May 26, 2025 • 29 mins
Ready to stop waiting and start becoming?
In this punchy, soul-stirring episode, Erica and Rusty expose the seductive myth of "One Day"—that sneaky lie that keeps us from stepping into who we’re meant to be. Set against a Caribbean backdrop (real or imagined), they challenge you to call your own bluff and declare today your Day One.
Drawing from Jungian coaching, CliftonStrengths, wellness retreats, and their book A Guide for Aging Heroes, they explore how messy action beats perfect planning every time. You'll learn how momentum trumps motivation, fear loses its power in the light, and joy isn’t a bonus—it’s a strategy.
You’ll get:
🔥 Bold coaching truths and soulful metaphors
🧠 Real stories from therapy rooms, yoga mats, and life’s messy middle
📸 A Day One mindset you can actually live by
🏴☠️ Aging Heroes Challenges to move before you're ready
🎧 Listen now at agingheroes.com/podcast
Stay bold. Stay barefoot. Stay heroic.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Picture this. You're stretched out under a
cabana in. Bogus del Toro.
Panama drink in your hand, salt still.
Drying on your shoulders, there's a breeze whispering.
Through the palm's leg it knows your secrets.
Down the beach, a scosa bands already 2 mojitos deep into the
(00:23):
afternoon and the baseline. Is flirting with your.
Inner rebel. Your feet are dirty, your soul's
a little itchy, and right now, right here, there's a question
floating in the air like a sandflower that won't leave you
alone. Is today your day one or are you
(00:44):
still waiting for one day? Welcome to The Latitude
Adjustment, an Aging heroes podcast where midlife isn't a
crisis, it's your call to adventure.
Hosted by Randolph and Erica Harrison, co-authors of the
award-winning A Guide for Aging Heroes, this show flips the
script on aging with bold stories, real talk and
(01:06):
challenges that dare you to livelouder.
Randolph is a celebrated educator, Gallup strengths coach
and former therapist with a passion for growth and grit.
Erica is a world traveling photographer, Wellness leader,
union life coach and creative force, bringing beauty, heart
and fierce clarity to every episode.
Together, they're here to spark your second act and your day.
(01:27):
One starts now. I've lived in the temple of one
day. One day I'll say what I mean.
One day I'll stop shrinking to fit the room.
One day. I'll book that retreat.
Instead of liking the. Post.
And pretending that's enough. I have preached those sermons
(01:49):
myself. One day I'll write that book.
I'll drop the weight physically and emotionally.
But one day is a con artist. It promises the moon but has no
rocket. From from a union lens one day.
It's. Your shadow in high.
Heels it. Sounds like caution, but.
(02:11):
It's just. Fear in a prom dress day one, on
the other hand. Is raw.
It's. Authentic.
It's you deciding to. Stop.
Waiting for permission and startliving from your damn soul.
In Clifton Strengths Coaching. Yeah, I watch this dance all the
(02:32):
time. Folks wait and feel ready before
they step in. But readiness is a mirage.
Yeah, you chase it until you collapse.
What matters is alignment. And that doesn't show up with
fanfare. It shows up when you choose it.
Well said. Day one doesn't care if your
hair is done it it doesn't care.If you're still healing.
(02:55):
It asks one thing. Are.
You willing willing to show up messy, to quit apologizing for
existing, to take one small. Sacred step toward what sets.
Your bones on fire. My day one came the day my
father died. That's heavy.
(03:16):
He left this world with dreams still scribbled in the margins.
I remember thinking, I I won't be a ghost in my own story, all
right? I'd rather leap and land wrong
than never leave the shore. When I was working.
At the hospital. And working in Wellness.
I watched people choose day. One in silence.
(03:37):
Yeah, a nurse clocking out from a. 12 hour shift.
And walking into yoga anyways, apatient might be taking their
first trembling post. Surgery step.
A staff member speaking up when it would have been.
Easier to stay. Quiet, you know, No spotlight,
(03:59):
no Instagram, just. Raw.
Courage from those folks. Aging heroes don't wait for
clarity. They move with courage.
Say that for us again. Yeah, aging heroes don't wait
for clarity. They move with courage.
That's right. That's what starts revolutions
from the inside out. Why do we stay?
In the waiting room called one day.
(04:22):
Why do we do that? Well, because it lets us.
Daydream without danger, yeah. Yeah, someday is tidy.
It's sweet, it's safe. It's a Netflix trailer of your
future without the messy behind the scenes.
But day one, now that's gritty. Day one demands sweat equity.
Right on one day it's going to. Say you could.
(04:46):
Climb that mountain day one chucks the pack at your feet and
says you coming or not. That's called temporal
discounting. We chase short term comfort over
long term reward, not because we're lazy, but because our
nervous system is whispering. Stay small and stay safe.
(05:08):
But here's the gut. Punch truth, the longer.
You wait. The heavier it gets that
threshold, it starts to rot. And.
What was? Once comfort becomes your.
Cage. All right, I've got a story.
All right, tell it to us. There's an old monk.
He's sunburnt and he's hauling stones under a mean sun.
(05:31):
A traveler walks by and asks, why don't you let the younger
monks do it? The monk says because that would
not be me. All right.
Then the traveler says, well, why not at least wait till the
sun sets so it's cooler? The monk shrugs.
Because that would not be now. Because that would not be now.
And so we put that on a. T-shirt or tattoo?
(05:53):
It on your heart, that's day one.
It's not the easy time, it's thereal time.
It's your time. That monk wasn't rushing, he was
rooted. Because life doesn't show up
when you're aligned. Life is alignment if you've got
the guts to show up. All right.
Legend. This isn't a test.
