August 19, 2025 • 24 mins
What do bison, boundaries, and barefoot living have in common? In this episode, Erica and Rusty face down 2,000 pounds of prairie muscle and discover why every hero needs a personal Code of Honor. With humor, tallgrass wisdom, and a toolkit you can use today, they’ll show you how to define your non-negotiables, commit to what matters, and live your values when life tests you. This isn’t about rules—it’s about soul architecture, alignment, and walking your own wild trail.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Imagine this. You're standing on a Kansas
ridgeline. No palm trees, no ocean breeze.
Just 11,000 acres of golden Prairie rolling like slow surf
in every direction. The wind feels older than
language. The horizon is endless.
And then, cue the prehistoric drama.
(00:21):
A woolly bison lifts its head and locks eyes with you like
it's sizing you up for dinner, or at least a stern
conversation. And that's when your husband,
who should definitely know better, says the words no wife
wants to hear while holding the travel insurance card.
Come on baby, let's get a littlecloser.
(00:43):
Welcome to The Latitude Adjustment, the podcast where
aging isn't a slow fade, it's a bold freaking encore.
Join Rusty and Erica, 2 Rebel hearted guides with a suitcase
full of stories, a camera, a compass, and 0 tolerance for
boring self help. They're not here to fix you,
they're here to remind you you were never broken.
So whether you're craving clarity, connection, or just a
(01:06):
passport stamp for your next chapter, you've docked at the
right port. Grab your sun hat, loosen your
grip on the grind and get ready to charge a new course.
Mind, body and soul. This is the latitude adjustment.
This episode is about your code of honor and the awkward,
glorious moments when you realize why you actually need
(01:29):
one. In our case, that realization
came so where between the bison staring down and rusty
whispering message received. Look, I was just trying to get a
better photo, maybe 60 yards out.
Yeah, which, for the record, is also the exact distance it takes
(01:51):
for you to become Prairie souls.I'm not saying I make good
choices, I'm saying the wind told me it was OK and you know
the wind lied. Mm hmm.
This was Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, home to one
(02:11):
of the last great swaths of tallgrass in North America.
Less than 5% of it remains. We stood there in awe,
surrounded by a sea of grass tripping grasshoppers and
Rusty's inner 12 year old whispering adventure Danger
(02:31):
photo op. But there was also that sign.
Remember, bison can run 35 mph. You cannot respect the distance.
That was less of a guideline andmore of a Prairie prophecy.
I think that has to do with perspective, right?
And right then, one of those bison gave us a look like he
(02:56):
just read our code of honor and didn't buy a word of it.
It snorted, and not politely. Yeah, that was the Prairie
saying backup buddy, this isn't your turf.
Today's episode is about something deeper than rules.
It's about your internal compass, your tall grass
(03:17):
protocol, your unshakable made on purpose, soul built guide to
being you. Codes of honor aren't just for
Cowboys and samurais. They're for podcasters who like
to flirt with bison death and for anyone trying to live a life
that means something. You don't wait to make your code
(03:39):
during the Stampede, you make itbefore you make it so when the
adrenaline kicks in, your compass still points true.
Exactly. A personal code isn't about
being rigid. It's about being rooted.
Rooted in your deepest values, your lived wisdom and your
commitment to not becoming a cautionary tale on the Rangers
(04:03):
Radio. That Bison day reminded me that
rules exist for a reason. Got it.
Even the fun ones. Especially the ones that keep
you from becoming bison Pate. Just so you all know, we made it
out with all limbs accounted forand a brand new entry in the
Harrison travel code rule #12 ifit snorts, you retreat.
(04:27):
No questions, no photos, no exceptions.
That's just right after rule #11when the thread is real, defer
to the woman with both a camera and common sense.
And rule #10 Erica is always right, especially about danger
zones, animal proximity, and snack logistics.
I'm getting a vibe that rule #10is your favorite.
(04:50):
Do you know me that well? Your personal code doesn't have
to look like ours, but you do need one.
Otherwise, you're just out thereon an open plane of life,
improvising with a paper map anda pair of flip flops.
Your code says who you are when nobody's watching, what you do
when things get tough, what you won't do.
(05:12):
So let's talk about creating it before the crisis.
If you don't write your code in the calm, you'll write it in the
chaos, and chaos doesn't leave room for editing.
