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CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
FEATURE
Artist and model Ilona Smithkin, 94, prepares to leave the house.
TIMELESS BEAUTY
DEPARTMENTS 5 | FROM THE EDITOR
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Photographer Ari Seth Cohen Puts Fashionable Older Women in Focus. BY JACKIE CARLIN
6 | GROWING BOLDER WITH
22 | THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH TM These guys just made swimming history. By Mark Middleton
27 | BEHIND THE SCENES Here’s what’s new and coming from the Growing Bolder team.
8 | ROAD TO RECOVERY If we show up strong, we’ll bounce back faster. By Robert Masson, M.D.
23 | ROCK STARS OF AGING TM We wrote the book on active longevity. By Mark Middleton
28 | SURVIVING & THRIVING TM Cheryl Faulk is winning the weight war. By Bill Shafer
10 | 5 QUESTIONS Even James Bond loves her “weird” new way to paint. By Jackie Carlin
24 | BOLDER FITNESS Plus-sized inspiration for women worldwide. By Katy Widrick
29 | GREAT TRANSITIONS Aging safely in your own home. By Lyn and Paul Henderson
12 | MOVE FORWARD. GIVE BACK. TM Harriett Lake makes giving fashionable. By Marc Middleton
26 | BOLDER DOCS Conquering Kilimanjaro is a standingroom-only smash. By Jackie Carlin
30 | THE TAKEAWAY Don’t wait until it’s too late to realize what really matters. By Mitch Albom
ON THE COVER: Photographer Ari Seth Cohen and model Mimi Weddell showcase the fashionable flair of older women. Photo credit: Advanced Style 4 GROWING BOLDER
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
FROM THE EDITOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marc Middleton MANAGING EDITOR Jackie Carlin ASSOCIATE EDITORS Bill Shafer, Katy Widrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robert Masson, M.D., Paul and Lyn Henderson ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY Ari Seth Cohen, Ari Michelson, Clay Patrick McBride DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION Jason Morrow, Pat Narciso, Josh Doolittle, Mike Nanus
I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY NEXT FAILURE
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BY MARC MIDDLETON
had the pleasure of speaking to a large group of university students recently and I started by saying that I can’t wait for my next failure. That statement was met with chuckles and quizzical looks. I explained that I wouldn’t be trying something new unless I was interested in it, and thought it might add value to my life. But even if I’m passionate about it, I’ll most likely fail at it initially. Almost no one is good at something right away — even something they’re destined to do, or “born to do.” Those who ultimately become good at something are simply those who were OK with being bad at it for a while — those who didn’t get discouraged and quit. If you can’t deal with initial failure, you’ll never achieve ultimate success. I ended my talk by repeating that I can’t wait for my next failure. This time, it was met with broad smiles and affirmative nods. Because in my mind, my next failure will ultimately lead to my next success. Make 2015 a year that you put yourself out there — a year that you try new things, take new chances, embrace new adventures and change your perspective on failure. It’s an important and necessary part of success.
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Marc Middleton, Editor-in-Chief marcmiddleton@growingbolder.com GROWING BOLDER 5
GROWING BOLDER WITH
ROSANNE CASH
59
SINGER/SONGWRITER
“I have fewer expectations about my career now, which is very freeing. I think that’s common for those of us in middle age. It can take a lot of doubt and uncertainty to get to this place, but now you finally feel you know what you do, or don’t do, well. I know a lot of people who are burnt out at my age, and I’m so lucky I still feel inspired. Art and music inspire me. After 20 years, I’m still in love with my husband. I love being a mom. I love my work. And when I do feel burnt out and tired, I remind myself I’m lucky to do what I do.”
Rosanne Cash is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter who has charted 21 Top 40 country singles, 11 of which climbed to No. 1. She’s also the author of four books, including her best-selling memoir, Composed. Her latest album, The River & The Thread, was one of the most critically acclaimed releases albums of 2014 and earned her three more Grammy nominations.
ROGER DALTREY
“Rock and roll was never ageist. It got associated with young people because they’re the ones who started it and embraced it, but it’s always been about the music. As long as it stays vibrant and up-to-date, age doesn’t matter. When we were starting out, rock and roll didn’t have much of a past. It was all about the future. Now, here we are, 50 years into that future, and it turns out that the music is much more important than anyone realized at the time. If your brain gets old and your dreams start to die, then you’re old. It’s not about your age. It’s about your attitude.”