(06:14):
It's a declaration. Grab the nearest napkin, palm
frond, bar, tab, whatever. You've got friends.
Today's date. On it under that.
Scribble this is. Day one, love it.
Not someday, not later, not after you.
Lose the weight or. Find the perfect playlist.
(06:38):
Day freaking one. Now pick one.
Gritty soul. Honoring action.
Something that says I'm done speculating, I'm stepping in
could be calling your shot, could be canceling something
that's been draining you. Dry could.
Be maybe finally booking that thing you keep talking about.
(07:00):
But whatever you choose, make itreal.
Make it yours. And listen, if you stumble,
don't throw out the napkin. You don't crawl back into one
day, you shake the sand out of your sandals and begin again.
Because day one isn't a calendardate, It's a mindset.
And you can choose it every damnday.
Hey, Rusty. You want to go ahead and give
(07:21):
them an wisdom recap here. Let's do it all.
Right. So number 11 day.
Is the. Smooth talking.
Saboteur dressed as possibility.#2 Day one, on the other hand,
is rough, real and ready. No filters, no waiting.
(07:42):
Number three, you don't need readiness, you need willingness.
#4 The brain learns from doing, not from dreaming.
And #5 one small aligned move. That's how heroes rise.
Coming up next, we're diving into Segment 2, where we'll
(08:06):
throw motivation off its throne and crown momentum as the one
true King. No waiting, no fluff, just
movement and a mission that. Starts.
Now. So stable.
Stay barefoot and. Stay.
Heroic. OK, aging heroes, let's crush a
(08:38):
lie that's been sold to us like sunscreen at a tourist trap.
You mean that myth? That motivation's gonna float
down on a cloud, sprinkle glitter on your life, and
whisper today's. Your.
Big day my friend. Exactly, Motivation is as
(09:00):
unreliable as flip flops and quicksand never shows up on
time. Never.
Always got an excuse. Meanwhile, momentum.
Momentum's the Barefoot friend and a busted tank top with sand
in her bra banging on your. Door like let's go.
We've got work to do. OK, let's be real, this.
(09:24):
Isn't just mindset, it's. Physics.
With a tan an. Object at rest.
It stays on the couch scrolling TikTok, but an object in motion?
Now that's got a one way ticket to change.
Starting is the beast. It so is.
It's not the middle that gets you.
Never. It's that first step in bare
feet over lava rocks, but once you move, you are golden.
(09:48):
Well said. I like to use the. 2 minute
rule. That's what we're going to call
it. That's what I say to my when I'm
coaching my clients. Don't change your.
Life, just start it. 2 minutes of motion, that's all.
Dance in the kitchen. Stretch like nobody's watching.
Say one truth. Out loud.
In Clifton Strengths, we call itactivation energy.
(10:11):
Activation energy. The first spark is the hardest,
just like lighting beach bonfire, but once that flame
catches it feeds on itself baby.At retreats I see.
Could happen in real time. A woman on her mat.
Shaky breath whispering. I almost didn't attend this
retreat. I almost let it pass me by.
(10:32):
But then. She stays.
She breathes. She opens her damn notebook and
boom, the momentum. It's not perfect, not poised,
but just present. I've seen that in the classroom
too. A student bombs the first Test,
right ego bruised, hoodie up butbut next they show up.
(10:53):
That's it. That's the win.
Not drama, just showing up with your mess and your hope and your
half packed bag. Want to know why starting is so
damn hard? It's biology, not bad habits.
Your brain wants routine. Safety the devil.
It knows. Try something new.
Your brains like sound. The alarms cancel.
(11:15):
Joy Retreat. But guess what?
Your brain also adapts fast. It learns through rhythm and
risk. The first plunge into cold water
is torture. The 10th It's therapy.
The first. Hard conversation feels like
swallowing sand. The 10th, however, now that
feels like freedom. Yeah, it's not about being.
(11:36):
Fearless. It's about building familiarity
with bravery. Oh, say it again.
That's good. Yeah.
It's about building familiarity with bravery.
Midlife doesn't whisper, it ticks.
And if you listen closely, it's not saying hurry up, it's saying
(11:56):
wake up. I see it all.
The time folks show up thinking they need a meltdown to change,
but you don't need a. Crisis.
You need a calendar circle today.
Not next Monday. Not the next new moon, just
today. Pick it, claim it and live it.
You don't need to move a mountain.
(12:17):
Just your butt. Start with a nudge.
Light a candle, put on the playlist best make your
beginning. Beautiful.
And make it yours. If your Clifton strength is
empathy, call your bestie while you walk.
If you're a learner, turn your laundry into podcast hour.
Creative soul build your. Plan like a beach, altar,
(12:38):
crystals, incense. Whatever keeps you.
Present momentum doesn't. Require muscles it requires.
Meaning. We are not asking you to
overhaul your life. We're not.
Just dip a toe in the tide. That sounds like something I
want to. Do.
That's mindset. Right.
Yeah, Mindset shift. Even if you're still scared,
even if you're half asleep, Scene check.
(13:00):
What can you move today? Pause.
Take a breath. What's one thing you've been
waiting to feel motivated? To do that, call that idea that.
Truth you've been tucking under your pillow now.
Ask yourself, what's the? Tiniest version of that I can do
(13:20):
today. Because heroes don't wait for
the muse, they build the damn dock and start fishing.
Alright, aging heroes, it's timefor challenge #1 this week's
challenge. Don't.
Wait for the. Clouds to part Pick one.
Area of your life where? You've been waiting to.
(13:44):
Feel like it now? Do it anyway.
Examples. Text your trainer, walk for 10
minutes barefoot, open the dock and write a single sentence.
