18-year marriage. Myrt learned to fly single and multi-engine aircraft, including seaplanes. She earned her helicopter rating when she was 60.

To surprise Bill on his 70th birthday, Myrt tracked down her former airshow friends and performed acrobatic stunts to an audience of cheering family and friends. She was 64 when she performed her final wing walk over the couple’s Marco Island home.

“Every five years, Bill had to have a big birthday party,” Myrt said. “So, when I wing walked on his 70th, a reporter asked what we would do for his 75th birthday. He jokingly

replied, ‘She’ll probably ride naked on an elephant.’ I thought, ‘Oh, I can do that!’”

Five years later, Myrt did indeed ride into Bill’s circus-themed 75th birthday party on an elephant. She wasn’t naked; but she wore a skin-colored body suit, which made Bill and the party guests do a double take.

For Bill’s 80th birthday, Myrt rented a wildlife preserve in Naples, Florida, where they rode and kissed camels.

In 2010, Bill died at the age of 83 following a heart attack. Myrt carried on their tradition of flying and maintained their fleet of planes until it became too much for her to handle.

Today, Myrt still pilots an antique airplane, a J-3 Piper Cub she named “Winston.” She spends half of her time in Florida and half in Barrington, Illinois, where she has a second airstrip.

Trouble in the sky

It was in Barrington in 2011 that Myrt Rose made headlines around the world. The then 75-year-old adventurer unintentionally flew through then President Obama’s restricted airspace.

“It took six months to convince the Secret Service it

was an honest mistake,” Rose said. “I thought the jets were from the nearby air show and were just looking at how cute my little antique plane was. It wasn’t until I landed and saw eight police cars surrounding my plane that I knew something else was going on.”

Reporters called her after the incident; but she managed to avoid them, at least for a while.

“I saw a headline in my local paper that read, ‘Elderly Woman Invades Obama Airspace,’ and they printed my age,” Rose said. “Well, I didn’t think that was nice at all. It was then that I decided I would give an interview, and the next guy who called was from the Associated Press. So, my story went all over the world.”

Never-ending adventure

Rose claims she never became great at any one thing. But people who know her disagree.

“I’d be doing something, and then I’d see something else that looked more interesting or more fun,” Rose said. “So, I would go do that other thing instead.”

Rose calls that a “distraction.” Others know better. They see a fearless woman living a life of passion, pursuing a never-ending hunt for fun and adventure.

Photos courtesy of Myrt Rose

Harold Garde

HAROLD GARDE

We couldn’t be more grateful for the time that we share with those whose stories we tell; the men and women we learn from and are inspired by. We recently lost a good friend when Harold Garde passed away at age 99.

Harold was a renowned abstract expressionist; a great painter whose bold and provocative work hangs in galleries worldwide. He was relentlessly curious and creatively fearless. He knew, in his mid 90s, that his time was limited but he refused to play it safe and repeat that which he knew would sell. He continued to experiment and risk failure by exploring new techniques and challenging himself creatively. He wasn’t afraid to make mistakes because, in his words, “I have to allow mistakes to happen because when I leave them there, they’re not mistakes anymore.”

It’s a philosophy for living that we all can embrace. If we don’t risk failure, if we’re afraid to make mistakes, we never give ourselves the chance to step back and realize, as Harold was able to do, that they really weren’t accidents after all.

Harold once told us, “Every finished painting is like a scar to me because the intention was to create something that exceeded what’s finally there. So even though I take pleasure in what I’ve done, I still feel that maybe my best work is yet to come.” It was that desire to continue challenging himself, that belief that maybe the best was yet to come, that fueled Harold’s passion for life. He wasn’t afraid of scarring his reputation, of disappointing galleries or collectors. “I am the only critic I care about,” he said.

In his final year, Harold finally admitted that his body of work was significant and important, a testament to his creative vision and endless curiosity. We’ll miss our friend but are forever grateful for the life lessons he shared every time we got together.

“Every finished painting is like a scar to me because the intention was to create something that exceeded what’s finally there. So even though I take pleasure in what I’ve done, I still feel that maybe my best work is yet to come.”

Want To Soar In 2023?

“Successful aging” is a term that’s bandied about by many experts in the longevity field, but what does it mean? At Growing Bolder we believe that success looks different to each and every one of us. Whether it’s what makes a successful business, successful marriage or life, we get to decide, we get to choose what that means, and that applies to aging as well. Maybe you’re ready for a new adventure, like making new friends, taking trips to places you’ve never been, or finding your passion. Making the rest of your life the best of your life, does require action. First you have to know what you want to experience, and then take steps that prepare you to be ready when new opportunities and new experiences present themselves.

Photo by Ronnie Kaufman via Getty Images

Here are 5 Keys to Help You Soar to New Heights in 2023

1. Change your belief system about what’s possible. This is job number one, because we live in an ageist culture that leads us to fear and resent growing older. The damage is quickly passed from our minds into our bodies. We anticipate the perceived negative benchmarks of aging so strongly that we all but guarantee that they’ll come to pass. What the mind believes, the body embraces.

2. Adapt and accommodate. The single most common denominator shared by those who live active lives into their 90s and 100s is loss. The key is not to mourn what’s lost but to celebrate what remains; to not identify with limitation but rather identify with possibility; to adapt to and accommodate the loss.

Grandma Moses had a passion for embroidery. She had to give it up in her late 70s after developing a debilitating case of arthritis. She could have easily lost a creative passion that gave her life purpose. Instead, she took up painting because her arthritic fingers could still hold a big brush. The rest is art history. She remained happily engaged in something she loved until her death at 101.

3. Have purpose in your life.

Purpose fuels the life force. It’s important to have something that gets us out of bed every morning. We need unfinished business. It’s common to hear about people passing away not long after retiring from a lengthy career or

following the death of a spouse. That’s largely because the job or the relationship provided purpose. Your purpose doesn’t have to be profound. It must simply move you to action. It could be painting, as it was for Grandma Moses.

4. Be curious and never stop learning. Curiosity leads directly to lifelong learning: the ongoing, self-motivated pursuit of knowledge. Lifelong learning helps us adapt to change and stay relevant. It promotes brain health, creates social connection, increases happiness, reduces stress, and leads to a multi-dimensional life.

5. Say Yes. Be an Amateur. As we age, we have to resist the urge to regress into that which is comfortable and familiar. We have to continue to say “Yes!” to life. We have to be willing to risk embarrassment, social unease, and failure. To be afraid to fail is to be afraid to live. Forget perfection. Develop a beginner’s mindset, which is open to new ideas and possibilities and understands that failure is nothing more than important feedback.

Moving forward is easier when you’re feeling your best. Giving our bodies enough sleep and the right fuel are equally as important as our mindset. In fact they actually improve our mental health.

Use these tips to get the rest your body deserves:

→ Relax. Sometimes, relaxing is easier said than done, but there is no better place to start than with your breathing. Focused breathing brings attention to your breathing, allowing you to use it to calm yourself down.

→ Keep a regular sleep cycle. This means going to bed and waking up at the same time. Don’t use the weekend to catch up on sleep.

→ Get your exercise. Exercise has so many benefits, one being that it improves your sleep quality. Exercising most days of the week will boost your sleep health. Talk with your doctor about how you can start.

→ Decrease your caffeine consumption. A good rule of thumb is to avoid any caffeine about six hours before bedtime as it can interrupt your sleep patterns.

→ Avoid alcohol, nicotine and eating before bedtime. Caffeine isn’t the only thing that can lead to a poor night’s sleep. Avoid these three additional triggers before bedtime.

→ Clear your mind. Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine, such as taking a warm bath or dimming the lights, can help you unwind and clear your mind before bed.

→ Turn off your television and computer. Light suppresses melatonin production, and the light from electronics can stimulate your mind instead of relaxing it.

→ If you tend to overthink or worry a lot a night, try writing down what’s on your mind. You can do this by journaling or doing a brain dump, which literally just means dumping everything that’s on your mind onto paper. Sometimes getting thoughts out of our heads and onto paper can ease our minds.

→ Create an ideal sleep environment. Sometimes where we sleep is just as important as how we sleep. And while we can’t always control every sleep scenario we may encounter, there are plenty of ways to set ourselves up for sleep success.

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Feeling blah and looking for a boost? You can eat your way to a better mood. Eating nutritious food can not only improve your mood, but also lower your risks for many health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, and more. Use these tips to fuel your body and feeling your best.

→ Choose whole foods. Avoid packaged, processed foods. Get your nutrients straight from the source: fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and lean proteins. For example, eat an apple, not applesauce. And bonus, it comes in its own edible package.

→ Eat the rainbow. One quick way to make sure you are getting needed nutrients is to make sure to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Aim for five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, too.

→ Eat from all food groups. Make sure you are getting a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein.

→ Watch your portion sizes. Often a lot of us make the mistake of eating portions that are too large.

→ Read food labels. When you’re shopping, check out the nutrition information on your food labels. Avoid foods with large amounts of added sugar. Watch your saturated and trans fats. Pay attention to serving sizes. Look for foods high in fiber. Avoid too much sodium.

Never let an opportunity pass you by, because none of us know what’s around the corner. Don’t sit back. Lean in. Seize the day and soar.

Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. For more information visit floridablue.com/ndnotice. © 2022 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved.

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SO MUCH MORE!

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