CURIOSITY IS THE KEY INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHEREGROWING THROUGH FAILURE GrowthNickNantonon and His Journey of Discovery LIVING LUCKY, JANA BANANA SHELFER WHAT IS BATHING?FOREST SEPTEMBER 2022
“When you’re alone, you’re not alone, just push a few buttons and I see my themgrandchildren16andgrowingup!” Joan, age GrandPad89User VIDEO & VOICE CALLING • EMAIL • PHOTOS • MUSIC • INTERNET • GAMES • AND MORE Enhancing the quality of life for older adults. Call 800-704-9412 or visit GrandPad.net
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.
GROWING BOLDER / SEPTEMBER 2022 DIGEST GROWING BOLDER AND NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ASSOCIATION PRESENT WITH MARC MIDDLETON
SUBSCRIBE NOW and learn the secrets to active audible.com/pdopen.spotify.com/showpodcasts.apple.com/usaging! Or Your Favorite Podcast Listening Platform
GROWING BOLDER / SEPTEMBER 2022 DIGEST4 Daily Stories Online The Bold Start Check Out Our TV Shows Radio + Podcast Visit GrowingBolder.com daily for inspiring stories to help you start Growing Bolder Get a daily dose of inspiration curated from our most popular social media posts. Check your local listings or watch new episodes of "Growing Bolder" and "What's Next!" at GrowingBolder.com/tv Fast-paced, entertainment hour that will leave you excited about the possibilities in your life, now available on most podcasting platforms andONDON’TGrowingBolder.com/radio-podcast.Followus@GrowingBolderFORGETTOFINDUSOURSOCIALCHANNELS CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katie Styles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jill Middleton EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Lynne Mixson & Tim Killian CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Sweezey, Brittany Driskell, Doro Bush Koch & Tricia Reilly Koch GROWING BOLDER PRESS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Marc Middleton GENERAL COUNSEL Michael Okaty, Foley & Lardner LLP PARTNER RELATIONS Sam Koubaissi COMMENTS Contact us via social media @GrowingBolder or email us at feedback@GrowingBolder.com ADVERTISING AND MEDIA SALES For information about advertising and sponsorships, email Bijou Ikli at partnerships@growingbolder.com
5GROWING BOLDER / SEPTEMBER 2022 DIGEST IN EVERY ISSUE 6 YOUR TAKE 7 NOTE FROM THE CEO 9 GROWING BOLDER WITH 10 ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES 12 LIFELONG LEARNING Personal Growth Apps & Websites 14 RECIPE Late Summer Indulgence 20 BOLD SOCIAL Hear To Grow HEALTH 16 FOR THE LOVE OF RUNNING The Growing Bolder Division Powered By Florida Blue Medicare Begins 18 GROWING THROUGH FAILURE That’s When The Magic Happens 22 FOCUSING ON YOURSELF FIRST When We Take Steps To Make Ourselves Better, The Ripples Extend To Others 26 WHAT IS FOREST BATHING? The Benefits Of Taking An Intentional Walk In The Woods 44 JUST KEEP GROWING Reject Our Ageist Culture By Taking Small Steps Every Day To Keep Expanding DEFY 28 MOVING “INTO LIGHT” A Mother’s Mission To Change The Conversation About Drug Addiction 40 CURIOSITY IS THE KEY TO GROWING BOLDER How To Move Forward In Life, Even When We’re Anxious Or Afraid 41 EMBRACING REGRETS Create A “Failure Resume” To Learn From Mistakes TRAVEL 38 SPARK GROWTHPERSONALWITHTRAVEL Get To Know The People More Than The Places contents. September 2022 Head to page 30 to read Nick's story THE STORYTELLERBolderGrowingforDunnMikebyPhotos
"I can go farther if I push beyond my self-perceived limitations."
Judy S.
"I can actually let go of my beauty which, at 46, is starting to wilt."
"Life is funny and humor is important. I find myself not saying too much because people misinterpret and respond in bizarre ways."
Luse M. Y. N.
— Maria C.
What's something you learned about yourself recently?
—Sandra S.
Amy N. B.
"I am stronger than I thought."
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"I'm constantly flooded with reflections. Something magical about that, at 70."
"That it's easier than I thought to chop toxic people out of my life, keep your circle small and tight."
"That being polite/nice easily costs my peace. I don't have to be mean, I can just opt out."
Cheryl G.
YOUR TAKE
Mary B.
"I will never change who I truly am. Not even for relationship sake."
—Brenda S. G.
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“The desire for change is what leads to growth.”
To avoid growth is to deny ourselves the most important by-product — wisdom. Wisdom is the ultimate reward of aging. It leads us to our true selves by encouraging us to pursure that which matters most while eliminating that which matters least. Wisdom helps us understand and embrace the growth paradox that less is more.
This month’s Growing Bolder focuses on growth. The desire for change is what leads to growth. Growth is never easy because it’s non-linear. It’s a never-ending series of steps forward, sideways, and backwards. It’s a process that involves risk and always leads to challenges because challenges are what stimulate growth.
CEOtheFrom
Growth is uncomfortable at times, which is why it’s a process that many are unwilling to actively pursue. As a result, they stagnate and become trapped in a life and lifestyle they don’t enjoy and that no longer serves them.
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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 season 1 at GrowingBolder.com/tv. GrowingBolder.com/Whats-NextFind out when you can watch at Season 2 airing NOW! Catch new episodes across Florida!
9GROWING BOLDER / SEPTEMBER 2022 DIGEST GROWING BOLDER WITH
Unable to resume her equestrian pursuits she latched onto a greater purpose in life, using herself as inspiration for others facing grim circumstances. She wrote a book, From Blue Ribbon to Code Blue: A Girl’s Courage, Her Mother’s Love, A Miracle Recovery. She created the J. Field Foundation dedicated to helping others find hope in recovering from severe head injuries, and she traveled the country as a public speaker, telling her story and offering her unique“Becauseperspective.Ifeelthat not only does telling my story help others which I want to do so much, it’s a constant rehabilitation for myself,” she explained. “Every time I tell my story a little piece of my trauma leaves. It’s like I’m healingInsteadmyself.”ofspending her energy looking back and regretting what happened to her, she has embraced it. She’s proud of who she is today and how much she has grown as a person.
Chances are that at some point in your life, you or someone you love will experience trauma, be confronted by something devastating — something totally unexpected that will put you to the test. How you face it, move forward from it, and ultimately grow as a result of it can determine how you approach the rest of your life.
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Before the accident Field was an elite equestrian, one of the best in the world and hoping to prove it in the Olympics. She was relentless, doggedly determined, and driven to succeed. She applied those same qualities to her recovery even though doctors offered little hope. Thanks to the unflagging support of an equally tenacious mother, Field fought back. If her recovery was not miraculous, it was very close to it.
FieldJennifer
It was Tuesday, November 17, 1992. Field, 17, was driving home from high school in Dublin, New Hampshire when she hit a patch of ice, lost control of her car and slammed into an oncoming tractor-trailer. She suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which left her in a coma for more than a month. When she regained consciousness, she could not walk or talk, and doctors said she probably never would. But they didn’t really know Jennifer.
“I’m still recovering,” she said. “No one can believe how much I’ve improved in my speech and my movements. The brain is constantly recovering. The doctors don’t know. They just don’t know. No one knows about the brain.”
“Way back in the beginning I said, ‘You know, I wish I could just wake up from this nightmare and have a normal life again,’” she remembers. “But now since I’ve gotten better, I realize that I am actually grateful for my accident and the traumatic brain injury, too, because the whole experience has given me an entirely new appreciation and love of life. It’s given me so much.”
