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When I’m in my 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, I want to be in incredible shape—not just surviving, but really thriving.
So when I spotted a beautiful, silver-haired woman killing it at the gym, I was blown away. I had to know: What was her secret?
We were staying at the same hotel in Dubai, for the same conference. And the next morning, I struck up a conversation with her at breakfast.
She told me that her name was Hazel and that she was 87 years old. She talked about her hometown of Denver, teaching piano for 60 years and her kids.
Then, I finally asked her what I really needed to know: How was she in such amazing shape at 87 years old?
Her secret was not a magic pill or really good genes. Her secret was a commitment she made to herself over 30 years ago.
It all started on her 52nd birthday, when she bent down to pick something up and her knees cracked. “I’m too young for this!” she thought. It was a wakeup call that if she wanted to live a long and healthy life, she had to do something—fast.
So she asked her son for advice. “It’s simple,” he told her. “All you need to do is 40 deep knee bends, 40 pushups and 40 situps everyday—and you’ll be healthy for the rest of your life.”
So she did it. She committed to that daily exercise routine, and everyday she got a little bit stronger. And throughout the rest of her 50s, 60s and 70s, she felt healthy and vibrant.
On her 80th birthday, she told her son, “I owe you my life.”
“No mom,” he said. “I’ve told hundreds of people over the years to do those exercises and they never do it. But you did. So YOU are the one that you really need to thank.”
Later on that week, I saw Hazel do her 40 deep knee bends, 40 pushups and 40 situps, and it was awe inspiring. But the truth is—we could do that too. We just need to start. We just need to make a commitment to ourselves—and then follow through on that commitment with daily action.
The first day of her exercise routine, Hazel probably couldn’t do 40 of each exercise. Maybe she could only do 20; maybe she couldn’t even do a single pushup. But she started where she was at that moment and improved every day. And now she has a strong, healthy body to enjoy her life in.
Step 1: Make a commitment to yourself.
What is your goal? What do you want? Write it down. Say it out loud and really mean it.
Step 2: Think about WHY you want to achieve your goal.
For Hazel, she wanted lifelong health. She was already starting to feel aches and pains from getting older, and she didn’t want to feel that way. And for her, that was enough of a motivator to get her to follow through on her exercise routine. Get clear on what your “why” is—and make sure it aligns with what is really important to you.
Step 3: Think about what one action you can take every single day to get you closer to that goal.
Maybe it’s an exercise routine like Hazel’s.
Maybe it’s saying your daily “I am” affirmations to boost your confidence and focus.
Maybe it’s getting up 30 minutes earlier every day to work on your new business.
Write that action down and say it out loud.
Step 4: Take daily action.
Make the decision to follow through and really DO IT this time.
I doubt Hazel ever needs a reminder to do her daily exercises, just like I never miss my “I am” affirmations, because I do them every single morning.
And if you make this daily action a habit, you WILL achieve your goal.
As the Chinese Proverb says, “If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.”
So, what direction are you taking? Where are you headed?
What will you do today that you’ll thank yourself for on your 80th birthday?
Let me know in the comments below. Let’s help keep each other accountable! 🙂
Until the next time. Stay True!
— Loren Lahav
Ⓒ 2023 LOREN LAHAV • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED