This weekend I read a blog post by a woman who said she’s  enjoyed wonderful travels over her lifetime to amazing, exotic places.  However age has taken it’s toll. She wrote chances are her travels are pretty much over.  She described creaky joints and how walking up curbs is like climbing mountains. Money’s tight, too.  She said she’s 54.

I was stunned. Only 54? Are you kidding me?

As I’m typing this I got a hip joint that’s achy. I need to lose weight. (My weight’s always fluctuated – more ups than downs.)  I have a slow metabolism that’s getting slower. My health is reasonably good – but I’m not likely to climb Katmandu any time soon.

Last week I went walking four out of seven days with a girlfriend in a nearby park at 6:30 am.  Lots of people walk dogs and ride bikes there. Many are far older than me.  I’m 52. I’m drinking more water, adding vitamins and promising every morning I’ll finally eliminate sugar. (Last week I read cancer loves  sugar.  However, that didn’t stop me from having a little creme brulee when Ernie and I went to brunch yesterday.)

Clearly, I’m not a perfect specimen of health.  It’s a gradual journey.  But I’m not keeling over or giving up, either.  I have no chronic conditions, I don’t take any meds and I have all my parts.

As we get a little older the journey of health is one where if you deviate from the path – it kicks you in the butt. You feel it.  Way different compared to back in college when I could party, drink a bottle of wine in an evening and show up for class at 8:00 am. No biggie.

Now it’s a glass of wine once a week.  Maybe.  Two glasses of wine?  Fuggedaboudit.

If you’re 45+ and want to keep kickin’ it, your excellent adventure has to include the physical, emotional and spiritual stamina so you can have the experience you want to have and enjoy it. Otherwise you can’t make the trip. It means preparing for the adventure – so the finances are arranged and your body can handle it. After all, if you don’t take care of your body – where are you going to live?  If you’re 45+ and one of those people who’s always worked out and watched what you eat – my hat is off to you.  You’re ahead of the game.

Living life as an excellent adventure also means living in a state of mini-adventure even while at home.  Viewing my walk with Linda as a mini-adventure.  Seeing some aspect of work as a mini-adventure. Maybe even taking more risks here and there.

There’s so much within our control to live life as an excellent adventure.  We can take charge of our attitude or mindset, our finances and how we create income and to a large degree our health. Once you make a decision to be in control you set powerful forces into action to make it happen.

You can do it – and so can I.