Roger Daltrey is a founding member The Who. In addition to his many music and stage accolades, he’s also revered for his work with the Teenage Cancer Trust in the U.K. and Teen Cancer America, which build specialized wards for teens with cancer. This year, he joins his bandmates on a worldwide “The Who Hits 50!” tour. Visit thewho.com for dates.
NEIL DIAMOND
73
SINGER/SONGWRITER
“In the 1980s, doctors discovered a tumor on my spine. It didn’t look good. I was beginning to lose the use of the right side of my body and was facing paralyzation. But I got through it, and the entire experience changed my life for the better. It gave me a new respect for our time here on Earth and for what I was doing with my life and work. It put things in perspective, gave me the chance to start again and to appreciate the value of every minute. I’m grateful for the experience because it still affects everything I do. Life today is better than it’s ever been.”
Neil Diamond has sold more than 128 million albums and is a Grammy Award-winning member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was awarded a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American music and culture. Neil remains one of the top-drawing live performers in the world. He’s just released Melody Road, his 32nd album and first collection of new songs in six years.
GB EXTRA Listen to our full-length conversations with Roger Daltrey, Neil Diamond and Rosanne Cash on GrowingBolderMagazine.com.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
PHOTO CREDITS: NEIL DIAMOND, ARI MICHELSON; ROGER DALTREY, THEWHO.COM; ROSANNE CASH, CLAY PATRICK MCBRIDE
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ROCK AND ROLL ICON
ROAD TO RECOVERY
World-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Masson believes that recovery from injury is enhanced by being in shape.
HOW TO HEAL
If We Show Up Strong, We’ll Bounce Back Faster.
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BY ROBERT MASSON, M.D. ne of my personal mantras is Show Up Strong. Many of us, especially as we get older, let our fitness level — our commitment to self — slack. As a result, we’re unprepared if we suffer a major injury, and we’re unprepared for the treatment program that follows. That can lead to a difficult and incomplete recovery. Show Up Strong is a grassroots movement started by NeuroSpine Institute to help change the culture in adult performance and behavior so that we’re constantly in readiness mode, constantly 8 GROWING BOLDER
aware that we’re all likely to get hurt. Things happen. Whether it’s a predictable degenerative condition or a trauma such as a car accident or sports injury, if we prepare for it—if we Show Up Strong—our bodies will be better able to deal with the trauma, the intervention and the recovery. We’ll bounce back faster, stronger, better and more capable. We’ll improve our recovery, diminish our complications and enhance our goals. And that’s what healthcare is all about. I’m passionate about the fact that if we Show Up Strong — show up in shape —
it will mitigate the minor trauma that a modern surgery entails and give us the best possible result. We all get busy and forget about taking care of ourselves. In my own life, I look at an injury as a wake-up call, as a little red light that’s signaling an opportunity for a positive lifestyle change. So when I see an injury, I encourage patients to realize that this adversity is an important reminder to take better care of themselves and to begin preparing for a better, more active future. If we Show Up Strong, we’ll greatly reduce our chance of injury and increase our treatment options if we are injured. If we Show Up Strong, there’s usually no limit to the extent of our recovery, and the quality of life, that can be regained.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to watch more of Dr. Robert Masson’s Road to Recovery Minutes.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
Return to Work. Return to Sport.
Return to Life.
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5 QUESTIONS
BRUSH WITH CELEBRITY Even James Bond Loves Her “Weird” New Way to Paint. BY JACKIE CARLIN
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
MARIAM PARÉ
was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nearly 20 years ago, she was a college art student sitting in a friend’s car at a stop sign when gunfire broke out across the street. A single bullet passed through the car’s door, hitting her in the neck and the back. And just like that, she was a quadriplegic, unable to walk and with significant motor loss in her upper extremities. Her assailant was never identified or caught. She then embarked on the long, painful process of relearning how to do practically everything. When a therapist taught her how to hold a pencil in her teeth to write, a question occurred to her. If she could still write, could she still paint? The answer was yes. Since Mariam’s injury, she’s earned degrees in fine art, graphic design and web design. Today, she’s an accomplished painter whose artwork is exhibited and collected nationwide. More importantly, she’s earning a living and doing what she loves.
Take us back to the day of your injury. What were your first thoughts when you learned you’d been paralyzed?
