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May 27, 2025 27 mins

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is look back before moving forward. In this episode, Rusty and Erica drop anchor to explore how our past shapes our path, how storms reveal our strength, and why creating your own life philosophy is essential for intentional living. Packed with stories, soul-searching, and a few detours worth taking, this one’s for anyone ready to stop drifting and start charting their course.


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(00:00):
Picture this. You are anchored just off a
quiet shore, stretched out on the deck of an old sailboat.
The sun's dropping low, the water's smooth, and everything
around you feels unhurried. You've got one hand on the
tiller, a cold drink in the other, when an old memory floats

(00:23):
in, soft, familiar, and just bold enough to make you pause.
That's the thing about laying your course.
It's not always about where you're going next.
Sometimes the wind circles back,nudging you towards the places
you thought you'd left behind. Not to relive them, but to see

(00:44):
who you've become since sailing away.
Welcome to the latitude adjustment.
It's time to stop drifting and start navigating by your own
inner compass. The life you're looking for
isn't out there. It's in motion right now.
Get ready to step off the map with your hosts, Erica and Rusty
Harrison. We're not just talking about

(01:05):
going back to physical places. Sometimes the old versions of
ourselves we have to revisit. You know, the ones we left
behind because they didn't fit anymore or we thought we'd
outgrown them. The places that once felt
expansive and full of possibility now seem quaint,
like old postcards from a life we left behind.

(01:28):
It's not just about geography. It's about who we become along
the way. Sometimes laying your course
means understanding that where you are now is just as important
as where you've been. Do you?
Remember that road trip we took through the low country a few
years back? Oh.

(01:49):
I love everything that has to dowith low Country.
It ignites all the senses. We were supposed to just breeze
through Charleston, but I couldn't help myself.
I took a detour to one of my my favorite old haunts.
Yeah, I remember we ended up parked in front of that ancient
seafood shack. It was near Folly Beach, right?

(02:11):
The one that looked like it's one stiff breeze away from
collapse. Man, I hadn't been there since I
was a kid. Oh Gee.
I used to get hush puppies and fresh shrimp right off the boat
when I was a young guy. Oh.
I can taste. It it smelled exactly the same,
like grease and brine and sunshine.

(02:33):
I didn't know how much I needed that reminder of where I came
from until I was standing there tasting those memories.
You know, it wasn't just the food.
It was that look on your face, like you'd found a piece of
yourself that you didn't know was even missing.
Yeah, like the place itself was holding something for you,

(02:55):
keeping it safe until you were ready to claim it again.
Sometimes those old places remind us of who we were before
life starts to get complicated. Yeah, that's the thing.
Sometimes laying your course means going back.
Yeah. Picking up those fragments of
your story that you didn't realize still mattered.
It's not about staying stuck. It's about reclaiming the parts

(03:19):
that made you who you are. Right.
Like revisiting the spot where Ilearned to fish.
Back then, it was just about thecatch.
Now I realize it was about learning patience, persistence,
and how to sit long enough to let life happen around you.
Oh, so let's talk a little holistic navigation.
First time we sailed Gatsby our sailboat, we thought we were

(03:43):
ready. We plotted the course, packed
supplies, we had everything in order.
But then the wind kicked up harder than expected and we had
to make a choice. Push forward or find a safe
haven to wait it out. We ended up dropping anchor in a
little coat, waiting out the storm with the sails down and

(04:05):
the radio crackling. It wasn't the course we planned,
no, but it was the right call. Absolutely.
That's life, right? So you can lay your course, but
sometimes you have to make adjustments.
Doesn't mean you're failing, just means you're adapting.
Yeah. It's like having that dream job
lined up and then it doesn't quite fit your soul.

(04:31):
It's OK to reroute. You're not giving up, you're
just choosing a different path. Yeah, I think about that a lot,
how sometimes the course you planned doesn't fit the person
you've become. Can you just give us that one
more time? Yeah, I think that sometimes the
course you planned just doesn't fit you anymore.
Yeah, we're taught to set goals early and stick to them.

