Every once in a while, if you're lucky, you come across the opportunity to learn some invaluable lessons that serve you well later in life. We were lucky enough to have just such an experience during our journey across Tibet. First, some background...
Our group of adventurers totaled six members, all of whom are experienced travelers and savvy individuals. As we traveled together for nearly three weeks we learned from one another, and the accumulation of wisdom was extraordinary. One of our group, however, had some life-lessons to impart, and has gone so far as to create a simple, memorable list of gems for us to follow.
This is Ted...
As the weeks wore on we came to learn more and more about Ted. Ted is an experienced seaman...
...an avid photographer...
...an intrepid adventurer...
...a dog whisperer...
...an artists' muse...
...a strongman...
...and, by the end of the trip, a monk...
A while ago, Ted celebrated a milestone birthday and on that august occasion he synthesized his life experiences into a concise list of principles that will enable us all to reach (and surpass) the age of 70 years old. Ted shared his list incrementally with the group (typically at Happy Hour or over dinner) so as not to overwhelm us and, as any good teacher will do, to allow each principle to take hold before giving us the next lesson. Given Ted's youthful example of the septuagenarian's life (we still cannot believe he is 78...!) we found his tips to be at the very least interesting, and possibly even worthwhile (though taken individually, the group tended to dissect and masticate each principle)...so, as a service to you, the reader, it is our pleasure to share
Ted's Ten Tips for Living to Seventy.
1. Don't Fall Down...
Nothing good happens when you fall down. Things get bruised or broken, recovery time gets longer and longer and the return to 100% less and less likely...so don't fall down. This is one principle our entire group could agree to.
2. Roll Your Clothes...
Rolling your clothes will reduce the size of the bag you need to take along when you travel, thus extending your ability to travel well into your later years. If possible, get these vacuum bags...Ted swears by them. (Now, there was some debate within our group about how this might actually ensure that one makes it to the age of seventy or beyond, and there were those who also debated the notion of larger versus smaller luggage when the weight is the same...but nevertheless, this is Ted's list, and this tip seemed really important when he shared it at Happy Hour.)
3. Tie Your Shoes, Properly...
This is a bit of a corollary to Tip #1...you don't want to fall, and a loose shoelace is a sure way to trip and fall. However, the really important word in this tip is "Properly"...and according to Ted there is a "proper" way to tie the knot in your laces. You should tie your laces so that it holds without fail, and it still unties with a single pull. This is accomplished by passing one lace loop through the knot a second time before you pull the "ears" tight. It takes a little practice, but Ted showed us that when you learn this knot it takes no longer to tie than a regular knot...we're still practicing...
4. Always Wear Clean Underwear...
There's a reason our mothers told us this, and Ted explained it...it goes something like this: if you wear dirty underwear and you get in an accident, the folks in the ER won't want to work on you, so your care will be delayed, so you might not make it...Yeah, the logic chain sounds a little suspect, but Ted is over 70 and he claims to always wear clean underwear (though this claim remains unverified) so there must be something to it...
5. Keep Doing What You're Doing...
The point here is that we should not let anyone tell us that we are now too old to do what we have done routinely in the past. If you've traveled in the past and want to travel again, do it! If you always liked hiking when you were younger and want to go for a hike now that you're old, do it! If you have done alot of base jumping in your younger years and want to do it for your 75th birthday...well, maybe there a a few exceptions to this tip...
6. Listen to Your Doctor, but Chart Your Own Course...
Yes, doctors know alot, and they probably know alot more about the human body and systems than we do, but that doesn't mean that they know it all, or that they know what is best for us. Only we know what is best for us, so the idea is to gather as much information as possible from those really smart doctors, and then make health decisions based on what you know about
you!
7. Buy the Biggest Boat You Can Afford...
This tip needs a little adaptation, because it need not apply only to boats...though this does look like a nice boat if you can afford it. The point of this tip is to encourage us to choose the best of those things that will make us happy, and to buy as much of that thing as you can afford. If you want to buy a house, buy a house that is as close to having everything that you want, and that you can afford. Same with a car, or a vacation, or anything else that gives you great enjoyment...don't scrimp on yourself or your happiness.
8. You'll Never Go Broke Selling at a Profit...
So many people carry with them regrets about things they have bought and sold in the past...like the house that if they had sold just a year later they would have made more of a profit...or the stock they decided to sell and if they had just sold it a little earlier they would have made more profit. The point here is that as long as you make a profit on your financial transactions, don't worry about "but-ifs"...you'll never go broke selling at a profit.
9. Ask for Directions...
This could be a cliched jab at the men in the group, but it is actually much broader in its application than just asking for driving directions...or even asking for directions. Imagine how much more we would know and understand if we asked more questions...about the experience of others, about new things we are introduced to, about things going on around us. This tip reminds us to not think that we know everything we need to know, and we can learn alot from the people around us.
10. Give to Others, Especially People You Don't Know
This tip is especially close to Michael's heart since he works in the world of philanthropy every day. It is relatively easy for most of us to give to people we know when they are in need, and we often derive satisfaction and receive thanks for these gestures of kindness. What really does our hearts good and engages our spirits, and therefore helps us to live long and happy lives, is the act of giving to others beyond our immediate circle...giving time by volunteering, giving money, giving our skills and abilities...to support, encourage and enrich the lives of others.
We're grateful for Ted's sage advice, and if he's any indication, these tips really work!
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