June 10, 2025 • 32 mins
Aging boldly doesn’t mean winging it—it means making a plan that honors who you are now. In this uplifting and irreverent episode, Erica and Rusty explore how soulful planning can transform your days, even when the weather turns biblical (true story). From soggy beach tents to surprise jungle reroutes, you’ll hear how real-life detours shape better rhythms—and why your comeback matters more than your streak. Whether you’re rebuilding from a crash or learning to celebrate tiny wins, this episode is your permission slip to plan bravely, pivot gently, and dance in the storm.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Imagine this. You're stretched out in a
private cabana in the Rosario Islands, the linen lapping like
sails overhead, and your only agenda for the day is figuring
out which cocktail pairs best with a nap.
The day crowd's gone, the DJ's down to SOP bossa Nova, and
(00:21):
suddenly you realize this littleisland is all yours.
Just you, the breeze and the wild, gorgeous mess of your own
life. Welcome to the latitude
adjustment. It's time to stop drifting and
(00:42):
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 RustyHarrison.
Let me set the scene. Rusty and I were at the Bora
Bora Beach Club, not the one in the Pacific.
This one's tucked off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia.
(01:06):
Picture a private island, 6 luxury suites and a rotating
cast of tan toned, way too cool 20 somethings who show up for
the day to party and leave before sunset.
And by 4 they're gone. Bye.
(01:26):
Bye. Just six couples remain and
suddenly we've got the whole place to ourselves.
Oh yes, we do. It's silent except for waves
slapping the shore and palm fronds applauding your
existence. But one day before the witching
hour of 4:00 PM, Erica went intothe suite to change.
(01:47):
I was out in the cabana, half sunk into cushions, beard
glistening, silver in the sun. Look looking like a retired
pirate who wandered into a photoshoot.
And that's when it happened. Two young women, tall, glowing
gold hoops catching the light, walked straight up to me.
(02:10):
Not past, not around to me. One leaned in and said.
Is that solo? Now I'm 62, my left knee sounds
like a Morocco when I stand up too fast, but in that moment I
felt like a rock star dipped in coconut oil.
What'd you say? I said no, I'm married to the
(02:31):
most beautiful woman in the world, and as soon as they were
out of sight, I ran barefoot back to the suite like a madman.
I flung open the door and said, Erica, you're not going to
believe this. Your husband, still for Rican,
has it. Yes, he does.
And so do you. All right, aging heroes, let's
(02:52):
get into it. That story?
Hilarious. But our adventures don't happen
in a vacuum. Our trip to Cartagena happened
because we had a plan. Not a rigid schedule, not a
checklist, but a soul level rhythm that lets life feel
spontaneous and grounded. Back in the day, I lived off
(03:15):
charisma and caffeine. I had ideas but no plan.
I was great at starting things, but I was elite at abandoning
them. And.
This was back in the day. Maybe that's enough TMI there.
I used to think a plan was something you needed if you
didn't have talent. Turns out a plan is what keeps
(03:38):
talent from turning into chaos. And for me, especially coming
out of my time in corporate Wellness, I'd seen the
consequences of burnout. I knew what it meant to look
like you had it together on paper but feel like you were
unraveling on the inside. The shift happened when I
stopped waiting for motivation and started relying on a plan.
(04:02):
Right, the kind of plan we're talking about isn't about
tracking every hour of your life.
It's not. It's about choosing how you want
to feel and then reverse engineering your day to support
that. So the.
Plan is a lifehouse, not a prison.
In our book A Guide for Aging Here is Day 6 is called Stick to
the Plan, and for good reason. It's not about being a robot.
(04:26):
It's about remembering that yourplan is your anchor when the
wind picks up. Your plan should be personal for
giving, but firm. It's about setting intentions
and following through, not because someone's watching you,
but because you are. Here's mine, straight from the
gut. Eat healthy.
That's straight from the gut. Move daily, yes.
(04:48):
Meditate even for 5 minutes, learn something, be kind, and
tell Erica I love her at least twice before sundown.
And you definitely stick to the plan when it comes to that.
So mine's simple too. Wake before the world, write
something true, touch the earth barefoot, hydrate and pause long
(05:10):
enough to notice beauty. That's my sacred sequence.
And when I don't follow it, everything just feels a little
off. Right.
Without a plan, I drift. You know what that looks like?
Scrolling junk, Skipping workouts.
One more glass of wine I didn't need.
One more day where I forget thatI'm a damn miracle.
(05:32):
Same when I drift I just numb out.
I overbook, I over give. I lose that clear connection to
who I am and that thing that I'mbuilding.
True, but when I follow the plan, I don't just function.
I flourish. I sleep better, I laugh easier.
I say yes to what matters and tothe rest.
So let's talk about what the plan is not.
(05:54):
A plan is not a diet. It's not a punishment.
No, it's not another reason to feel guilty when you miss a day
of whatever. And it's not a hustle.
It's not. It's a holding, a way of showing
up for yourself the way you showup for your kids or your pets or
your job. It's self loyalty.
(06:17):
Oh I love that self loyalty. You don't build a plan because
you're broken. You build it because you're
worth it and because your life is a masterpiece in progress.
I like it OK. Back on the Rosario Islands,
after the ego boost of a lifetime, we cracked open some
coconut limonadas and watch the sun ease into the sea like it
(06:41):
was clocking out of a long shift.
Oh, that doesn't just paint the sky, it rewrites your priority.
And that's when it hit us. Moments like these don't happen
by accident. They're the result of choices
made again and again. Little ones, quiet ones.
(07:02):
The kind no one's clapping for. It was our plan that got us
there. Very yes.
Our commitment to adventure, well-being, partnership, and
presence. Absolutely.
That plan didn't just give us a vacation, it gave us a moment.
And those moments, they're the whole point.
(07:22):
So let's do a quick segment recap.
