GAIL SHEEHY'S NEW 'PASSAGES' A COMEBACK FROM CATASTROPHE
Stop Growing Older. Start Growing Bolder.™
HOW TO AGE DISRUPTIVELY DAN LEVITIN ON ORGANIZING YOUR MIND
COOKING UP HER FUTURE But Valerie Bertinelli Still Takes Her Life One Day at a Time.
Valerie Bertinelli, sitcom star and cooking-show host.
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CONTENTS MARCH/APRIL 2016
FEATURE
ONE DAY AT A TIME
DEPARTMENTS 5 | FROM THE EDITOR
12
BY JACKIE CARLIN
GAIL SHEEHY'S NEW 'PASSAGES' A COMEBACK FROM CATASTROPHE
6 | GROWING BOLDER WITH
22 | BOLDER EXPERTS A performing physician says aging is an adventure. By Marc Middleton
7 | THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH ® The art of the comeback and the comeback in art. By Marc Middleton
24 | TEAM GB ELITE Luxury globetrotting on a staycation budget. By Katy Widrick
8 | MOVE FORWARD. GIVE BACK. ® Her medical career is built on a passion for service. By Marc Middleton
26 | TEAM GROWING BOLDER The only competition is against the voice inside your head that wants you to quit.
9 | ROAD TO RECOVERY How race teams inspire surgeons to get in the zone. By Robert Masson, M.D.
28 | SURVIVING & THRIVING ® The incredible story of a real-life Humpty Dumpty. By Bill Shafer
10 | 5 QUESTIONS Gail Sheehy exploring the power of "post-menopausal zest." By Jackie Carlin
30 | THE TAKEAWAY Organize your mind to survive the information age. By Dan Levitin
4 GROWING BOLDER
How Valerie Bertinelli Learned to Replace Fear With Love.
STOP GROWING OLDER. Start GrowinG Bolder.™
HOW TO AGE DISRUPTIVELY DAN LEVITIN ON ORGANIZING YOUR MIND
COOKING UP HER FUTURE But Valerie Bertinelli Still Takes Her Life One Day at a Time.
Valerie Bertinelli, sitcom star and cooking-show host.
ON THE COVER: Valerie Bertinelli has been a celebrity since she was a teenager. But she's still loving life one day at a time. Photo courtesy The Food Network. MARCH/APRIL 2016
FROM THE EDITOR
Editor-in-Chief Marc Middleton Managing Editor Jackie Carlin Associate Editors Bill Shafer, Katy Widrick Contributing Writers Robert Masson, M.D. Additional Photography Arsenio Coroa, Jeff Murray, Miranda Penn, Suhtling Wong-Vienneau Digital Development and Production Jason Morrow, Pat Narciso, Josh Doolittle, Mike Nanus
407-406-5910 One Purlieu Place, Suite 139 Winter Park, FL 32792 GrowingBolderMagazine.com All editorial content copyright 2016 by Bolder Broadcasting Inc. Growing Bolder is a registered trademark of Bolder Broadcasting Inc. Nothing may be reprinted in part or in whole without written permission from Bolder Broadcasting Inc.
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LIVE longer, LIVE better
tanford University Professor Dr. James Fries coined the term “compressed morbidity” 36 years ago, and it remains the subject of great debate. Fries' theory postulated that as we lengthen lifespan we have the ability, at the same time, to shorten the amount of time lived in a state of chronic decline. He believed that lifestyle modification could result in shorter periods of disease and disability at the end of life. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and bioethicist, is among those who believe that compressed morbidity is pure fantasy. Emanuel believes that increases in life expectancy will be matched by added periods of morbidity. He’s even written that he hopes to die at 75 because life is not worth living after that age, adding, “By 75, creativity, originality and productivity are pretty much gone for the vast, vast majority of us.” Emanuel’s myopic assessment can only be called ageist. Tell Harold Rotenberg, who was painting at 103, that the last 28 years of his life were not worth living. Or Mae Laborde, who didn’t start acting until she was 93 and worked regularly until 101, or George Blair who was still barefoot waterskiing at 93, or Ruth Hamilton who started video blogging at 109, or Olga Kotelko, who set 35 world track and field records after the age of 90. I could go on and on. We’ve interviewed hundreds of nonagenarians and centenarians that lived full, satisfying and active lives before experiencing short periods of decline; men and women who proved that compressed morbidity is no longer a theory, but a very real phenomenon. Of course, there’s no question that advances in technology and medicine have conspired to keep many elderly people alive when they’re no longer productive or healthy, and have no hope of becoming so. For generations, healthcare has been a misnomer. It’s been all about disease care. The healthcare mantra has been, "Come see us when you’re sick and we’ll try to make you better.” The industry is slowly moving toward a model that serves patients before they’re sick, that works to prevent conditions that might not affect us for years, and that teaches us the benefits of lifestyle modification. The result will be a longer life, a healthier old age and drastically reduced healthcare costs. The math doesn’t lie. If we’re extending lifespan by two years while postponing the onset of disability by eight, it’s a huge win-win for individuals and for society. Compressed morbidity is an attainable ideal.
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Marc Middleton, Editor-in-Chief marcmiddleton@growingbolder.com GROWING BOLDER 5
GROWING BOLDER WITH
Estella pyfrom
79
community activist
“I grew up without a lot of money, but as they say, it takes a village. The help I received from the people in my community transformed me into the person I am today. You just get a special feeling from helping people who need it most. That’s why we target underserved communities. I have no interest in being retired. I’m having as much fun as those people who are just sitting on the couch and having a cup of tea. I also think you’re never too old to learn. I didn’t get interested in technology until I was 71. If you really want to get involved with computers and devices, you can do it!”