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be done.
OK, now say this out loud. I am someone who moves before
I'm ready. Now say it again.
(14:05):
Believe it little more this time.
I am someone who moves before I'm ready.
Then go. Prove it.
All right, here's your Segment 2recap.
Trade the myth for the momentum.Number one motivation is a no
show. Momentum shows up messy.
(14:27):
But loyal. #2 start tiny. The brain learns by movement,
not by daydreams. #3 your wiringisn't.
The obstacle. It's the tool. #4 momentum is
sacred micro movement. And #5 don't wait.
(14:47):
Wade in coming up next. Segment 3's about.
Dragging fear into the sun. We're calling out the.
Lies it, whispers the. Shame it wears and we're handing
you. The script to write your.
Own legend. We'll see you next one.
(15:15):
All right, aging heroes, let's talk about the voice behind
every stalled dream, every unfinished sentence, and every
Not yet. It's fear.
And let's not pretend it's subtle.
Fear is loud. It shows up with a clipboard.
A megaphone and a. Doomsday Playlist.
(15:36):
On. Loop but hear this.
Fear is not. A prophet.
It's a projectionist. It doesn't tell the.
Future it just replays your. Past until you start thinking.
It's fate process that. For a minute.
Right, let's sit with that. I spent years in therapy rooms
(15:57):
watching brave souls survive heartbreak, death, addiction,
and loss. Oh.
Man. But the thing that froze them
the fear of looking stupid, not pain.
No. Not failure, just the raw dread
of being seen trying. I feel like that.
Resonates a little with. I get that.
(16:18):
Things that I've, I've had to work through, you know, I think
fear doesn't scream. You're doomed.
It whispers. Maybe just wait a little longer.
And that whisper, I think it's really a damn thief.
It steals time. It steals momentum.
It steals your becoming look. Your brain's not trying to ruin
your life. It's trying to save it, but it's
(16:39):
got the instincts of a caveman in cargo shorts.
Uncertainty triggers alarm, Joy,risky change Suspicious.
That's right, your brain's a guard dog, not a life.
Coach. But here's the kicker.
You are not your brain, you are the awareness behind it.
(17:00):
You can notice fear, challenge it, and even laugh in its face
if you want. Fear is just a thought, not a
law. And you, You're the author, not
the echo. All right, Rusty, let's.
Line up the shots, fear mindset.It says I'm too old, I'm not
(17:20):
good enough. I'll probably fail.
But a growth mindset says I'm learning.
I've still. Got many chapters left on this
journey and. I'd rather fall forward.
Than stand still. In Strengths coaching, I see
this all the time. Someone says I'm too sensitive
and I say hell no. You've got high empathy.
(17:41):
That's power, not a flaw, right?They say I'm scattered and I say
no, you're a creative synthesizer.
I like that creative. Synthesizer.
Now let's make that chaos dance.If it gets the same in Jungian
work, The shadow you're ashamed of.
It's really your superpower in disguise.
You've just been told to dim it.Let's name it fears.
(18:03):
Real language is warning. It's shame.
It doesn't say you might fail. It says if you fail it means
you're unworthy. That's the poison.
The soul numbing, joy blocking dream suffocating poison.
But I want you to hear me. Your worth?
(18:24):
Isn't up for negotiation. I'm going to say it again.
Your worth isn't up for negotiation.
You were born with it. You don't earn it by being
perfect. You don't lose it by falling
short. It's yours, period.
Behind the camera at retreats I.See Fear folded.
(18:44):
Arms avoided eye contact. People.
Being uncomfortable about being.Photographed a.
Smile. That's trying too.
Hard. But then something happens.
Someone will laugh, someone cries, someone stops performing.
And just like that, that fear loses interest.
(19:07):
Because presence is fears Kryptonite.
You can't obsess about the future when you're anchored in
the now scene. Check.
Name it, frame it, reclaim it. Let's pause real talk, no
filter. Name the fear.
Say it out loud. Write it in the sand.
If you have to. All right, I'm afraid I'm too
(19:30):
late. I'm afraid I'll be laughed at.
I'm. Afraid I'll fail again.
Now ask, is this a fact or just a feeling with a megaphone?
Then flip it I'm. Afraid I'll fail becomes.
I might grow faster than I imagined.
I'm afraid I'm too late becomes I'm right on time from my story.
(19:55):
Yeah. This is your narrative.
You get to rewrite. The ending.
All right, time for aging Heroeschallenge #2.
Flip the script on Fear All. Right.
You ready for your mission? Here we go.
Write the. Fear.
That's step one. We want you to get it.
(20:15):
Out of the Shadows Step 2 will be.
To name it for. What it is a?
Story not the truth and Step 3 now.
Rewrite it like a. Rebel with nothing.
Left to lose? Love it.
I had a client once who said I'mnot disciplined.
Oh, we flipped it all right. I'm someone who keep showing up
(20:37):
even when it's hard. Yeah, that's not delusion,
that's liberation. You're not faking it, folks.
You're leading yourself. And you, my friend, you are
louder than. Your fear.
All right, time for the Segment 3 recap.
Let's do it. Truth's worth tattooing.
Number one, fear's not a fortuneteller.
(20:58):
It's a rerun. #2 Shame is fear'stoxic sidekick. #3A growth
mindset set rewrites everything.#4 You can name it, you can
frame it, and you can rewrite it.
And #5 presents. Is your secret.
Weapon coming up next segment. Fours a joy.
(21:21):
Bomb we're ditching the grind and treating.
Joy like strategy. Not a bonus.
Think playlists, presents, and your own damn permission slip.
(21:45):
OK, Rusty, let's. End this.
