Chew On It – Finishing Line Ahead
It has come to a stage in my life where I realise the finish line is starting to appear in the distance. Hopefully, it is still a very long way away, and I am doing everything possible to keep moving the finish tape further ahead.
At a recent reunion with school friends from over 50 years ago, many old friends commented that I had hardly aged. Naturally, I was chuffed. However, I suspect it may have something to do with a tube of hair dye, a little bit of genetics or perhaps, it’s the secret Elixr potion.
The fact is, I continue to get a shock when I look in the mirror and wonder who that older guy staring back at me is.
And he keeps following me around.
Having experienced several personal tragedies in my life, including losing my dad and my brother Tony, both connected to serious health conditions, it was a powerful reminder that genetics may load the gun, but lifestyle can influence whether the trigger is pulled.
I knew I had to make significant changes.
Over the past fifteen years, I have lost almost twenty kilos of pure body fat, which I have absolutely no intention of finding again.
My son Dennan has been instrumental in improving both my physical and mental health. He has been more persistent than a wife (and his mum was world-class in the art of nagging), constantly encouraging me to take better care of myself. He researched dietitians, health professionals and therapists who could help me.
After experiencing deep grief and PTSD, Dennan found me an EMDR therapist who helped significantly reduce the triggers that would reignite painful memories.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy designed to help the brain process traumatic memories, PTSD, anxiety and emotional distress.
My personal experiences with therapy have been mixed. I have seen many practitioners over the years, and like every profession, there are varying levels of competence.
What’s wrong with me, you may ask?
Well, plenty.
Which probably means I am reasonably normal. Although anyone who knows me would agree that being normal has never been one of my ambitions.
Finding someone truly exceptional who can make a meaningful difference is invaluable.
Lifestyle wise, I have already relinquished the majority of responsibility for running Elixr to the very capable hands of my niece Sue Anne, who has been successfully managing the business for nearly a decade.
In reality, Sue Anne is far more effective as a manager than I ever was, with her attention to detail, organisation and wonderful people management skills.
My greatest work skill appears to be creating more work for everyone else.
I now realise my role is less about control and more about stewardship.
My focus nowadays is simple: seeking joy, spending time with loved ones, enjoying wonderful friendships, laughter and creating beautiful new memories.
In June, I went on a 25-day cruise with my sister Gim, her husband Daniel and my girlfriend. It was one of the best trips of my life.
The ship itself was basically a luxury floating aged-care home filled with geriatrics. The only disturbing part was realising I had officially qualified for admission.
The cruise started in Barcelona, and during the first stop in Valencia I learnt to cook paella in the birthplace of this famous dish. From there we travelled around Spain, Portugal and France before finally disembarking in Amsterdam, one of my favourite cities in the world.
One of the sightseeing highlights was Mont Saint-Michel in France. It is the second most visited attraction in France after Paris, and after seeing it, I understand why.
It was breathtaking, both from climbing what felt like 1001 stairs and from enjoying the spectacular view at the top.
During the cruise, with numerous stops and plenty of walking, I focused heavily on stretching. It made me realise that throughout my years of training, I should have placed much more importance on flexibility and mobility.
For much of my life after 40, I trained intensely, lifted weights, practised martial arts and pushed my body. Unfortunately, my muscles eventually protested and demanded better care. After decades of abuse, they finally locked up my body, literally.
Intensive stretching has transformed how my body feels. Previously, I was constantly dealing with tightness, spasms and discomfort. Today, I feel so much more comfortable in my own body.
I now spend at least 30 minutes, three to four times per week, focusing on deep stretching and mobility. I can assure you it is painful, but thankfully less painful than before. The rewards have been enormous.
At this stage of my life, the three pleasures I value most are new experiences, good food and meaningful connections with family and friends.
The reality is that I have lived more years than I have left. Rather than finding that distressing, I find it motivating. It reminds me to maximise the joy in my life.
Life is totally unpredictable. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, which is why I now take every opportunity to catch up with people I care about, or create those opportunities whenever possible.
My philosophy is simple.
Say yes to good opportunities.
Create memories.
Share meals.
Have conversations.
Laugh loudly.
Spend time with people who matter.
Because one day, when the finish line does finally arrive, I want to look back and sing:
“I’ve had the time of my life.”