(04:54):
But what if the person who made that goal no longer exists?
Good question. You have to give yourself
permission to change direction. It's not about giving up.
It's about evolving. Sometimes the course shifts
because you've shifted. It takes courage to admit that
the dream you once chased isn't the dream you have now.

(05:17):
And real strength is letting your path change when your heart
and your passion and your purpose changes.
All right, time for aging. It was challenge #1 lay your
course. Think about a place or a part of
yourself that you've been avoiding.

(05:38):
Maybe something you've left behind because it was too hard
or too complicated. Write it down.
Maybe it's making a phone call you've been putting off, or
driving down the road you swore you'd never take again.
It doesn't have to be huge. It doesn't.
Just real. Sometimes the all a step toward

(05:59):
reclaiming your past can point you toward your future.
Maybe it's a conversation that'slong overdue, or revisiting a
hobby you left behind. Give yourself permission to pick
up those pieces without judgment.
Good stuff. Let's do a segment 1 recap #1
Moving forward sometimes means looking back. #2 revisiting your

(06:21):
roots can reveal pieces of yourself you didn't know we're
missing. #3 Lay your core, but be willing to adjust when the
winds change. Number four, One step, can help
you reclaim a lost part of your story.
I love that #5 real growth is about adjusting your course when

(06:44):
your heart, purpose, and passions change.
Coming up next, we'll talk aboutwhat happens when the course
gets rough, how to hold your ground when the waves hit hard.
Stay tuned, it's more Latin dudeadjustment ahead.

(07:09):
You ever set your course clear as day, ready to go, only to get
smacked by a wave you didn't seecoming?
Every day. It sounded so familiar.
Sometimes it feels like the oceans got it out for you. 01
minute you're cruising, feeling the sun on your face and the

(07:29):
next you are drenched and fighting to stay upright.
And that's the rub, yeah. You let your course, you feel
good, you're steering straight. And then Storm blows in like
it's got something to prove. You can have the clearest map,

(07:49):
but life doesn't always care. Sometimes it's not about the
compass, it's about keeping yourhand on the wheel when the sky
spit fury. It's not about plotting a path,
it's about holding steady when the path gets battered.
So what happens when the sky goes dark?

(08:11):
You remember that time we took took Gatsby out for that quick
sale on Lake Norman? The one where we checked the
weather 3 times we. Did.
Saw nothing but blue skies. That's what I remember.
And ended up in a squaw that felt like Poseidon picked a
fight with us. Exactly.
We had just passed the point, sails full, music playing,

(08:36):
feeling like pros ish. And then out of nowhere the sky
just opened up. It broke, winds whipping, water
lapping up over the deck. We were keeled up and the look
on your face, well, we won't have everyone relive that with
you. It's true.
But you were steady. You seemed to actually enjoy the

(09:00):
experience. You held that tiller like a
champion. In truth, my heart was pounding,
but I kept thinking about what you always say.
Don't fight the wind just with it.
We reefed the sail and aimed forthe Lee side of the lake.
It wasn't graceful, but we managed to navigate everything

(09:23):
safely. That day taught me something.
It's not just about the journey you plan, it's about the way you
adapt when the plan crumbles. That's the key, right?
Yeah. When the storm hits, you don't
power through blindly. You adapt.
Doesn't mean you abandon the plan, just means you adjust your
tactics. Sometimes you have to slow down

(09:45):
to get through safely. Sometimes it's not about
conquering the storm, but enduring it.
It's funny how life teaches you that.
We didn't plan for a storm, but we prepared for one.
Yeah, we had the right gear, kept our heads clear and didn't
try to force our way through. That's why we made it safely

(10:07):
back to the Marina. It's not just about braving the
storm. It's about being wise enough to
know when the better choice might be to wait it out.
There's something empowering about realizing you can
withstand more than you thought.The storm doesn't just test your
strength, it reveals it. You come out the other side more

(10:27):
confident, not because the stormwas easy, but because you didn't
let it break you. Yeah.
So let's talk about how to navigate when the world goes
hazy #1 breathe. Your instincts might say panic,
but panic doesn't sail the ship,it just makes the waves look
bigger. #2 Don't make big decisions in the storm.