Episode the way every brave story should.
Not. With A to do list, but with a.
Breakdance. Because today we're.
Talking about joy. Not as a treat, not as a reward,
not as a. Side effect of.
(22:05):
Having your life together. But joy is a strategy.
That's right, joy isn't dessert.It's survival fuel.
Oh, I love that survival fuel. Yeah, it's what keeps your soul
from going numb in the grind. You don't earn it, you build it.
You don't wait for it, you create it.
I. See this all the time on Treat.
(22:26):
Folks will. Show up with burnout tucked in
their carry on, right? Yeah.
And then, somewhere between the yoga mat and the beach bonfire,
between silence and salsa, they'll remember.
How to laugh? Again, you know, to breathe
again, to come home to themselves.
Love that. Yeah.
(22:46):
And the best part? You don't need a passport.
You just need permission. And guess what?
You've got it in bold Sharpie letters.
You get to be happy. Oh, I love that.
Not after the weight loss, No. Not after the divorce.
Not after your inbox says. Zero.
Now. I love that.
OK, let's get something straight.
(23:08):
Choosing joy in midlife. All right?
Now that's rebellion. Because the world wants you
quiet. It wants you to shrink, to
settle, to apologize for still wanting more.
But choosing joy, It's your middle finger to the myth that
aging means hearing. It's you saying I'm.
(23:28):
Still here, still fierce. I'm.
Still flipping off the rules. That I didn't write.
And let's be clear, this isn't fluff.
Joy is science. It rewrites your nervous system.
It unlocks resilience. It pumps the brakes on burnout.
I need to jot that down and share that with.
(23:50):
Folks, it pumps. The brakes on burnout.
Your brain lights. Up your breath slows.
Down your remembers how to open again.
Joy isn't a vacation, it's the. Road back to yourself.
Nice. Yeah, let's get practical.
If joy is sacred, treat it like it matters.
Schedule it. Ritualize it.
(24:11):
Protect it like it's your last drink ticket on Friday night in
Key West. So here's here's how I.
Do it in coaching, we. Build a joy grid all right. 4
columns small daily. Joys.
Weekly reset rituals. Monthly adventures and once.
A year, yeses. Nice.
(24:32):
Then we fill that thing up and put it somewhere sacred.
It'll be on the mirror. Fridge, altar, wherever you.
See it when you're about to spiral.
You're saying that the fridge issacred.
I'll agree with that and. There's plenty of moments at
time at 2:00 AM where you know. That reference is sacred.
(24:52):
And if you're a strengths person, stack your joy with your
wiring. If you are high in input,
collect joy like seashells or cool facts.
If you're high in connectedness,take gratitude walks and whisper
thanks to the trees. If you're high in positivity,
turn your morning routine into avibe.
Music, colors, coffee that makesyou feel things.
(25:15):
Yeah, that resonates with me. Make your joy your.
Practice, not your prize. Let's talk about what?
Joy looks like behind the lens for a minute.
There's this moment I. Always wait for at retreats.
It's. What I call the?
Joy click. It's not a posed.
Photo. It's not curated, it's arms.
Wide head. Thrown back, No filter, No Fear.
(25:37):
It's about capturing truth. It's a.
Woman in her body, in her moment, in her power.
And at that moment, you don't. Wait for it.
You walk toward it. And the best part?
It doesn't just happen on retreat, it happens in your
kitchen. That's so true it.
Happens on your. Back four?
Absolutely it. Happens at the gas station if
(25:59):
you've got the right playlist and a good pair of sunglasses.
Oh, I've been there. Been that person.
Here's the twist most. People don't resist joy because
they don't want it. They resist it because.
They don't. Trust it.
Because if you let yourself feeljoy, pain might sneak back in.
So we numb everything. Pain, sure, but also pleasure.
(26:21):
We flatline. But you can't dull 1 without the
other if you want the. Highs you have.
To be willing. To ride the waves.
Joy is a risk, but it's the right one, it says.
I'm still in this life. I'm still choosing beauty, I
still care. And that that is holy.
Let's do a scene check. All right.
What would joy do? All right, let's.
(26:43):
Quick gut check What's? One area in your.
Life that feels heavy. Right now.
Now ask. What would joy?
Choose. Maybe it's a deep inhale.
Maybe. It's a deep exhale, a slow walk,
a. Tiny dance.
Break with your. Dog judging you.
You don't have to wait for joy to arrive.
You don't. You can build it from the pieces
(27:06):
you've already got. A candle, a friend, a favorite
song, a truth spoken out loud. Joy is not loud, but it is
brave. All right, crew.
It's time for an Aging Heroes challenge #3.
Live a full day. One Here's your Cannonball Hero
(27:27):
Live 1. Whole day like it's your day.
One wake up and. Say it out loud, this is day.
One next. Move your body like.
It's a celebration. Speak like your truth.
Belongs. In the room dress.
Like you're the main character on your own damn island.
(27:48):
Say no to what? Drains you.
But say yes to what makes you the hell up.
And at the end of the day, don'tcount your productivity, count
your aliveness. Joy is the GPS that tells.
You you're on the right Rd. Not applause, not checklists,
not 6 figure plans. Joy all.
(28:11):
Right, let's do our final recap.What do you have for us today?
These are truths worth keeping in your beach bag.
Oh, all right, let's put some things in it #1 Joy.
Isn't extra, it's essential. #2 it's not selfish, it's
strategic. #3 you can. Build it, revitalize it, protect
(28:32):
it. #4 Don't wait to feel happy,practice joy now.
And #5 live one day one, then another and another, until
you've made it a norm all. Right here's a final word.
