Month: July 2024

The topic of Purpose has surfaced with increasing frequency in conversations with guests on my podcast. (If you haven’t heard it, check out the Aging Well Podcast. The content dovetails quite well with the topics of well-centered fitness.) Purpose (“Purpose” v. “purpose) seems to be a keystone in longevity and a life well-lived. It is essential to the SPIES dimensions of well-centered fitness and aging well (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social).

Purpose is not a destination. Rather it is the fuel that drives up on our road of life. It is finding (and living) our why rather than our what. Purpose is what motivates us. Purpose is what gets us out of bed each morning.

I often speak of the importance of physical activity and effective exercise, healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body composition, sleep hygiene, and, of course, not smoking for health and longevity. I have recently added social connectedness to the list. Moreover, I have come to emphasize the sense of Purpose behind each of these. After all, we can be told repeatedly what is good and healthy for us (SPIES), but, until we see the Purpose in doing these things, we will always find our “why not.”

When we recognize our Purpose, we begin to recognize that it isn’t about us. It is about being able to make the greatest possible contribution to society—it is “other-centered.”

A life well-lived isn’t so much about the doing. It is about the doing for…. It is not about the years lived. It is about the impact we have along the way (and realize that, whether you see your life as great or small, you impact far more than you imagine). It is about contributing as much as we can for as long as we can. It is an expression of Purpose.

If you are reading this not knowing your Purpose (what is driving you), take some time to reflect and meditate on the topic. Add kindling to the fire within.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

“Our old skin will become too constricting, too unhealthy, too rigid to support a being who is growing.  So, conscious eldering requires us to become conscious of and to release those aspects of ourselves that, if we hold on to them, will constrict our energy and won’t serve us moving forward.  This includes attitudes, beliefs, attachments to ways of identifying ourselves, stories about who we are, resentments, regrets, and habits.   Equally important, the path of conscious eldering calls us to become conscious of qualities, attitudes, beliefs, gifts and wisdom that are truly our strengths and that can form the foundation for the new beginnings ahead of us.”—Ron Pevny

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to interview Ron Pevney, author of Conscious Living, Conscious Aging, for the Aging Well Podcast. It was actually more of a conversation than an interview. It was a reminder of the power of Purpose—of the importance of Purpose in the pursuit of well-centered fitness. Purpose is the center of well-centered fitness. Growth with Purpose is essential to living well.

When I speak of longevity and health, I often list five, now six pillars or essential lifestyle considerations. These are exercise and physical activity, healthy diet, healthy body composition, sleep hygiene, not smoking, and social connection. I tend to leave it implied that our social connections should be healthy relationships (i.e., spending time with people who foster our Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social growth and well-being). After my conversation with Ron, I realize that I have been omitting a key dimension to social connection, as well as the other pillars of health and longevity—PURPOSE. Purpose (capital ‘P’) gives meaning and motivation to all that we do. This is “conscious growth.”

“It is the belief that our lives, our part in the whole of things, truly matters. Having a profound sense of who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going, we choose to believe that mattering matters. It is thus a mindset—a choice.”—Richard Leider

We are often overly focused on the “what” in life. We forget the “why.” Moreover, we shy away from the “why not.”

Purpose in life is less of a pursuit and more of an intention. It is a choice—a choice that the Universe intends for us. Purpose drives us to….

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

I saw the statement, “Art is more important than Math,” recently in a meme. It caught my attention. Are we really that ignorant these days or have we just become a society that has to be polarized? I am not excited that it would be either.

If I really wanted to be contentious, I would argue that Physical Education is more important than Art or Math. Of course, I would be talking a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I could make a better argument for this than for “Art is more important than Math” or for “Math is more important than Art.” A lack of physical activity in the US is a contributing factor to nearly all disease, after all. In addition, muscle mass and associated muscle activity is especially important for brain oxygenation and neural health. (I can continue.)

The are argument that any academic subject is more important than another is—to be blunt—stupid. Art and Math (and PE) are important to one’s functional development. They are important to societal progress. To ignore one at the expense of the other will be society’s downfall.

Now, if we talk about this statement from a perspective of time spent in each academically, the discussion becomes more nuanced. I have heard people argue that they don’t use the Algebra they were forced to take in school. If that is the case, well…. Let’s just quote Mr. T—“I pity the fool.” We may not use Math in a most direct sense daily—as in sitting down to solve quadratic equations and prove theorems, but we do use numbers (or we hire accountants, I guess). I would argue that we waste time teaching Math poorly and asking kids to solve problems multiple times using a variety of “new math” methods (rather than teaching multiple ways of solving problems and allowing students to figure out the answer in the way that is most appropriate for them). Math, after all, teaches us problem solving skills.

Art is no less important. I can’t preach “well-centered fitness” (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social wellness) and ignore the importance of Art. Art captures and reinforces the SPIES dimensions. I would argue that we are less whole without Art.

Should artists make the same incomes as mathematicians? This largely depends on their contribution to society. No doubt our compensations in the US (and most of the world) are disordered. Professional athletes make excessive salaries. CEOs take massive bonuses. Celebrities (although they may be regarded as “artists”) can collect huge paychecks. Yes, there are starving artists. There are some who do quite well. Likewise, there are underpaid mathematicians (we sometimes refer to them as teachers or professors). The reality is that few people feel they are paid their worth and “worth” is subjective. The value of art versus the value of math is likewise subjective. Neither is greater or less than the other. It is how we utilize them is what matters.

Educations has for quite some time recognized the importance of the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Wisely, there has been a shift toward the reference to STEAM, thus adding the Arts. Personally, I believe in a balance—a “liberal education” (and, yes, this includes a Physical Education, as well).

Let’s not argue the importance or relevance of one subject over another. Let’s focus on simply educating our young and preparing them to make a better world for tomorrow.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!!