Estella Pyfrom spent 50 years teaching and working in Florida's Palm Beach County with the underprivileged, the abused and the mentally challenged. After she retired, she sunk her retirement savings into starting Estella's Brilliant Bus, a mobile learning center. By the end of 2016, her bus will have served more than 1 million children. Learn more at estellasbrilliantbus.org.
cary elwes
53
actor
“The Princess Bride started with [novelist and screenwriter] William Goldman writing something sweet and loving for his two daughters. I think that set the tone for us, and is why the film still resonates today. When it came out, it didn’t do much at the box office. It wasn’t until it was released on VHS 10 years later that it started to take off. It then turned into this generation al thing, and I call it the gift that keeps on giving. I encourage everyone to count your blessings. Every day. It’s very easy to focus on the negative, but if you focus on the positive you’ll know just how blessed you are.”
In addition to his role as Westley, the lovestruck farmboy in The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes has appeared in more than 80 films, including Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Dracula, Glory, Days of Thunder, Twister and Kiss the Girls. His memoir, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride includes behind-the-scenes stories from this beloved film.
entrepreneur
“I had my children in my late 30s, and I wanted to be home and be in charge of when I worked. So I started making clothes and I did very well; I even had my own store for 20 years. But then I started selling my clothes at conferences. Instead of waiting for people to come to me, I started coming to them. I’m in charge of my own destiny. I don’t have anybody tell me what to do, or how to do it. Even though I’ve reached ‘retirement age,’ I’m still working and I plan on making it to 100 — and by the grace of God, I’ll still be making and selling dresses. My advice? Stay active. Continue to follow your dreams. I always think of Col. Sanders, who didn’t make his first million until he was 65. I’m hoping for that first million, too!”
Diane Shelton is a former schoolteacher who had a dream. Now she travels the country selling ethnic, wearable art from her line, West Love Color and Culture, at conferences and conventions.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our entire Growing Bolder Radio conversations with Estella Pyfrom and Cary Elwes and to watch our video feature on Diane Shelton’s clothing business. 6 GROWING BOLDER
MARCH/APRIL 2016
Cary Elwes photo courtesy of Miranda Penn
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diane shelton
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
After an auto accident, masters athlete Jamieson Thompson Thomas thought she might never row again. Now she's back on the water and pursuing her artistic goals as well.
BABY BLOOMER The Art of the Comeback and the Comeback in Art. BY MARC MIDDLETON
I
t’s six o’clock on a Friday morning and Jamieson Thompson Thomas is alone in a dark boathouse. Carefully lifting her racing shell from a storage rack, she balances it above her head and walks slowly toward the lake. She’s made this stroll hundreds of times, but today is different. She’s getting back in her boat and back on the water for the first time since a major traffic accident that nearly claimed her lifestyle, if not her life. “I was stopped at a traffic light and violently rear-ended by a driver who was texting,” she recalls. “Every day for a year, I woke up with serious aches and pain. I couldn’t lift my arm. I couldn’t lift my leg. I couldn’t turn my head.” Thompson continues: “The doctor said that most people with injuries like mine claim disability and never compete again. I shrugged my shoulders and I said, ‘That’s not me.’” Through sheer will and determination, Thomas endured months of difficult physical therapy, always looking forward to today — a major milestone in her attempt to recapture the speed and the power that led her to the pinnacle of her sport. One of America’s top masters rowers, Thomas was 56 when she won the U.S. Singles Sculling title at the Masters National Championships. And she didn’t just
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win her age group — she won the coveted Water Dancer Award as the fastest female rower in the entire competition. Then she was taken down by a distracted driver. As she prepares to shove off from the dock, Thomas has no doubt that her comeback will be successful. “I never thought I would be able to accomplish what I already have in rowing,” she says. “I compete against many stronger, more experienced and younger women. I’ve been successful by focusing on technique and strategy. I know the power of persistence — and that gives me great confidence that I’ll ultimately be successful again.” Thomas’s success in rowing has also given her the confidence to finally pursue what may be her greatest passion. She’s using what she’s learned about the art of the comeback to make a comeback in art. “I was an art and business major at Skidmore College, and dreamed of working as a fine artist when I graduated,” she says. “But it was a risky path, and I didn’t have the confidence to go out and attack the art world in New York City.” So, instead of a studio, Thomas found herself in an office. The years turned into decades as she raised a family and made a living. But an important piece of who she is — or who
she wanted to be — was always missing. She took an administrative job at a major art museum and discovered that she could no longer ignore her own voice. “I was helping local artists show their work and giving them advice on how to get to the next level,” Thomas says. “I began saying to myself, ‘You should start listening to what you’re telling everybody else and go do what you love.’” So, in her mid-50s, Thomas embraced the risk and made the commitment to art that she was afraid to make in her early 20s. This time, she had the confidence she lacked decades ago. “I got that from rowing,” she says. “I’ve learned that success is rarely easy, fast or even in a straight line. You have to fall a few times. You have to lose your footing and then find a way forward. Understanding that success is built upon a series of failures is one of life’s greatest lessons. Knowing that you’ll ultimately be successful if you’re persistent is such an amazing gift. It’s something that you can’t possibly know at 20.” One of Thomas’s first art pieces was a series of human sculptures with blooming flowers for heads. She calls them “Bloomers,” and while she prefers to let others discover the meaning in her work, she will say this: “What I want my art to say is, ‘Stop, look around. See what more there is than what you think there is.’” Like her unique figures, Thomas is a bloomer — intent on recovering her prowess as a world-class athlete while rediscovering her voice as a fine artist. And whether she’s in her studio or in her boat, she’s always in pursuit of the same thing — the key, she believes, to success in life. “It’s all about finding your rhythm,” she says. “And if I find my rhythm in my boat, I absolutely have a much better day painting.” She takes one stroke after another — in the water and in the studio — as she navigates two major comebacks. In the process, it’s obvious that Thomas has found her rhythm — all because she found the courage to seize the day. “Carpe diem,” she says. “Go for it. Believe in yourself and know that failure leads to success. Once you learn that, life just becomes a smile.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our video feature story on Jamieson Thompson Thomas. From the lake to her art studio, see how her passions fuel her. GROWING BOLDER 7
MOVE FORWARD. GIVE BACK.