We've seen it over and over. People without a code get swept
up in the moment. They say yes to things that
shrink their spirit. They say no to things that
(05:34):
actually would have grown them. They lose themselves trying to
keep the peace when approval or outrun discomfort.
But a good code, it pulls you back to your center, it
whispers, hey, you said you wanted to live with integrity,
remember? Your code isn't a slogan.
It's not a bumper sticker. It's not just live, laugh, love
(05:57):
and a prayer. It's the thing that tells you
who you are, what you stand for,what lines you won't cross, even
for applause. And it's got to come from you.
Not your parents, not your preacher, not your LinkedIn bio.
And unless your preacher is you,right, in which case get it
(06:17):
printed on a T-shirt and, you know, pass the offering plate.
You know who had to code that bison?
His code was Don't mess with my bubble.
Ours still evolving, but every encounter, every snort, every
whisper of wind has helped to shape it.
You got it. So it's time for a quick recap.
(06:38):
So far, we've walked into the tall grass.
We saw some bison. We almost saw the ER emergency
room, and we remembered why it matters to build your code of
honor before the moment tests you.
Your code isn't a rule book. It's a relationship between you
(06:59):
and your most authentic self, between who you've been and who
you want to be. Coming up in Segment 2, we're
getting practical. How do you actually build that
code without turning into a walking Hallmark card or a
BuzzFeed quiz? We're talking about non
negotiables, rituals, and the One Aging Heroes challenge that
(07:22):
will help you find your North Star before the next Bison shows
up. Our riot aging heroes, we made
it off the Prairie with all bones accounted for.
But what did we learn? That sometimes a snort from a
(07:45):
2000 LB animal is your soul's way of saying you need better
boundaries. This segment is where we do more
than laugh about it. We build Your Honor Code
Toolkit. Not for emergencies.
For every damn day. Because heroes don't just wing
it. We don't.
(08:05):
We walk into the world with intention.
And hopefully a little distance from whatever snorting beast
you're facing, whether it's an angry bison or your mother in
law's group text. The code is the compass.
Let's start with a simple truth.Your code of honor is a compass.
(08:26):
Not a leash, not a rule book carved in stone, but a living,
breathing declaration of who youare when no one's grading you.
It's not about being perfect, no, it's about being anchored.
You got it. When the wind kicks up, the
world gets loud and temptation rolls in like Thunder.
(08:47):
Your code whispers. This is who I said I'd.
Be without it, you drift. With it you navigate.
You don't chase approval, you choose alignment.
You don't break promises to yourself, you honor them.
And that changes everything. So here's some tools for
(09:07):
crafting your code. We've broken this down into 3
core pieces. No fancy parchment required,
just a notebook, a little self honesty, and maybe a cold drink.
You ready? We're.
Ready. Number one, define your non
negotiables. These are your never cross
lines, the principles that make you you think I will not lie to
(09:32):
protect my ego. I will not abandon myself for
comfort. I will not sacrifice kindness
for cleverness. You can write them like vows,
like trail markers, like bison, range, perimeter rules.
What are the truths you want to live no matter what the wind is
(09:54):
doing? Number two, name your core
commitments. Now what do you stand for?
Not just what you won't do, but what you will.
I stand for honesty, even when it's I show up for people I
love. I protect my peace like it's on
the endangered species list. Those those are your core
(10:17):
commitments. These commitments are your tall
grass trail. They don't make you rigid, they
make you rooted. And rooted people don't get
yanked around every time someonesnorts at them.
The number 3, declare your dailypractices.
Here's where we get specific. Your code is alive so you need
(10:38):
rituals to keep it breathing. So maybe it's morning
journaling. 10 minutes of silence before reacting.
Gratitude before griping, sayingno without a paragraph of
apology. Whatever it is, it's your way of
saying I don't just believe in this code.
(10:59):
I practice it daily, like brushing my teeth and avoiding
bison. Let's call out a few traps we've
seen number one, copy and paste syndrome.
You pull a list from Pinterest and call it done #2 virtue
signaling vocabulary. You use words like authenticity
(11:20):
and resilience but forget what they actually feel like.
And #3 perfection paralysis. You wait until your code is
airtight before trying to live it.
Spoiler life's gonna poke holes in it, that's the point.