Here's what we've covered so far.
A plan isn't about rigidity. It's about rhythm.
It's about waking up every day and choosing to remember who you
are, choosing not to drift, Choosing presence over panic,
purpose over autopilot. Your plan should feel like a
(07:43):
hammock, not handcuffs. Something that catches you when
motivation goes to you. Something that says, hey,
remember what you're here for. And when life tosses you a
curveball or Colombian temptations, you'll be ready for
it. Grounded, clear eyed, still open
to joy, but not lost in the chaos.
(08:05):
Because being an aging hero, it isn't about pretending we've got
it all figured out. We definitely do not.
We don't. It's about deciding daily to
live with intention, even if that intention is just eat
something green, phone a friend,go to bed before midnight.
Coming up in Segment 2, we're not just talking about having a
plan, we're building 1 together.We'll walk you through the
(08:29):
blueprint for bravery, step by Sandy Step.
So stick around Legends, it onlygets better from here.
All righty, the heroes, we're back, and this time we're
(08:52):
getting our hands dirty. Shoe, bring back the water hose.
Because it's one thing to say stick to the plan, and another
to figure out what the hell the plan actually looks like when
your knees creak, your inbox overflows, and your dog just
threw up something horrifying. Most of us have been handed
(09:14):
someone else's idea of a plan. You know the one.
Wake up early, hit the gym, eat clean, meditate, save 15% of
your paycheck, learn Mandarin, avoid carbs, and somehow still
call your mom every week. And if that works for you,
wonderful. Super.
(09:36):
But if it doesn't, if that plan makes you want to set fire to
your planner and run into the jungle, then maybe it's time to
build a plan that actually lovesyou back.
Your plan shouldn't shame you. It should serve you.
It should feel like a lighthousewhen the fog rolls in, not
another voice yelling you're behind before you finished your
(10:00):
coffee. So today we're going to walk you
through what we call the Blueprint for Bravery.
It's not A to do list, it's A tobe list.
Sign me up. A custom rhythm that matches
your soul, not your neighbor's highlight reel.
Bye bye. Before you build a plan, know
(10:21):
what you're building. Before you build a plan, you
have to name what you're building toward.
Not just I want to lose 10 lbs or I should meditate.
No, ask the deeper question. How do I want to feel in my
life? Yes.
Do you want more vitality? More peace, more creativity.
(10:44):
Pick 3 words, not goals. Feelings.
That's your emotional North Star.
Mine grounded, free present. Mine are strong, awake, lit up.
Now let those feelings guide your plan.
If your plan doesn't move you toward them, it's not your plan.
(11:04):
It's someone else's agenda. Step 2.
Start Tiny but sacred. Here's the trap.
We get inspired and we try to build a cathedral overnight.
I'm going to wake up at 5:00 AM,journal, juice, celery, do yoga,
learn Spanish, and be nicer to Greg from accounting.
Sorry Greg, by day three you're exhausted, bloated from salary,
(11:29):
and Craig still sucks. Absolutely.
So don't start with a cathedral,start with a candle.
One that smells good. One small sacred act that
anchors you. That could be 5 breaths before
you get out of bed. A song that makes you feel alive
could be stretching your arms toward the ceiling and
whispering I'm still here. And if you miss a day, you don't
(11:52):
quit, you return. The plan forgives you, it
doesn't fire you. Step 3 design for your wiring.
This is where Clifton strengths coaching comes in, right Rusty?
True that, because too many people are trying to follow
plans that fight their wiring. If you're high in adaptability,
(12:13):
don't yourself into a rigid schedule.
Make a plan with flexible check insurance and space to pivot.
If you've got discipline, build a morning ritual and track it
like it's sacred math. And if you're a relater, maybe
your daily rhythm includes connecting with someone who sees
you. And for my input and learner
(12:34):
folks, your plan might start with reading something
meaningful because that lights you up and keeps the engine
purring. The point is, build a plan that
fits your soul Print. Soul Print.
Not your shame spiral. Right on Step 4.
Recalibrate weekly. Your plan should evolve just
(12:57):
like you. What worked in January might not
work in June. So once a week, sit down and ask
three questions. What worked, What felt forced,
and what do I need more of? We do this every Sunday, usually
barefoot, usually with strong coffee and soft music.
(13:17):
True, true, and true. We check in with our rituals
like their friends we want to keep around.
Absolutely. Sometimes we double down on
what's working, sometimes we scrap something that's become
stale. But every week we begin again
with kindness. It's time for this week's Aging
(13:39):
Heroes Challenge. Write your blueprint for
bravery. All right, Legends, this week's
Aging Heroes Challenge is simple, but it ain't small.
You're going to write your blueprint for bravery.
Not a New Year's resolution list, not a guilt grenade.
A living, breathing rhythm that supports the version of you
(14:01):
that's becoming. So here's how you do it #1
Choose three feelings you want to experience more of #2 List
one small ritual that helps you feel each one and #3 identify
your top strength and ask, how can I use this to reinforce my
rhythm? Then write a sentence that
(14:23):
starts with I am someone who whatever.
Like. I'm someone who protects her
peace before she checks her phone.
I'm someone who moves his body every morning to honor the gift
of being alive. I'm someone who creates space
for joy on purpose. Good stuff.
Then what you're going to do is take it to your mirror, make it
(14:45):
your screensaver, whisper it into your coffee, whatever it
takes. But more than anything, we want
you to live it. And remember, this isn't a test,
it's a torch. So how about a segment recap?
Building the rhythm that builds you.
This segment was about more thanstructure.
It was about self respect. The kind that doesn't wait for
(15:08):
motivation to show up. The kind that makes your life
feel less like a fire drill and more like a ritual.