All right. If something cracked open in you
today, good. That's what day one is for.
(28:53):
It's not about perfect lives, it's about present ones.
You've got everything you need. No permission slip required.
No more waiting for the tide to come in.
Choose. Day one every time if.
This episode hit your heart if it spoke to you.
Share it text. A friend tag us and go follow us
(29:16):
on Instagram and Facebook at Aging Heroes.
You can also find our full. Tribe at WWW dot.
Agingheroes.com Thanks for tuning in.
We'll see you next time, all. Right.
Picture this. You're stretched out under a
cabana in. Bogus del Toro.
Panama drink in your hand, salt still.
Drying on your shoulders, there's a breeze whispering.
Through the palm's leg it knows your secrets.
Down the beach, a scosa bands already 2 mojitos deep into the
(00:23):
afternoon and the baseline. Is flirting with your.
Inner rebel. Your feet are dirty, your soul's
a little itchy, and right now, right here, there's a question
floating in the air like a sandflower that won't leave you
alone. Is today your day one or are you
(00:44):
still waiting for one day? Welcome to The Latitude
Adjustment, an Aging heroes podcast where midlife isn't a
crisis, it's your call to adventure.
Hosted by Randolph and Erica Harrison, co-authors of the
award-winning A Guide for Aging Heroes, this show flips the
script on aging with bold stories, real talk and
(01:06):
challenges that dare you to livelouder.
Randolph is a celebrated educator, Gallup strengths coach
and former therapist with a passion for growth and grit.
Erica is a world traveling photographer, Wellness leader,
union life coach and creative force, bringing beauty, heart
and fierce clarity to every episode.
Together, they're here to spark your second act and your day.
(01:27):
One starts now. I've lived in the temple of one
day. One day I'll say what I mean.
One day I'll stop shrinking to fit the room.
One day. I'll book that retreat.
Instead of liking the. Post.
And pretending that's enough. I have preached those sermons
(01:49):
myself. One day I'll write that book.
I'll drop the weight physically and emotionally.
But one day is a con artist. It promises the moon but has no
rocket. From from a union lens one day.
It's. Your shadow in high.
Heels it. Sounds like caution, but.
(02:11):
It's just. Fear in a prom dress day one, on
the other hand. Is raw.
It's. Authentic.
It's you deciding to. Stop.
Waiting for permission and startliving from your damn soul.
In Clifton Strengths Coaching. Yeah, I watch this dance all the
(02:32):
time. Folks wait and feel ready before
they step in. But readiness is a mirage.
Yeah, you chase it until you collapse.
What matters is alignment. And that doesn't show up with
fanfare. It shows up when you choose it.
Well said. Day one doesn't care if your
hair is done it it doesn't care.If you're still healing.
(02:55):
It asks one thing. Are.
You willing willing to show up messy, to quit apologizing for
existing, to take one small. Sacred step toward what sets.
Your bones on fire. My day one came the day my
father died. That's heavy.
(03:16):
He left this world with dreams still scribbled in the margins.
I remember thinking, I I won't be a ghost in my own story, all
right? I'd rather leap and land wrong
than never leave the shore. When I was working.
At the hospital. And working in Wellness.
I watched people choose day. One in silence.
(03:37):
Yeah, a nurse clocking out from a. 12 hour shift.
And walking into yoga anyways, apatient might be taking their
first trembling post. Surgery step.
A staff member speaking up when it would have been.
Easier to stay. Quiet, you know, No spotlight,
(03:59):
no Instagram, just. Raw.
Courage from those folks. Aging heroes don't wait for
clarity. They move with courage.
Say that for us again. Yeah, aging heroes don't wait
for clarity. They move with courage.
That's right. That's what starts revolutions
from the inside out. Why do we stay?
In the waiting room called one day.
(04:22):
Why do we do that? Well, because it lets us.
Daydream without danger, yeah. Yeah, someday is tidy.
It's sweet, it's safe. It's a Netflix trailer of your
future without the messy behind the scenes.
But day one, now that's gritty. Day one demands sweat equity.
Right on one day it's going to. Say you could.
(04:46):
Climb that mountain day one chucks the pack at your feet and
says you coming or not. That's called temporal
discounting. We chase short term comfort over
long term reward, not because we're lazy, but because our
nervous system is whispering. Stay small and stay safe.
(05:08):
But here's the gut. Punch truth, the longer.
You wait. The heavier it gets that
threshold, it starts to rot. And.
What was? Once comfort becomes your.
Cage. All right, I've got a story.
All right, tell it to us. There's an old monk.
He's sunburnt and he's hauling stones under a mean sun.
(05:31):
A traveler walks by and asks, why don't you let the younger
monks do it? The monk says because that would
not be me. All right.
Then the traveler says, well, why not at least wait till the
sun sets so it's cooler? The monk shrugs.
Because that would not be now. Because that would not be now.
And so we put that on a. T-shirt or tattoo?
(05:53):
It on your heart, that's day one.
It's not the easy time, it's thereal time.
It's your time. That monk wasn't rushing, he was
rooted. Because life doesn't show up
when you're aligned. Life is alignment if you've got
the guts to show up. All right.
Legend. This isn't a test.
(06:14):
It's a declaration. Grab the nearest napkin, palm
frond, bar, tab, whatever. You've got friends.
Today's date. On it under that.
Scribble this is. Day one, love it.
Not someday, not later, not after you.
Lose the weight or. Find the perfect playlist.
(06:38):
Day freaking one. Now pick one.
Gritty soul. Honoring action.
Something that says I'm done speculating, I'm stepping in
could be calling your shot, could be canceling something
that's been draining you. Dry could.
