For people who want to age well and stay engaged with life. I share practical ideas and personal reflections on strength, adaptability, independence, and what it means to keep moving forward with purpose.
What Are You Training For?
What Are You Training For?I spent September 2026 learning. You could say I was “back in school.” Early in the month, during a family vacation through Vermont, Canada, and Quebec, I kept running into reminders of what matters: “The destination is not as important as who we become in the midst of the journey.” “The language of society is conformity. The language of the creative individual is freedom.” It seemed I was never far from some nudge toward self examination and perspective. Later, I presented to the Delaware Valley Fly Fishers. Their thoughtful attention reinforced my purpose: helping people become active participants in how they age. I especially appreciated the group’s willingness to take part in several simple tests designed to gauge how well they are aging. They did impressively well. I’ve posted those tests on my website for anyone who would like to try them. Mid-month, I was reenergized again when I participated in the New Jersey Senior Olympics 1500-meter power walk. One thing struck me: contrary to the way society often views aging, senior athletes get excited about getting older. A birthday may move them into a new age category—and that can be an advantage. There are fewer competitors in the 80–84 bracket, for example, than in the younger groups. At one point, a 90-year-old power walker studied the registration list and blurted out, “There’s no one registered other than me. I’m already a winner.” I thought to myself: You may not realize the gold you’ve already won. The LessonFor many people, growing older can feel uninspiring, a steady accumulation of losses. But to a Senior Olympian, another year can feel more like a windfall. What do they know that the rest of us may be missing? Maybe their lifestyle reflects a love of life more than a fear of aging. Maybe they value the investment they’ve made in strength, mobility, freedom, and independence. Maybe they understand something important about identity. Behavior does not always follow belief. Often, behavior follows identity. Perhaps they have simply found something worth training for. Going ForwardWhat would it feel like to reframe your identity? Instead of thinking, “I’m getting old,” what if the thought became: “I’m still an athlete.” Not an athlete in the strict, competitive sense, but someone who still trains for life. Someone who participates in their own aging to remain capable, engaged, strong, and independent. That’s one of the most useful lessons I brought home this September. Longevity is abstract. Freedom is tangible. UpcomingI’ll be speaking at the Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival on January 9–10, 2027. If you go, please come by, say hello, and join me for the presentation. Support and InspirationBooks: If my books give you something useful to think about, I'd be grateful if you'd leave an honest review on Amazon. Reviews help other readers find me and decide whether my books are worth their time—and they help me understand what is connecting with readers. Website Visit Substack Join the conversation Facebook Connect Instagram Message YouTube Join Get in touch with your ideas, suggestions and comments. Forward this newsletter to anyone you know who may enjoy it. |
Fly Fisher Fitness
For people who want to age well and stay engaged with life. I share practical ideas and personal reflections on strength, adaptability, independence, and what it means to keep moving forward with purpose.
West Branch, Delaware River The Next Layer: What Makes Earned Performance Possible Last month we talked about how Lionel Messi earned his performance as a master athlete. I wrote, “very little of what Messi does is beyond our reach.” What is hidden in that statement is the effort that comes before the tactics—the awareness, focus, and intention that make his tactics matter. It’s easy to stay where we are, maybe too easy. The status quo can feel comfortable enough that we assume all is well....
Earned Performance At the World Cup, Lionel Messi was at the forefront—not just because of his goals, but because of how he played. Rather than chasing every ball, he strategically conserved energy through exceptional spatial awareness, timing, and disciplined movement. His approach is deliberate and reflects wisdom: awareness, focus, and restraint. By managing his physical output, he reduced unnecessary energy expenditure and wear and tear. Messi uses all he has—mind and body—maximizing his...
Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Montana Muscle is your engine for aging well. It allows you to climb stairs, carry groceries, pick up the grandchildren hike trails, recover from a stumble, and remain independent. As we age, that engine slowly loses horsepower—but it doesn't have to. Muscle mass shrinks with age. We lose strength and power—all the things that fuel an active life. Beginning around age 35, most adults begin losing muscle at roughly 1–2 percent per year unless they actively work...