We talked about how your plan should feel like a song your
soul knows how to dance to, not someone's Spotify playlist of
guilt. We gave you a framework for
building a plan that works with your wiring, that listens to
(15:31):
your strengths, that forgives you when you falter, and
welcomes you back with open arms.
I love that imagery because if your plan doesn't love you back,
it's not plan for you, it's justa performance.
And life's too short to perform.We're here to become.
Coming up in Segment 3, we're taking off the gloves.
(15:54):
We're talking about what gets inthe way.
The saboteurs, the sidewanders, the Wellness culture noise that
turns your plan into a punishment.
Ouch. We're calling it Burn the
Brochure because we've all been sold someone else's version of
balance. It's time to get honest about
(16:15):
what's worth keeping and what needs to be composted.
Refill your coconut. Fill it up.
Stretch your legs. Big.
Stretch and lead us back here. We'll see you in a minute.
(16:38):
Welcome back, agent heroes. Let's talk about the glossy
fantasy we've all been sold. Picture perfect.
Yeah, the perfect life plan. You know the one.
Smooth gradient, colors, a smiling couple, jogging, maybe
some granola. The whole vibe says wake at 5,
meditate until 6, journaling, calligraphy, meal prep with kale
(17:03):
and organic serenity, and then become a millionaire by lunch.
Let's put that on Instagram. You forgot hot yoga with your
rescue puppy and a sunset gratitude circle.
Oh my bad, got to hydrate with alkaline water blessed by
dolphins. That brochure?
(17:24):
Burnett. Because for every soulful human
who's tried to create a life that feels good, there's a junk
drawer full of plans that weren't made for them.
They were made for marketing. All right, what we're saying is
you didn't fail the plan, the plan failed you.
(17:45):
If your life feels like a guilt trap masquerading as self
improvement, that's not growth, that's oppression.
And tights feel the squeeze. Well, I'm wearing looser tights
than you. I think when Wellness turns
toxic, let's take a stroll through our past disaster, shall
(18:06):
we? I once tried to follow this high
performance morning routine I read in a Men Who Win blog.
You love to read an article that's true.
It was like a Navy SEAL wrote itafter too much espresso, cold
plunge, protein shake, 90 minutejournaling, burpees, meditation,
(18:27):
market research, all before 7:00AM.
I'm pretty sure you followed that.
That's very true. This is so uncomfortable.
You were a mess by breakfast. I swear to God I thought you
joined a cult. I I kind of did briefly, A cult
called You're Not Enough yet. Here's the danger.
(18:48):
When we absorb other people's plans without translating them
through our own values and reality, they turn into shame
grenades. You like that, right?
Shame grenades. Pull the pin and you're covered
in guilt, glitter and wondering why joy feels so damn far away.
(19:13):
Let's name the saboteurs that hijack a good plan.
What do you have for US? Number one is perfectionism.
Oh, she's sneaky. Yes, she whispers.
If you can't do it all, don't bother doing any of it.
I should probably raise my hand.Me too #2 comparison.
He's loud, he says look at them thriving.
(19:36):
You are still in your robe #3 fear of disappointment.
The one that says don't even try.
What if you let yourself down again and #4 rescue fantasy.
I love this one. The myth that some guru app or
juice cleanse will fix you. That's not true.
Well, it depends on the guru baby.
Oh, so I'd probably need to delete that app.
(19:58):
These are the termites in the walls of your plan.
You don't see them until ever. Everything starts crumbling and
you think you are the problem. But you're not.
The problem is trying to follow someone else's truth instead of
trusting your own rhythm. I need this on a tattoo.
I know I see this all the time behind the camera.
(20:21):
I'm on location people show up with their best self on display.
Hi Ponytail Inspirational tank gratitude journal ready to go.
But they're eyes. They're tired.
The soul doesn't lie, even if your posture does.
Exactly. But then something beautiful
(20:43):
happens. They let go, they drop the pose,
they completely forget the script.
And suddenly they're dancing, laughing with their whole self,
crying without apology. That's when I hit the shutter.
That's when I get the real photo.
Not the Wellness aesthetic, the aliveness.
(21:07):
We've got to stop trying to looklike we're living well and
actually live well. So how about a little permission
to pivot? Listen, you're allowed to change
your mind. I'm going to tell you that one
more time. You're allowed to change your
mind. You're allowed to adjust the
sales. Your plan is not a verdict.
It's a living thing. Some weeks your ritual is
(21:29):
sunrise journaling. Other weeks it's sitting in the
car alone with a biscuit and your sanity.
Both are valid. Absolutely.
One is crunchy granola, yes. One is survival.
Absolutely. Welcome to real life.
Welcome aboard. We need plans that involve that
stretch and breathe with our seasons.
You're not less committed just because you need to modify.
(21:54):
You're wise. Right, let's say it louder.
Turn up the volume on this one. Growth doesn't look the same
every day. Sometimes it's a hike, some
times it's staying in bed because your nervous system's
fried and you just need to be. Yes Sir, we call those healing
sabbaticals in a horizontal format.
You are not a project. You are not a problem to fix.
(22:17):
You are not a startup to scale. You are not a Pinterest board of
optimization hacks. You're a soul, a body, a story
in progress. And your plan?
It should reflect just that. Not flatten you, not bully you
into discipline, not drag you through self improvement boot
(22:38):
camp. It should wrap around your real
life like a sarong. Adaptive, flowing, slightly
fabulous. Just like you baby, your plan
should know your. Name.
That's right, Rusty, that's a quick recap.
In this segment, we struck the match.
We burned the brochure. We let go of the plans that
(23:00):
promised perfection but delivered pressure.
We talked about the myths that sneak into your morning routine
and steal your joy, about the comparison traps, about the
rituals that forgot to honor your humanity.
We remembered that your best rhythm isn't someone else's
success formula. It's the quiet pulse of your own
(23:22):
truth, repeated daily. And we gave you permission, not
that you need it, to pivot, to personalize, to say this plan
doesn't fit anymore and to make a new one.