Be maybe finally booking that thing you keep talking about.
(07:00):
But whatever you choose, make itreal.
Make it yours. And listen, if you stumble,
don't throw out the napkin. You don't crawl back into one
day, you shake the sand out of your sandals and begin again.
Because day one isn't a calendardate, It's a mindset.
And you can choose it every damnday.
Hey, Rusty. You want to go ahead and give
(07:21):
them an wisdom recap here. Let's do it all.
Right. So number 11 day.
Is the. Smooth talking.
Saboteur dressed as possibility.#2 Day one, on the other hand,
is rough, real and ready. No filters, no waiting.
(07:42):
Number three, you don't need readiness, you need willingness.
#4 The brain learns from doing, not from dreaming.
And #5 one small aligned move. That's how heroes rise.
Coming up next, we're diving into Segment 2, where we'll
(08:06):
throw motivation off its throne and crown momentum as the one
true King. No waiting, no fluff, just
movement and a mission that. Starts.
Now. So stable.
Stay barefoot and. Stay.
Heroic. OK, aging heroes, let's crush a
(08:38):
lie that's been sold to us like sunscreen at a tourist trap.
You mean that myth? That motivation's gonna float
down on a cloud, sprinkle glitter on your life, and
whisper today's. Your.
Big day my friend. Exactly, Motivation is as
(09:00):
unreliable as flip flops and quicksand never shows up on
time. Never.
Always got an excuse. Meanwhile, momentum.
Momentum's the Barefoot friend and a busted tank top with sand
in her bra banging on your. Door like let's go.
We've got work to do. OK, let's be real, this.
(09:24):
Isn't just mindset, it's. Physics.
With a tan an. Object at rest.
It stays on the couch scrolling TikTok, but an object in motion?
Now that's got a one way ticket to change.
Starting is the beast. It so is.
It's not the middle that gets you.
Never. It's that first step in bare
feet over lava rocks, but once you move, you are golden.
(09:48):
Well said. I like to use the. 2 minute
rule. That's what we're going to call
it. That's what I say to my when I'm
coaching my clients. Don't change your.
Life, just start it. 2 minutes of motion, that's all.
Dance in the kitchen. Stretch like nobody's watching.
Say one truth. Out loud.
In Clifton Strengths, we call itactivation energy.
(10:11):
Activation energy. The first spark is the hardest,
just like lighting beach bonfire, but once that flame
catches it feeds on itself baby.At retreats I see.
Could happen in real time. A woman on her mat.
Shaky breath whispering. I almost didn't attend this
retreat. I almost let it pass me by.
(10:32):
But then. She stays.
She breathes. She opens her damn notebook and
boom, the momentum. It's not perfect, not poised,
but just present. I've seen that in the classroom
too. A student bombs the first Test,
right ego bruised, hoodie up butbut next they show up.
(10:53):
That's it. That's the win.
Not drama, just showing up with your mess and your hope and your
half packed bag. Want to know why starting is so
damn hard? It's biology, not bad habits.
Your brain wants routine. Safety the devil.
It knows. Try something new.
Your brains like sound. The alarms cancel.
(11:15):
Joy Retreat. But guess what?
Your brain also adapts fast. It learns through rhythm and
risk. The first plunge into cold water
is torture. The 10th It's therapy.
The first. Hard conversation feels like
swallowing sand. The 10th, however, now that
feels like freedom. Yeah, it's not about being.
(11:36):
Fearless. It's about building familiarity
with bravery. Oh, say it again.
That's good. Yeah.
It's about building familiarity with bravery.
Midlife doesn't whisper, it ticks.
And if you listen closely, it's not saying hurry up, it's saying
(11:56):
wake up. I see it all.
The time folks show up thinking they need a meltdown to change,
but you don't need a. Crisis.
You need a calendar circle today.
Not next Monday. Not the next new moon, just
today. Pick it, claim it and live it.
You don't need to move a mountain.
(12:17):
Just your butt. Start with a nudge.
Light a candle, put on the playlist best make your
beginning. Beautiful.
And make it yours. If your Clifton strength is
empathy, call your bestie while you walk.
If you're a learner, turn your laundry into podcast hour.
Creative soul build your. Plan like a beach, altar,
(12:38):
crystals, incense. Whatever keeps you.
Present momentum doesn't. Require muscles it requires.
Meaning. We are not asking you to
overhaul your life. We're not.
Just dip a toe in the tide. That sounds like something I
want to. Do.
That's mindset. Right.
Yeah, Mindset shift. Even if you're still scared,
even if you're half asleep, Scene check.
(13:00):
What can you move today? Pause.
Take a breath. What's one thing you've been
waiting to feel motivated? To do that, call that idea that.
Truth you've been tucking under your pillow now.
Ask yourself, what's the? Tiniest version of that I can do
(13:20):
today. Because heroes don't wait for
the muse, they build the damn dock and start fishing.
Alright, aging heroes, it's timefor challenge #1 this week's
challenge. Don't.
Wait for the. Clouds to part Pick one.
Area of your life where? You've been waiting to.
(13:44):
Feel like it now? Do it anyway.
Examples. Text your trainer, walk for 10
minutes barefoot, open the dock and write a single sentence.
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be done.
OK, now say this out loud. I am someone who moves before
I'm ready. Now say it again.
(14:05):
Believe it little more this time.
I am someone who moves before I'm ready.
Then go. Prove it.
All right, here's your Segment 2recap.
Trade the myth for the momentum.Number one motivation is a no
show. Momentum shows up messy.
(14:27):
But loyal. #2 start tiny. The brain learns by movement,
not by daydreams. #3 your wiringisn't.