HEART TO HELP
Her Medical Career is Built on a Passion for Service. BY MARC MIDDLETON
I
t’s a hot and humid day in the Dominican Republic. Several buses filled with University of Central Florida College of Medicine students and faculty are trundling along a dusty road in a poverty-stricken rural area. Thirty minutes outside of San Francisco De Macoris, the buses pull into a small village where hundreds of men, women and children are already lined up, anxiously awaiting their arrival. Over the next eight days, the 49-student medical mission team, led by Judith Simms-Cendan, M.D., will set up free clinics and provide medical care for nearly 1,000 patients in six isolated communities. It’s the first and only care many have ever received. An associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Simms-Cendan is director of Global Health Initiatives and International Experiences at the medical school. She’s built a deeply satisfying career around her
8 GROWING BOLDER
passion for practicing medicine, teaching and serving. It’s trips like this that allow SimmsCendan to do all three at the same time. “We have medical, pharmacy and nursing students all working together in teams, providing care, basic medication and critical counseling for patients of all ages,” she says. The student team also compiles electronic records so that future visiting medical teams will know each patient’s history and can assess their progress year after year. “I have no illusions that I can solve somebody’s major life problems or medical conditions on a short-term international trip,” admits Simms-Cendan. “But sometimes, what the communities we serve need most is somebody to listen and then to educate. My hope is that the information we share stays with them — not just for years, but generations.” In addition to working with and supervising her own students, Simms-Cendan,
who’s fluent in Spanish, also trains students from a local medical college in an effort to leave some of her expertise behind. “We’re hoping that we set a model for how they’ll deal with their local communities in the future,” she says. While it’s exciting for her students to travel and study abroad, Simms-Cendan makes certain that they also address the growing needs of those back home. “We have a student-run free clinic in Orlando,” she says. “I require students who go on international trips to participate in local service, because we have large needs in our own backyard.” Simms-Cendan is Growing Bolder, creating a life of significance around a unique and fulfilling work experience that weaves together her professional passions. “Becoming an educator who promotes service, and helps deliver opportunities for service learning, is one of the most exciting things that I do with my medical career,” she says. “I’m extremely proud of and grateful to the UCF College of Medicine for providing that opportunity.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to head to the Dominican Republic with Dr. Simms-Cendan and her team and see firsthand how they changed lives.
MARCH/APRIL 2016
photos courtesy of Suhtling Wong-Vienneau
Dr. Judith Simms-Cendan and students from the UCF College of Medicine provide care and instruction through the school's Global Health Initiatives and International Experiences program.
ROAD TO RECOVERY
FLOW STATE
Father-and-son racing team Robert and Kyle Masson recently took first place in Sebring at PBOC Winterfest.
How Race Teams Inspire Surgeons to Get in the Zone. By Robert Masson, M.D.
T
here has been increased discussion in recent years about something called “flow state.” Athletes call it being “in the zone.” Others refer to it as a heightened state of consciousness. Flow state refers to a subconscious linear connectivity of performance within highly trained groups and within individuals involved in a task. It’s the flawless execution of a highly complicated, synchronous performance. Simply stated, it’s the ultimate sweet spot — the intersection of extreme challenge and great skill. Athletes and artists of all types actively pursue flow state because it brings extreme focus and inner clarity, allowing them to perform at their highest level. I’m fascinated by flow and the pathways for achieving it because it has tremendous value in two of my greatest passions —
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minimally invasive, complex spine surgery and motorsports. I have a deep personal interest in creating high-performance surgical teams and in supporting high-performance race teams. I recently raced in Sebring at PBOC Winterfest with my son, Kyle. Competing together for the first time, we finished first out of 51 teams. Kyle is still in high school, but will be studying engineering in college. He’s also a gifted race driver who was recently signed by Performance Tech Motorsports. Just a week later, NeuroSpine Institute was one of the sponsors of the Performance Tech Motorsports Team in the Rolex 24-Hour race at Daytona International Speedway. The Rolex, one of toughest tests in motorsports, clearly demonstrates the complexity of endurance racing. The Performance Tech car was running in podium position when
a loss of transmission control took it out of the race for more than three hours. That was followed by a clutch problem and finally a blown engine. I followed the car to the garage, where I was in awe watching the Performance Tech crew quietly solving each challenge. I realized that they were in flow state; managing a highly complex task with precision and efficiency. We strive to create surgical teams that have the same highly trained and focused effort. We actively pursue the level of performance that allows us to take the most complicated and dangerous spinal cord surgery imaginable and make it incredibly effortless. We strive to create the pathways that give us predictive, repeatable, optimal opportunities for success. When we achieve flow state, the entire team knows it. You can’t always predict flow state, but you can never achieve it without bringing a high level of skill to a complex challenge. If you want to experience it in your life, accept difficult challenges and master complex skills. Flow lives where mastery meets challenge.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch more of Dr. Robert Masson’s Road to Recovery Minutes.
GROWING BOLDER 9
5 QUESTIONS Gail Sheehy, who explores life stages in her books, is one of the most influential writers of the past 40 years.
DARE TO BE YOU Exploring the Power of ‘Post-Menopausal Zest.’ By Jackie Carlin
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MARCH/APRIL 2016
GAIL SHEEHY
is a journalist, lecturer and author of 17 books, including the landmark Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life. The Library of Congress named that 1976 bestseller one of the 10 most influential books of our time for its candid and groundbreaking portrayal of the various stages in adult lives. Now 78, Sheehy is still raising the bar and opening new windows into our lives with the release of her new memoir, Daring: My Passages.
What a great word “daring” is to describe living life. Is it possible to still be daring in your 70s?
It’s even more possible, because you have less to lose! You’re older and counting backwards from what you perceive might be the end, and you’re thinking, “Boy, I have a lot to do. I have a lot to pack in. I'd better speak out for those who don’t have a voice.” When you look at some of the most powerful and influential women in the world today — women like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Nancy Pelosi — these women are all in their 60s, 70s and even 80s, and they’re changing the world. They’re strong and have no plans of slowing down. The great anthropologist Margaret Mead was my mentor, and she used to say, “Women are at their strongest when they have post-menopausal zest. They’re beyond sexual attraction. Other women don’t see them as a threat, and they can really get things done.” We’ve all been brainwashed from an early age to think that we lose power as we get older. Are our perceptions of aging changing?