Because what you're building isn't a brand, it's a life.
And that life deserves a rhythm that feels like you, Even when
it's messy, even when it's quiet.
(23:43):
Especially when it's real. Coming up next, we're going from
blueprint to embodiment. You've burned the brochure.
Now it's time to step into your day and your decade with bold,
beautiful action. We're calling Segment 4.
Make the damn move. No more tweaking, no more
(24:03):
stalling. This is where we leap with our
rituals, our joy and maybe a ridiculous playlist to back it
up. So.
Stretch your back, fill your drink.
We're about to make your life real time strategy.
Because the plan is only as goodas your willingness to live it.
(24:35):
All right, friends, you've builtthe plan, you've burned the
brochure. Now there's only one thing left
to do. Make the damn move.
Because the best plan in the world?
It's just a fancy Daydream untilyou put your bare feet on the
dock and go. We're not talking about flawless
(24:58):
execution. No need for that.
We're not talking about having your life color-coded and
laminated. Oh, shoot, hold on.
We're talking real action. Sweaty, shaky, holy, half ready.
Movement. That's all you need.
This is the part where your soulstops clearing its throat and
(25:19):
starts singing loud. Maybe off key if you're like me,
but it's your note and no one else can claim it.
Let's clear something up right now.
You'll never feel ready. Oh, that's so true.
Not the kind of ready the brochure promised.
(25:39):
That perfect blend of confidence, timing and hair
volume. You'll be waiting a long time
for that. It's a myth.
Ready is a mirage. You get close and it scoots
forward. You chase it and it laughs from
the next horizon. But when you move even clumsy,
(26:00):
even unsure, you stop chasing and start becoming.
Let's say your plan is to walk every morning.
OK, but today it's cold, you didn't sleep, the coffee
machines giving you attitude. So what do you do?
Stay in bed. I'm going to make a note to
myself that that's what Rusty has prescribed.
(26:21):
No, you step outside, even if just for a minute.
You feel the air. You let your feet hit the earth.
Maybe you don't go around the block.
Maybe no. Maybe you just stand there.
Maybe that's it. Here's the secret.
You're still showing up, still interrupting the inertia, still
choosing you. Let's say maybe your plan is
(26:41):
creative. You want to write more, but your
brain's full of fog and and Bill's and last night's
argument, they're all still brewing.
OK, fine. Open the notebook.
Write one sentence. Maybe it's nonsense, maybe it's
gold. It doesn't matter.
Just write 1. You moved.
And that movement, it creates momentum.
(27:02):
That's how plans become patternsand patterns become power.
All right, remember the Cartagena story from Segment 1?
Yeah, I remember supermodels andlinen.
Something about radiating greatness, that one.
That moment didn't happen because I was chasing external
validation. It happened because I'd been
(27:23):
living the plan, eating clean, moving daily, loving deeply.
I felt vital not because of attention, but because I was
showing up for my own life. That is 110% true, and that's
the ripple effect. You make the damn move for you
and it radiates. Suddenly you are more magnetic,
(27:45):
more clear, more present. You don't move for applause, you
move for alignment. I like it.
You ever notice the people who inspire you?
They're not always the loudest or the most polished.
They're the ones who move with conviction, with vulnerability,
and with truth. Think about the friend who
finally left the job that was just killing her.
(28:08):
The guy who started learning guitar at 63.
The woman who booked the solo trip scared out of her mind, but
she did it anyway. They didn't wait for the fear to
leave, they just moved with it. That's what makes them legends.
Right. Real life moves we've made.
(28:28):
I will tell you my favorite makethe move moment.
We are all ears, Rusty. Share with us.
It was the day I finally wrote the first page of the book Erica
and I had been discussing for years and years.
No outline, no contract, just a sentence.
And that sentence became a paragraph, and the paragraph
(28:50):
became a book. Yes.
And now the book has become a podcast, this movement.
All because I stopped waiting and started typing.
Action is the altar, so let's say it out loud.
Your life doesn't need more vision boards, it needs more
motion. Your rituals are sacred not
(29:11):
because they're impressive, but because you return to them again
and again and again. Action is the altar where
transformation happens, not because the move is huge, but
because it's yours because you chose it.
It's that moment in time again for a segment recap.
So this segment was about more than just doing the thing.
(29:34):
It was about embodying your rhythm, moving with intention,
even when you're not sure where it leads.
We talked about how readiness isa myth, but movement is power
that creates momentum, that rituals become sacred through
repetition, not through perfection.
We shared with you that your movement doesn't have to be
(29:58):
epic, it simply has to be honest.
So write that damn poem, book the damn retreat, take the damn
walk, or just breathe, sip and whisper.
I'm still in this because you are, and you are not alone.
This episode was a Journey A4 segment island odyssey on what
it really means to stick to the plan.
(30:20):
In segment one, we showed you that a plan isn't a cage, it's a
compass. Right.
A rhythm to keep you anchored injoy and truth.
Segment 2 gave you the blueprintfor bravery, Your personal
rhythm sourced from your values,your wiring, your needs.
No shame, just soul. Segment 3 We lit the match,
(30:41):
earned the glossy generic life plan, and got real about what
sabotage our best intentions. And in Segment 4, we made the
move. We took all that insight and
brought it to life, one honest action at a time.
Because heroes don't wait for the weather to change.
(31:03):
No, no, no. They set sail anyway.
They do. If this episode hit your heart,
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
(31:23):
at www.agingheroes.com. Coming up next in episode 8,
Refit Your mind. Next week, we're going from
muscle to mindset. It's all about cognitive
behavioral therapy, or CBT if you want to sound like you read
(31:43):
psychology books on the beach. We'll show you how to use
simple, proven tools to catch your mental loop, rewrite old
stories, and rewire how you think.