The obstacle. It's the tool. #4 momentum is
sacred micro movement. And #5 don't wait.
(14:47):
Wade in coming up next. Segment 3's about.
Dragging fear into the sun. We're calling out the.
Lies it, whispers the. Shame it wears and we're handing
you. The script to write your.
Own legend. We'll see you next one.
(15:15):
All right, aging heroes, let's talk about the voice behind
every stalled dream, every unfinished sentence, and every
Not yet. It's fear.
And let's not pretend it's subtle.
Fear is loud. It shows up with a clipboard.
A megaphone and a. Doomsday Playlist.
(15:36):
On. Loop but hear this.
Fear is not. A prophet.
It's a projectionist. It doesn't tell the.
Future it just replays your. Past until you start thinking.
It's fate process that. For a minute.
Right, let's sit with that. I spent years in therapy rooms
(15:57):
watching brave souls survive heartbreak, death, addiction,
and loss. Oh.
Man. But the thing that froze them
the fear of looking stupid, not pain.
No. Not failure, just the raw dread
of being seen trying. I feel like that.
Resonates a little with. I get that.
(16:18):
Things that I've, I've had to work through, you know, I think
fear doesn't scream. You're doomed.
It whispers. Maybe just wait a little longer.
And that whisper, I think it's really a damn thief.
It steals time. It steals momentum.
It steals your becoming look. Your brain's not trying to ruin
your life. It's trying to save it, but it's
(16:39):
got the instincts of a caveman in cargo shorts.
Uncertainty triggers alarm, Joy,risky change Suspicious.
That's right, your brain's a guard dog, not a life.
Coach. But here's the kicker.
You are not your brain, you are the awareness behind it.
(17:00):
You can notice fear, challenge it, and even laugh in its face
if you want. Fear is just a thought, not a
law. And you, You're the author, not
the echo. All right, Rusty, let's.
Line up the shots, fear mindset.It says I'm too old, I'm not
(17:20):
good enough. I'll probably fail.
But a growth mindset says I'm learning.
I've still. Got many chapters left on this
journey and. I'd rather fall forward.
Than stand still. In Strengths coaching, I see
this all the time. Someone says I'm too sensitive
and I say hell no. You've got high empathy.
(17:41):
That's power, not a flaw, right?They say I'm scattered and I say
no, you're a creative synthesizer.
I like that creative. Synthesizer.
Now let's make that chaos dance.If it gets the same in Jungian
work, The shadow you're ashamed of.
It's really your superpower in disguise.
You've just been told to dim it.Let's name it fears.
(18:03):
Real language is warning. It's shame.
It doesn't say you might fail. It says if you fail it means
you're unworthy. That's the poison.
The soul numbing, joy blocking dream suffocating poison.
But I want you to hear me. Your worth?
(18:24):
Isn't up for negotiation. I'm going to say it again.
Your worth isn't up for negotiation.
You were born with it. You don't earn it by being
perfect. You don't lose it by falling
short. It's yours, period.
Behind the camera at retreats I.See Fear folded.
(18:44):
Arms avoided eye contact. People.
Being uncomfortable about being.Photographed a.
Smile. That's trying too.
Hard. But then something happens.
Someone will laugh, someone cries, someone stops performing.
And just like that, that fear loses interest.
(19:07):
Because presence is fears Kryptonite.
You can't obsess about the future when you're anchored in
the now scene. Check.
Name it, frame it, reclaim it. Let's pause real talk, no
filter. Name the fear.
Say it out loud. Write it in the sand.
If you have to. All right, I'm afraid I'm too
(19:30):
late. I'm afraid I'll be laughed at.
I'm. Afraid I'll fail again.
Now ask, is this a fact or just a feeling with a megaphone?
Then flip it I'm. Afraid I'll fail becomes.
I might grow faster than I imagined.
I'm afraid I'm too late becomes I'm right on time from my story.
(19:55):
Yeah. This is your narrative.
You get to rewrite. The ending.
All right, time for aging Heroeschallenge #2.
Flip the script on Fear All. Right.
You ready for your mission? Here we go.
Write the. Fear.
That's step one. We want you to get it.
(20:15):
Out of the Shadows Step 2 will be.
To name it for. What it is a?
Story not the truth and Step 3 now.
Rewrite it like a. Rebel with nothing.
Left to lose? Love it.
I had a client once who said I'mnot disciplined.
Oh, we flipped it all right. I'm someone who keep showing up
(20:37):
even when it's hard. Yeah, that's not delusion,
that's liberation. You're not faking it, folks.
You're leading yourself. And you, my friend, you are
louder than. Your fear.
All right, time for the Segment 3 recap.
Let's do it. Truth's worth tattooing.
Number one, fear's not a fortuneteller.
(20:58):
It's a rerun. #2 Shame is fear'stoxic sidekick. #3A growth
mindset set rewrites everything.#4 You can name it, you can
frame it, and you can rewrite it.
And #5 presents. Is your secret.
Weapon coming up next segment. Fours a joy.
(21:21):
Bomb we're ditching the grind and treating.
Joy like strategy. Not a bonus.
Think playlists, presents, and your own damn permission slip.
(21:45):
OK, Rusty, let's. End this.
Episode the way every brave story should.
Not. With A to do list, but with a.
Breakdance. Because today we're.
Talking about joy. Not as a treat, not as a reward,
not as a. Side effect of.
(22:05):
Having your life together. But joy is a strategy.
That's right, joy isn't dessert.It's survival fuel.
Oh, I love that survival fuel. Yeah, it's what keeps your soul
from going numb in the grind. You don't earn it, you build it.
You don't wait for it, you create it.