She’d been a smoker, so she had emphysema and lung cancer. She was really looking at letting herself die. I had a talk with her, and I’m not sure that’s what made the difference, but she called me up when she was 71 and said, “Well, I think I’m going to get an extension.” And she lived until she was 74. I think a lot of times when people have a setback, or some outdated idea of what “old” is, they might really begin to give up. So, you think attitude can make a big difference in how we age?
It’s the people who don’t give up who are changing everything — and boomers are leading the way. As we’ve moved into our 70s, we’ve realized that we’re nowhere near giving up. For one thing, many boomers, including myself, still have to work well into our 70s. We had this terrific recession that wiped out a lot of people's savings. But, more than that, we have to provide for the rest of our lives. And given the fact that we’ve already made it to 70, we’re more than likely going to live into our mid-80s or beyond. We’ve got to provide for that. And many of us are providing for our children and grandchildren. Now that you’re in your late 70s, have your personal views on aging changed?
gave birth to the whole anti-aging movement, which is a total denial of the fact that we do all actually get older and things change. I find it much easier now to accept things about myself that have changed, and also see the positives — like better judgment. We’re better able, as we get older, to draw on all those different memory banks that we have from all those experiences — and to pull all that information together before we write a rash email or explode at a boss or take a foolish risk. We’re more likely to say, “What the hell? What do I have to lose? Let me try this and even if I fail at it, I’ll try again until I fail forward.” What have you learned from your explorations of these different stages of life? What can help us all as we age?
I boil it down for myself into a simple formula: When I fear, I dare. And that makes me feel stronger. When I back away from taking a dare that I would really like to master, I feel weak — and then I become weak. But then I actually take the step, try the new thing — whether it’s trying to write a new book, trying to start a new radio show or trying to change things for at-risk children in my community. Try it. Take the dare. If you fall down, you’ll meet other people along the way who’ll help you get up and figure out the way to do it. It’s the way to learn, it’s the way to change, it’s the way to grow.
GB EXTRA I remember my mother saying when she turned 70 that she was just looking forward to the end. She really thought she’d lived enough. GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
The big shock for most boomers is they are going to get old. Some of them are already feeling old, which they vowed would never happen to them. These are the ones who
Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our Growing Bolder Radio conversation with Gail Sheehy. Plus, we’ll share links to her Daring Project, which encourages other women to be daring in their lives and to inspire others by sharing their stories. G R O W I N G B O L D E R 11
ONE DAY at a
TIME How Valerie Bertinelli Learned to Replace Fear With Love. BY JACKIE CARLIN
12 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
MARCH/APRIL 2016
Millions of people watched Valerie Bertinelli grow up. She's been a television star since she was a teenager, and has shared her ups and downs — regarding her weight and her life — with her fans.
merica fell in love with Valerie Bertinelli when she starred as Barbara Cooper, the gorgeous girl-next-door on the hit CBS sitcom One Day at a Time. Bertinelli was just 15 years old when she landed the role, her first major acting job, and appeared in nearly every episode during the show’s successful run, from 1975 to 1984.
She later starred in several made-for-TV movies and headlined two more sitcoms, Sydney and Café Americain. More recently, she co-starred with the legendary Betty White in TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland. At age 20, when One Day at a Time was at the peak of its popularity, Bertinelli famously married rocker Eddie Van Halen. The pair would have a child, Wolfang, 14 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
now 25, and stay together for two decades before splitting in 2001. Bertinelli says the marriage was doomed from the start due to cocaine addiction — his and hers. In the years following the high-profile breakup, she kicked drugs and remarried. Now in her 50s, she looks and feels better than ever. She also sought to reclaim her health
by losing weight, eventually dropping 50 pounds. She’d been using food as a drug for years, she realized. In 2008 Bertinelli signed on as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, the nutrition and weight-loss company, and wrote a book, Losing It — And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time. The following year she wrote a follow-up, Finding It — And SatisMARCH/APRIL 2016
photo courtesy of Valerie Bertinelli
A
When Bertinelli and Tom Vitale got married in 2011, they created a happy blended family. Shown the day of the nuptials are (left to right): Andie, Angela and Dominic (Tom's children); Tom and Valerie; Wolfgang Van Halen (Valerie and Eddie Van Halen's son); and Anthony and David Vitale (Tom's nephews).
Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips and Bertinelli became one of America's favorite TV families in the '70s and '80s through the hit sitcom One Day at a Time.
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Bertinelli's latest TV venture is a cooking show, called Valerie's Home Cooking, on The Food Network. She says working on the program helps her remember when her love for food was healthy, not addictive.
The actress' weight loss battle and her current love affair with healthy cooking are recounted in two popular books, Losing It and One Dish at a Time.
fying My Hunger for Life Without Opening the Fridge. She even appeared on the cover of People magazine — wearing a bikini for the first time in nearly 20 years — to celebrate her 49th birthday. Although Bertinelli is no longer affiliated with Jenny Craig, she says she learned plenty during that partnership. “I learned that I’m really good at taking off weight,” she says. “I’ve been at it for my entire life. It’s when it starts to creep back on that I get fearful. I start panicking, saying, ‘What am I going to do? What are people going to think of me?’” Through therapy and her own research, Bertinelli says she’s come to realize a truth about addicts: They're often locked in a vicious cycle of beating themselves up and then reaching for things that aren’t healthy to cope. She admits that she still struggles to avoid falling back into old habits. The actress’s public battle with weight gain is why it came as a surprise to her fans when she recently announced her newest venture: hosting a cooking show on The Food Network. She laughingly acknowledges that a Food Network gig may not seem like a great idea for someone with an admitted food addiction. But she says working on Valerie’s Home Cooking has helped her remember a time when her love for food was healthy. “The way I grew up, food was love,” she says. “It was how you showed that you love each other. But it was a healthy love, not GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
‘eat until it hurts you.’ Unfortunately, as the years went on, I would lose track of that. I started overstuffing myself or eating snacks that aren’t good for you.” On her show, Bertinelli gets to demonstrate some of her favorite family recipes — sometimes with assistance from her husband, Tom Vitale, and her son, Wolfgang, whom she calls "Wolfie." Even famous friends drop by, including Betty White. “This is probably the hardest I’ve ever worked because it’s just me up there, talking and cooking at the same time,” she says. “But it’s also the most fun I’ve ever had.” Bertinelli hopes to inspire others who’ve fought weight problems — and to help them realize that food doesn’t have to be the enemy. “It’s all about trying to find that balance,” she says. “All the things I really love to cook and eat aren’t bad for you, if they’re taken in moderation. Nothing is really bad for you you if you take it in moderation.” Another key to Bertinelli’s success at maintaining a healthy weight is staying busy. When she’s not working, she does whatever she can to avoid getting bored. “I now do crossword puzzles every morning,” she says. “I love to read. I knit. I started coloring in those adult coloring books. I’m always searching for new things to experience, learn and try.” Many celebrities try to give off a cool, selfassured vibe. But talking to Bertinelli feels like talking to Barbara Cooper, her sitcom character. She’s charming, self-effacing and G R O W I N G B O L D E R 17
quick to acknowledge her fears and insecurities. She’s also endearingly determined to do her part to make the world a little brighter. “I love Growing Bolder and what it represents,” she says. “It’s such a lovely idea to put out into the world. Even at this age, when I think I have it all together, it still makes me cry when I think of the fears we’re all still carrying around. I know I can only speak for myself, but I want to take fear out of my life — because then love can shine through.” Bertinelli even has an assignment for you. Next time you’re walking down the street or through the grocery store, try smiling at strangers instead of glowering at them because they’re in your way. When they smile back, she says, “it’s going to give you an amazing feeling.” “We’re here to be kind to one another. It’s so much easier to spread the light than it is to spread the darkness. There’s enough darkness out there; we need the light.”
GB EXTRA The marriage of Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen was probably doomed from the start, Bertinelli says, because of their addiction problems.
Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our entire Growing Bolder Radio Show conversation with Valerie Bertinelli and for a link to some of her favorite recipes.
• We come to you! • Available 24/7 • Medications, equipment and supplies provided • A dedicated team of Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains, Hospice Aides and Volunteers assigned to your care Information 866.742.6655 www.cornerstonehospice.org
Cornerstone is committed to caring for all hospice patients regardless of payer source or ability to pay. 100% covered by Medicare & Medicaid
18 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
MARCH/APRIL 2016
FROM OUR BROADCAST PARTNERS IN JACKSONVILLE AND West Palm Beach
WEEKDAYS AT
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 19
DESIGN YOUR DREAM LIFE
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or years, you’ve chosen your homes based on the needs of others. How are the schools? How near is the office? Are there enough bedrooms for the kids? But now is the time to put what you want first. Now is the time to focus on yourself. Del Webb Orlando, an active-adult lifestyle community near the heart of all the action in Central Florida, has been busy life-testing different home designs over the past few years. We used that feedback to create exciting new options — and then put them to the test through consumer focus groups. The result was six new, flexible Life Tested® home designs that allow for the ultimate in personalization. The Inspired Design Collection features smart options, such as raised dishwashers, so you don’t have to bend to load and unload dishes, and microwaves lowered to eye level to help with mobility. Haven’t you always wanted a home designed specifically for your unique lifestyle and interests? At Del Webb Orlando, that option is not only available, it’s more affordable than you might have thought! One thing you can’t pay for, however, is that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you enter the Del Webb Orlando community — an inclusive neighborhood with friendly neighbors and plenty of amenities, as well as events and groups in which you can participate. You'll really feel right at home — and we’ll prove it to you. The Explore Del Webb program gives you the opportu-
nity to stay in a fully furnished, private home that comes equipped with a golf cart to use during your stay. Plus, you’ll have access to all of our amenities — with a Resident Ambassador showing you around like only a local could. Your visit will allow you to soak up some sun, meet the residents and learn what it means to live inspired! So guess what? You can have it all, including a community you’re a part of — which is just as important as the home you live in! With more than 30 classes, charter clubs, interest groups, sports courts, walking trails and a fitness center, there really is something for everyone. And at Del Webb Orlando, that’s not just a saying. Having an onsite Lifestyle Director means you have a say in what happens in your community. It’s what allows a Sportsman’s Club to get started, the Gardening Club to get a new garden approved and the craft room to get an upgraded makeover — complete with adjustable craft tables, allowing more people to do more types of projects. As long as there’s interest, no club idea is too small. That’s because Del Webb Orlando is truly engaged with its residents — listening and working hard to make the community what its residents want it to be. What could be more exciting than getting to start the next phase of your life in a home and community that is exactly what you want it to be? Now is the time to put yourself first! Stop dreaming and start planning today. Call 866-6713330 or visit delwebb.com/dwo to make today the first day of your new life.
Del Webb Orlando offers an unparalleled active-adult lifestyle community designed for those who plan to keep on Growing Bolder, year after year. Plan your visit around one of Del Webb’s upcoming community events, participate in a club or simply get to know some of the neighbors.
Call 866-671-3330 or visit delwebb.com/dwo to schedule a visit today. 20 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
MARCH/APRIL 2016
Quick Move-In Homes are Available Now!
EXPLORE YOUR NEW ACTIVE ADULT LIFESTYLE!
NOT TOO BIG, NOT TOO SMALL, THE COMMUNITY THAT’S JUST RIGHT! Single Family Homes from the $170’s-$230’s Models Open Daily
With the right location and the right price, Del Webb Orlando is active-adult living at its best!
• Full time on-site Lifestyle Director • 30,800 sq.ft. clubhouse with 30+ clubs & classes • Resort-style pool & spa • Indoor heated pool & spa • TechnoGym fitness center • Tennis, pickle ball, bocce ball
Call now to schedule your visit: 866-671-3330
• Outdoor firepit & amphitheater
Del Webb Orlando 225 Ridgewood Lakes Blvd. Davenport, FL 33837 Visit delwebb.com/DWO to find out more.
