Chapter Content
Okay, so, you know, have you ever thought about whether you'll be, like, actually *dancing* at your eightieth birthday party? It's kind of a big question, right?
I mean, I was reading about this guy, Dan Go, and his story is pretty wild. He was, like, in his twenties but felt like he was totally headed for an early grave, you know? Grew up in a small town in Ontario, his parents were immigrants, and he was, like, seriously bullied as a kid. He said, and I quote, "They told me I was small, dumb, and never going to amount to anything." Which is just... awful. And you know, when you hear that stuff over and over as a kid, you start to believe it, right?
So, he ended up dropping out of high school, felt totally worthless, and started, like, partying, drinking, just trying to numb the pain. It was a total downward spiral, you know? He even said he couldn't even look at himself in the mirror.
But then, something kinda random happened. His dad got a free gym pass and gave it to Dan, who was like, "Ugh, a gym pass?" But he realized, and this is key, he realized that if he didn't change, he was gonna die.
So he went. First day, he was on the treadmill, totally out of breath after, like, five minutes. But he went back the next day and tried some weights. Didn't know what he was doing, but he felt, like, this rush of energy. And the next morning, he was sore, but, like, in a good way! He stuck with it, even though it was tough, and after a few weeks, he actually started to *enjoy* going to the gym. And then, get this, on the last day of the pass, he had to tighten his belt!
That was it. That was the moment everything changed. He saw that his actions had power. He could control his life. He started learning more about fitness, nutrition, all that stuff. And his brain started working better, he remembered things more easily, and his whole mindset shifted. He was like, "Wow, I can actually do things!" He realized he could create change, not just with his health, but with anything.
Now, he's in his forties but looks way younger, super fit, happily married, and he's built this, like, multimillion-dollar business helping other people transform their lives, too. It all started with that gym pass and him just showing up.
It’s kind of the same with this other guy I read about, Kevin Dahlstrom. He got super sick in his twenties and, instead of just taking pills, he researched everything, changed his diet, started exercising. Got better! Years later, he was a big shot executive making, like, a million bucks a year, but he wasn't happy. So, he quit. He realized he wanted control over his life, and he wasn't getting it from, you know, the corporate world. Now he rock climbs with his family and works on projects he actually enjoys. He gave up a ton of money, but he says it was worth it. He said that building, like, physical wealth gives you control in all areas of your life.
It makes you think, doesn't it?
There's this thing called "futures thinking," that helps you imagine your ideal future self. Like, where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing? And then, you use that vision to make decisions *now*. It helps you figure out what you need to do today to make that future a reality.
So, let's try it. Close your eyes for a sec. Imagine you're at your eightieth birthday party. People are walking in, smiling, bringing gifts. You're sitting at the table, having your favorite food and drink. And then, your favorite song comes on. You start tapping your foot. People are getting up to dance.
What happens next?
Do you get up and join them?
Or are you stuck in your chair, watching?
The thing is, that answer is being written *now*, by your daily actions. What you do today determines whether you'll be dancing or watching at your eightieth birthday.
So, think about it. If you keep doing what you're doing, will you be dancing? What do you need to change to make sure you're living the life you want to be living way down the line? What would your eighty-year-old self want you to do today?
Remember, you only get one body. Take care of it. Think of it like a house you have to live in for a long time. Don't treat it like trash. Invest in it. Make those small daily changes to make sure it lasts.
Even this football player, Andrew Luck, he retired, gave up millions of dollars, because his health was more important. He realized he couldn't keep playing without ruining his future life.
So, yeah, let's make sure you're dancing at that eightieth birthday party.