I. See this all the time on Treat.
(22:26):
Folks will. Show up with burnout tucked in
their carry on, right? Yeah.
And then, somewhere between the yoga mat and the beach bonfire,
between silence and salsa, they'll remember.
How to laugh? Again, you know, to breathe
again, to come home to themselves.
Love that. Yeah.
(22:46):
And the best part? You don't need a passport.
You just need permission. And guess what?
You've got it in bold Sharpie letters.
You get to be happy. Oh, I love that.
Not after the weight loss, No. Not after the divorce.
Not after your inbox says. Zero.
Now. I love that.
OK, let's get something straight.
(23:08):
Choosing joy in midlife. All right?
Now that's rebellion. Because the world wants you
quiet. It wants you to shrink, to
settle, to apologize for still wanting more.
But choosing joy, It's your middle finger to the myth that
aging means hearing. It's you saying I'm.
(23:28):
Still here, still fierce. I'm.
Still flipping off the rules. That I didn't write.
And let's be clear, this isn't fluff.
Joy is science. It rewrites your nervous system.
It unlocks resilience. It pumps the brakes on burnout.
I need to jot that down and share that with.
(23:50):
Folks, it pumps. The brakes on burnout.
Your brain lights. Up your breath slows.
Down your remembers how to open again.
Joy isn't a vacation, it's the. Road back to yourself.
Nice. Yeah, let's get practical.
If joy is sacred, treat it like it matters.
Schedule it. Ritualize it.
(24:11):
Protect it like it's your last drink ticket on Friday night in
Key West. So here's here's how I.
Do it in coaching, we. Build a joy grid all right. 4
columns small daily. Joys.
Weekly reset rituals. Monthly adventures and once.
A year, yeses. Nice.
(24:32):
Then we fill that thing up and put it somewhere sacred.
It'll be on the mirror. Fridge, altar, wherever you.
See it when you're about to spiral.
You're saying that the fridge issacred.
I'll agree with that and. There's plenty of moments at
time at 2:00 AM where you know. That reference is sacred.
(24:52):
And if you're a strengths person, stack your joy with your
wiring. If you are high in input,
collect joy like seashells or cool facts.
If you're high in connectedness,take gratitude walks and whisper
thanks to the trees. If you're high in positivity,
turn your morning routine into avibe.
Music, colors, coffee that makesyou feel things.
(25:15):
Yeah, that resonates with me. Make your joy your.
Practice, not your prize. Let's talk about what?
Joy looks like behind the lens for a minute.
There's this moment I. Always wait for at retreats.
It's. What I call the?
Joy click. It's not a posed.
Photo. It's not curated, it's arms.
Wide head. Thrown back, No filter, No Fear.
(25:37):
It's about capturing truth. It's a.
Woman in her body, in her moment, in her power.
And at that moment, you don't. Wait for it.
You walk toward it. And the best part?
It doesn't just happen on retreat, it happens in your
kitchen. That's so true it.
Happens on your. Back four?
Absolutely it. Happens at the gas station if
(25:59):
you've got the right playlist and a good pair of sunglasses.
Oh, I've been there. Been that person.
Here's the twist most. People don't resist joy because
they don't want it. They resist it because.
They don't. Trust it.
Because if you let yourself feeljoy, pain might sneak back in.
So we numb everything. Pain, sure, but also pleasure.
(26:21):
We flatline. But you can't dull 1 without the
other if you want the. Highs you have.
To be willing. To ride the waves.
Joy is a risk, but it's the right one, it says.
I'm still in this life. I'm still choosing beauty, I
still care. And that that is holy.
Let's do a scene check. All right.
What would joy do? All right, let's.
(26:43):
Quick gut check What's? One area in your.
Life that feels heavy. Right now.
Now ask. What would joy?
Choose. Maybe it's a deep inhale.
Maybe. It's a deep exhale, a slow walk,
a. Tiny dance.
Break with your. Dog judging you.
You don't have to wait for joy to arrive.
You don't. You can build it from the pieces
(27:06):
you've already got. A candle, a friend, a favorite
song, a truth spoken out loud. Joy is not loud, but it is
brave. All right, crew.
It's time for an Aging Heroes challenge #3.
Live a full day. One Here's your Cannonball Hero
(27:27):
Live 1. Whole day like it's your day.
One wake up and. Say it out loud, this is day.
One next. Move your body like.
It's a celebration. Speak like your truth.
Belongs. In the room dress.
Like you're the main character on your own damn island.
(27:48):
Say no to what? Drains you.
But say yes to what makes you the hell up.
And at the end of the day, don'tcount your productivity, count
your aliveness. Joy is the GPS that tells.
You you're on the right Rd. Not applause, not checklists,
not 6 figure plans. Joy all.
(28:11):
Right, let's do our final recap.What do you have for us today?
These are truths worth keeping in your beach bag.
Oh, all right, let's put some things in it #1 Joy.
Isn't extra, it's essential. #2 it's not selfish, it's
strategic. #3 you can. Build it, revitalize it, protect
(28:32):
it. #4 Don't wait to feel happy,practice joy now.
And #5 live one day one, then another and another, until
you've made it a norm all. Right here's a final word.
All right. If something cracked open in you
today, good. That's what day one is for.
(28:53):
It's not about perfect lives, it's about present ones.
You've got everything you need. No permission slip required.
No more waiting for the tide to come in.
Choose. Day one every time if.
This episode hit your heart if it spoke to you.
Share it text. A friend tag us and go follow us
(29:16):
on Instagram and Facebook at Aging Heroes.
You can also find our full. Tribe at WWW dot.
Agingheroes.com Thanks for tuning in.
We'll see you next time, all. Right.
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