Because if you want to live likean aging hero, you've got to
learn how to refit the rigging between your ears.
We'll break it down with metaphors, real stories, and 0
(32:05):
jargon. Think of it like therapy but
with rum and rebellion. So until then, stay wild, stay
willing, and stay real.
Imagine this. You're stretched out in a
private cabana in the Rosario Islands, the linen lapping like
sails overhead, and your only agenda for the day is figuring
out which cocktail pairs best with a nap.
The day crowd's gone, the DJ's down to SOP bossa Nova, and
(00:21):
suddenly you realize this littleisland is all yours.
Just you, the breeze and the wild, gorgeous mess of your own
life. Welcome to the latitude
adjustment. It's time to stop drifting and
(00:42):
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 RustyHarrison.
Let me set the scene. Rusty and I were at the Bora
Bora Beach Club, not the one in the Pacific.
This one's tucked off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia.
(01:06):
Picture a private island, 6 luxury suites and a rotating
cast of tan toned, way too cool 20 somethings who show up for
the day to party and leave before sunset.
And by 4 they're gone. Bye.
(01:26):
Bye. Just six couples remain and
suddenly we've got the whole place to ourselves.
Oh yes, we do. It's silent except for waves
slapping the shore and palm fronds applauding your
existence. But one day before the witching
hour of 4:00 PM, Erica went intothe suite to change.
(01:47):
I was out in the cabana, half sunk into cushions, beard
glistening, silver in the sun. Look looking like a retired
pirate who wandered into a photoshoot.
And that's when it happened. Two young women, tall, glowing
gold hoops catching the light, walked straight up to me.
(02:10):
Not past, not around to me. One leaned in and said.
Is that solo? Now I'm 62, my left knee sounds
like a Morocco when I stand up too fast, but in that moment I
felt like a rock star dipped in coconut oil.
What'd you say? I said no, I'm married to the
(02:31):
most beautiful woman in the world, and as soon as they were
out of sight, I ran barefoot back to the suite like a madman.
I flung open the door and said, Erica, you're not going to
believe this. Your husband, still for Rican,
has it. Yes, he does.
And so do you. All right, aging heroes, let's
(02:52):
get into it. That story?
Hilarious. But our adventures don't happen
in a vacuum. Our trip to Cartagena happened
because we had a plan. Not a rigid schedule, not a
checklist, but a soul level rhythm that lets life feel
spontaneous and grounded. Back in the day, I lived off
(03:15):
charisma and caffeine. I had ideas but no plan.
I was great at starting things, but I was elite at abandoning
them. And.
This was back in the day. Maybe that's enough TMI there.
I used to think a plan was something you needed if you
didn't have talent. Turns out a plan is what keeps
(03:38):
talent from turning into chaos. And for me, especially coming
out of my time in corporate Wellness, I'd seen the
consequences of burnout. I knew what it meant to look
like you had it together on paper but feel like you were
unraveling on the inside. The shift happened when I
stopped waiting for motivation and started relying on a plan.
(04:02):
Right, the kind of plan we're talking about isn't about
tracking every hour of your life.
It's not. It's about choosing how you want
to feel and then reverse engineering your day to support
that. So the.
Plan is a lifehouse, not a prison.
In our book A Guide for Aging Here is Day 6 is called Stick to
the Plan, and for good reason. It's not about being a robot.
(04:26):
It's about remembering that yourplan is your anchor when the
wind picks up. Your plan should be personal for
giving, but firm. It's about setting intentions
and following through, not because someone's watching you,
but because you are. Here's mine, straight from the
gut. Eat healthy.
That's straight from the gut. Move daily, yes.
(04:48):
Meditate even for 5 minutes, learn something, be kind, and
tell Erica I love her at least twice before sundown.
And you definitely stick to the plan when it comes to that.
So mine's simple too. Wake before the world, write
something true, touch the earth barefoot, hydrate and pause long
(05:10):
enough to notice beauty. That's my sacred sequence.
And when I don't follow it, everything just feels a little
off. Right.
Without a plan, I drift. You know what that looks like?
Scrolling junk, Skipping workouts.
One more glass of wine I didn't need.
One more day where I forget thatI'm a damn miracle.
(05:32):
Same when I drift I just numb out.
I overbook, I over give. I lose that clear connection to
who I am and that thing that I'mbuilding.
True, but when I follow the plan, I don't just function.
I flourish. I sleep better, I laugh easier.
I say yes to what matters and tothe rest.
So let's talk about what the plan is not.
(05:54):
A plan is not a diet. It's not a punishment.
No, it's not another reason to feel guilty when you miss a day
of whatever. And it's not a hustle.
It's not. It's a holding, a way of showing
up for yourself the way you showup for your kids or your pets or
your job. It's self loyalty.
(06:17):
Oh I love that self loyalty. You don't build a plan because
you're broken. You build it because you're
worth it and because your life is a masterpiece in progress.
I like it OK. Back on the Rosario Islands,
after the ego boost of a lifetime, we cracked open some
coconut limonadas and watch the sun ease into the sea like it
(06:41):
was clocking out of a long shift.
Oh, that doesn't just paint the sky, it rewrites your priority.
And that's when it hit us. Moments like these don't happen
by accident. They're the result of choices
made again and again. Little ones, quiet ones.
(07:02):
The kind no one's clapping for. It was our plan that got us
there. Very yes.
Our commitment to adventure, well-being, partnership, and
presence. Absolutely.
That plan didn't just give us a vacation, it gave us a moment.
And those moments, they're the whole point.
(07:22):
So let's do a quick segment recap.
Here's what we've covered so far.
A plan isn't about rigidity. It's about rhythm.