The best codes evolve like ours.Once it was take the scenic
(11:42):
route then it became don't die doing it.
Now it's stop before the. Snort OK, here is here's your
challenge for the week and it's one of our all time favorites.
We want you to grab a journal, anotebook or the back of a dinner
receipt doesn't matter. Write 3 sections, my non
(12:06):
negotiables at least three I will not statements that protect
your integrity and then your commitments. 3 I will
declarations that define your personal north star.
And last, my daily practices. 3 small habits or rituals that
(12:26):
keep your code in motion. You don't have to share it with
the world, no. But if you want to, we'll be
right here on the island with a campfire and a listening ear.
And remember, this isn't about pressure, it's about presence.
It's not about looking good. It's about feeling whole.
(12:47):
Make it raw, make it real, and make it yours.
Let's do a Segment 2 recap. Let's do it.
In segment 2, we handed you the toolkit for creating a personal
code of honor, the kind that makes your life lighter, braver,
and bison proof. You don't need a PhD or a
spiritual guru to do this. Just curiosity, courage, and a
(13:09):
little paper. The bison may still show up, but
you'll know when to zoom in and when to back up.
Coming up next, in Segment 3, weare putting this code into
action. What happens when your values
meet conflict, messiness, or someone else's chaos?
(13:36):
Welcome back heroes. You've got your code of honor,
you've named your non negotiables, you've claimed your
commitments, you've even declared some daily practices.
Now comes the test. Here it is.
Can you actually live it when the world forgets to play nice?
Because let's be honest, nobody's testing your honor code
(13:59):
while you're sipping mango juicein a hammock.
No, the test comes when your Co worker throws shade.
Your kid forgets your birthday or your bison locks eyes and
says try me. I once made the mistake of
telling a group of college students that my personal code
includes always assume good intentions. 2 days later, a
(14:22):
student turned in a paper titledThe Matrix, a metaphor for nap
time, and cited only their cousin as a reference.
To be fair, the Matrix is kind of napping right?
You know that that human batterybit?
(14:43):
That's true, but point is, when your values get tested, you find
out real fast which ones were decorative and which ones had
muscle. Let's go back to that Kansas
Prairie for just a second after the bison encounter, we kept
hiking. The trail rolled on for miles.
The wind flattened everything inrhythmic waves.
(15:06):
We passed a sign that said stay on trail, grassland restoration
in progress. And I remember thinking, wow,
that's US restoration and progress, right that.
Sign hit me too. Yeah, because my natural impulse
was to wander off, explore shortcuts, get a better view.
Sure. I think that's everybody, right?
(15:28):
Right. But staying on that path, that
was part of the preserves honor code.
And if I honored that, I was saying this land matters, my ego
doesn't. And that's the one thing about
honor. It shows up in the little
moments when no one's watching, when your choice won't get you
praise, when the easier path is one step to the left.
(15:52):
Sometimes living your code meansbumping into someone else's.
And let me tell you, those collisions?
They're not quiet. If you don't believe me,
consider how opposition voters acted towards each other after
the last election. Maybe your code says truth above
all and your partner says keep the peace at any cost.
(16:16):
Know what? Or your workplace praises
efficiency, but your code says people first.
Suddenly, that team meeting feels like a cage match between
your paycheck and your soul. The key is to stay curious.
Ask yourself, is this discomfortcalling me to expand?
(16:37):
Is it asking me to speak up? Or is it revealing A boundary I
haven't named yet? Remember, an untested code is
just a Pinterest quote. But a code that's been
challenged and chosen again is wisdom.
That's armor you forged yourself.
Let's talk about the moment no one likes to admit that's when
(17:00):
you break your own code, when your patience runs out, your
sarcasm wins, or your boundariescrumble like dry toast.
Yep. Then there said I wouldn't
gossip, then texted just betweenus.
Said I'd protect my peace but open my inbox at 11:57 PM and
(17:22):
replied to a passive aggressive e-mail with an aggressive,
aggressive one. Seen you do that.
You have not. Baby, you will.
We'll definitely get involved insomething at 11:57 PM.
It's never the progressive tone,right?
No, that's true. You're not aggressive.