Nobody expects something like that to happen. When it did happen, I didn’t even realize at first that I’d been shot. Gunfire doesn’t sound like it does on TV, and it wasn’t until I was at the hospital that they told me I’d been shot and paralyzed. It’s such a life-changing event. Physically, everything you’ve ever known before is gone. I call it the beginning of my new life because it was like starting all over again. Before your injury, you were a college art student. How did your passion for painting give you purpose and a reason to keep moving forward in the wake of a terrible tragedy?
It really helped me cope, and having an artistic heart really helped me express my feelings. I wish everyone was an artist, because it’s really such a fulfilling thing to do, especially when you’re facing challenges. I was also so happy to have painting back in my life because it was one of the only things from my former life that I still had—and could continue to do—even if I was doing it in a difGROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
ferent way. I think that’s why I held onto it so tightly. It was a goal to keep practicing and get as good as I had been with my hands. How did you become involved with the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists?
When I was learning to paint with my mouth after the shooting, I thought I was the only one doing this weird thing. Then I met somebody at an abilities expo who was a member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. She told me about this organization with other artists who were disabled and painting professionally with their mouths or feet. I immediately submitted a portfolio of my work, and was so glad to be accepted. Internationally there are now 800 of us and 66 in the U.S. Now, for the past eight years, I’ve been making a living as an artist, having my paintings reproduced on cards and calendars. It’s a great organization. One of your passions has been painting portraits of James Bond. You painted two pictures of Pierce Brosnan, and when he learned about this, he was so moved that he contacted you. What happened?
One of Mariam’s favorite subjects to paint is Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. The actor was so impressed that he invited her to his Malibu home.
He’s the most gracious gentleman ever. He invited me to his home in Malibu to deliver the paintings to him personally. I still pinch myself that it actually happened. Mr. Brosnan is a painter himself, and we connected on this artist-to-artist level. We talked about the things that inspire us to paint, and even the pain and suffering we’ve both survived and how that’s incorporated into our art. It was amazing. What have you learned about life, and what can we learn from you?
The lesson I’ve learned is to just keep trying and to never give up. Free yourself from caring about what other people think. For example, preconceptions about disabled people can be very negative, and I’ve been underestimated over the years. I’ve never let that get me down, and I’ve just kept trying. You have to let go of a lot of vanities and ego to achieve things, but when you do, you can succeed at things that you never dreamed possible.
GB EXTRA Visit mariampare.com to see more of Mariam’s art. And check out GrowingBolderMagazine to listen to our full-length Growing Bolder Radio conversation with Mariam.
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 11
MOVE FORWARD. GIVE BACK.
TM
Harriett’s home closet contains only a fraction of her wardrobe, much of which she has sold for charity.
WEAR, SHARE Harriett Lake Makes Giving Fashionable.
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BY MARC MIDDLETON n a 2013 issue of Growing Bolder Magazine, we shared an exclusive inside look at philanthropist Harriett Lake’s closet, which is complete with a two-story commercial dry-cleaning rack and a priceless collection of designer clothing. Every year, Harriett writes more than $1.5 million in checks to help support at least 180 non-profits. “I could leave the money in the bank and watch it grow,” she told us. “But you can’t let money sit when people are starving and living in the streets. I plan to give it all away before I go — every penny.” Harriett’s only indulgence, and she admits it’s a big one, is her fashion collec12 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
tion. ”I can’t resist beautiful clothes,” she says. “I’m an addict, a junkie. Even if I were penniless, I’d be out there working for fabric to make my own stuff.” But she’s far from penniless, and over the last seven decades she has accumulated one of the world’s largest private wardrobes. But like her money, Harriett has decided she can’t take her clothes with her. So, at 92, she’s begun selling much of her clothing and accessories to benefit her favorite charities. At a highly anticipated, weeklong sale, Harriett recently divested herself of more than 5,000 pieces, including many from her favorite designers, such as Chanel, Burberry, Ferragamo and Yves Saint Laurent.
