Do EPIC Shit! | LAYC22

Well, here I am!

Post the big party.

No hang over!

In fact, I'm feeling fabulous!

After my two thirds of a century and climbing.

I shouted out to the world that I was officially 66.67 years

young, and celebrating the first two thirds of a century of my life.

More important.

I was excited to begin the next one third century of my life, with the

positive expectation, of course...

That I'd not only be happy to reach 100 years of age.

But vibrantly launch into my second century.

In that episode, I shared a poem by Linda Ellis called The Dash, that

beautifully reminds us the dates of birth and death are irrelevant.

It's the dash between those dates on our tombstone, that represent how we

lived, and how we will be remembered.

Surprised that I have reached this milestone so quickly...

Rather like climbing a mountain and reaching a peak.

I've paused just briefly, to enjoy the view, looking back on my life.

Although I scrambled, and tumbled, and scraped my knees many times

over six plus decades of living.

I am grateful for all of the adventures...

love, heartaches, tears, and constant evolution.

Because of the often tough climb...

the fact I kept trying...

learning, searching for better footholds.

I am strong and resilient.

It is fair to say that I am...

invincible.

Because I never gave up trying, to become a better version of me.

Recently, I listened to a podcast interview of Norma Kamali.

For those who recognize her name...

and those who don't...

Norma Kamali is a fashion icon...

and a whole institution by herself.

At age, 75 years young.

She looks about half that age, and she's still setting fashion trends, and

blowing up the stereotypes of aging.

Miss Kamali released a new book in 2021 called, I am invincible.

The book is a manifesto, a memoir, about how she, in 50 years of living,

lived her dreams and never looked back.

The secret she writes, is learning how to age with power.

Embracing a healthy lifestyle.

And looking forward to every milestone, and the changes they

bring with the realization, that reaching one's potential has no date.

Norma!, You are singing to the choir!

That's exactly what I've been saying.

Check out episode number three of this show...

To hear my case for why we don't have an expiry date...

Unless we choose it.

Seriously, we have to shake up some long outdated paradigms, about aging.

A few weeks ago on the podcast, I interviewed another fashion

icon, and I'm sure you would enjoy the episode entitled...

Original Gangster with Linda Lundstrom.

I had the pleasure of interviewing my friend mentor and inspiration.

So when you have time to grab a cup of Birch tea, go back

and listen to Episode 13...

Back to Norma Kamali, and her philosophy of learning to age, with power.

What does it mean...

Age with power?

I haven't read her book yet, but I will.

And I'll get back to you on what I learned.

For now, I'm going to interpret that expression through the filter of

my recent episode, and the poem...

The Dash.

If I hold fast to a belief that I have the power...

and no one else does...

To influence what's in my dash...

Then I must also acknowledge, that I alone have the power

over my thoughts and choices.

And I must be very careful, not to give away my power.

I am the one who is responsible.

I have the power, to see the purpose, and beauty, in everything

that has happened in my life.

How that has set me up...

Empowered me, if you will...

To be who I am today, and positioned me perfectly, for who I choose to become...

Who I want to grow into, in this next stage of my dash.

This also ties into a recent conversation with my friend Lee

Woodward, about aging beautifully.

and epically.

I will invite her on our podcast soon to talk about...

Little B, and Big B...

beauty, and her epic journey.

The word epic is traditionally associated as a story about a long

adventure with major twists, turns, struggles and battles won...

Just like life...

but perhaps the word epic, conjured up a memory for you of Charlton

Heston in a short robe and sandals.

Epic doesn't have to mean a blockbuster Hollywood movie, or

reenactment of a Bible story...

Sorry Charlton, epic means growing, evolving, having an influence

and an impact to benefit others.

Epic means lifting as you climb.

Because I've declared that my story is far from over.

I choose to continue to write it, and fill in the dash...

between my start and end dates, with epic stuff.

Epic means leveraging your lifetime of accumulated tacit knowledge,

strengths, and skills to experience more of your dash, and live your legacy.

Epic means using your potential to learn more, create more, give more.

It means putting more life into your years, being open

to growth, and opportunities.

Epic is a feeling of confidence, excitement, possibilities,

and butterflies in your belly.

It does require some courage to step out...

and be epic in your life, knowing that not everyone is going to support you...

or get you...

or may even criticize you, because you are consciously making a

decision to do something new.

To grow.

To evolve.

Instead of playing it safe, staying small, and just letting the

sand slip through the hourglass.

Sometimes epic is a small step into the courage, to try something new...

or small gestures and acts of kindness, that add up to impact for others.

Just do epic stuff.

So, how do you begin?

Transform your bucket list, into an epic list.

Think about the things you've always wanted to do, but never had

the time or made the time to do.

Think about the people that you want to spend more time with,

and the places you want to go to.

Where with your unique gifts, you can make a difference in the world.

For me, the process begins with curiosity and bits of inspiration, that seem to

find their way into my subconscious.

I've always had a what if streak, but turning my daydreams and

secret desires, into reality usually included a vision board.

Articulated intentions for the outcome, and maintaining connection with

my vision, by seeing it every day.

See it.

Believe it.

Achieve it.

I have multiple vision boards hanging in the office and my home.

Each one represents a different Encore event, or transformative time of my life.

Manifesting goals and desires, doesn't happen in consecutive containers.

They usually overlap, mingle, and often arrive in a form slightly

different than what you expect.

But as they say, this or something better is what I welcome.

As an entrepreneur who built an eight figure business from dining room table,

to boardroom tables around the globe.

Strategic planning was critical to my success.

My secret formula was the combination of visualization, goal

setting, and mindfulness practices.

These best practices of visioning and goal setting are combined in the Visual

Encore Plan, that I will use again...

To create a physical representation, of the future that I desire...

As I begin this new part of...

My Dash.

I have no idea what the next 33 and a third years, will hold for me.

I do know what I'd like to experience in the next three to five years.

I'm going to create a new epic vision...

To be the catalyst for what I manifest.

If you would like to know more about the Visual Encore Plan.

How it can support you, to do epic stuff.

I will include the details in the show notes of this episode.

In closing, Please share your thoughts about this episode, and

epic living, in our Facebook group...

the Lift As You Climb Movement.

And just for fun, go ahead and buy that T-shirt...

Do Epic Shit.

Own it proudly.

While you're out shopping...

Go ahead and pick up one of those...

I Am Invincible T-shirts also...

Because you are!

Be sure to share photos of your epic Visual Encore Plan...

and your great t-shirts of course, in our community's Facebook group.

I promise...

I'll show you mine.

If you show me yours!

Let's inspire each other...

Let's celebrate our dashes together...