
I ran into an old acquaintance in aisle 12 at the grocery store. Someone I hadn’t seen in years. He told me I looked like I’d been hitting the gym.
“What are you getting all fit for?” he asked.
I replied, “Life.”
Reflecting on the encounter later, I thought about my response. Underneath it all, I have a simple goal:
To continuously improve as I grow older.
It isn’t just about aging – I’m just trying to improve life. And the people I enjoy spending time with the most have the same AWARENESS.
It makes me think of the word: “practice.” For me, practice is about my parenting, job(s), faith, talking, relationships, writing, fitness, and much more. Thinking this way means I’m staying aware of what I’m doing in all areas of life instead of drifting along.
Another way to say it:
“Practice” means doing something purposefully, taking care of, and wanting to pursue growth. Awareness means paying attention to the feedback life is giving you.
I like these ideas. Part of my “practice” is writing them down and sharing them.
I wanted to break down some of the things we hear people say all the time and define them against everyday life:
– “Doing something on purpose” means living with intention.
– “Taking care” can mean focusing on meaningful things and/or bringing meaning to the mundane.
– “Wanting to grow” makes me think of “kaizen,” another excellent idea from Japan, which is about small, continuous improvements that make us better every day.
– “Feedback” is critical to improving because it underscores being capable of “adapting,” which only becomes more important as we age.
Ultimately, this isn’t about perfecting everything or comparing yourself to others. It’s about being present and paying attention in everything we do daily, aka being “accountable.”
All those words I put in quotes are buzz words that orbit around the same thing: improvement.
This is me talking to you like we’re at coffee, and as I finish that last sip, I’d like to conclude by doing a thing. Maybe a few of you will follow what I’m up to and by all means, join in.
It’s all in the effort to continue getting better at life.
1. Wake up early. I’ll define early as by 6 AM.
2. Write down my thoughts before bed. Like right now, I’m writing this under my reading light.
3. Exercise 4 days a week for no less than 30 minutes, i.e., getting sweaty.
4. Sit in silence for 10 minutes.
5. Walk or ride a bike every day for 30 minutes. This is separate from exercise.
6. Read an actual book for 10 minutes a day. I prefer the Bible.
Do you want to join me?
People like us do things like this.