She emptied her private warehouse — nine rooms filled with hats, handbags, scarves, shoes, clothing, fur coats and jewelry — at prices ranging from $5 to $4,000. The proceeds will benefit Harriett’s Boutique for Cancer Survivors at Orlando Health, the Orlando Ballet and Central Florida’s Foundation for Foster Children. Harriett still has most of the 1,000 items in her home closet, but don’t be surprised if she eventually decides all she really needs is a little black dress and gives the rest away. “If there was a fire here, I’d take the $18 black dress from Costco and get out,” she told us. “There’s something about the little black dress. You can’t deny it. A basic black dress that you can buy at Costco for $18 will carry you anywhere.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to see our video from inside Harriett Lake’s impressive closet and to learn more about this incredible philanthropist.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
TIMELESS
BEAUTY
Photographer Ari Seth Cohen Puts Fashionable Older Women in Focus.
BY JACKIE CARLIN
Famed artist and model Ilona Smithkin, 94, opera singer Joyce Carpati, 82, and Lynn Dell, 81, who has owned “Off Broadway,” one of New York’s most glamourous boutiques, for more than 40 years, pose for photographer Ari Seth Cohen, who is inspired by their passion for fashion and life.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 15
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So, after her death, he moved there. As he walked the streets of his new home, he was struck by what he saw: gorgeous older women flaunting their flair for fashion and over-the-top styles. He couldn’t help but think of his grandmother. He borrowed a friend’s camera and started snapping pictures with no real idea of what he’d do with them. He just was dumbstruck that no one else seemed to be paying attention to this treasure trove of amazing women — and men, too. “I started noticing all these incredibly dressed, creative and vital older people in the city,” Ari says. “I started to wonder why our ‘role models’ in the media, in fashion and in general are all younger. I wondered why people like Mimi Weddell (see sidebar) and these ladies I was meeting on the street weren’t being featured. They
Ari Seth Cohen finds and photographs intriguing people on the streets of New York City. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOND/360, NEW YORK CITY
I
t’s no secret that the fashion industry worships at the altar of youth. Even as executives, designers and magazine editors get older, the models, muses and celebrity spokespeople get younger. In fact, some of the hottest faces in fashion these days are the youthful offspring of former fashion-magazine icons such as Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley and David and Victoria Beckham. Where have all the fashionable mature women gone? They’ve taken to the streets. After graduating from college in Seattle, Ari Seth Cohen felt drawn to New York City. He’d grown up listening to stories that his grandmother, a Columbia University graduate, told him about her exciting and culture-packed days in the Big Apple.
GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
PHOTO BY ARI SETH COHEN
Before her death at the age of 95, Zelda Kaplan was a legendary figure in New York. The former Florida housewife discovered a new life in her 50s, teaching ballroom dancing and becoming a part of the glitterati’s inner circles. She traveled the world on humanitarian missions and was even the subject of an HBO documentary. G R O W I N G B O L D E R 17
were experienced. They were wise. They were cultured. They were gorgeous. Why were older people so invisible?” New York is the media capital of the world. It’s bursting at the seams with photographers, producers and wannabe starmakers. Yet Ari, with no photography or media experience and using a borrowed camera, quietly started taking pictures of older people — mostly women, some men. 18 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
“Once I’d collected a few hundred photos, I realized that they really had the power to change peoples’ perspective on aging,” he says. So Ari did something decidedly modern. He started uploading the photos to his blog, Advanced Style, along with short blurbs about each subject. The blog exploded. People across the world started sharing the images. And, before he knew it, Ari was helping to change
the conversation about what aging is “supposed” to look like. “Early on, I started to hear from young girls that they no longer feared aging,” he says. “That was one of the main reasons I kept going with this project in its early days. These girls were telling me that they couldn’t wait to be like these women, and they couldn’t wait to be old.” Ari found the response surprising. “The fact JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
PHOTOS BY ARI SETH COHEN
Ilona Smithkin, 94, is a world-renowned Impressionist painter who’s continued to teach into her 90s. Artist Debra Rapoport (opposite page) has always loved hunting thrift shops for interesting finds; now she’s creating her own unique hats through her new Etsy shop.
that these images could have so much power to influence people to not fear aging was wonderful feedback,” he continues. “Then, older women started emailing me to say that they all of a sudden felt permission to start dressing up again. They no longer felt invisible.” From the start, the project was very personal to Ari. It was a way to pay tribute to two women who shaped the man he’d become. “Growing up, both of my grandmothers GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
were my best friends,” he recalls. “I wanted to be old because they were having so much fun. They were creative. They did what they wanted. They taught me about fashion, culture and how to be a good person.” Consequently, Ari says, he never thought of aging as anything negative: “I admired [my grandmothers] so much and listened to everything they said. They allowed me to question life. They allowed me to be cre-
ative. They allowed me to figure out what I wanted to do. They were just wonderful.” A best-selling book and critically acclaimed documentary, all under the Advanced Style brand, quickly followed. Now, the young man who’d started out dabbling in street photography is internationally celebrated and even embraced in the fashion industry. “It’s really an exciting time,” Ari says. “Lately, more and more beauty companies G R O W I N G B O L D E R 19
Lynn Dell and Ilona Smithkin share a laugh over tea. “When you look at my photos, I really think you see their true essence shining through,” Ari says of his subjects.