(10:51):
Stay the course unless the facts, not the fear, tell you
otherwise. Reacting to the noise just sends
you in circles. #3 find your anchor, that one grounding truth
that doesn't change even when the sky does.
Fur, Rusty and I, it's each other, knowing that whatever's

(11:12):
going down, we are always in it together.
Truth. And it's not about staying
upright. It's about using the storm to
learn something. Sometimes you discover a
stronger version of yourself in the chaos.
You realize that the struggle itself was shaping you, making
you more resilient, more grounded.

(11:32):
Yeah. The storm also forces you to
reevaluate what truly matters. When the storm's howling and
your boat is rocking, you realize what's essential and
what's just noise. It strips away the trivial stuff
and leaves you with clarity. So it's time for Aging Heroes

(11:55):
challenge #2 Navigate the storm we.
Want you to think of a time whenlife tossed a storm your way.
Maybe it was the loss of a job, Could be a health crisis or
someone you loved. Maybe just letting you down.
Write down how you handled it. Did you turn back?

(12:15):
Did you navigate through it? What did that look like?
Then write down what you learnedfrom it.
How did the storm change you? How did it clarify your purpose?
Or did it make you reroute completely?
If you're in a storm now, take one small action today that
aligns with your original compass.
Just one and hold tight. This is probably a good place

(12:37):
for a segment. To recap, it's called Storm
Navigation. Number one, storms don't mean
your course is wrong. #2 Stay the course unless the facts, not
the fear, tell you otherwise. #3anchor to your core truths and
your community. #4 Sometimes just staying on deck is victory

(13:01):
enough. #5 Growth comes not justfrom the calm, but from
weathering the chaos. And number six, the storm tests
your strength and reveals it. Coming up next, we'll talk about
what happens when the storm passes and you're not the same
person who set out how to reconcile the old course with

(13:24):
the new view. Stick with us.
Create this picture in your mind.
You're on a cross country camping trip Rd. dust settling
on your boots, maps scattered across the dashboard and nothing

(13:49):
but open sky in every direction.You're somewhere in the high
desert and it's getting dark. You've plotted your course,
checked the landmarks, but somehow you've gotten off grid.
The GPS has given up and all you've got is your gut telling

(14:11):
you that you've made a wrong turn back at the last fork.
That's the thing about Rd. trips.
You plan, you pack, you map out the whole route, and then one
missed turn and you're somewhereyou never expected.
And then four hours later. Sometimes it's just a detour and

(14:32):
other times it feels like the road swallowed you whole.
We camped out near the tall grass Prairie in Kansas.
We were supposed to find this well marked site with a water
source, but instead we ended up bumping along a gravel path that
seemed to lead nowhere. The sun was getting super low

(14:56):
really fast. It was blazing hot and we
realized we were miles from anything resembling
civilization. We could have turned around, but
we'd been driving all day. We had been.
We set up camp right there, justpitched the tent in a flat
place, held. There was nothing but flat

(15:16):
spaces out there. I was waiting for you to call
that out. I remember how quiet it was.
No cars, no lights. Just us, the stars and the
Prairie dogs. Somewhere out there in the dark.
That's when it hit that sometimes when the road runs
out, you just have to make peacewith where you are.
Where We cooked up some beans and chops on our camp stove and

(15:40):
that unexpected spot turned out to be one of the most beautiful
campsites we'd stayed at in a long time.
We woke up to the most unreal sunrise painting the horizon.
Shades of pink and gold getting lost turned out to be one of the

