Woohoo!  Today’s the day!  The big 3-0!

If you haven’t noticed, I’m definitely not a person who has ever been ashamed of my age, nor do I think anyone should be.  I’ve also gotten to the point to where the word, “old” is becoming a huge pet peeve of mine… but only when used in a sentence such as, “I can’t do that anymore.  I’m too old.”  BULLS**T, homie!  That’s just an excuse.

I’d like to change the context in which we view age: Age is a gift. It is something to be relished, every moment.  Something to be shouted from the rooftops, enjoyed, and cherished.  Everyday you say, “I’m too old” is one more day you have given up to your grave.  It is a day and an activity that you could have enjoyed in some way but instead, you gave up, gave in, laid down and chose to die.

Case Study No. 1

One of my dear friends, Vic Neymeyer, is the founder of my Rotary Club in East Austin.  He is now in his late 90s (if I remember correctly) and until he had a leg surgery this year, he was running 5Ks with ME!  And guess what – he won in his age category.  Vic is out changing the world every day.  He comes to every Rotary meeting, introduces, proposes, and orients our new members.  He constantly publicly speaks on subjects of humanitarian efforts, public policy, international collaboration, and military concerns.  Vic Neymeyer is a bad ass! Outside of inevitable things like diminished hearing, etc., Vic is out there making things happen.  You will never hear him say, “I can’t.  I’m too old.”  Them’s quitin’ words and they ain’t in his vocabulary.

Case Study No. 2

My friend and mentor, Adolfo Torres, was unstoppable.  He “retired” at age 30 after being extremely successful in real estate.  His success was by no means an accident – it was deliberately and carefully calculated and planned.  He continued to build successful businesses, spent a great deal of time doing humanitarian work and participated in community projects, gave his wife and children everything they could ever dream of needing, and still had time for his friends and to mentor me.  He was in peak health with no problems in site.  Never would you ever hear Adolfo utter the words, “I can’t.  I’m too old.”  Earlier this year, he passed away suddenly for absolutely no reason at the age of 42.

You never know when your time is going to come.  You hear the saying, “live like it’s your last day.”  Seriously.  Live every day like it’s your last day. I don’t mean for you to go out and pick up a drug or hooker habit.  That’d be a waste.  I implore you to think about the things that cause you to say, “wow… what a great day” before you go to bed.  Make a list and do something that causes you to say that each and every day.  My friend, Neville, did a great blog post on this the other day.  He said that every day, experience novelty, beauty, growth, and/or love.  I second that motion.

I could add more case studies about folks of various ages from 8 to 80 years of age.  But I think you get the point.

There are only a few things I want for my 30th birthday.  I’m going to go ahead and be selfish and ask you to please consider doing these things for me… mainly No. 1 and 2:

1. Erase the words “I’m too old” from your vocabulary right now and forever.  Stop killing yourself.
2. Experience novelty, beauty, growth, or love today and share it with us here.
3. If you can and have the desire to, contribute to the 30th birthday fundraiser for Rotary International.

Happy birthday to all the Virgos out there!  Let’s make this day and our entire year a great one!