20 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
“We encourage these women to embrace the joys of life, and to live life boldly,” Joyce says. “Afterwards, they’re just so happy and are starting to look at life differently. They’re ready to go out there, face the world and say, ‘OK, look at me. I’m here.’” Ari’s photos aren’t just about style; they reveal a zest for life and a flair for creativity and bold playfulness that many don’t associate with older people. “For me, fashion was just a visual entry point into creating a conversation about aging,” he says. “The most important things to learn from these women are their stories. Dressing up is just a sign of their vitality.” Ari’s already hard at work on his next project — a book that will delve into the lifestyle secrets of his muses. How do they maintain their vigor? What can the rest of us learn from them?
“When you look at my photos, I really think you see their true essence shining through,” he notes. “You see their spirit, their confidence, their energy and passion for life. Whatever it is they’ve done their whole lives, they’re continuing to do. I’m showing that just because you turn 80, 90 or 100 doesn’t mean that you lose your will to create and to be the person you’ve always been. “You just need those opportunities to continue, and you need a community around you that supports you, no matter what age you are.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to listen to our Growing Bolder Radio conversations with Ari, as well as Mimi Weddell and Joyce Carpati. We’ll also share links to Ari’s blog, Advanced Style, and the documentary.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
PHOTO BY ARI SETH COHEN
have been choosing older actresses and models as the faces of campaigns.” For example, Marc Jacobs chose 64-yearold Jessica Lange and L’Oréal Paris tapped 69-year-old Helen Mirren. But while Ari is pleased to see older people featured in advertising campaigns, he thinks there are larger aging-related issues to tackle. “I think it’s wonderful that the fashion industry is starting to finally wake up to the fact that there’s this huge demographic of people who want to be reached out to, and who have the means to shop,” he says. “But that’s only one part of what needs to be done to shape our view of older people and how they’re treated.” Ari’s project has also given some of his subjects new lives. He travels the world giving talks to groups of older women and is often joined by Joyce Carpati, who’s 82 and proud of it.
ALWAYS ICONIC
Growing Bolder Radio recorded what is believed to be the final interview with fashion icon Mimi Weddell, who’s featured on the cover of this issue of Growing Bolder Magazine along with Ari Seth Cohen. We spoke to Mimi in June 2009, just three months before her death at the age of 94. Active, engaged and passionate about life until the very end, Mimi was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful New Yorkers at age 90 and was trying to learn Latin at the time of her death. In her 90s, she still worked 14-hour days, appearing on the TV programs, Sex and the City and Law and Order; and in the feature films Across the Universe, Hitch and The Purple Rose of Cairo. She was the subject of a 2008 documentary about her life called Hats Off. During her career, Mimi modeled for Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Vanity Fair and Vogue. But more important than being a fashion model, she served as a role model for active, engaged living into your 90s.
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G R O W I N G B O L D E R 21
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
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MASTER CLASS
Rogers “Tiger” Holmes, Edwin Graves, John Corse and William Adams set three age-group world records. Rowdy Gaines (third from left) and Marc Middleton (far right) were there to help them celebrate.
These Guys Just Made Swimming History.
