Is the fish always the last to discover the ocean? And is the 69-year-old author who writes about courageous living the last to discover courage in his own life? Perhaps so.
You see, having played soccer in high school and all the way up to the Senior Olympics, I’ve put lots of hard miles on my knees. Soccer has been one of my greatest blessings, but it’s left me with no cartilage in my right knee and in more pain than I care to admit.
Since the release of Courageous Aging this year, I’ve been out in the world giving keynote speeches, appearing on CNN, and leading workshops about what it means to live courageously. “When it’s time to turn the page on a season of life,” I teach, “whether you’ve been a CEO, stay-at-home mom, tennis pro, or soccer player, you must summon the courage and strength to let go and live forward.” Yes, letting go can be very hard. As a good woman friend put it, “I used to be this pretty little girl. It’s taken me a long time to realize that I’m not that person anymore. And even longer to accept the woman I’ve become. I’m finally at peace.”
Summoning the courage to acknowledge my pain, overcome my fears, and get a “new” knee was inspired by a new goal: to take my yet unborn grandson on a hike when he’s old enough. Going step by step, taking honest inventory, clearing the path forward, reimagining my best possible future, and paying the good in my life forward, I’m not only ready for the surgery, I’m finally turning the page on an old chapter of life and embarking on a new one.
Wish me luck!