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Field is convinced she can help not only those who’ve suffered traumatic brain injury, but anyone facing difficult challenges. She can be reached through her website, JenniferField.org.“Thebottom line is that no matter what we face in life — injury, illness, trauma or pain — we are capable of growth, of regrowth. Like a tree that’s been cut back, we can emerge again, stronger and better than ever. That’s my message: once you are willing to embrace the new you the most wonderful things can happen.”
There is much to be learned from people who have gone through it. Their hopes, fears and fighting spirit serve both as a cautionary tale and a powerful dose of inspiration for anyone dealing with a life-changing event. That’s why we are so moved by the story of Jennifer Field and her courageous, relentless and ongoing quest to regain the life she nearly lost. Hers is an incredible story of resilience, bravery and regrowth.
prowess earned her a spot on a wheelchair sports team which led to recruitment by the University of Illinois’ wheelchair basketball team. In 1996, Shelfer became the youngest player on Team USA at the Paralympic Games and in 2004, brought home a gold medal from Athens, Greece. At 29 Shelfer retired from competitive wheelchair sports. She landed her dream job with a popular talk radio show based in Orlando, and for 12 years became “Jana Banana,” a voice and personality that most people heard but didn’t see. Suddenly she found herself using talents that had nothing to do with her wheelchair.
That’s when Shelfer drew on the lessons she learned as a teenager. She had found gratitude in her accident, her wheelchair, and her paralysis. It was time to find gratitude again, and purpose.
When listeners saw her at an event, surprised by the wheelchair, the first thing they said was, you guessed it, “What is wrong with you?” That question. Again. But over time Shelfer was asking it of herself, again. Now 38, she had less energy. She “needed” a glass of wine every night to cope. She began competing with her husband over who had the worst day at work. She felt physically sick, developed new allergies, and constantly felt fatigued.
Shelfer thought if she quit her job, life would improve. So, she did what many people don’t have the guts to do; she walked away from a high-profile, lucrative career on a mission to “find herself.” But that was harder than it looked. For months she slid into a depression when her “better life” didn’t magically appear. “I was so worried about what everyone thought,” said Shelfer. “I cut myself off from friends because I couldn’t admit I hadn’t found that big, better thing.”
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It’s a question Jana Shelfer was often asked by strangers the first time they saw her in a wheelchair. In fact, she was asked the question so many times she started asking it of herself. What is wrong with me?
ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES ® BananaJana
“I cried every single night,” said Shelfer. “It was a really dark time in my life.” After back surgery and eight weeks in the hospital, Shelfer went to rehabilitation in Colorado where she learned to navigate a wheelchair. It was there she met a quadriplegic man who looked her in the eye and said, “You have no idea how lucky you are.”
“I had to start facing my fears. I had to believe in myself and stop focusing on what was wrong with me. I had to find myself all over again and get a new identity.”
After the shock of his words waned, Shelfer realized her arms still worked and her legs still had a little bit of feeling, and she could switch her focus to what she had, rather than what she had lost. She learned a life lesson about gratitude long before most people do and carried it into
A year after leaving the radio job, Shelfer was transferring herself from the wheelchair to the couch — something she had done 20 times a day for years. But this time she fell and broke her leg in three places.
Physically, she knew what was wrong. At age 15, a car accident left Shelfer a paraplegic. In an instant, she went from a vibrant teenager dreaming of teaching gymnastics to sitting in physical therapy re-learning how to function without the use of her legs.
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adulthood.Shelfer’swheelchair
What is wrong with you?!
“I had to start facing my fears,” said Shelfer. “I had to believe in myself and stop focusing on what was wrong with me. I had to find myself all over again and get a new identity.” She stopped asking disempowering questions like, ‘What is wrong with me?’ and instead switched to empowering questions like, ‘What can I learn from this?’ and ‘How can I grow?’ Shelfer says she found the answers she needed to move forward with passion and purpose by listening to her inner voice, and now she wants to help others make that same connection within. A certified life coach and public speaker, she is writing a book, and along with her husband, Jason, created the “Living Lucky” platform which includes coaching, a podcast, a YouTube channel and Facebook Live videos. Says Shefler, “This current transition in my life is about growth and that had to come from within.”
“I loved my job. I loved my co-workers, but I just started feeling complacent and discontent,” said Shelfer. “I kept thinking there was something else out there for my life.”
“That fall put me in bed, completely immobile, alone with my thoughts,” she said. Her depression deepened. “I had no job, no income, no friends, no purpose,” said Shelfer. “Here I was a Paralympic gold medalist and I’m laying in bed not eating, feeling sorry for myself, and wondering how I got here.”
Connect with Jana at JanaShelfer.com
Be better than you yesterday.were“
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GROWING BOLDER / SEPTEMBER 2022 DIGEST12 WebsitesAppsGrowthPersonal& LIFELONG LEARNING There’s no limit to the forms that personal growth can take. Several authors, poets and thought leaders have all spun different iterations of the same famous advice, which boils down to a simple phrase:
Check out Impact Travel Alliance, a nonprofit aimed at improving the world through travel. They compile guides on immersive experiences that not only enrich your own habits but empower local communities. They encourage users to visit destinations that benefit from tourism and media attention, while sharing stories of protecting the environment, appreciating local wildlife, reducing carbon footprints, and promoting opportunities for volunteering around the globe.
When it comes to personal growth, one of the most popular topics in 2022 is focusing on mental health.
The options for online learning resources have rapidly grown since the pandemic. E-Learning sites provide older adults opportunities to learn new skills, earn degrees and turn their spare time into useful knowledge as they continue to broaden their horizons.
Daily learning
If you are looking for an approach that includes a biological component, check out Calibrate.* They’ve differentiated themselves by offering prescription medication paired with coaches and work out routines to help ensure long-term weight loss success.
Travel Nothing is more eye-opening to personal growth quite like travel. It’s one thing to see another culture while on a vacation, and another to use travel as a chance to leave a mark on the world.
Headspace is an app designed to help “find more joy, get more goodnights, and make every day happier.” It’s filled with meditation guides, advice on how to sleep better, and strategies to manage stress.
Physical Fitness
Financial Growth and Budgeting
For those who are weary about connecting their accounts to an app, check out Goodbudget. Instead of tracking past transactions, this app is all about planning ahead. You manually add your account balances, and then assign how much of your monthly income you want to save towards specific spending categories using an “envelope budgeting system.”
Balanced is an at-home digital fitness platform that grants access to expert trainers, evidence-based workouts and personalized programs for healthy aging.
Others have found growth by counting their daily blessings with the Gratitude app. This free option helps the user write a gratitude journal, construct self-affirmations, and build a vision board of their goals.
The team at Senior Planet have designed courses specifically for those over the age of 60 to learn in five impact areas: social engagement, financial security, health and wellness, civic engagement and advocacy, and creativity. You can also spread your creative wings with the Skillshare app. They offer thousands of classes in graphic design, illustration, photo and video skills, crafts and more!
*Affiliated with Growing Bolder as a sponsor or sponsor partner
Silver Sneakers On-Demand* boasts a digital platform full of videos specifically for adults over the age of 65, with workouts on flexibility, mobility, balance, cardio, and strength.
Brush up on the local language of your upcoming destination with Babbel or Duolingo, two apps that help build the basics of speaking and writing a new language with beginner guides, tutorials and quizzes.