Aggressive, all right? The trick isn't never messing
up, right? The trick is calling yourself
back saying that wasn't me, but I know who I am and I'm coming
(17:46):
back to that. You don't need shame, you need
realignment. You're not building perfection
here, you're building integrity.Your coach and feel like a
compass, not a chain. If it's choking, you're doing it
wrong. It's not supposed to make life
harder, guys. It's supposed to make decisions
easier. Because when you know your
(18:07):
values, you don't have to overthink every choice you've
already chosen. And when the world says just
this once, it won't hurt, your code says that's not who I am.
That's not the story I'm telling.
And sometimes your code saves you from yourself.
So here's what we've walked through in this segment, Your
(18:28):
Honor. Code gets tested in messy,
hilarious, uncomfortable moments.
Living it well means choosing presence over pride.
When your code collides with someone else's, curiosity is the
bridge. And when you fall short, grace
is your guide home. We set it on the Prairie and
(18:48):
we'll say it again right here. You don't need perfection.
You need direction, A compass, aa creed, something that
whispers. Let's stay on this trail.
Restoration in progress. Nice coming up in Segment 4
celebration time, because if you've made it this far, you've
(19:10):
started to write and live your own code of honor.
And we're going to throw a little island style dance party
in your honor. Cue the coconuts.
(19:31):
If you're still with us, congratulations.
You did something most people avoid their whole lives.
You didn't just make a code, youowned it.
You named your non negotiables, you called out your commitments,
you even scribbled down some daily rituals, which means
you're already doing better thanhalf the corporate mission
(19:54):
statements out there. And let's be clear, this isn't
fluff. This is sole architecture.
This is trail marking. This is that sacred moment when
you stop waiting for the world to tell you who you are and
start telling the world instead.So here's to you aging heroes.
(20:15):
To the version of you who lookedlife in the eye and said I won't
be tossed by other people's drama, marketing schemes or bad
moves. I will not hustle for
worthiness, abandoned myself forconvenience, or let fear call
the shots. I will live with courage,
clarity, and a code I wrote myself.
(20:36):
Here's to the you who backed away from the metaphorical
bison, not because you were scared, but because you were
wise. You saw the danger, you read the
wind, and you still kept your dignity and your kneecaps.
To the one who knows that honor isn't just about showing up for
the big moments. It's about showing up
(20:57):
consistently for the little ones.
The ones that happen when no one's watching, when it's
inconvenient, when it's Tuesday and your inbox hates you.
To the one who writes their lifelike a prayer, walks it like a
protest, and laughs like a retired pirate with a pension
and a story no one believes. Here's to the code keepers, the
(21:18):
compass carriers, the wild wise wonderers who were not here to
play small. Honor isn't quiet.
It hums beneath your choices. It dances in your boundaries.
It whispers in your yeses and echoes in your nose.
Cheers to every choice that keeps you aligned to every time
you choose. Presence over performance,
(21:40):
Integrity over ego, meaning overmomentum.
Cheers to the trail. You're blazing 100 yards at a
time. Before we let you go, Polish
that new honor badge on your chest.
Your code isn't final. It's alive.
You'll refine it. Rewrite it?
(22:01):
Yeah, rethink it when life gets weird.
Which it will. But every time you revisit your
code, you get closer to the truest version of yourself.
The one that doesn't need applause to do the right thing.
The one that doesn't flinch, it snorts or disapprovals.
The one that walks with honor because it feels right in your
bone and. If you ever lose your way, if
(22:23):
the fog rolls in or you get turned around, just ask
yourself, what did I say I standfor?
Then take one step in that direction.
If this episode hit your heart, it spoke to you.
Share it, text a friend, tag us,and go follow us on Instagram
(22:44):
and Facebook at Aging Heroes. You can also find our full tribe
at www.agingheroes.com. Next week, we're tossing the
compass and grabbing the crayons.
We're talking creativity, how tounlock it, unbox it, and let it
lead you somewhere wildly unexpected.
(23:06):
You don't have to be an artist to be creative, you just have to
stop apologizing for the weird wonderful stuff that wants to
come through you. So whether it's painting,
dancing, journaling, or designing miniature hammocks for
emotional support, ferrets, nextweek is your invitation to play.
That's episode 4 of Season 2. Be creative.
(23:30):
It's going to be weird, soulful and just a little glittery.
So here's some final words for today's episode.