• Fishing pier & walking trails • Billiards, craft room, and ballroom • Guard-gated privacy
At Del Webb communities, at least one resident must be 55 years of age or older, no one under 19 (18 in certain communities) in permanent residence, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required or if void by law. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Contact a sales consultant for details. CGC1515415. ©2016 Pulte Home Corporation. All rights reserved. 2/8/16
BOLDER EXPERTS Dr. Bill Thomas is trying to change the way society views aging through a unique stage show.
BE DISRUPTIVE A Performing Physician Says Aging is an Adventure. By Marc Middleton
B
ill Thomas, M.D., is a renowned gerontologist who has helped transform long-term care worldwide. A self-described “nursing home abolitionist,” he’s the founder of The Eden Alternative, a program that has deinstitutionalized nursing homes in all 50 states and around the world over the past 20 years. Now he has his sights set on an even bigger, broader goal: He wants to change the way we all view aging. And the approach this Harvard-trained physician is 22 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
taking has raised a few eyebrows. “I’ve shifted the whole perspective of my career,” Thomas says. “I’m going to be on stage for as many years, in as many cities, as my strength and health will allow.” Thomas has been traveling the country starring in what he calls his Age of Disruption Tour, a “nonfiction theater performance” that has played in more than 30 cities. “People hear that a doctor is coming to town to talk about aging, and they expect me to show up wearing a white coat with PowerPoint slides,” he says. “I show up
with a guitar, a bass player, a theater set, costumes, music, art, mythology, storytelling, biography and neuroscience all mixed up. It’s kind of like a TED Talk on steroids.” One study after another has proved that how we perceive aging, to a very large degree, determines how we age. With the accepted narrative of aging focusing on decline, disease and disability, it’s difficult to view advancing years in a positive light. Thomas challenges those negative stereotypes in hopes of changing the narrative. “It’s the story that matters,” he says. “How people interpret their experience goes a long way to determining their well-being. So, I decided to go out into the world and start changing the story of aging.” Thomas is comfortable in the academic and medical worlds. The performing world, however, is a little different. “It terrifies me every night before the curtain goes up,” he says. “One of the things I’m doing with this show is taking chances. I’m trying to show people that age gives you the opportunity to try crazy, new stuff.” Society fosters the notion that older people need to be protected at all costs. Thomas, however, begs to differ. “I’m arguing that aging is the most dangerous game you’re ever going to play,” he says. “So you should play enthusiastically. You’re an adventurer when you’re aging. I try to present a vision that says aging is an experience worth embracing and celebrating — not something to run from.” Adds Thomas: “The best antidote to the fear that’s being peddled is to laugh at how ridiculous it is, and go out and live a big, bold life.” Thomas says attracting the 70 million baby boomers to the positive aging movement is easy: “These are men and woman who grew up questioning the dominant narrative of the time, including sexism, racism and the Vietnam War. They’re looking for a new framework with which to understand aging. They’re looking for a new story to tell. We believe in possibility, change, growth, optimism, spirit and soul. The other side has injections.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to learn more about Thomas' work and the Age of Disruption Tour.
MARCH/APRIL 2016
We Practice What We Teach. We are UCF Health
UCF
Health
College of Medicine Practice
As UCF College of Medicine physicians, scientists and teachers, we’re discovering innovative solutions to today’s medical challenges. And at UCF Health, we bring these advancements to you.
LAKE NONA MEDICAL CITY
Schedule an appointment at 407-266-DOCS or UCFHealth.com
UNIVERSITY BLVD. EAST ORLANDO
TEAM GB ELITE Ainslie Waldron says you can travel the world for less than you might expect.
TRENDY TRAVEL Luxury Globetrotting on a Staycation Budget. BY KATY WIDRICK
H
really like to visit, not just the places sold to you by travel agents. Before you travel, sign up for frequent flyer and air miles programs. You’ll be notified when an airline has a special offer, and may be able to buy first-class flights for less than the cost of full economy tickets. Email potential home exchanges in countries you’d like to visit. Many people book several months or even years in advance. But if you can be flexible with your travel times, you may be able to find an opening during a less popular time of year — maybe even at a discount. Ready to see the world? Visit ainslie.growingbolder.com for more information. And we have a big announcement! We’re now accepting guest writers and contributions to the Growing Bolder blog. Do you have a story or article you’d like to share with our audience? Visit blog.growingbolder.com to get all the details.
ainslie waldron photo courtesy of Jeff Murray
ave you dreamed about hopping on a plane and seeing the world’s most beautiful sights, but figured it was too much of a budget-buster? Growing Bolder blogger Ainslie Waldron has a secret: You can take luxury vacations for much less than you might expect. From Adelaide, Australia, to the French Riviera, Waldron has mastered the art of home exchange — swapping her Brisbane beach property for condos, homes, estates and cabins all over the world. It’s always an adventure — and sure, there’ve been some experiences that she admits were less than ideal — but as she documents her own travels, she shares tips and advice for others looking to explore the world. In 7 Ways the Time Stretches Your Retirement Travel Dollar, Waldron offers these tips for looking ahead, rather than trying to book at the last minute: Plan ahead. Spend time online researching which places you’d
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MARCH/APRIL 2016
BOLDER HEALTH
GET BACK TO YOUR LIFE What You Need to Know About Joint Replacements.
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BY Jackie Carlin
oint replacement surgeries are more popular than ever, thanks to an increasingly active population that is redefining aging. In fact, this year alone, more than 1 million Americans will elect to undergo a knee or hip joint replacement surgery. That number is driven, in large part, by people who want to continue to enjoy physical activity as they grow older. For those opting for this elective surgery, it’s crucial to identify the right team that will help you get back in the game as quickly and painlessly as possible. Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital’s Joint Replacement Center was recently recognized as the only Joint Commission-certified total knee and total hip replacement facility in the Orlando area. That certification capped off a year that included a number of achievements related to patient care, including implementation of a new pain-management plan that allows knee replacement patients, in particular, to walk longer distances in a shorter period of time. The plan also decreases, or even eliminates, common undesirable side effects of pain medicine, including sedation, nausea and respiratory depression. “We’re very proud of the progress of our Joint Replacement Center,” says Health Central Hospital Chief Operating Officer Rick Smith.
The center’s multidisciplinary team is led by orthopaedic surgeon Kevin Cox, M.D. It includes board-certified orthopaedic surgeons, orthopaedic-certified nurses, physical and occupational therapists, nurse techs, case managers, clinical informatics, pharmacy staffers, nurse educators, the perioperative and anesthesiology teams, and a clinical program coordinator. “Each member contributes his or her expertise and innovative ideas, and the result is safer and more effective outcomes for our patients,” says Smith. The center is geared toward individualizing patient care to meet patients’ specific needs. Education, Smith says, is a crucial component of its success. Each patient is urged to attend a preoperative joint replacement class, which is offered weekly, while a Spanish version is offered monthly. Here, patients and their family members get their questions answered and learn what they can expect before, during and after surgery. In particular, patients will learn about one of the biggest predictors of their surgery’s success — rehabilitation. At Health Central Hospital, rehabilitation typically begins the day of surgery — an approach that helps prevent complications such as blood clots, pneumonia and joint stiffness. It also promotes healing and an earlier return to normal activities. Says Smith: “The main goal of the Health Central Hospital Joint Replacement team is to provide compassionate, evidencebased care that promotes improvement of the quality of life of patients and family members that participate in the program.” He adds that the center “is thrilled that the Joint Commission is recognizing the life-changing care we’re providing to our patients, and we can’t wait to help others get back to their lives!”
We can replace your joints because you can’t replace:
Take back your quality of life at Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital, the ONLY Joint Commission Certified Total Knee and Total Hip Replacement facility in the Orlando area! To find an orthopaedic physician near you visit OrlandoHealth.com HealthCentral.org
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 25
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e want you to be part of Team Growing Bolder! Why? Because research has shown that you gain two hours of life for each hour of regular exercise! That’s a twofer you can’t afford to miss out on. We’re starting slow and asking you to do the same. One step at a time, we can all improve our health and wellness. Our first live event is the 39th annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Winter Park Road Race 10K and 2 Mile Presented by Florida Hospital. Stay tuned because we’ll be adding future Team Growing Bolder races and fitness walks to our schedule — including virtual events that will allow you to participate from anywhere in the world! Growing Bolder is proud to partner with the world-famous speciality running store Track Shack to produce a library of free training tips, nutrition advice, gear recommendations and more. We’ve also launched a Team Growing Bolder e-newsletter to help provide the motivation and inspiration to get off the couch and get moving. Simply visit GrowingBolder.com/ TeamGrowingBolder to sign up for the free newsletter, and to watch our training tips and listen to our podcasts. You can also subscribe to our podcasts via iTunes and Stitcher. If you think Team Growing Bolder is about running fast, you’re wrong! In fact, it isn’t really about running. It’s about moving — and the best way for many to start is by walking. “Walking really is the best way to condition your muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments first,” says Track Shack’s Training Program Director Susan Paul. “Walking for about six weeks before you begin a running program will reduce your risk of injury. You’ll strengthen your body and build cardiovascu-
GrowingBolder.com/TeamGrowingBolder 26 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
MARCH/APRIL 2016
®
Dream. Believe. Persist. lar endurance while simply walking.” Track Shack co-owner Betsy Hughes says the best way to stick with a new program is to buddy up. “If you want to kickstart your fitness level, you really need at least one other person to help you stay accountable,” she says. “We urge people to exercise three or four times a week. Don’t tell yourself you have to go seven times, because you probably won’t be able to — and that’s OK!” According to the American Heart Association, walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity, and its benefits are nearly the same as running. Walking is low impact; easier on the joints than running and walking regularly
can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer while improving your immune system, blood pressure and mental well-being. It is safe — with a doctor’s okay — for people with orthopedic ailments, heart conditions and those who are more than 20 percent overweight. “Walking is one of the least expensive activities you can do for your health,” Hughes says. “You literally just walk out your front door. What you put on your feet is key. If your feet, knees or hip hurt, you’re not going to continue with the program. That’s why we encourage people to visit specialty running stores to get their feet fitted. If you don’t hurt, you’ll keep going. And your life will change.”
So, we hope you’ll join us on March 12 for the beautiful Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Winter Park Road Race 10K and 2 Mile Presented by Florida Hospital. Meet us at the Growing Bolder tent at 6:45 a.m. and we’ll walk to the start line of the twomile event together. Register today at trackshack.com. Last year’s event sold out, and we want to see you there. Participants 65 and older receive a $10 discount through March 11. Enter promo code: ys1765. We’ll also be handing out the prestigious Growing Bolder Inspiration Award to one of the event’s participants. Show up, and it could be you! Let’s do this together! Let’s get moving!
March 12, 2016 Downtown Winter Park, Florida
Great Swag! 10k Finisher’s Medal | Gender Specific Tech Tee | Sports Towel from Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic | Souvenir Pint Glass
GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 27
SURVIVING & THRIVING ®
After a spotlight tower collapsed during a storm, stagehand Steve Stover suffered catastrophic injuries. But he was determined to return to the profession he loved.
after the fall
The Incredible Story of a Real-Life Humpty Dumpty. BY BILL SHAFER
Steve Stover sat on a wall. Steve Stover had a great fall. After months in the hospital, and years on the mend, Somehow they put Steve together again.
