I’ll be 62 years old (young) at the end of this month.

While that means I’m a member of AARP, I can get discounts at certain stores, and my remaining hair is turning gray, it doesn’t mean that I have stopped growing.

In fact, I’m aging backwards.

I’m youthing.

In the last year alone I —

— attended a strongman training and bent a horseshoe, a steel bar, and a nail, all with my bare hands, and drove a spike through a board with my fist. I was the oldest person in the room, even older than the instructor, and probably the most inexperienced when it comes to feats of strength. But I attended anyway. I learned a lot, too, including the fact that virtually “Nothing is impossible.”

Bent and straightened this horseshoe

Bent and straightened this horseshoe

— attended an advanced guitar camp with legendary player Tommy Emmanuel. I was one of the oldest in the room, was surrounded by players far more advanced than me – including a 14 year old girl who dazzled everyone with her skills – but I attended anyway.

— attended an online class to learn how to play the baritone saxophone, wrote an article about playing for a sax mag, recorded an entire album of saxophone music, hired Grammy nominated sax sensation Mindi Abair to perform for me and tutor me, and more.

— discovered a synthophone — an alto sax turned into a midi instrument — and bought one and learned how to play it, using it to help make another healing music audio with Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon, called The Enlightenment Audio.

– went into the studio with one of my favorite singers in the entire world – Grammy nominated Ruthie Foster – and producer Daniel Barrett and created an album called Stretch! with me writing lyrics, playing baritone saxophone, and singing with Ruthie. Talk about a stretch! But I did it.

Daniel, Ruthie and me Stretching

Daniel, Ruthie and me Stretching

— traveled to Kuwait to speak to people interested in self-improvement and curious about positive psychology, but also traveled to numerous domestic spots, as well, including to one where we discussed my having my own television show in 2016.

— despite having written more books than most people read in their entire lifetime, I released several more, including the best selling The Secret Prayer and volume 3 of The Miracles Manual. And I just signed a publishing deal for my next book, coming out April 2016.

— and even though I’m an author of books designed to help people, I’m still buying and reading other people’s self-help books, too. I’m always searching for new authors, new voices, new books, new material, to help me expand my thinking and my life.

Why?

Why do I continue to invest in courses, books, audios, coaching, classes and more?

Why am I continuing to do this as I turn 62?

Because I’m still learning, growing, improving, stretching and discovering myself.

Because I don’t know it all and am eager to discover more about myself and life.

Because as long as I keep moving forward, they won’t throw dirt on my face.

I have no idea your age, and it doesn’t really matter.

My father is 90 and still enthusiastic about life.

He gets up earlier than you or me or the sun every morning and wallops a standing dummy five hundred times.

And that’s before he does light weight lifting, walking, and other exercise – with a hernia.

Actor Dick Van Dyke is 90 and still dancing.

Turn on the right music and he’ll start free styling it without a word or a prompt but with a gigantic bright smile on his happy face.

I’m sure you are younger than 90.

I’m reminding you to think big, do big, and move forward in big ways, no matter what your age.

Or, drop the “big” and just think, do, and move.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ― Sophia Loren

It’s the end of this year.

The new one is firing up.

Ready or not, here it comes.

What would you like to accomplish in 2016?

You can begin right now by signing up for a course, or a class, or coaching.

The idea is to joyfully experience life.

It’ll keep you young, bright, happy and healthy.

“You’re never too old to become younger.”  – Mae West

And isn’t that what life is all about?

Happy Birthday to me.

Happy New Year to you.

Let’s make this new one rock.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Consider my father. He’s 90 years old. He still gets up every morning and works out for two hours. He also is the primary caregiver of my ailing, bedridden mother. And, at 90, my father became an author. His book, The Most Contented Man, is on Amazon. He’s starting another book. He’s ninety. I’m sixty-two. Do you really have any excuses not to stretch and grow, learn and do?

Member BBB 2003 - 2016

Member BBB 2003 - 2016

14 Comments

  1. December 17, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    Hi Joe,
    Is the strong man course for men only, or are women allowed to learn how to bend nails or horseshoes too? I’d love to be able to do that (just to experience everything is possible).

    And another question: if you want to I can send you the drawing I made of you. Just let me know which adress I can send it to and I’ll do my best to get it your way.

    With light,

    Anne

    • December 17, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      Hi Anne. Yes, women bend nails etc, too. I’ve written about them on previous blog posts. Some of them are astonishing. I’ve seen the art you made of me and love it. Thank you. You can send it to my po box 2924 wimberley 78676

  2. December 17, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    I was going to write something similar but I forgot my age. Now that I think about it, I haven’t acted my age in decades, so hard to have any reference to it.

    I am planning to celebrate being in my new 30’s this month.

  3. Juanita A.-Reply
    December 17, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Hi Dr Joe

    Have you ever thought about bringing your parents to live with you

    I am from Colombia and as our parents age they come and live with one of their kids….it makes their lives easier

    Its lonely being old

    🙂

    Thanks for your writings

    • December 18, 2015 at 1:54 pm

      Thanks for the thought but they are in the home I helped build for them and my entire family is a few miles away from them. All is well.

  4. margarita-Reply
    December 17, 2015 at 8:07 pm

    Podrías hacer un block en español, sería muy bueno
    Gracias

  5. December 17, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I’m not far behind you, having celebrated my 59th birthday just under three months ago.

    In the last couple of years, I’ve published a self-help book (thanks for the endorsement, by the way). I’m working on a follow-up book about changing your life patterns into life paths, a fantasy novel, a collection of paranormal short stories. I’ve even flirted with writing erotica, but I think I need to work on that a bit more.

    I’ve been teaching myself the compositing and editing skills necessary to make films (I’ve already got a couple on YouTube).

    I just completed your “Expect Miracles” course with you earlier this week.

    I’m going to revise my blog in the next few days, if I can find the time in between all my other activities.

    Happy birthday, Joe, and many more to come. I love reading your books and listening to you. Like you, I’m on a never-ending journey, because beyond the horizon is another one, and another one… As I like to tell my friends: “If I tell you I’ve learned everything, bury me. I’m dead and I haven’t realised it yet.

    Lots of love during this Christmastide,

    Stephen

  6. Elisabetta-Reply
    December 17, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    Hi Joe.
    Best blog post of the year. You won’t believe how many 20 years old people think they are too old for something – studying music, for example, as it is considered one of these subjects that you have to learn when you’re a little kid or it’s worthless.
    We give up too soon and for no reason at all other than fear.
    Congrats on your incredible father:)
    Have a great time on your birthday, and a Merry Christmas to you and your family
    Love,
    Elisabetta

  7. December 29, 2015 at 11:16 am

    Happy Birthday dear Joe! Thank you for everything you do. And all the best for 2016!

    Love,

    Christiane

  8. Randy-Reply
    January 4, 2016 at 9:09 am

    A little late to the party, but had to tell you I needed this post.

    I’m 63 and have struggled with the feeling of “I’m too old now” to start another business (video creation for marketing), etc. in conjunction with bad OCD etc. I even scoured the internet for examples of people who are accomplishing things as seniors, but just get more of Colonel Sanders, etc. It was refreshing and motivating to read your blog entry.

    Like your father, I have a hernia (inguinal) that I can’t afford to fix with high insurance deductible right now, and tell myself “I can’t do this or that, etc.” (I admit, a bit negative mindset) I wonder how he does it (special supports?).

    Anyway, thanks for the ray of hope for the future!, Much needed.,
    Randy

    • January 5, 2016 at 12:32 pm

      Hi Randy. My father doesn’t use a brace. He’s careful but he basically “grins and bears it.”

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