You did something sacred today. You named your values out loud
and that takes guts. You built your own tall grass
trail, one that's strong enough to stand the wind and wild
enough to make bisons curious. Until next time, heroes, keep
(23:52):
your compass close, keep your spirit barefoot, and remember.
Honor is who you are when a trail gets quiet.
We'll see you next week.
Imagine this. You're standing on a Kansas
ridgeline. No palm trees, no ocean breeze.
Just 11,000 acres of golden Prairie rolling like slow surf
in every direction. The wind feels older than
language. The horizon is endless.
And then, cue the prehistoric drama.
(00:21):
A woolly bison lifts its head and locks eyes with you like
it's sizing you up for dinner, or at least a stern
conversation. And that's when your husband,
who should definitely know better, says the words no wife
wants to hear while holding the travel insurance card.
Come on baby, let's get a littlecloser.
(00:43):
Welcome to The Latitude Adjustment, the podcast where
aging isn't a slow fade, it's a bold freaking encore.
Join Rusty and Erica, 2 Rebel hearted guides with a suitcase
full of stories, a camera, a compass, and 0 tolerance for
boring self help. They're not here to fix you,
they're here to remind you you were never broken.
So whether you're craving clarity, connection, or just a
(01:06):
passport stamp for your next chapter, you've docked at the
right port. Grab your sun hat, loosen your
grip on the grind and get ready to charge a new course.
Mind, body and soul. This is the latitude adjustment.
This episode is about your code of honor and the awkward,
glorious moments when you realize why you actually need
(01:29):
one. In our case, that realization
came so where between the bison staring down and rusty
whispering message received. Look, I was just trying to get a
better photo, maybe 60 yards out.
Yeah, which, for the record, is also the exact distance it takes
(01:51):
for you to become Prairie souls.I'm not saying I make good
choices, I'm saying the wind told me it was OK and you know
the wind lied. Mm hmm.
This was Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, home to one
(02:11):
of the last great swaths of tallgrass in North America.
Less than 5% of it remains. We stood there in awe,
surrounded by a sea of grass tripping grasshoppers and
Rusty's inner 12 year old whispering adventure Danger
(02:31):
photo op. But there was also that sign.
Remember, bison can run 35 mph. You cannot respect the distance.
That was less of a guideline andmore of a Prairie prophecy.
I think that has to do with perspective, right?
And right then, one of those bison gave us a look like he
(02:56):
just read our code of honor and didn't buy a word of it.
It snorted, and not politely. Yeah, that was the Prairie
saying backup buddy, this isn't your turf.
Today's episode is about something deeper than rules.
It's about your internal compass, your tall grass
(03:17):
protocol, your unshakable made on purpose, soul built guide to
being you. Codes of honor aren't just for
Cowboys and samurais. They're for podcasters who like
to flirt with bison death and for anyone trying to live a life
that means something. You don't wait to make your code
(03:39):
during the Stampede, you make itbefore you make it so when the
adrenaline kicks in, your compass still points true.
Exactly. A personal code isn't about
being rigid. It's about being rooted.
Rooted in your deepest values, your lived wisdom and your
commitment to not becoming a cautionary tale on the Rangers
(04:03):
Radio. That Bison day reminded me that
rules exist for a reason. Got it.
Even the fun ones. Especially the ones that keep
you from becoming bison Pate. Just so you all know, we made it
out with all limbs accounted forand a brand new entry in the
Harrison travel code rule #12 ifit snorts, you retreat.
(04:27):
No questions, no photos, no exceptions.
That's just right after rule #11when the thread is real, defer
to the woman with both a camera and common sense.
And rule #10 Erica is always right, especially about danger
zones, animal proximity, and snack logistics.
I'm getting a vibe that rule #10is your favorite.
(04:50):
Do you know me that well? Your personal code doesn't have
to look like ours, but you do need one.
Otherwise, you're just out thereon an open plane of life,
improvising with a paper map anda pair of flip flops.
Your code says who you are when nobody's watching, what you do
when things get tough, what you won't do.
(05:12):
So let's talk about creating it before the crisis.
If you don't write your code in the calm, you'll write it in the
chaos, and chaos doesn't leave room for editing.
We've seen it over and over. People without a code get swept
up in the moment. They say yes to things that
shrink their spirit. They say no to things that
(05:34):
actually would have grown them. They lose themselves trying to
keep the peace when approval or outrun discomfort.