I
t was August 2011 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Thousands had gathered for a music festival. Sara Bareilles had finished her set and Sugarland was ready to take the stage. It had been a warm, sunny day until a fast-moving storm turned the sky an ominous black. Longtime stagehand Steve Stover, who was at the top of a spotlight tower, radioed for permission to come down. But when word finally came, it was too late. The winds gusted and the stage twisted, then in an instant, the whole thing collapsed. Stover lay motionless in the rubble. His face was crushed and a large caster was em-
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bedded in his eye. First responders, thinking he was dead, stepped over him to tend to others. It wasn’t until he started moaning that they realized he was alive. Barely. A partial list of Stover’s injuries: 27 broken bones in his face; two broken vertebrae; a shattered wrist; an arm torn from its socket; traumatic brain injury; and permanent neurological damage. He spent 18 days in a coma and underwent a tracheotomy; a double cornea transplant and dental reconstruction. “Humpty Dumpty," Stover says. “Had a great fall.” Stover’s recovery was slow and painful. But he pushed through it, considering himself lucky not to have been among the seven killed. Another stagehand on the very same truss hadn’t survived. “Every day I am so grateful,” Stover says.
“I have to be, because I’m alive — and I’m determined to help others in any way I can.” After putting his body back together, Stover began to repair his shattered life. His emotions ran the gamut, from grateful to angry, from inconsolable to inspired. He worried about his future. What did he want to do? What was he able to do? “I’ve been a stagehand for 40 years, and it’s my love and my life,” says Stover, 57. “I’m not about to let this accident take that away from me.” Others wondered if it was possible. The job requires strength, agility and a lot of climbing. It’s not for the faint of heart. Still, Stover has once again taken his place behind the spotlight — not just for today, but hopefully for years to come. “Hey, there are people in my industry who are in their 70s, so there’s no reason for me to stop now,” he says. “I don’t know if Humpty Dumpty ever made it back up that wall, but I did. And all I can see is blue sky ahead.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our video feature on Steve Stover’s recovery and learn which famous rockand-roll song he credits with bringing him out of his coma.
MARCH/APRIL 2016
BOLDER EXPERTS
MAKE YOUR MOVE Know When it's Time for Your GreatTRANSITIONS®.
Determine what you can expect to receive from a sale. The goal is to sell it for more than you’ll spend on the next place you call home. Figure in the costs to maintain your current home: When you add up what you pay for things like pool and lawn service, utilities, insurance and ordinary maintenance, the total may surprise you. Then, when you add in the cost of painting, roofing, heating, cooling and other repairs, the amount could spike quite high. Consider the taxes: Local property taxes are determined by the assessed value of your home. This amount could decrease significantly when moving to a lesser-priced home. Transitioning to the next place you call home could revitalize your life. It could result in extra money in the bank, extra time on your hands and the peace of mind you’ve been seeking. Take advantage of these potential benefits and begin planning your GreatTRANSITIONS®! Find more information and get a free copy of Moving On by the Senior Real Estate Council at Great-Transitions.com.
By Paul and Lyn Henderson
S
elling the home you live in is never easy, especially if it’s where many cherished memories took place. But if it’s no longer the right fit, it can be quite a financial strain. Here’s how to decide if the time to make your move is now.
GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
Paul and Lyn Henderson are SRES® certified and the founders of GreatTRANSITIONS®, which they developed with more than 30 years of personal and professional experiences. It’s designed to help you transition to the next place you call home. For more information visit Great-Transitions.com.
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 29
THE TAKEAWAY
DAN LEVITIN
hese days, we’re bombarded by more information than isn’t true. We’re using almost all of our brains almost all of the at any other time in the history of mankind. Many believe time — even when we’re asleep. that to be successful, we must learn to multitask. This may Our brains have limitations. We’re all fallible, and we all make surprise you, but multitasking only makes things worse. mistakes. If we understand these limitations, we can come up When we try to take in more information than we can with strategies that help. handle, we actually end up depleting our neuroresources We need to learn to organize our minds by letting the environmore quickly. This triggers the release of cortisol, known ment keep track of things we don’t have to. Remember when you as the stress hormone, which often results in poor used to have dozens and dozens of phone numbers decision making and cloudy thinking. memorized? We don’t need to waste our brains on We need to learn that anymore, because our phones remember them What we need is a different approach to managing all the information that surrounds us. We for us. to organize our need to find ways to filter, or limit, the informaSchoolchildren today don’t have to remember tion so we can keep track of what’s really imporwhat year Columbus discovered America, or the minds by letting the formula for the circumference of a circle, because tant to us. Rather than multitasking, we need to focus on learning to focus. environment keep they can look it up. As a neuroscientist, I have studied how the most Instead, the primary mission of our schools has successful members of society maximize their efto shift from teaching information to teaching track of things we ficiency. They do it by organizing their thoughts, how to access it, use it creatively and evaluate it don’t have to. their lives and their minds. critically to make the world a better place. They find ways to discard or eliminate the clutSo, with all this information at our fingertips are we ter. This frees them to spend less time on the mundane and more any smarter? Yes! IQ tests keep getting more difficult, we’ve decoded time on the inspiring and rewarding aspects of their lives. the human genome and we have a better understanding of space-time. This is not a new concept, but one that can be traced to ancient We still have human conflict, but despite the fact that we’re times. Ever since man first scribbled shapes on cave walls, we hu- more aware of all the killings, there are actually fewer aggressions mans have been obsessed with inventing tools to help us remember. than at any other time in human history. For each advancement — whether it was painting with berries, So, while we are getting smarter, it’s becoming more difficult to to carving, to writing on papyrus, to smartphones — the goal has tell what’s true from what’s false because, frankly, on the Internet, been the same: a better way to store, index and access information. it all looks alike. Remember being taught that we only use 10 percent of our Here’s my advice: Fight through the clutter, learn to focus, and brain? That wasn’t ever based on science, and it turns out that it have an organized mind.
Daniel Levitin, Ph.D., is an award-winning neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist, musician and author of three consecutive No. 1 bestselling books, The Organized Mind, The World in Six Songs and This is Your Brain on Music.
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GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our complete Growing Bolder Radio Show conversation with Daniel Levitin, Ph.D., and get more of his tips for organizing your brain in the Information Age. MARCH/APRIL 2016
Dan Levitin photo courtesy of Arsenio Coroa
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Why You Need to Organize Your Mind to Survive the Information Age.