From: HCC Wellness Ride
Let their stories be your inspiration as you set resolutions for the year ahead.
The arrival of a new year presents a moment to set goals and reconsider what’s possible.
As the people featured in the Times series, It’s Never Too Late prove, there is no one way — and no deadline — when it comes to pursuing your dreams.
They gathered some of their best words of wisdom.
Let their lived experience and encouraging tips (Dream big! Don’t let fear stand in your way! Do something new!) provide you with a dash of inspiration as you set your resolutions.
You first have to figure out why you think you can’t do something and ask yourself if that’s a valid point.
Look, there’s somebody telling you every step of your life what to eat, what to wear, that you can’t sleep without this drug, and it’s all nonsense.
You can decide for yourself what you think you’re capable of.
It’s just so sad when people say, oh, I’m 50, I can’t … fill in the blank. Try it anyway!
Who cares! You might be surprised.
-Dierdre Wolownick, who climbed El Capitan for the first time at age 66.
Don’t give yourself the option to give up. I never thought about quitting. If I invest mentally, I don’t quit.
-Vijaya Srivastava, who learned to swim at age 68. Don’t be afraid of embarrassment or opening yourself up to criticism.
You have to be OK with not having mastery over something.
And don’t let fear stand in your way.
It will get less scary every time you try.
-Rose Young, who learned how to ride horseback at age 63.Do something that involves other people.
Even one other person. Getting out of a groove — sometimes you just need company.
There’s this fantasy that creativity is something you do alone, by candlelight.
No! Do something with other people who are as genuinely interested as you are.
-Russ Ellis, who recorded his first album of original music at age 85.
Dream a big dream, then figure out what all the little incremental steps are to get there, and hit those steps one by one.
There are always obstacles. Loved ones can be an obstacle, money can be an obstacle.
It’s not easy. There’s lots of sacrifice involved, but you can dream a big dream and make it come true.
- Richard Klein, who moved to Mumbai to become a Bollywood actor in his 40s.
If you’re feeling stuck, being patient and not freaking out about it is so important.
Everything you do gives you experience and skills and tools, wherever you go.
-Martha Prewitt, who left her opera career behind to run her family’s farm in Kentucky. Do something new that you normally wouldn’t do, or something you hadn’t planned on doing, or something you’re passionate about.
Take an acting class or a cooking class, or go to a museum.
These things let you connect to other people you might not have met ordinarily.
It can make your life more lively. Pick up the phone. Send an email. Think of something you want to do and then ask someone if they want to do it with you.
Don’t be afraid to let things happen.
-Phyllis Raphael, who found new love in her 80s.Embrace rejection and find your people.
-Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, who published a celebrated debut book at age 50. Be as open as you can be.
Be as honest as you can be about who you are. Because ultimately, love overwhelms.
-Vica Steel, who enrolled in seminary to become a Lutheran pastor in her 50s.Do not be afraid to go back to something you loved.
People say no to things too quickly.
We aren’t always our best friends. Your passion or skills are still there.
You will remember more than you think.
All the information about music I thought I’d lost was in a part of my brain that wasn’t talking to me until I tapped back into it.
-Vera Jiji, who returned to playing the cello at age 62. It’s Never Too Late to Pick Up Your Life and Move to Italy
Holly Herrmann vowed to move to Italy when she was 20. Her dream came true 38 years later.
It’s Never Too Late to Go to College and Rewrite Your Story
Devon Simmons served 15 years in prison for crimes he committed as a teenager.
Since then, he’s been on a mission to remake not just his own life, but the legal system itself.
It’s Never Too Late to Quit Your Day Job and Become a Stand-Up Comic
Shaun Eli Breidbart was a banker on Wall Street for 19 years but he gave up a lucrative career in favor of happiness.
It’s Never Too Late to Climb That Mountain
Dierdre Wolownick, whose son, Alex Honnold, is one of the world’s top rock climbers, ascended Yosemite’s El Capitan to celebrate her 70th birthday.
It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Ride Horseback
For 65-year-old Rose Young, horseback riding was about finding new joy. It was also her reward for surviving breast cancer.
9 Nutrition Tips for the New Year
This simple and surprising advice from Dani Blum at the New York Times will help you have a healthy 2023.
1. Chia seeds deserve a place in your diet.The superpowered seeds found their way into puddings, pretzels, jams and TikTok trends in 2022 as chia — once again — rose to popularity.
Experts say chia seeds have earned their hype: They’re packed with fiber and rich in antioxidants.
You can add a tablespoon of seeds to a smoothie or soak them in plant milk to make a snack.
2. You don’t need to throw out all the berries.A single mold-coated strawberry might look gross, but unless the other berries in the box have visible signs of spores, you can keep them in the fridge
— just make sure to double-check that they’re fuzz-free before you eat them.
3. You can feel better about that morning coffee.Researchers found that people who drank 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per day, even with a teaspoon of sugar, were up to 30 percent less likely to die during the study period than those who didn’t drink coffee
— another reason to justify reaching for your first (or second, or third) mug.
4. Natural wine may not actually be better for you.There’s little research to back up claims that natural wine leads to improved gut health, and a hangover is a hangover whether you’re drinking a natural wine or the conventional stuff.
5. Foods can help hydrate you.You don’t need to rely solely on water to replenish fluids; your favorite fruits and vegetables are also great sources of hydration.
Reach for melons, strawberries, oranges, grapes, cucumber or celery.
6. Limit the amount of processed meats you eat.The occasional hot dog won’t wreck your health, but processed meats have been linked to cancer, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Plant-based alternatives are a safer bet, but they’re not all equal: Find an option that’s as minimally processed as possible.
7. Make whole grains a staple.Most Americans aren’t eating enough of them, but you can go against the grain by incorporating these high-fiber foods, like oats or corn, into your diet.
A slice of whole wheat bread, a half cup of cooked oatmeal and three cups of popped popcorn, in combination, would satisfy the recommended daily requirement for whole grains.
8. Swap your afternoon tea for matcha.This bright green tea powder is ubiquitous, and while there isn’t definitive research to show it’s a healthy food, matcha may have some benefits, including providing abundant antioxidants and plenty of caffeine.
9. Steer clear of sticky snacks.Dried fruit, candy, gummies — these foods can lodge in your teeth and the spaces between them, allowing sugar to linger in your mouth and fuel bacterial growth.
There are, however, some steps you can take to ward off tooth decay, including chewing sugar-free gum and gulping down a sugary drink instead of sipping it throughout the day.
With that, I hope you have a wonderful week going into this fresh new 2023 year!
as always...
Be Kind, Do Fearless