It's about waking up every day and choosing to remember who you
are, choosing not to drift, Choosing presence over panic,
purpose over autopilot. Your plan should feel like a
(07:43):
hammock, not handcuffs. Something that catches you when
motivation goes to you. Something that says, hey,
remember what you're here for. And when life tosses you a
curveball or Colombian temptations, you'll be ready for
it. Grounded, clear eyed, still open
to joy, but not lost in the chaos.
(08:05):
Because being an aging hero, it isn't about pretending we've got
it all figured out. We definitely do not.
We don't. It's about deciding daily to
live with intention, even if that intention is just eat
something green, phone a friend,go to bed before midnight.
Coming up in Segment 2, we're not just talking about having a
plan, we're building 1 together.We'll walk you through the
(08:29):
blueprint for bravery, step by Sandy Step.
So stick around Legends, it onlygets better from here.
All righty, the heroes, we're back, and this time we're
(08:52):
getting our hands dirty. Shoe, bring back the water hose.
Because it's one thing to say stick to the plan, and another
to figure out what the hell the plan actually looks like when
your knees creak, your inbox overflows, and your dog just
threw up something horrifying. Most of us have been handed
(09:14):
someone else's idea of a plan. You know the one.
Wake up early, hit the gym, eat clean, meditate, save 15% of
your paycheck, learn Mandarin, avoid carbs, and somehow still
call your mom every week. And if that works for you,
wonderful. Super.
(09:36):
But if it doesn't, if that plan makes you want to set fire to
your planner and run into the jungle, then maybe it's time to
build a plan that actually lovesyou back.
Your plan shouldn't shame you. It should serve you.
It should feel like a lighthousewhen the fog rolls in, not
another voice yelling you're behind before you finished your
(10:00):
coffee. So today we're going to walk you
through what we call the Blueprint for Bravery.
It's not A to do list, it's A tobe list.
Sign me up. A custom rhythm that matches
your soul, not your neighbor's highlight reel.
Bye bye. Before you build a plan, know
(10:21):
what you're building. Before you build a plan, you
have to name what you're building toward.
Not just I want to lose 10 lbs or I should meditate.
No, ask the deeper question. How do I want to feel in my
life? Yes.
Do you want more vitality? More peace, more creativity.
(10:44):
Pick 3 words, not goals. Feelings.
That's your emotional North Star.
Mine grounded, free present. Mine are strong, awake, lit up.
Now let those feelings guide your plan.
If your plan doesn't move you toward them, it's not your plan.
(11:04):
It's someone else's agenda. Step 2.
Start Tiny but sacred. Here's the trap.
We get inspired and we try to build a cathedral overnight.
I'm going to wake up at 5:00 AM,journal, juice, celery, do yoga,
learn Spanish, and be nicer to Greg from accounting.
Sorry Greg, by day three you're exhausted, bloated from salary,
(11:29):
and Craig still sucks. Absolutely.
So don't start with a cathedral,start with a candle.
One that smells good. One small sacred act that
anchors you. That could be 5 breaths before
you get out of bed. A song that makes you feel alive
could be stretching your arms toward the ceiling and
whispering I'm still here. And if you miss a day, you don't
(11:52):
quit, you return. The plan forgives you, it
doesn't fire you. Step 3 design for your wiring.
This is where Clifton strengths coaching comes in, right Rusty?
True that, because too many people are trying to follow
plans that fight their wiring. If you're high in adaptability,
(12:13):
don't yourself into a rigid schedule.
Make a plan with flexible check insurance and space to pivot.
If you've got discipline, build a morning ritual and track it
like it's sacred math. And if you're a relater, maybe
your daily rhythm includes connecting with someone who sees
you. And for my input and learner
(12:34):
folks, your plan might start with reading something
meaningful because that lights you up and keeps the engine
purring. The point is, build a plan that
fits your soul Print. Soul Print.
Not your shame spiral. Right on Step 4.
Recalibrate weekly. Your plan should evolve just
(12:57):
like you. What worked in January might not
work in June. So once a week, sit down and ask
three questions. What worked, What felt forced,
and what do I need more of? We do this every Sunday, usually
barefoot, usually with strong coffee and soft music.
(13:17):
True, true, and true. We check in with our rituals
like their friends we want to keep around.
Absolutely. Sometimes we double down on
what's working, sometimes we scrap something that's become
stale. But every week we begin again
with kindness. It's time for this week's Aging
(13:39):
Heroes Challenge. Write your blueprint for
bravery. All right, Legends, this week's
Aging Heroes Challenge is simple, but it ain't small.
You're going to write your blueprint for bravery.
Not a New Year's resolution list, not a guilt grenade.
A living, breathing rhythm that supports the version of you
(14:01):
that's becoming. So here's how you do it #1
Choose three feelings you want to experience more of #2 List
one small ritual that helps you feel each one and #3 identify
your top strength and ask, how can I use this to reinforce my
rhythm? Then write a sentence that
(14:23):
starts with I am someone who whatever.
Like. I'm someone who protects her
peace before she checks her phone.
I'm someone who moves his body every morning to honor the gift
of being alive. I'm someone who creates space
for joy on purpose. Good stuff.
Then what you're going to do is take it to your mirror, make it
(14:45):
your screensaver, whisper it into your coffee, whatever it
takes. But more than anything, we want
you to live it. And remember, this isn't a test,
it's a torch. So how about a segment recap?
Building the rhythm that builds you.
This segment was about more thanstructure.
It was about self respect. The kind that doesn't wait for
(15:08):
motivation to show up. The kind that makes your life
feel less like a fire drill and more like a ritual.
We talked about how your plan should feel like a song your
soul knows how to dance to, not someone's Spotify playlist of
guilt. We gave you a framework for
building a plan that works with your wiring, that listens to
(15:31):
your strengths, that forgives you when you falter, and
welcomes you back with open arms.
I love that imagery because if your plan doesn't love you back,
it's not plan for you, it's justa performance.
And life's too short to perform.We're here to become.