Mental Health
If you’re looking to grow your money-managing skills, check out Mint. It’s an app that can easily connect to all your accounts, to help manage your balances and keep track of upcoming bills. Their budgeting feature allows you to save money and keep track of your expenses, so you can learn about your spending habits and form a plan for the years ahead.
Whether you are looking to lose a few pounds, plan out an exercise routine or want to raise the bar on your own PR, there are lots of physical fitness sites designed specifically for older adults.
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For some this means learning a new skill. For others, it might be losing a few pounds, making a new friend, or learning to budget better. No matter the path you’re walking on your own Growing Bolder journey, we can all take advantage of the resources available to make self-improvement easier. Here are a few of our favorite personal growth apps and websites:
ImagesGettyviadiane555byIllustrationBolderGrowingforDunnMikebyPhotosEnjoy!
“The parsley aioli that we make for the dish is made with The Villages Grown parsley microgreens. We bring that in because of the difference in flavor, along with the heirloom tomatoes, another favorite, the squash blossoms and microgreens.“Icameupwith this dish and I found squash blossoms through our other produce purveyor, but we had to buy them two or three weeks out, and then when we got it, it wasn't the best product. It was good, but we had to use it quickly. I approached Rebecca Reis-Miller about it, and she got on it. Within a couple of months, we had beautiful squash blossoms coming from The Villages Grown.”
This delicious appetizer is perfect for late summer fare.
“It's just indulgent, I guess is the best way to put it; but it's not so heavy that you just can't eat more than one,” said Driskell. “It's something light, it's something bright, and it's something full of flavor. And then you're looking forward to the next dish.
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.
Inspired by a sampling of a similar dish at an Italian restaurant in Las Vegas, Chef Brittany Driskell was determined to create something a bit different, she put her own spin on the filling.
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Brittany Driskell
Try Out This Light And Bright Dish Full Of Flavor
Late IndulgenceSummer
pinch of salt pinch of pepper
SQUASH
Blend all ingredients well in a mix and store in a piping bag. Pipe cheese filling into squash blossom — do not fill more than half full. In a fryer or cast-iron skillet, heat oil to 350°. When the oil is hot, dredge the prefilled squash blossoms in the tempura batter and slowly emerge into oil with tongs. Once the batter is golden brown, flip in the oil and fry until golden brown on the other side. Remove from oil and lay on paper towels to absorb excess grease. Serve atop Parsley Aioli along with roasted tomatoes, with a garnish of microgreens.
1 cup mayonnaise (double egg if available)
1 cup of de-stemmed parsley
2 quarts of canola or sunflower oil
¼ cup ricotta cheese
1 pinch of garlic, salt, pepper, coriander combo* juice of 1/4 lemon Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Be careful not to over blend or the puree will separate. ½ cup salt ¼ cup granulated garlic
1/4 tsp garlic powder
*GARLIC, SALT, PEPPER, CORIANDER COMBO (yield 1 Cup)
½ lb cream cheese
1 tbsp parsley aioli
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3 pre-filled squash blossoms
DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS (per
2 tbsp coarse black pepper
PARSLEY AIOLI BATCH INGREDIENTS (yield 1 Cup)
¼ cup coriander
¼ cup fresh chives
4 oz. goat cheese
¼ cup of tempura batter batch (Chef’s suggestion: McCormick “Golden Dipt Tempura”)
Makes
Stuffed Squash Blossoms 1 Serving single serving) BLOSSOM FILLING (yield 1 Cup)
3 to 4 roasted heirloom tomatoes
1/4 tsp onion powder
pinch of crushed red pepper
For The Love Of Running
Howard Sutch said it, but he echoed the sentiment of over 1800 runners and walkers who were up before dawn for the recent Celebration of Running 5K in Orlando, Florida. The race, the first event of the 2022-23 Track Shack Running Series presented by AdventHealth, not only kicked off Florida’s premier running series, but also marked an historic day for the Central Florida running community — the 45th year of the Track Shack retail store, co-owned by Jon and Betsy Hughes.
The Growing Bolder Division Powered By Florida Blue Medicare Begins Every day in my life I feel better because I can run.
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“I have a lot of running friends, but we are competitive, very, very competitive. So, it was nice to be able to pass them out here today. A lot of them still beat me and I'm really happy for them, but excited to get back to where I was.”
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Plenty of walkers turned out as well. For Roy Reid, walking the races have become part of his regular routine after suffering an acute aortic dissection and having open heart surgery just over three years ago. “Listen, every day's a miracle,” Reid said. “Every day is to be celebrated, and I can't think of a better way to do it than to be out here doing something like this.”
While the six races are all timed events, there is a place for everyone regardless of speed and mobility. “Running is for everyone, it doesn't matter how you do it,” said adaptive athlete Ashley Carroll. “Fast, slow, everyone still does the same distance. I'm very grateful that I'm a part of an inclusive community with Track Shack, and them including me as an adaptive athlete.”
“It's not about winning, it's about moving,” she continued. “Every day that you get up and you move your body is a positive experience. The community, the positivity, the fellowship, all of it's important.”
For new mom Kelly Himel, running is the time she takes for herself. “I have a newborn baby at home, so it gives me my own time to be out of the house by myself and listen to music for a few minutes.”
That holistic approach to health and wellbeing is the reason Florida Blue Medicare became involved. “Our mission is to help people and communities achieve better health. And what better way to do it than by being active and being outdoors in this beautiful city of Orlando?” said Sara Noureddine, center director for the Florida Blue Winter Park-Orlando center. “We're really happy to be here and to partner with Growing Bolder and Track Shack.” 60-year-old Jeff Boley was in that Growing Bolder Division and set a personal record with his run. “Last year, I was 59 and I did a 22:45. Today I did 21:03. A minute and a half faster and I'm a year older. Next year I'm going on to 21.
The participants weren’t just benefiting their own personal health. Each race in the series has a charitable beneficiary. “Today we support the Track Shack Youth Foundation and the Orlando Science Center,” said Track Shack co-owner Betsy Hughes. “We're in their backyard and it's a wonderful place to go for kids. We just so appreciate everybody out here. They're coming up and saying, “Thank you.” It's like, ‘How?’ We thank you.”
That supportive community was a draw for others as well. “It's not who can run the fastest, it's encouraging. Everyone cheers for each other,” said Carol Fowler. “All the runners who came through first are back there trying to cheer on the people who are coming in now.”
Running the Celebration of Running race each year is a tradition for Fowler and her friend, Bonnie Fewox. For Fowler, it’s a measure of her own healthcare. “I feel great,” she said. “Other people around me are saying oh, they're so tired all the time. Or they get sick way more often than I do. It's keeping yourself healthy and active and eating right that is really the secret for me.”
“This is like my caffeine in the morning,” Boley said. “When I'm feeling down, and I think I'm too old to do it, I just look around and see everyone out here just with the passion, loving the sport and that it really wakes you up in the morning and makes you happy.”
The race was also the inaugural event for the Growing Bolder Division powered by Florida Blue Medicare, which includes runners and walkers 40 and older — like many members of the Orlando chapter of the national organization, Black Girls Run. “We're the baddest running crew out here on the streets,” said group member Melody Copenny. “We want to see African-American women healthy and fit.
The inclusive community and the commitment to healthy movement are why Growing Bolder created the new division that celebrates masters age participants. We know that there is magic in movement and that mobility is a key factor in active longevity. “You don't have to be a great runner,” said Growing Bolder CEO and founder Marc Middleton. “Yes, there are lots of very talented people here, but this is a community-wide health and wellbeing movement. There is something for everyone of every age and every ability. You will be welcomed, you will be inspired, and you will be better for it.”