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BY MARC MIDDLETON he Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic is known for fast times and worldrecord-setting swims. But this one is special even by Rowdy’s standards. For the first time since the international governing body of swimming began recognizing world records in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle relays, a team has been entered in the 360+ age group. Rogers “Tiger” Holmes, 93, Edwin Graves, 91, John Corse, 90, and William Adams, 89, all friends from Jacksonville, pile into a car and drive themselves to Orlando for the meet. “I don’t know whether we’ll finish or not but we’re sure going to try,” says Tiger. “I am absolutely panicked,” adds John. Before they swim, I ask each competitor what they’ve had to overcome to get here. “Everything you can imagine,” says John. “You don’t have enough film in that camera,” adds Edwin. And with that, they begin listing their 22 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
accumulated ailments. A heart bypass, rotator cuff surgery, macular degeneration, a pacemaker implant, an aortic valve transplant, temporal arthritis, hip and knee replacements, ruptured tendons, peripheral neuropathy. “There isn’t anything left really for them to work on,” says Tiger. With his many physical challenges, why is Tiger still swimming? “Because it got me to 93,” he states. “My doctor told me if I didn’t swim, I would have been dead 10 years ago. So I keep at it.” And when he needed inspiration, he recruited the others, all former college swimmers who hadn’t been in a pool in years. “It’s hard to make yourself practice on your own,” Tigers says. “So I recruited the others. Now we hold one another accountable and make sure we all show up for practice.” Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the fastest over-50 swimmer in his-
tory, approaches the team as they prepare for their first swim. “Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of our sport,” he tells them. “This is the first time. I’m so proud of you, and I’m so honored to be in your presence. I really am.” Over the next two days, the team sets three new world records in the 800 free relay, the 200-free relay and the 200-medley relay. It’s a performance that brings the crowd to its feet — and Rowdy to tears. “I learned how to swim when I was 9 months old, and I’ve never had an experience like that before in my life,” he says. “I guess it brings me back to my grandfather, and thinking of what a hero he was to me. They’ll be gone soon. It means a lot to me, it really does.” In addition to their world records, the fabulous foursome wins the Growing Bolder Inspiration Award for demonstrating that it’s possible for all of us to live a life filled with love, laughter and world records — even into our 90s.
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com to watch Tiger, Edwin, John and William in action and see the moment that brought Rowdy Gaines to tears.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
ROCK STARS OF AGING
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At 101, Roselio Muniz rides his stationary bike, takes brisk walks, attends church and keeps his mind active by reading and researching topics that interest him on the Internet.
F HAPPY AT 100 We Wrote the Book on Active Longevity. BY MARC MIDDLETON We wrote the book on active longevity — literally. Our book, Rock Stars of Aging, is based upon the hundreds of interviews and countless stories that Growing Bolder has produced on active centenarians, nonagenarians and octogenarians. The good news is that our rock stars are as diverse as any group could be. Living to an active 100 is the result of lifestyle more than it is of genetics. We all have a chance to make it to a healthy 100, but what are the secrets? As we talked and listened, we learned. Many shared traits were revealed. In this excerpt from Rock Stars of Aging, we learn that active centenarians always have a great attitude. Miserable people don’t live to 100. GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
orget the stereotype of the crotchety old man or lady. The first common trait shared by every centenarian we’ve ever spoken with is immediately apparent. They’re easygoing and they’re happy. Centenarians have positive, sunny dispositions. They know how to chill. Not all have always been that way. Occasionally, a daughter or granddaughter will say, “You should have seen her 30 years ago. She was anything but mellow!” But mellow is what nearly every centenarian eventually becomes. Doctors have proved that stress leads to disease and a good attitude leads to a healthy life. Happy people have higher levels of endorphins and stronger immune systems. But here’s the real mind-blower. The way we live our lives can actually affect us at a genetic level. Dr. Michael Bauerschmidt is an expert on the human genome and says, “How you approach life, your attitude towards life, can manifest as how your genes express themselves.” In other words, you may have a family history of cardiac disease, cancer, diabetes or Alzheimer’s, and how you live your life will determine if, when and how those diseases develop. Almost all researchers now agree that a healthy lifestyle and the right attitude can overcome bad genes. Psychology trumps physiology almost every time. The people who have lived the longest have (or have developed) the best attitudes.
GB EXTRA You can read Rock Stars of Aging and learn the 50 ways to live to 100 by visiting RockStar.GrowingBolder.com
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 23
BOLDER FITNESS
“Unless you can see yourself in others, and we don’t see a lot of plus-size athletes in mainstream media, it can be really hard to imagine, and to have faith and belief.” —Krista Henderson
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
KRISTA HENDERSON BELIEVES THAT: Inside every woman is an athlete, waiting at the starting line. Everyone has a different finish line. Right now is the perfect time to start. No matter what. Your inner spark will ignite a fire. You are a force of nature. Falling down allows you to rise up.
