Yesterday I went birthday card shopping for my friend Randy who is turning 70 today. It was one of the hardest cards I ever had to choose as the contradiction of the words on the card were so different from the life of Randy. The contrasts were glaring:
Card said “Over the hill” verses Randy climbing over 400,000 vertical feet last year.
Card said “you have traveled some good trails” verses Randy just getting started on the 486 miles of the Colorado Trail.
Card said “Let’s take it easy” verses Randy saying “Have we set a date in 2020 for hiking the Grand Canyon Rim 2 Rim in one day?”
And then there is Bob from Friday night church, who at 92 last year did a driving Road Trip by himself to visit kids/grandkids/great grandkids in Kansas City, Tulsa, and Dallas.
Both guys still working on raising the bar at their age and setting new goals; redefining the what it means to be 70 or 92. Which leads to this trail tip of how we need to guard against limiting ourselves based on the norms of our age, labels, and stage in life.
In hiking, we define so much by our age or the physical shape we are in. We shut down dreams because of our current health and the comparison of ourselves to others and their exploits. It’s called a PR – Personal Best for a reason. Because it is personal and what we can achieve. I’m not ever going to be the fastest person on the Manitou incline, but I will set my own records. I may not be able to climb all the 14ers, but I could start with all the Class 1 14ers or start knocking out segments of the Colorado Trail.
In our personal life, we let society define us by our age or status in life. Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, etc. All labels we let others put on us to define us. Just like the Birthday cards. We let retirement ideas tell us what we should do. And I’ve even bought into it. Ask me what I want to do when I retire in five years and I’d say, buy a travel trailer and travel around the country for a year. It’s part of what I’m thinking, but it’s also letting other define what I should be doing “in retirement.”
In work, we think we are done advancing once we get past 60. And as I write this, I’m coming to realize I’ve fallen in that trap. “Just let me work here another 5 years, as a Senior Project Manager. I’ll do the best I can do, but it’s all I want to do.” What kind of defined trap is that for me? Where is the growth, the stretching, the redefining of what I can become? I think of where I want to be at in retirement in 10 years at 70; then I think of Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump; all 70+ and running for President or being President. If I compare myself to them, I’m 10 years away from hitting my prime.
Who are we letting define us, what silos are we allowing ourselves to be put into, and what could we be doing if we saw more of the opportunities than the defined roadblocks/labels??? It’s time to strip away the “Hallmark Card”, birthday labels and live a life bigger than ourselves – as I mentioned in an earlier Trail Tip. Let’s redefine ourselves using the passions and strengths that we have been given. Let’s shatter the Personal Records and move onto the next new definitions for our lives. Take some time today to start redefining what you want to and share those thoughts with me at http://www.alandersen.co
Al Andersen 