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Mankind is as tough as war yet delicate as flowers We can endure agonies but we open fully only to warmth and light
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If You Would Grow — Shine the Light of Loving Self-Care On Yourself by Daniel F. Mead If you would grow to your best self Be patient, not demanding Accepting, not condemning Nurturing, not GentlySelf-marveling,withholdingnotbelittlingguiding,notpushingand punishing
A flower cannot be opened with a hammer
As long as we remain open in our mind and heart, we can soak up nutrients, in whatever form they come. And then we get to wait and see what blooms.
Growing Bolder contributors Doro Bush Koch and Tricia Reilly Koch are sisters-in-law who founded the wellness company BB&R, Bright, Bold and Real over a decade and a half ago with a very clear goal: to share with others what they’ve learned about mindfulness and holistic living with the intention that everyone begin to live their best life. Learn more about their retreats, workshops, courses and popular Health Gig podcast at bbrconsulting.us
And our need to grow is as fragile as a fragrance dispersed by storms of will To return only when those storm are still So, accept, respect, and attend your sensitivity
FailureThroughGrowing
That’s When The Magic Happens Remember being a kid and measuring yourself against the wall, marking the measurements over time? Maybe you’re still doing that with your children and grandchildren. There’s a certain delight in seeing the upward progression. It’s a solid marker of change, something obvious when most of our transformation has happened on the inside. Not all growth is linear. In fact, most of us lose a little height in our later years! What really matters is that we continue to grow in other ways, in our body and spirit. Too often people confuse growth with achieving success, even though it’s actually from our mistakes that we grow the most. When something’s easy on the first try, we remain unchanged. Maybe happy for a few moments, but no different than before. But when we fail? That’s when the magic happens. We’re forced to think in new ways, to expand our field of vision. In the face of defeat and difficulty comes true growth. We might lament the time we spent on something that didn’t turn out, but there’s no such thing as wasted time or effort. So-called “waste” is the best fertilizer for plants, and it’s a gift for our growth. Sometimes people get stuck on wanting things to look good. Humans like praise and crave acknowledgement. But it’s important to remember that there is no one kind of input that provides everything we need. Living creatures require variety. Plants need beautiful sunny days, but they also need the skies to gray and the clouds to let loose with rain. People are no different. Even if we wish for every day to be beautiful, we need watering, too! What educators are teaching our kids and grandkids now about “growth mindset” reminds us that even those dark days filled with clouds and rain are performing a service.
Doro Bush Koch and Tricia Reilly Koch
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For you are more sensitive than you know
A Certain Age with Katie Fogarty
GROWING BOLDER / SEPTEMBER 2022 DIGEST
We Can Do Hard Things
Social: Hear To Grow
Best-selling author Glennon Doyle, along with her wife, former US Soccer star Abby Wambach and sister Amanda Doyle, have hard conversations about hard things. Often joined by guests like Natalie Portman, Billie Jean King and Reese Witherspoon, these deep honest conversations are at their best when they’re discussing the everyday hard things we work through to keep getting more out of life.
We Can Do Hard Things
A Certain Age with Katie Fogarty
20Bold
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A Certain Age examines the freedom and possibility that comes with aging without apology. A former journalist turned career coach, Katie Fogarty examines the messy, complicated and exhilarating life of woman “of a certain age,” with experts on career, beauty, family, money and more who provide insight, tips and honesty.
From unsolved crimes to reality show rewinds, the number of podcasts available continues to grow. But what about shows that are actually about growth? When it comes to conversations about personal growth, this collection of pods will challenge, inspire and motivate you to become the best version of yourself as you continue Growing Bolder. Subscribe to the podcasts and follow each on social for highlights and soundbites.
Hot for Your Health Women Living Well After 50 Growing Bolder Fountain of Youth
Hot for your Health
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Do you follow any bold influencers? Share your favorites with us at feedback@growingbolder.com.
Friend of Growing Bolder, double board-certified orthopedic surgeon, public speaker and health innovator Dr. Vonda Wright combines science, health and culture in her podcast. Through her own experience in the medical field along with conversations with expert guests and change makers, Wright provides helpful information and actionable tips to stay mobile, happy and moving forward as we age.
Growing Bolder Take Growing Bolder’s inspirational stories on the road! (or on the sidewalk.) Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer interview everyone from big-name celebrities, masters sports athletes and rock stars to active centenarians, health, wellbeing, and longevity experts, and ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Every episode of Growing Bolder will prove to you that it’s never too late to chase your dreams and create a life filled with passion, purpose, and adventure.
Fountain of Youth
Women Living Well After 50 In her podcast, certified life, yoga, health and wellness coach Sue Loncaric shares inspiration, motivation, support and information for women over 50 who want to live well. Kickstart your personal growth with topics like “Reinventing Midlife,” “Finding your Magic in your 50s, 60 & Beyond,” and “Overcoming ‘I’ll be happy when’ syndrome.”
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Hosted by Growing Bolder’s Marc Middleton, Fountain of Youth shares the inspiring stories of men and women of all sizes, ages and abilities who understand movement is the key to active longevity and are redefining what’s possible for all of us. From world-record breaking superstars to weekend warriors who are battling back from every injury, disease and disability imaginable, Fountain of Youth is the jolt of inspiration and encouragement you need to get off the couch and get into life.
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Elliott played table tennis in college but hadn’t played for years before beginning again when he moved to WinstonSalem, NC. He found camaraderie and friendship in playing at a local rec center and was re-energized by the sport.
“You have to be able to make decisions quickly because the ball's coming at you at the equivalent of about a 140-mile-an-hour fastball from a pitcher. So, you have less than a very small fraction of a second to decide how you want to hit it. Plus, you have to calculate the spin that's on the ball, where it's going to end up. You’ve got to time your racket, so it meets the ball when it gets there. It really forces you to concentrate, which is good for us older people.”
“I have one partner that's coming from Hawaii,” said Elliott. “I'll meet her this afternoon for the first time at 2:30. She's lefthanded. Based on her description, she's at about my level, so maybe we'll be compatible.”
“It forces you to maintain your agility,” noted Elliott.
For Eddie Elliott, the road to the 2022 National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale was proof of his comeback. In 2018 Elliott qualified for the 2019 Albuquerque games, but the table tennis competitor ended up having both hips replaced that year. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit. With nothing else to do, Elliott started walking. And walking. Eventually Elliott was averaging 35,000 steps a day, lost 80 pounds, and was moving better than ever.
“I had to make special arrangements to come this week, but it's probably the only time I'll have. Her family seems to live a long time,” Elliott explained. “Based on her sister, she's got six or seven more years of life. So, it'll probably be a while before I can make it back down here and I wanted a chance to do this.”
“As a caregiver, you can't forget about yourself. Your primary focus is the person you're taking care of,” said Elliott. “You can't take care of the person if you don't take care of yourself. If I hadn't lost the weight and gotten my hips replaced, I wouldn't be able to take care of my mom. She does need lifting and help maneuvering, and with my hips I wouldn't have been able to do it.”
“The guy that I'm playing with is from Alabama, as best I remember. He's supposed to be in late this afternoon. So, not only do you meet people at your local games and your state games, but you meet people nationally, too. I've already run into several people that I never knew before, or wouldn't know if it wasn't for this.”
Even without earning any ribbons or medals, the 11-hour drive from Winston-Salem to Ft. Lauderdale was worth it to Elliott, to play a sport he loves, meet new people and take some much needed time for himself. The 68-year-old Elliott is the primary caregiver for his elderly mother, who suffers from dementia.