(16:03):
best parts of that cross countrytrip.
Life is full of those blank spaces.
You set a goal, make a plan, andsuddenly there's a chain, a
layoff, A diagnosis, a loss. Your map doesn't cover it and
you're left navigating by instinct.
That's when it's crucial to trust your inner compass, the

(16:23):
one that doesn't rely on coordinates, but on your own
sense of purpose and values. That's where philosophy comes
in. It's your internal compass.
You have to define your philosophy before the storm
hits, otherwise you're just reacting to the chaos.
If your philosophy is solid, it becomes your anchor when life

(16:46):
gets unpredictable. It's like JFK said, efforts and
courage are not enough. Without purpose and direction.
You need a guiding principle, something you come back to when
the sky goes dark. Without a philosophy, you're
just wondering, hoping the road will make sense on its own.

(17:07):
So what's your philosophy of life?
Does it belong to you or did youinherit it from society?
Most people never even realize they're living someone else's
script. It's like autopilot.
Comfortable, but not necessarilywhere you want to go.
Breaking out of that script takes courage and a willingness

(17:30):
to question what you've always assumed was true.
We're taught to think that life is about chasing happiness
through work, money, and buying stuff.
If we're not earning or spending, we feel like we're
failing. It's a narrow, hollow way to
live. But what if life is about

(17:51):
something deeper like self discovery, connection, purpose?
Beautiful. What if happiness isn't the
finish line, but the way you choose to walk the path?
That's a great question. People should sit with that for
a minute. That's why aging heroes think
for themselves. They define life on their own

(18:15):
terms. They're explorers, not
consumers. They're out there discovering
their purpose. It's not just chasing paychecks.
It's about seeing life as an adventure rather than a
checklist. And sometimes it's OK if the
adventure doesn't go as planned.Sometimes the map you're

(18:35):
following isn't wrong, it's justoutdated.
Your philosophy needs to be flexible enough to accommodate
growth, change and unexpected detours.
All right everybody, it's time for aging.
Here is challenge #3 Chart the unknown this week, pick one area
of your life where you're feeling stuck.

(18:58):
Maybe it's work, a relationship,or maybe it's a creative
project. Write down why it feels like
uncharted territory. What's stopping you from moving
forward? Then take one action.
Doesn't have to be big, just something that breaks the
inertia. Maybe it's a phone call, a walk
in a new direction, or trying something you've always wanted

(19:21):
to do but never dared to. It's not about making the
perfect choice, it's about making a choice.
Sometimes the first step is admitting your loss.
I love that. The second step is deciding to
explore anyway. And that's for the win.
Let's do a recap. We're going to call it Charting
the unknown #1 when the map runsout, let instinct guide you. #2

(19:47):
Adaptability is a form of courage. #3 Growth happens when
you leave the familiar behind. #4 Take one small step into the
unknown and trust your own resilience. #5 Writing your own
story means stepping off the script.

(20:07):
And number six, embrace the unexpected detours.
They might just lead you to something beautiful.
Coming up next, we'll explore what happens when you find
yourself in a place you didn't expect.
How to refresh the unexpected and find meaning in the detour?
Stick with us. So here we are in the final

(20:38):
segment of another latitude adjustment adventure.
It's tempting to think that everything we've talked about
today is just philosophy, just ideas floating in the breeze
like loose sails. But here's the secret.
None of this matters unless you put your hands on the wheel.

(21:01):
Yep, ideas don't move the boat. Effort does.
You can have the most beautiful map in the world, but if you
never leave the dock, you're just admiring paper.
That sounds dull. We've spent this episode
unraveling the myth of happiness, and it's not a goal
to chase, but a state of being to invite in.

(21:24):
It's not some shiny, distant thing.
It's the salt on your skin aftera long swim in the ocean.
It's finding laughter on a really hard day.
Yeah, and it's not waiting for you in some future version of
yourself. No, it's in the mess, the
imperfection, the realness. Yeah, it's in finally getting

(21:46):
that bike you've been afraid to ride even after you've been
knocked down. It all comes back to laying your
course. To do that, you have to define
your own philosophy. We have to ask ourselves those
three big questions. What is life all about?
How do we screw it up, and how can we fix it?