But a good code, it pulls you back to your center, it
whispers, hey, you said you wanted to live with integrity,
remember? Your code isn't a slogan.
It's not a bumper sticker. It's not just live, laugh, love
(05:57):
and a prayer. It's the thing that tells you
who you are, what you stand for,what lines you won't cross, even
for applause. And it's got to come from you.
Not your parents, not your preacher, not your LinkedIn bio.
And unless your preacher is you,right, in which case get it
(06:17):
printed on a T-shirt and, you know, pass the offering plate.
You know who had to code that bison?
His code was Don't mess with my bubble.
Ours still evolving, but every encounter, every snort, every
whisper of wind has helped to shape it.
You got it. So it's time for a quick recap.
(06:38):
So far, we've walked into the tall grass.
We saw some bison. We almost saw the ER emergency
room, and we remembered why it matters to build your code of
honor before the moment tests you.
Your code isn't a rule book. It's a relationship between you
(06:59):
and your most authentic self, between who you've been and who
you want to be. Coming up in Segment 2, we're
getting practical. How do you actually build that
code without turning into a walking Hallmark card or a
BuzzFeed quiz? We're talking about non
negotiables, rituals, and the One Aging Heroes challenge that
(07:22):
will help you find your North Star before the next Bison shows
up. Our riot aging heroes, we made
it off the Prairie with all bones accounted for.
But what did we learn? That sometimes a snort from a
(07:45):
2000 LB animal is your soul's way of saying you need better
boundaries. This segment is where we do more
than laugh about it. We build Your Honor Code
Toolkit. Not for emergencies.
For every damn day. Because heroes don't just wing
it. We don't.
(08:05):
We walk into the world with intention.
And hopefully a little distance from whatever snorting beast
you're facing, whether it's an angry bison or your mother in
law's group text. The code is the compass.
Let's start with a simple truth.Your code of honor is a compass.
(08:26):
Not a leash, not a rule book carved in stone, but a living,
breathing declaration of who youare when no one's grading you.
It's not about being perfect, no, it's about being anchored.
You got it. When the wind kicks up, the
world gets loud and temptation rolls in like Thunder.
(08:47):
Your code whispers. This is who I said I'd.
Be without it, you drift. With it you navigate.
You don't chase approval, you choose alignment.
You don't break promises to yourself, you honor them.
And that changes everything. So here's some tools for
(09:07):
crafting your code. We've broken this down into 3
core pieces. No fancy parchment required,
just a notebook, a little self honesty, and maybe a cold drink.
You ready? We're.
Ready. Number one, define your non
negotiables. These are your never cross
lines, the principles that make you you think I will not lie to
(09:32):
protect my ego. I will not abandon myself for
comfort. I will not sacrifice kindness
for cleverness. You can write them like vows,
like trail markers, like bison, range, perimeter rules.
What are the truths you want to live no matter what the wind is
(09:54):
doing? Number two, name your core
commitments. Now what do you stand for?
Not just what you won't do, but what you will.
I stand for honesty, even when it's I show up for people I
love. I protect my peace like it's on
the endangered species list. Those those are your core
(10:17):
commitments. These commitments are your tall
grass trail. They don't make you rigid, they
make you rooted. And rooted people don't get
yanked around every time someonesnorts at them.
The number 3, declare your dailypractices.
Here's where we get specific. Your code is alive so you need
(10:38):
rituals to keep it breathing. So maybe it's morning
journaling. 10 minutes of silence before reacting.
Gratitude before griping, sayingno without a paragraph of
apology. Whatever it is, it's your way of
saying I don't just believe in this code.
(10:59):
I practice it daily, like brushing my teeth and avoiding
bison. Let's call out a few traps we've
seen number one, copy and paste syndrome.
You pull a list from Pinterest and call it done #2 virtue
signaling vocabulary. You use words like authenticity
(11:20):
and resilience but forget what they actually feel like.
And #3 perfection paralysis. You wait until your code is
airtight before trying to live it.
Spoiler life's gonna poke holes in it, that's the point.
The best codes evolve like ours.Once it was take the scenic
(11:42):
route then it became don't die doing it.
Now it's stop before the. Snort OK, here is here's your
challenge for the week and it's one of our all time favorites.