Coming up in Segment 3, we're taking off the gloves.
(15:54):
We're talking about what gets inthe way.
The saboteurs, the sidewanders, the Wellness culture noise that
turns your plan into a punishment.
Ouch. We're calling it Burn the
Brochure because we've all been sold someone else's version of
balance. It's time to get honest about
(16:15):
what's worth keeping and what needs to be composted.
Refill your coconut. Fill it up.
Stretch your legs. Big.
Stretch and lead us back here. We'll see you in a minute.
(16:38):
Welcome back, agent heroes. Let's talk about the glossy
fantasy we've all been sold. Picture perfect.
Yeah, the perfect life plan. You know the one.
Smooth gradient, colors, a smiling couple, jogging, maybe
some granola. The whole vibe says wake at 5,
meditate until 6, journaling, calligraphy, meal prep with kale
(17:03):
and organic serenity, and then become a millionaire by lunch.
Let's put that on Instagram. You forgot hot yoga with your
rescue puppy and a sunset gratitude circle.
Oh my bad, got to hydrate with alkaline water blessed by
dolphins. That brochure?
(17:24):
Burnett. Because for every soulful human
who's tried to create a life that feels good, there's a junk
drawer full of plans that weren't made for them.
They were made for marketing. All right, what we're saying is
you didn't fail the plan, the plan failed you.
(17:45):
If your life feels like a guilt trap masquerading as self
improvement, that's not growth, that's oppression.
And tights feel the squeeze. Well, I'm wearing looser tights
than you. I think when Wellness turns
toxic, let's take a stroll through our past disaster, shall
(18:06):
we? I once tried to follow this high
performance morning routine I read in a Men Who Win blog.
You love to read an article that's true.
It was like a Navy SEAL wrote itafter too much espresso, cold
plunge, protein shake, 90 minutejournaling, burpees, meditation,
(18:27):
market research, all before 7:00AM.
I'm pretty sure you followed that.
That's very true. This is so uncomfortable.
You were a mess by breakfast. I swear to God I thought you
joined a cult. I I kind of did briefly, A cult
called You're Not Enough yet. Here's the danger.
(18:48):
When we absorb other people's plans without translating them
through our own values and reality, they turn into shame
grenades. You like that, right?
Shame grenades. Pull the pin and you're covered
in guilt, glitter and wondering why joy feels so damn far away.
(19:13):
Let's name the saboteurs that hijack a good plan.
What do you have for US? Number one is perfectionism.
Oh, she's sneaky. Yes, she whispers.
If you can't do it all, don't bother doing any of it.
I should probably raise my hand.Me too #2 comparison.
He's loud, he says look at them thriving.
(19:36):
You are still in your robe #3 fear of disappointment.
The one that says don't even try.
What if you let yourself down again and #4 rescue fantasy.
I love this one. The myth that some guru app or
juice cleanse will fix you. That's not true.
Well, it depends on the guru baby.
Oh, so I'd probably need to delete that app.
(19:58):
These are the termites in the walls of your plan.
You don't see them until ever. Everything starts crumbling and
you think you are the problem. But you're not.
The problem is trying to follow someone else's truth instead of
trusting your own rhythm. I need this on a tattoo.
I know I see this all the time behind the camera.
(20:21):
I'm on location people show up with their best self on display.
Hi Ponytail Inspirational tank gratitude journal ready to go.
But they're eyes. They're tired.
The soul doesn't lie, even if your posture does.
Exactly. But then something beautiful
(20:43):
happens. They let go, they drop the pose,
they completely forget the script.
And suddenly they're dancing, laughing with their whole self,
crying without apology. That's when I hit the shutter.
That's when I get the real photo.
Not the Wellness aesthetic, the aliveness.
(21:07):
We've got to stop trying to looklike we're living well and
actually live well. So how about a little permission
to pivot? Listen, you're allowed to change
your mind. I'm going to tell you that one
more time. You're allowed to change your
mind. You're allowed to adjust the
sales. Your plan is not a verdict.
It's a living thing. Some weeks your ritual is
(21:29):
sunrise journaling. Other weeks it's sitting in the
car alone with a biscuit and your sanity.
Both are valid. Absolutely.
One is crunchy granola, yes. One is survival.
Absolutely. Welcome to real life.
Welcome aboard. We need plans that involve that
stretch and breathe with our seasons.
You're not less committed just because you need to modify.
(21:54):
You're wise. Right, let's say it louder.
Turn up the volume on this one. Growth doesn't look the same
every day. Sometimes it's a hike, some
times it's staying in bed because your nervous system's
fried and you just need to be. Yes Sir, we call those healing
sabbaticals in a horizontal format.
You are not a project. You are not a problem to fix.
(22:17):
You are not a startup to scale. You are not a Pinterest board of
optimization hacks. You're a soul, a body, a story
in progress. And your plan?
It should reflect just that. Not flatten you, not bully you
into discipline, not drag you through self improvement boot
(22:38):
camp. It should wrap around your real
life like a sarong. Adaptive, flowing, slightly
fabulous. Just like you baby, your plan
should know your. Name.
That's right, Rusty, that's a quick recap.
In this segment, we struck the match.
We burned the brochure. We let go of the plans that
(23:00):
promised perfection but delivered pressure.
We talked about the myths that sneak into your morning routine
and steal your joy, about the comparison traps, about the
rituals that forgot to honor your humanity.
We remembered that your best rhythm isn't someone else's
success formula. It's the quiet pulse of your own
(23:22):
truth, repeated daily. And we gave you permission, not
that you need it, to pivot, to personalize, to say this plan
doesn't fit anymore and to make a new one.
Because what you're building isn't a brand, it's a life.
And that life deserves a rhythm that feels like you, Even when
it's messy, even when it's quiet.
(23:43):
Especially when it's real. Coming up next, we're going from
blueprint to embodiment. You've burned the brochure.
