The weather in most of the country has turned warm and even hot in some places. Yesterday I was walking for some "cooped up, crazy and need to get out" exercise. I briskly maneuvered myself past a senior citizen (I'm a senior but NEVER admit it or think about it) center and for no cognitive reason stopped in to check it out. No, I was not shopping. LOL. I was just checking it out. Then I noticed there were NO fat people. None. I sat in the lobby and witnessed senior after senior looking thin as a rail with virtually no body fat. What's up with that? Am I on to something here?
Obesity is rampant in our country. Even though we have hungry mouths to feed, somehow many of us still manage to get fat over time. We know this! Studies prove this over and over again.
During my lifetime I've looked down and not been able to see my shoes. Yes... I've used the bathroom by braille. Think about that for a minute. On second thought... don't. My waist has gone in and out more than the ocean. And I've told fat jokes on myself. On stage in Kiev, Ukraine some years ago I actually said, "I love the food here a lot and I've eaten so much. In fact, my butt's gotten so big I feel like I'm being followed by the KGB." That cracked the former Russians up. But the joke was actually on me.
As a former professional athlete, I had lost my healthy, physical way. So I started visualizing myself fit. I began to work out at least 30 minutes per day. I started putting my fork down between bites. My caloric intake was sliced in half. I began to regularly drink 64 or more ounces of water daily. And best of all... I felt awesome!
Why the rant on body fat, Jim? I was speaking with an insurance actuary the other day and was discussing his vocation. He deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty based on the probability of things happening in the future. And the subject of death came up. He brought it up, as it's a topic I don't regularly ponder. He said with a slight laugh, "At your age you probably only have 10-15 years left on earth according to our statistics." Wow! I was speechless (imagine that). He doesn't know me. He has no clue what's inside me. He doesn't know my passion for living past a hundred. "I'll hit 125," I blurted out to him. But he does know statistics and he stated, "Jim, it ain't going to happen, based on what I know." What a great conversation! Nice guy really, but a Christmas card from me probably won't happen either.
Ten to 15 years left? What would I do differently if I knew when my last day on earth would occur? Absolutely nothing! I already do the following and wouldn't change a thing.
• Get up happy.
• Do what I love.
• Stay madly in love with my sexy wife.
• Love and adore my kids.
• Love helping others.
• Laugh every day.
• Write poetry when the mood hits.
• Go to the movies before noon (who does that?).
• Stay in touch with great friends.
• Exercise daily. Feel great physically.
• Eat well.
• Hang with cool people.
• Read good books.
• Travel to great places.
• Meet smart, interesting people.
• Learn new stuff daily.
• Interact with amazing clients.
• Meditate.
• Say what I want.
• Love to write.
• Hug and kiss a lot.
• Love to speak to large crowds.
• Passionately listen to music.
• Love all sports.
• Dance spontaneously (Trying to picture this, aren't you?).
• Go to bed happy.
Saw my toes today. That's a great sign! "I'm healthy and well" is my mantra.
In five years when I'm 70, the mirror will reflect a skinny dude. May even get a tattoo that says, "Thin to win." Maybe not.
Sorry this article is short, but I gotta' go for a long, long walk. Will ponder the awesomeness of now. Oh... and I can't wait to invite that actuary guy to my 125th mind-bending, blowout birthday bash. Wonder if he'll still be around?
Get in the Zone!
Jim Fannin
www.jimfannin.com