“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second-best time is now.”
― Chinese proverb
It is amazing how much the act of getting started can accomplish. Seven years ago, I was in a financial crisis. I got divorced, split half our debt, liquidated my retirement, was paying child support and was only one year into my pension. I met my current wife in that period of time, and she taught me a very valuable lesson in life which was to not identify myself with being a victim. I took one step at a time and started to focus on steps I could take to change my situation. We set up a boring, long, and non-sexy plan to pay off debt, save an emergency fund, and start saving for retirement. The progress we have made in seven years with that boring, long, and non-sexy plan turned out to have a happy sexy result. In just seven years we have a six-month emergency fund, paid off all our debt and invested enough to where we are looking at being able to retire in as early as eleven years. This truly leads to the fact that the best time to start saving was 20 years ago, but if you didn’t do it 20 years ago, and you haven’t done it yet, the next best time to start is today! It truly is never too late to start! Although Money is one form of wealth, I consider health the foundation of wealth and the ultimate multiplier of life.
Above is a picture of Ernestine Shepherd who today is an 87-year-old [eight-seven!] body builder. Shepherd starred in the ‘Strength’ episode on show Limitless hosted by Thor [Chris Hemsworth.] There is a magic in how Shepherd is living her life, and when the show introduces her, they show her at age 85 leading a workout class and inspiring women of all ages. When you see someone like Shepherd who is rich with life, full of joy, and has a vibrant energy that she continues to share with the world in her old age it makes you start to reconsider the standard of how to live a life. Her health and peace of mind is a wealth that you cannot purchase.
Shepherd did not start working out like she does now until she was 56 years old. Infact in a BBC interview Shepherd said, “I was always too prissy to work out – and you couldn’t get me away from chocolate cake. But the year I turned 56, my sister Velvet and I went shopping for swimsuits. Neither of us had worn one for years. We looked in the changing room mirror and made a pact to get in better shape.” Sadly, her sister died, but she told Shepherd to continue their dream to become the oldest body builder in the Guiness Book of World Records. Shepherd continued body building and at age 77 became the world's oldest female body builder.
Her story is very motivating to me because it redefines “getting old.” We all have the option to get old and strong or old and weak/sick. To accomplish this, compile a boring plan, GET STARTED!!!, and be consistent. Just like my financial situation when I got divorced would have appeared that I might never come back, your health can make dramatic improvements at any level. When I first started writing this article, I was going to write about a meta-analysis that explained all the benefits from exercising in populations 65 years and older, but I think the picture and story of Shepherd is all the motivation you need to change or stay on your path to living a longer, stronger, and healthier life and continue making progress!
P.S. An insanely helpful Costco protein shopping trip to help hit your protein goals!
Brain, that’s amazing to do what you have done over the last 7 years, it goes to show what we are capable of if we really want it, many people would have froze. Quote of the week for me ‘the best time to plan a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now’ thanks!