Focusing On Yourself First When We Take Steps To Make Ourselves Better, The Ripples Extend To Others
“You can't take care of the person if you don't take care of yourself.”
One of the benefits of the National Senior Games is the opportunity to meet new people, either as a competitor or even a partner. For team sports, the Games offers a Team Partner Finder — an online portal to connect with athletes.
FOR MORE DAILY MEMES: @GrowingBolderImagesGettyviaVineTerrybyPhoto “Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” — Chinese Proverb
After practicing the breathing techniques, the group began the journey to reconnect with nature though all five of their senses. Watson gave everyone time to wander, then gathered the group back to a circle to share what they experienced, repeating the pattern for each sense.
Originally from Texas, for multiple decades he spent his free time hunting and fishing. Eventually being outside provided a respite from his demanding corporate career. Now on a mission to share his love of nature, Watson became a certified forest therapist. He believes we are all better humans when we connect with nature.
To learn more about Forest Bathing or book a session with William, visit ForestRemedy.com
“I spend a lot of time walking, but it feels like I'm always out there with a purpose, getting in my miles, getting in my steps, and my brain is just on overdrive the whole time,” said group member Wendy McManus. “Something I've learned from William is how to notice the small things, and how that just changes how your brain's operating. It just makes me feel calm and connected.”
For Watson, his satisfaction comes from helping people be present enough to experience what’s inside of them and make a connection from that back to nature. It’s what led him to become certified in forest therapy. While working with a life coach to find a new direction and connection in his own life, the idea of forest bathing surfaced during a word play exercise. Watson learned more about the practice, eventually became certified through the Treebath forest therapy practitioner program and started his own venture, Forest Remedy.
What Is Forest Bathing? The Benefits Of Taking An Intentional Walk In The Woods
“If you're looking for that aha moment, first and foremost listen to your instincts. My instincts were all over this and I didn't even know it, it just took a little bit of quiet time for them to surface,” Watson said.
Watson describes forest bathing as a meaningful walk in the forest to reconnect your senses with nature. Hoping to tap into the magic, Growing Bolder’s Amy Sweezey joined William and a small group of others to forest bathe.
“There's something out there for everybody. I never would've in a million years thought that I would be a certified forest therapy practitioner, and I embrace that now. It's a lot of fun, but I believe it's because I leaned back and let my instincts take over.”
According to a study sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, employed Americans spend about 92% of their time indoors, 6% in transit and 2% outside. Perhaps it’s time for a nature-based intervention.
Forest Therapy originated in Japan in the early 1980s, where it is called shinrin-yoku — translated, forest bath. It began as an effort to get Japanese workers out of office buildings to reconnect with nature and lower their stress levels, something that could be useful in the U.S. as well.
Sight: “What had caught my eye was just really the pattern, the pattern on the tree and the bark,” a group memberSmell:recounted.“Ismelled the part of the pinecone that's not open and it's Christmas,” Sweezey said.
After engaging all five senses in the forest, Watson had the group take one final slow walk among the trees, then invited everyone to share a ceremony of hot green tea to end the session and reflect on what they experienced.
“I would recommend forest therapy to people who think they're too busy to do it. If your answer to this is ‘I don't have time for that,’ you are exactly who needs to make time for this.”
As an avid outdoorsman, Watson feels most at ease surrounded by trees in the forest of Central Florida.
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“I've always had this thing about trees. I don't know where it came from. To me they're just amazing,” said William Watson. “The concept of an oak tree coming from a little bitty acorn into this huge, massive tree. I just can't think of anything more magical.”
“Nothing fast is gonna happen with me here this morning. It's all gonna be about slowing down,” Watson told the group as they gathered. “I've always found that breathing technique really helps slow things down and gives me the tools I need to kind of focus. I want you to consider taking a big inhale, and then at the top of that grab a little bit more, and then just let it all out.”
For taste, Watson distributed cherry tomatoes and grapes to the group. “It reminded me of New Year's Eve, because for New Year's Eve we eat 12 grapes before midnight,” shared one member. “Our last sense that we're going to work on is our sense of touch,” Watson said. “The texture that you're feeling, is it hard? Is it smooth? Is it brittle?”
An exhibit in California this month marks the seventh state. Clower solicits submissions from family and friends of those who have died in each particular state and then creates the portraits from photos.
“But that phase of moving from the grief to moving forward, it's like…. looking forward. That mourning phase is energizing. It's almost like a light starts very slowly coming back into your life. And when you get there, to that point where that light starts to shine slightly, then you start thinking about what's next. And in my case, what was next evolved into, ‘Into Light Project,’ but it could be anything. You begin to kind of move out of that deepest, darkest crevice of grief into the world again.”
“Into Light Project” partners with local communities to host an art exhibition and provide education about substance use disorders. Family and friends of those in the portraits are invited to attend the exhibition, and they receive the original portraits to keep in a closing ceremony when the exhibit ends. Now 72, Clower had no intention of starting a nonprofit in this stage of her life; but doing so has helped her find a way to take her pain and give it purpose, creating a way for her to move forward. A way to recover and to truly live again.
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Four years later, and Theresa Clower still finds it difficult to discuss. Her son, dead at 32 from fentanyl poisoning. He's far from the only one. Fentanyl overdoses are the number one cause of death in young adults. More than car accidents, suicides, and even cancer. Drugs like heroin, meth, and marijuana can be laced with it, and even in the smallest amounts, fentanyl is deadly. Users like Devin never know it's there, leaving families shattered and lost.
Clower’s son had suffered from addiction for 10 years. Yet, he had been living in a sober house for four months and had a full-time job. She held out hope he was going to make it.
A Mother’s Mission To Change The Conversation About Drug Addiction
“As hard as it's been, this project has been a meaningful purpose in my life at this point, and I can only say ‘Thank you, Devin.’ I can only say, ‘thank you,’” said Clower. “If we can open up conversation about this disease. If we can sit and talk about it in whatever form, then I'm able to contribute in a way to helping. And that's what I want to do”.
“That was the call no parent wants to have, those three words, ‘Devin is dead,’ on the other line. It can still bring up unbelievable emotion.”
“IntoMovingLight”
Clower hopes that by bringing awareness to the epidemic of opioid addiction and starting a conversation, the perception of the disease and those consumed by it will change. To bring an “Into Light Project” exhibit to your area or just learn more, visit IntoLightProject.org.
“Human beings are very resilient. That I've learned. I've learned a lot about compassion and openness. So many stories, so many lives. I've learned that grief is stagnating, and mourning is invigorating,” she continued. “You'll never forget. I will never, my heart will never, be the same. There's always a little heaviness in my heart because of losing Dev.”
ClowerTheadded.first“Into Light” exhibit was held in Maryland, where Devin died. Clower thought it would end there; but then came a request to have one in New Jersey, followed by other states.
From her grief, “Into Light Project” was born, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the conversation about drug addiction; a tribute to others, like Devin, who lost their lives to opioid addiction. Clower seeks to honor who they were outside of their disease, by memorializing their faces in original graphite portraits. It all began with her portrait of her son. “Drawing him and signing my name at the end of that was my release. That was my goodbye to Devin. Very, very powerful. And I could not stop drawing people's faces. I just had to keep drawing people's faces,” said Clower. “This chose me. I didn't choose this. I had never done a portrait before I drew Devin's.” “I love graphite, but it's a metaphor in that we're all made up of black and white, all of us, and every shade in between. And no one should be defined by their darkest moment,” ClowerShesaid.began to seek others who had also died like Devin. So she could draw their portraits, share their stories and put real faces to this overlooked epidemic, and combat the stigma and shame that accompanies their families’ grief. “These are all loved ones. These are all people like Devin, who've had a family, who have mothers, who have fathers and children, and brothers and sisters, and they're loved — every one of them is loved,”
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Whatever else it may be, life is a great teacher. It teaches us who we are and how best we can serve others. It teaches us what’s important. And if we don’t learn its lessons, like any great teacher, life makes us repeat them. Success and wisdom come from learning life’s most important lessons.