(22:09):
Those questions keep us groundedwhen everything else feels
uncertain. Our culture often says life is
about getting more. More money, more things, more
success, and if you don't have enough, you failed.
That's a treadmill. It keeps you running without
ever really moving. We believe life is more than

(22:30):
that. It's about exploration, growth,
It's about being grateful for the journey and creating purpose
through self discovery and giving back.
When you step away from the noise and really think about
what matters, you start to see how much time you've spent

(22:52):
chasing things that don't reallyeven fill you up.
I remember talking to a student at Western Piedmont who was
overwhelmed, working 2 jobs, taking a full course load, and
still feeling like he wasn't doing enough.
We sat down and made a list of what really mattered to him.
I love that. Yeah, Those things for him were

(23:14):
family, creativity and learning.Yeah.
Realizing that allowed him to make small changes, cutting back
on hours and prioritizing classes.
That sparked his passion. Sometimes redefining your course
means letting go of what societytells you is necessary.
Yeah. And it's not just about giving

(23:34):
up ambition, it's about aligningthat ambition with who you are.
Success doesn't have to look like a bank statement.
It can look like a life well lived, connections made,
challenges overcome, and a heartthat's still open to the world.
Nice. Yeah.
One of the hardest things to do is to reframe what feels like

(23:56):
failure. Sometimes when you don't hit
that goal, it's easy to feel like you've lost.
But what if that wasn't failure?What if that deep was exactly
where you needed to go to learn what you couldn't see before?
I remember planning a really bigevent and ended up that half of

(24:16):
the invitees cancelled at the last minute.
I remember at first feeling likeI'd failed.
Maybe I hadn't marketed it right, maybe I hadn't
communicated well enough that maybe it just wasn't appealing
enough, but the smaller group actually allowed for deeper
connections, more to make conversations, and the whole

(24:37):
thing turned out beautifully. That's the paradox, right?
Sometimes failure isn't what youthink it is.
Sometimes it's just life pointing you in a different
direction, one that's richer, deeper, and more aligned with
your true purpose. Aging Heroes challenge #4 To

(24:58):
find your philosophy. Here's our challenge for you
all. We want you to write down your
personal philosophy, your compass.
Answer those three questions. What is life all about?
How do we screw it up and how can we fix it?
Be honest with yourself. Don't settle for the easy
answers society hands you. Think deeply.

(25:20):
Maybe it's about connecting withpeople.
Maybe it's about finding beauty in nature or pushing past your
fears. Whatever it is is, make it
yours. Keep it visible on a sticky note
in your notebook. Yeah, somewhere you can see it
when the winds pick up. Beautiful.
It's time for Segment 4S recap #1 Living intentionally means

(25:42):
defining your own philosophy. #2Don't let society's script tell
you what matters. #3 Embrace gratitude and purpose to guide
your path. And #4 Courage without direction
is just wondering. OK everybody, today we tackled

(26:03):
the myth that happiness is aboutconsumerism.
Instead, we found it's somethingyou create by living
intentionally and leaning into the unknown.
We talked about the storms that knock us off course and how to
hold your ground when the wind shifts.
We've redefined success not as something handed to you, but as

(26:27):
something you build through intention and presence.
If this episode hit your heart, if it spoke to you, share it.
Text a friend, tag us, and go follow us on Instagram and
Facebook at Aging Heroes. You can also find our full tribe
at www.agingheroes.com. Next week, we're going deeper

(26:53):
into the concept of courage. How do you stay brave when the
map doesn't make sense? How do you keep pushing when
fear feels like your only companion?
It's going to be real, it's going to be raw, and it's going
to be packed with stories of bravery that doesn't always look
heroic. I don't want to miss that.

(27:15):
Until next time, keep your compass close and your hearts
open, because we're all on this journey together.
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