We want you to grab a journal, anotebook or the back of a dinner
receipt doesn't matter. Write 3 sections, my non
(12:06):
negotiables at least three I will not statements that protect
your integrity and then your commitments. 3 I will
declarations that define your personal north star.
And last, my daily practices. 3 small habits or rituals that
(12:26):
keep your code in motion. You don't have to share it with
the world, no. But if you want to, we'll be
right here on the island with a campfire and a listening ear.
And remember, this isn't about pressure, it's about presence.
It's not about looking good. It's about feeling whole.
(12:47):
Make it raw, make it real, and make it yours.
Let's do a Segment 2 recap. Let's do it.
In segment 2, we handed you the toolkit for creating a personal
code of honor, the kind that makes your life lighter, braver,
and bison proof. You don't need a PhD or a
spiritual guru to do this. Just curiosity, courage, and a
(13:09):
little paper. The bison may still show up, but
you'll know when to zoom in and when to back up.
Coming up next, in Segment 3, weare putting this code into
action. What happens when your values
meet conflict, messiness, or someone else's chaos?
(13:36):
Welcome back heroes. You've got your code of honor,
you've named your non negotiables, you've claimed your
commitments, you've even declared some daily practices.
Now comes the test. Here it is.
Can you actually live it when the world forgets to play nice?
Because let's be honest, nobody's testing your honor code
(13:59):
while you're sipping mango juicein a hammock.
No, the test comes when your Co worker throws shade.
Your kid forgets your birthday or your bison locks eyes and
says try me. I once made the mistake of
telling a group of college students that my personal code
includes always assume good intentions. 2 days later, a
(14:22):
student turned in a paper titledThe Matrix, a metaphor for nap
time, and cited only their cousin as a reference.
To be fair, the Matrix is kind of napping right?
You know that that human batterybit?
(14:43):
That's true, but point is, when your values get tested, you find
out real fast which ones were decorative and which ones had
muscle. Let's go back to that Kansas
Prairie for just a second after the bison encounter, we kept
hiking. The trail rolled on for miles.
The wind flattened everything inrhythmic waves.
(15:06):
We passed a sign that said stay on trail, grassland restoration
in progress. And I remember thinking, wow,
that's US restoration and progress, right that.
Sign hit me too. Yeah, because my natural impulse
was to wander off, explore shortcuts, get a better view.
Sure. I think that's everybody, right?
(15:28):
Right. But staying on that path, that
was part of the preserves honor code.
And if I honored that, I was saying this land matters, my ego
doesn't. And that's the one thing about
honor. It shows up in the little
moments when no one's watching, when your choice won't get you
praise, when the easier path is one step to the left.
(15:52):
Sometimes living your code meansbumping into someone else's.
And let me tell you, those collisions?
They're not quiet. If you don't believe me,
consider how opposition voters acted towards each other after
the last election. Maybe your code says truth above
all and your partner says keep the peace at any cost.
(16:16):
Know what? Or your workplace praises
efficiency, but your code says people first.
Suddenly, that team meeting feels like a cage match between
your paycheck and your soul. The key is to stay curious.
Ask yourself, is this discomfortcalling me to expand?
(16:37):
Is it asking me to speak up? Or is it revealing A boundary I
haven't named yet? Remember, an untested code is
just a Pinterest quote. But a code that's been
challenged and chosen again is wisdom.
That's armor you forged yourself.
Let's talk about the moment no one likes to admit that's when
(17:00):
you break your own code, when your patience runs out, your
sarcasm wins, or your boundariescrumble like dry toast.
Yep. Then there said I wouldn't
gossip, then texted just betweenus.
Said I'd protect my peace but open my inbox at 11:57 PM and
(17:22):
replied to a passive aggressive e-mail with an aggressive,
aggressive one. Seen you do that.
You have not. Baby, you will.
We'll definitely get involved insomething at 11:57 PM.
It's never the progressive tone,right?
No, that's true. You're not aggressive.
Aggressive, all right? The trick isn't never messing
up, right? The trick is calling yourself
back saying that wasn't me, but I know who I am and I'm coming
(17:46):
back to that. You don't need shame, you need
realignment. You're not building perfection
here, you're building integrity.Your coach and feel like a
compass, not a chain. If it's choking, you're doing it
wrong. It's not supposed to make life
harder, guys. It's supposed to make decisions
easier. Because when you know your
(18:07):
values, you don't have to overthink every choice you've
already chosen. And when the world says just
this once, it won't hurt, your code says that's not who I am.