“Nick Nanton is the voice of a new generation.”
“Nick is the best in the world at what he does. He’s one of the highest integrity guys I’ve ever worked with and one of the most America.”personalitiesremarkablein
LARRY KING, Television and Radio Host Nanton is 42 years old and to some extent, who he is depends upon the day or the project. Every day he’s a family man and a man of faith with a servant’s heart. On any given day he might be a musician and songwriter, an attorney, podcaster, best-selling author, speaker, coach, or an entrepreneur. Perhaps more than anything else, he’s a storyteller and a documentary filmmaker whose own story is a case study in the pursuit of personal passion, professional success, and social impact.
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After earning a law degree from the University of Florida, he co-founded a branding agency in which he’s helped more than 3000 clients in 60 countries clarify their message, define their mission, and gain the respect and credibility they sought.
“I’ve told my closest friends, if they could ever trust anybody with their story, they should trust Nick.”
Nick Nanton sits in the front row in the classroom of life. He’s the student with his hand up sitting on the edge of his seat. “I’m super intrigued by how people manage and react to their life experiences,” he says. “The more I interview people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, the more I realize that they’re offering a 40 to 50-year shortcut to what’s important.
PETER DIAMANDIS, Founder and Executive Chairman, XPRIZE Foundation
The Storyteller
BRIAN TRACY, Best-Selling Author
Nanton is an immigrant. He was born in Barbados and moved to the U.S. with his parents when he was ten months old. His parents owned a furniture store and taught him the value of hard work and the importance of integrity.
Those who have accomplished great things have also experienced great lows and we can learn from the way they’ve handled setbacks.” We’ll get to the lessons he’s learned but first, who is Nick Nanton?
In 2010, in what can only be described as a very Growing Bolder move, Nanton challenged himself to chase his dream of becoming a documentary filmmaker. It was an ambitious goal but Nanton, if nothing else, is a man who knows how to take what is and create what might be. His first documentary short, Jacob's Turn, about a 4-year-old boy with Down Syndrome, earned him a regional Emmy Award as director and a new career was born.
Nick Nanton’s Journey Of Discovery Marc Middleton
Of the many skills he possesses, getting people to say yes is Nanton’s superpower. “I'm really bad at most things in life but I'm pretty good at this one thing,” he says. “What I do all day is have meaningful conversations that lead to desired outcomes.”
Nanton’s first feature-length biographical documentary, Visioneer, shares the story of Peter Diamandis, the founder of the X-Prize who helped usher in the era of private spaceflight. The film earned Nanton two more Emmys, the trust of Diamandis, and more dots to connect in his quest for more stories to tell. “Fascinating people know other fascinating people,” Nanton says. “When you're telling someone’s story and need access to others who know them, they don't usually say, ‘Hey, go talk to these really cool five guys in jail.’
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Photos courtesy of Nick Nanton
DANIEL “RUDY” RUETTIGER, Motivational Speaker & Author
It’s more like, ‘Why don't I introduce you to my friend, Richard Branson or Mark Cuban or Dean Kamen.’ When you serve others well, it opens up many doors.”
“Nick Nanton is the real deal. Even after working with Hollywood film crews on one of the most successful movies of all time, Nick and his crew are every bit as good.”
Serving others well might be the most important lesson that life has taught Nanton. “If you want to be successful, there's three main things you need to do,” he says. “You need to show up on time, do what you say you're going to do, and say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ And if you do those things, it's amazing the doors that will open. I always lead with, ‘Let me serve first.’ The stated goals of my team are to be the easiest people anyone’s ever worked with and to share a story that inspires hope. When that’s not just a mission statement but how you operate, it’s pretty easy to get people to say yes.”
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Dream Big: Rudy Ruettiger Live on Broadway played to a sold-out audience and added another layer to Nanton’s growing reputation as a producer and director who Nanton’sdelivers.success has not come quickly or easily. Diamandis and others told him, “No” multiple times. Every subject needs convincing at some level. “‘No’ today doesn't mean ‘no’ tomorrow,” he says. “Rudy's life motto is, pester life until it gives in.” Nanton doesn’t believe in pestering, but he leads the league in the art of subtle persuasion. “When I see an opportunity that I think would be mutually beneficial, I try to make it known,” he says. “I make it hard to say ‘no’ once they're ready to say, ‘yes.’”
RICHARD TYLER, CEO Richard Tyler International Nick Nanton has interviewed some of the world's top thought leaders to learn and share the secrets to success. Nick Nanton with Larry King, Hall-of-Fame basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Actor Dean Cain (Superman), Egyptologist, Documentarian, and TV Host Ramy Romany, and global motivational speaker and star of “The Secret”, Lisa Nichols
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Nanton’s success with the Diamandis project led him to Ruettiger which, in turn, led him to Dick Vitale, the Hall of Fame basketball coach and sportscaster. Aside from having an incredibly interesting and challenging life, Vitale has helped raise over $50 million for the V Foundation to support pediatric cancer research. Nanton was drawn to that fact as much as any other and production was begun on Dickie V Vitale was diagnosed with cancer in the middle of filming. “We just happened to be covering his diagnosis and treatment in realtime,” Nanton says. “When word got out about the project, ESPN called and asked if I could have the film finished in time for the ESPYS. It hadn’t been announced yet that Dick would be honored with the big Jimmy V award, but our timing was perfect. “Nick keeps his promises and over delivers every single time on every single project. He is a humble visionary strategist.”
Nanton’s work with Diamandis led to an opportunity to direct a film on Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the subject of the award-winning film, Rudy. After directing the Rudy documentary, Nanton had the bold and risky idea of turning it into a one-man Broadway show. His willingness to occasionally walk a professional highwire is a by-product of his family life. “I have a great relationship with my wife and kids so I can jump as high as I want and not be afraid of falling. No matter what happens, when I walk through the door, life is the same. I’m still loved.”
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We cut a deal with ESPN and delivered the final cut a week before the RaisingESPYS.”awareness and funds for causes he believes in is another thread that runs through the Nanton filmography. To date, he’s produced and directed over 60 films, winning 22 Emmys and countless other awards. “I'm always looking for stories with heart that offer hope,” he says. “I’m not interested in doing exposes. I’m interested in entrepreneurial souls who are ‘Let's get it done’ kind of people.”
JACK CANFIELD, Best-Selling Author of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series Nanton’s body of work also reflects his humanitarian interests. He’s produced many films for non-profit organizations (many of which have been funded by him and his clients at no cost to the organization) including five documentaries on human trafficking, and films for Operation Underground Railroad, Folds of Honor, K9s for Warriors, and many others. He’s building a worldwide audience but the viewers he cares most about live under his own roof. “I try to make films that my kids can watch and learn from,” he says. “I want to create a library for my kids first, and then anyone else who wants to watch. I’m interested in passing down wisdom and hope.” That desire drew him to the late Larry King. Getting to King wasn’t easy but finding a creative way in is what Nanton does best. “I supported a charity by buying a breakfast with Larry. I flew to LA, and we met at an old Jewish deli in Beverly Hills. He said, ‘You spent a lot of money to meet with me. How can I help you?’ I said, ‘There's three things, Larry. Number one — I’d love to hear some good stories. Two- I do a lot of interviews and I know I could learn a few things from you. And we don’t need to talk about number three today, but I’d like to send you copies of my work and you can decide if there’s any way that we can do some work together.’ We had an hour-long breakfast, and it was awesome. I sent him some work samples and “In Case You Didn’t Know with Nick Nanton” was born. Before he passed we produced six episodes of the show that ended up on Amazon Prime and won an Emmy together.”