Now it's time to step into your day and your decade with bold,
beautiful action. We're calling Segment 4.
Make the damn move. No more tweaking, no more
(24:03):
stalling. This is where we leap with our
rituals, our joy and maybe a ridiculous playlist to back it
up. So.
Stretch your back, fill your drink.
We're about to make your life real time strategy.
Because the plan is only as goodas your willingness to live it.
(24:35):
All right, friends, you've builtthe plan, you've burned the
brochure. Now there's only one thing left
to do. Make the damn move.
Because the best plan in the world?
It's just a fancy Daydream untilyou put your bare feet on the
dock and go. We're not talking about flawless
(24:58):
execution. No need for that.
We're not talking about having your life color-coded and
laminated. Oh, shoot, hold on.
We're talking real action. Sweaty, shaky, holy, half ready.
Movement. That's all you need.
This is the part where your soulstops clearing its throat and
(25:19):
starts singing loud. Maybe off key if you're like me,
but it's your note and no one else can claim it.
Let's clear something up right now.
You'll never feel ready. Oh, that's so true.
Not the kind of ready the brochure promised.
(25:39):
That perfect blend of confidence, timing and hair
volume. You'll be waiting a long time
for that. It's a myth.
Ready is a mirage. You get close and it scoots
forward. You chase it and it laughs from
the next horizon. But when you move even clumsy,
(26:00):
even unsure, you stop chasing and start becoming.
Let's say your plan is to walk every morning.
OK, but today it's cold, you didn't sleep, the coffee
machines giving you attitude. So what do you do?
Stay in bed. I'm going to make a note to
myself that that's what Rusty has prescribed.
(26:21):
No, you step outside, even if just for a minute.
You feel the air. You let your feet hit the earth.
Maybe you don't go around the block.
Maybe no. Maybe you just stand there.
Maybe that's it. Here's the secret.
You're still showing up, still interrupting the inertia, still
choosing you. Let's say maybe your plan is
(26:41):
creative. You want to write more, but your
brain's full of fog and and Bill's and last night's
argument, they're all still brewing.
OK, fine. Open the notebook.
Write one sentence. Maybe it's nonsense, maybe it's
gold. It doesn't matter.
Just write 1. You moved.
And that movement, it creates momentum.
(27:02):
That's how plans become patternsand patterns become power.
All right, remember the Cartagena story from Segment 1?
Yeah, I remember supermodels andlinen.
Something about radiating greatness, that one.
That moment didn't happen because I was chasing external
validation. It happened because I'd been
(27:23):
living the plan, eating clean, moving daily, loving deeply.
I felt vital not because of attention, but because I was
showing up for my own life. That is 110% true, and that's
the ripple effect. You make the damn move for you
and it radiates. Suddenly you are more magnetic,
(27:45):
more clear, more present. You don't move for applause, you
move for alignment. I like it.
You ever notice the people who inspire you?
They're not always the loudest or the most polished.
They're the ones who move with conviction, with vulnerability,
and with truth. Think about the friend who
finally left the job that was just killing her.
(28:08):
The guy who started learning guitar at 63.
The woman who booked the solo trip scared out of her mind, but
she did it anyway. They didn't wait for the fear to
leave, they just moved with it. That's what makes them legends.
Right. Real life moves we've made.
(28:28):
I will tell you my favorite makethe move moment.
We are all ears, Rusty. Share with us.
It was the day I finally wrote the first page of the book Erica
and I had been discussing for years and years.
No outline, no contract, just a sentence.
And that sentence became a paragraph, and the paragraph
(28:50):
became a book. Yes.
And now the book has become a podcast, this movement.
All because I stopped waiting and started typing.
Action is the altar, so let's say it out loud.
Your life doesn't need more vision boards, it needs more
motion. Your rituals are sacred not
(29:11):
because they're impressive, but because you return to them again
and again and again. Action is the altar where
transformation happens, not because the move is huge, but
because it's yours because you chose it.
It's that moment in time again for a segment recap.
So this segment was about more than just doing the thing.
(29:34):
It was about embodying your rhythm, moving with intention,
even when you're not sure where it leads.
We talked about how readiness isa myth, but movement is power
that creates momentum, that rituals become sacred through
repetition, not through perfection.
We shared with you that your movement doesn't have to be
(29:58):
epic, it simply has to be honest.
So write that damn poem, book the damn retreat, take the damn
walk, or just breathe, sip and whisper.
I'm still in this because you are, and you are not alone.
This episode was a Journey A4 segment island odyssey on what
it really means to stick to the plan.
(30:20):
In segment one, we showed you that a plan isn't a cage, it's a
compass. Right.
A rhythm to keep you anchored injoy and truth.
Segment 2 gave you the blueprintfor bravery, Your personal
rhythm sourced from your values,your wiring, your needs.
No shame, just soul. Segment 3 We lit the match,
(30:41):
earned the glossy generic life plan, and got real about what
sabotage our best intentions. And in Segment 4, we made the
move. We took all that insight and
brought it to life, one honest action at a time.
Because heroes don't wait for the weather to change.
(31:03):
No, no, no. They set sail anyway.
They do. If this episode hit your heart,
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
(31:23):
at www.agingheroes.com. Coming up next in episode 8,
Refit Your mind. Next week, we're going from
muscle to mindset. It's all about cognitive
behavioral therapy, or CBT if you want to sound like you read
(31:43):
psychology books on the beach. We'll show you how to use
simple, proven tools to catch your mental loop, rewrite old
stories, and rewire how you think.
Because if you want to live likean aging hero, you've got to
learn how to refit the rigging between your ears.
We'll break it down with metaphors, real stories, and 0
(32:05):
jargon. Think of it like therapy but
with rum and rebellion. So until then, stay wild, stay
willing, and stay real.
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