That's not the story I'm telling.
And sometimes your code saves you from yourself.
So here's what we've walked through in this segment, Your
(18:28):
Honor. Code gets tested in messy,
hilarious, uncomfortable moments.
Living it well means choosing presence over pride.
When your code collides with someone else's, curiosity is the
bridge. And when you fall short, grace
is your guide home. We set it on the Prairie and
(18:48):
we'll say it again right here. You don't need perfection.
You need direction, A compass, aa creed, something that
whispers. Let's stay on this trail.
Restoration in progress. Nice coming up in Segment 4
celebration time, because if you've made it this far, you've
(19:10):
started to write and live your own code of honor.
And we're going to throw a little island style dance party
in your honor. Cue the coconuts.
(19:31):
If you're still with us, congratulations.
You did something most people avoid their whole lives.
You didn't just make a code, youowned it.
You named your non negotiables, you called out your commitments,
you even scribbled down some daily rituals, which means
you're already doing better thanhalf the corporate mission
(19:54):
statements out there. And let's be clear, this isn't
fluff. This is sole architecture.
This is trail marking. This is that sacred moment when
you stop waiting for the world to tell you who you are and
start telling the world instead.So here's to you aging heroes.
(20:15):
To the version of you who lookedlife in the eye and said I won't
be tossed by other people's drama, marketing schemes or bad
moves. I will not hustle for
worthiness, abandoned myself forconvenience, or let fear call
the shots. I will live with courage,
clarity, and a code I wrote myself.
(20:36):
Here's to the you who backed away from the metaphorical
bison, not because you were scared, but because you were
wise. You saw the danger, you read the
wind, and you still kept your dignity and your kneecaps.
To the one who knows that honor isn't just about showing up for
the big moments. It's about showing up
(20:57):
consistently for the little ones.
The ones that happen when no one's watching, when it's
inconvenient, when it's Tuesday and your inbox hates you.
To the one who writes their lifelike a prayer, walks it like a
protest, and laughs like a retired pirate with a pension
and a story no one believes. Here's to the code keepers, the
(21:18):
compass carriers, the wild wise wonderers who were not here to
play small. Honor isn't quiet.
It hums beneath your choices. It dances in your boundaries.
It whispers in your yeses and echoes in your nose.
Cheers to every choice that keeps you aligned to every time
you choose. Presence over performance,
(21:40):
Integrity over ego, meaning overmomentum.
Cheers to the trail. You're blazing 100 yards at a
time. Before we let you go, Polish
that new honor badge on your chest.
Your code isn't final. It's alive.
You'll refine it. Rewrite it?
(22:01):
Yeah, rethink it when life gets weird.
Which it will. But every time you revisit your
code, you get closer to the truest version of yourself.
The one that doesn't need applause to do the right thing.
The one that doesn't flinch, it snorts or disapprovals.
The one that walks with honor because it feels right in your
bone and. If you ever lose your way, if
(22:23):
the fog rolls in or you get turned around, just ask
yourself, what did I say I standfor?
Then take one step in that direction.
If this episode hit your heart, it spoke to you.
Share it, text a friend, tag us,and go follow us on Instagram
(22:44):
and Facebook at Aging Heroes. You can also find our full tribe
at www.agingheroes.com. Next week, we're tossing the
compass and grabbing the crayons.
We're talking creativity, how tounlock it, unbox it, and let it
lead you somewhere wildly unexpected.
(23:06):
You don't have to be an artist to be creative, you just have to
stop apologizing for the weird wonderful stuff that wants to
come through you. So whether it's painting,
dancing, journaling, or designing miniature hammocks for
emotional support, ferrets, nextweek is your invitation to play.
That's episode 4 of Season 2. Be creative.
(23:30):
It's going to be weird, soulful and just a little glittery.
So here's some final words for today's episode.
You did something sacred today. You named your values out loud
and that takes guts. You built your own tall grass
trail, one that's strong enough to stand the wind and wild
enough to make bisons curious. Until next time, heroes, keep
(23:52):
your compass close, keep your spirit barefoot, and remember.
Honor is who you are when a trail gets quiet.
We'll see you next week.
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