The blessing of age is the opportunity to continue evolving, learning, and growing. To shed that which matters least and embrace that which matters most. Life is a journey of discovery, and few are making it with more impact than Nick Nanton.
Film and program production is not inexpensive but getting others to support his many efforts has never been a major challenge for Nanton. “Through my branding agency, I've helped a lot of great people. So, I can go to them and say, ‘Here's what I'm trying to do, and here's the value I'll bring to you if you do it with me.’ I never ask for anything without giving something potentially more valuable in return. I have a network of people who have stayed with me for 10 years because I tell them the truth and I deliver what I promise.”
ARI BERNSTEIN, MD, Dickie V Executive Producer
“Working with Nick Nanton has been a life-changing experience. His honesty, integrity, and heart earn the trust of anyone he works with.”
So, what has Nanton learned from the successful elders he’s had the privilege to meet and interview? “The one topic that comes up every time is curiosity. They all say, ‘I'm relentlessly curious.’ The people who have achieved the most in life, no matter what age they are, are still learning. They all believe that tomorrow can be better than today, and they're driven by the knowledge that there's more they could be doing and sharing.”
“Every time I see the movie Nick made about my life, I am blown away, deeply moved, and profoundly thankful that I know and get to work with him.”
3676 MEGGISON RD. THE VILLAGES, FL 32163 (352) 571-5514 • WWW.HARVESTBROWNWOOD.COM MONDAY - THURSDAY 11AM - 9PM l FRIDAY 11AM - 10PM SATURDAY 10AM - 10PM | SUNDAY 10AM - 9PM BRUNCH AVAILABLE SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10AM - 2PM REST A URANT & BA R Chef Inspired + Wine Focused Chef Brittany Driskell Meet Brittany Driskell, the creative culinary specialist behind the FMK menus you know and love. She brings life’s inspirations to her kitchen and hopes that you enjoy the unique flavors she’s put together in this one-of-a-kind menu at Harvest Restaurant & Bar. From her homemade cheesecake recipes to family inspired salads and entrées you can always taste her passion for great flavors that pair perfectly with delicious wines. CHICKEN • STEAK • SEAFOOD • SALADS • FINE WINE • HAND CRAFTED COCKTAILS CULINARY DIRECTOR FMK RESTAURANT GROUP CENTER CUT ALASKANINSIDEFILETBARBOWL Proudly serving The Villages Grown
“If there is no therestruggle,isnoprogress.” FOR MORE DAILY MEMES: — Frederick @GrowingBolderDouglassImagesGettyviaRgStudiobyPhoto
Brown hopes that the pandemic has shown others an appreciation in how travel gives us the opportunity to grow spiritually and culturally.
Spark GrowthPersonalWithTravel To Know The People More Than The Places
“Once you get really comfortable in this space, I feel like that's when you feel relaxed enough to turn to someone next to you and talk. It gives you that moment to open up to others and learn maybe where you should go to lunch or what you should do next, or just have a pleasant conversation.”
“Now we realize if we don't travel, we don't connect with our loved ones. We don't meet new people. We don't stretch outside our own comfort zone. Travel marks a fresh start. It's something new. It's something to look forward to, even before we go. “It's a fresh start whether we go an hour from our home for a weekend trip or go 10,000 miles away for two weeks. As human beings, we are all on this spiritual journey to understand more about ourselves, who we are as people. That means that we're a better person for ourselves, for our family, for our community. And nothing gives us that opportunity like travel.”
Get
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“I create a ritual. So wherever I traveled to, I do one thing, the same thing, at the same time every single day. For me, it's a coffee shop that I'm going to begin my day at. Creating a ritual really slows down time. It makes it your own. It helps you be a part of a more local scene. You get to feel the ebb and flow of a neighborhood better than if you were staying in your hotel or if you were in different cafes every single day,” Brown continued.
Traveling is about enjoying people's everyday lives in another part of the world, which is extraordinary,” Brown told Growing Bolder. “That's such a big theme of ours: how do we learn from other people? Then through that, we learn about ourselves.”
Early in her career, Brown learned that the key to a full, enriching travel experience goes beyond the “bucket list” sites to visit. “I would spend my days shooting in all the must-sees, the castles, the cathedrals, the monuments, the museums. And I was so lonely I didn't want my job anymore. Then I just really zoned in on people. People changed who I was and I just wanted to know more about them.
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“As human beings, we are all on this spiritual journey to understand more about ourselves, who we are as people. That means that we're a better person for ourselves, for our family, for our community. And nothing gives us that opportunity like travel.”
SAMANTHA BROWN
Samantha Brown has been around the block more than a time or two. She’s an Emmy Award-winning world travel host featured in more than 400 episodes of TV shows on the Travel Channel and PBS. She has visited more than 250 cities, 60 countries and spent more than 26,000 hours traveling.
While acknowledging that new surroundings and language barriers can be a challenge, Brown recommends the best way to broaden our horizons and meet new people is by doing the opposite of what most travel tips will“Everyoneadvise. in travel tells you that you've got to do 10 different things a day and never go down the same road twice. And I think if that becomes your approach to travel, you become really bullied by time,” Brown explained.
I define creative living as any life defined more by curiosity than by fear. Every day we come upon a fork in the road. One way leads to opportunity and the other way leads to fear, which keeps us from opportunity. You can choose to walk down the path of opportunity and open your life to endless possibilities or turn down the road of fear and avoid everything. I say this as someone who’s inherently a very frightened person. I’m nervous, high strung, anxious and sensitive. But here’s the key — I’m just one percent more curious about the world than I am afraid of it. And that one percent has made all the Curiositydifference.isthekey to Growing Bolder. If you can push past the fear and make a decision to pursue your curiosity and creativity, the world will open up to you. Before you know it, you’ll be actively co-creating your life instead of simply shuffling through in a puddle of despair, shrugging your shoulders and accepting whatever happens around you from day to day.
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I made a vow to myself when I was 16 that I would be a writer. I never said I’d be great, or even successful, but writing revealed something within me that I couldn’t access in any other way. For seven years I got nothing but rejection letters. I persisted because I had a passion for something that would allow me to do more than just pay bills and die. Isn’t that the way you want to feel, too? I believe there’s something within us all that makes us want to follow our curiosity wherever it takes us. We all follow a path and these little breadcrumbs of curiosity drop in front of us, tempting us to change our lives — or to at least think about things differently. Too many times we ignore our own curiosity and fail to fully participate in our own lives. We let our fear overcome our curiosity and our creativity.
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How To Move Forward In Life, Even When We’re Anxious Or Afraid
The road to fear leads to despair and the belief that tomorrow is going to be exactly the same as today. That belief is a lie, because we live in a world that’s in constant change. You must emerge from fear and despair. Ask yourself what you can do to actively and willingly participate in the changes that are going on around you. Don’t settle for simply being a witness to your own life. Take control. Give in to your curiosity. The result will be Big Magic.
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Find information on Gilbert’s Big Magic — Creative Living Beyond Fear Tour and other events at ElizabethGilbert.com
Elizabeth Gilbert is an author, essayist, short-story writer, and novelist. She became an international sensation with the 2006 publication of her memoir Eat Pray Love, which chronicled her year-long journey of self-discovery across the world following her life-shattering divorce. Her 2015 book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear encourages readers to explore, develop and release the creativity that is within us all. In Big Magic, Gilbert explains the magical qualities of creativity and how to harness it in your own life, even if you think you don’t have a creative bone in your body. She talked to Growing Bolder about the life-changing power of obstacles and curiosity, reflecting on overcoming life’s hardships and discovering how to see these moments as transforming events.
“If this thing that’s a little bit painful is so common, what’s the point? Why does it exist? It’s because regrets make us better. Regrets are our most useful emotion if we deal with them properly.”
Embracing our regrets is something we can practice with a simple pen and paper exercise.
Pink believes there is a balance of emotion to work towards in a healthy life.
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“That was revelatory because as I looked over these mistakes, I realized that in some of them, there actually wasn't a lesson. It was just like, stuff happens. It's bad luck. But on others, I found myself making the same two mistakes over and over again, that the source of these setbacks were the same two mistakes. That gave me lessons that regret was a teacher, which allowed me to avoid making those mistakes in the future.”
“They are dead wrong,” says Daniel Pink, a New York Times best-selling author of The Power of Regret: How Looking Backwards Moves Us Forward “People have this philosophy of no regrets, and it’s a bad philosophy,” Pink told Growing Bolder. “Everybody has regrets. Regrets make us human. It’s one of the most common emotions that we have.
“It's a teacher saying, ‘Hello. I am here to teach you something.’ If we're open to that, it is an incredible force for forward progress and if we are closed to that, we're leaving an incredible capacity on the table.”
“What I want people to do is forgive themselves for having regrets, treat themselves with kindness, disclose your regrets as a way to make sense of them, and then explicitly draw a lesson from them for what to do next time,” Pink said.
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An analogy that Pink hopes more people adopt is looking at regrets as an instructor, rather than as a judge.
While acknowledging that dealing with negative emotions can be challenging, Pink believes that it can be made easier if we give ourselves grace.
“A ‘failure resume’ is one of the best ideas I've ever seen,” Pink explained. “We all have these resumes, these incredible lists of our accomplishments and how awesome we are. What professor Tina Seelig suggests is that you do the reverse of that. Compile a list of your screw-ups, mistakes, setbacks, and your flops. It's embarrassing. It's not something that I want to share, but then I made a column next to it that showed what did I learn from that.
To Learn From Mistakes buildings. Imagine if we didn't have the negative emotion of grief. We wouldn't be reminded of those we love.”
“Having no regrets is not a sign of courage. What is courage is staring your regrets in the eye and doing something about them.”
Create A “Failure Resume”
We all know people who say they “have no regrets.” These people believe spending time looking in the past and dwelling on negative experiences can hold them back. According to one expert, those people are missing one of life’s biggest opportunities for growth.
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“I am all for positive emotions. Our positive emotions should outnumber our negative emotions. The thing is we want to have a few negative emotions because they're useful,” Pink said. “Imagine if we didn't have the negative emotion of fear. We wouldn't be able to get out of burning
It is never too late to make a change, pursue a passion, learn a new skill, start a new job or make a new relationship.
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The key is to take that first step because it can lead somewhere we couldn’t imagine. It might be volunteering or joining a club. Little things can introduce us to big opportunities that we could never have imagined.
lives the message I espouse. I’m not an adventure seeker. I’m not the most curious person you know. But we can’t give up because it’s a different world today than it was decades ago. Middle age is defined as no longer young but not yet old. Getting older is not the same as getting old. So, we have to recalibrate how we define middle age and how we act. We need imagination, courage, and the initiative to stay active, engaged, and productive. There’s no one definition to what that means. It just means we have opportunities that our parents and grandparents didn’t have at our age, and I don’t want to squander mine.
THE TAKEAWAY
Inspiration is everywhere but you have to be looking. I think that’s all it really takes. If you’ve got your antennae up, you’ll be available for an opportunity you might not have noticed before.
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JANE PAULEY Broadcasting legend Jane Pauley spoke with Growing Bolder about how she created her own "What's Next."
Inspiration LookingHaveButEverywhereIsYouToBe
I waited for the phone to ring. It always had. It didn’t. I knew I wasn’t retired. I was 54 and I expected to do more. I didn’t know what. I’m a little embarrassed to admit this but it took four years of poking around. I wasn’t just sitting on my sofa watching the Home Shopping Network. I was really working the problem. It took getting up and doing something that eventually led to something else. At some point in our life, we all have to get off the couch and make things happen. Frankly, that’s not easy for me. I’m not a person who “The key is to take that first step because it can lead somewhere we couldn’t imagine ... Little things can introduce us to big opportunities that we could never have imagined.”
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Y0011_111141 2022_C Reject Our Ageist Culture By Taking Small Steps Every Day To Keep Expanding ImagesGettyviaDaniëlsePaulabyPhoto
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It’s never too late to grow, learn and pursue goals. With life experience, we can look back on how we’ve changed for the better and consider what our own process of change looks like. We can remind ourselves that working toward a goal can give us a sense of purpose, no matter how slow our progress.
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Research has shown that lifestyle is the major determinant of how we age. This means you have more control of how you age than you may think. It will require some work, but you’re in charge. Ultimately, you’re your own healthcare provider. Are you invested in extending your heart, mind and physical wellness?
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Florida Blue Medicare is an Official Sponsor of this year's FoodEPCOTLoungewellnessanCome&InternationalEPCOT®FoodWineFestival.andexperienceunexpecteddoseofintheFloridaBlueduringthe®International&WineFestival!
Music, nature, art, crafting and spending time with pets can all help quiet the mind. Which of these works best for you? Is there something else that helps you relax and feel more peaceful?
Reach Out to Someone
Relax, Refresh and Renew in the Florida Blue Lounge located in the Marrakesh Restaurant in Morocco at EPCOT®.
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Do Something That Scares You When was the last time you intentionally did something outside of your comfort zone? What would it feel like to do something every day that scares you? Would it eventually become less scary to try new things?
September 3, 2022 through November 19, 2022 Open daily, 12 - 6 p.m. Visit FloridaBlue.com/magic and learn more about the unique experiences and special activities happening inside the park as well as in select Florida Blue Centers and local communities. Florida Blue Centers offer opportunities to move, learn, meet new people and quiet your mind. Trying a yoga, tai chi or dance class can help you grow, socialize, and feel better and have a happier, improved sense of well-being. Go to Floridablue.com/center to find one near you and learn what programs and classes they offer.
Move More
Has your social interaction decreased over time? How might you connect with people on a daily basis, from a phone call to simply waving and smiling at a neighbor?
How physically active are you currently? Over the last few decades? How might you incorporate more movement and/or exercise into your lifestyle in a way that you can maintain on a daily basis? Learn Something What are you interested in learning? Are there online classes, how-to videos, or local groups where you could learn about this new topic or skill?
Find Something That Will Quiet Your Chattering Mind
Here are five tips to continuing to grow as we age:
Did you know Florida Blue has Medicare Plans? September is Medicare Education Month and Florida Blue Medicare has put together comprehensive resources to help you get the Medicare information you need. Download helpful tools such as Medicare guidebooks, checklists, and learn more about what types of Medicare plans are available to meet your health and lifestyle needs. Call today 1-866-330-8850 Visit MedicareEducationMonth.com MEDIC ARE Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ©️2022 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved. Y0011_106632 2022_C