BORN TO REIGN Plus-Sized Inspiration for Women Worldwide.
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BY KATY WIDRICK he finish line of any race is a great equalizer. It doesn’t care how old you are, whether you’re a man or a woman or even what you look like. Make it to the finish, in first place or last, and you’re an athlete. The finish line, unfortunately, is not always a reflection of the rest of the world, where people do make snap judgments, leading to statements like: “He’s too old.” “She’s too slow.” “They don’t look like athletes.” Krista Henderson has heard it all, despite a long list of trips to the finish line. This award-winning, multi-sport superstar, personal trainer and cycling instructor has completed more than 20 races—in triathlon, duathlon, half marathon and rowing— and has built a business that helps other women find their inner athletes. In just a few years, she’s built her “Born to Reign Athletics” business into a resource for people of all ages and sizes, and GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
has attracted worldwide attention from fellow athletes, brands and more. And she’s done it all as a plus-sized athlete. Krista, like so many women, admits that for many years she tried to “fix” what she thought was broken in her life, battling poor self-image and low self-esteem. She worried about how her body looked rather than how it performed. And it didn’t help that there weren’t many role models for her to follow. “Unless you can see yourself in others, and we don’t see a lot of plus-size athletes in mainstream media, it can be really hard to imagine, and to have faith and belief,” Krista says. Thanks to the growth of social media, and a life-changing connection with a triathlon coach, Krista says she now focuses on what her body can do, rather than how it looks. Facebook, in particular, has helped her not only reach a wider audience, but find more love and support than ever before.
We featured a photo of Krista on our Facebook page, along with the caption “Support, encourage and admire anyone who is trying to better themselves.” That post received more than 50,000 likes, 70,000 shares and sparked a dynamic conversation about what real athletes look like. While she admits to facing some negativity from people who don’t know her backstory, Krista believes her experience proves that athletes — and potential athletes — of all ages and sizes can find encouragement and help whenever they need it. “In a way, I feel for people who need to be negative and make comments, because it’s ignorance and a lack of understanding,” says Krista. “I think a lot of times, people just judge in a black and white environment. They have no appreciation or understanding of a journey that somebody is going through. “I just think that everybody can enjoy their life when they’re healthy, and athletics is a great way to start.”
GB EXTRA Hear more from Krista Henderson’s interview with Growing Bolder, and find links to follow her Born to Reign Athletics project online and on social media at GrowingBolderMagazine.com.
G R O W I N G B O L D E R 25
BOLDER DOCS
HIGH TIMES
Marc Middleton, Mike Nanus and Wendy Chioji answered questions from the packed audience following a screening of “Conquering Kilimanjaro.”
“Conquering Kilimanjaro” Premiere is an SRO Smash.
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BY JACKIE CARLIN h, what a night! We recently hosted a sold-out crowd of more than 500 people for the Florida premiere of Conquering Kilimanjaro, the first film from Bolder Docs. And the night was a smash hit! Hours before the screening began, hundreds started lining up to walk the red carpet at the gorgeous, state-ofthe-art Full Sail Live venue on the campus of Full Sail University. A who’s who of Central Florida power players also gathered for a VIP reception, catered by the talented team at Cuisiners. The evening doubled as a “Stand Up for Wendy” celebration to honor our friend and colleague Wendy Chioji, who is battling a recurrence of thymic carcinoma. A portion of the evening’s proceeds have been donated to the Livestrong Foundation in her name. 26 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
Livestrong and the Survivor Summit Foundation partner on the climbs, which lead cancer survivors and their supporters on life-altering journeys, inspiring them — and others — to challenge the mental and physical boundaries associated with cancer. Before the film started, Growing Bolder’s Marc Middleton, who shot, wrote, narrated and produced the film, surprised Wendy with a special honor: a proclamation from Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley declaring it “Wendy Chioji Day” in recognition of her decades of community service and the inspiration she brings to people around the world. In addition to Marc and Wendy, other climbers from the grueling trek to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro were in attendance, including Dr. Robert Masson, one of the film’s executive producers; Stephen
and Bree Sandlin of Katy, Texas; and Robert Sergent of Park City, Utah. Bree and Wendy were two of the cancer survivors on the climb. The film received a standing ovation, after which Wendy shared the latest on her cancer battle and reminded the audience that every minute is precious. “All of us have a limited amount of time here, and it’s too short for most of us,” she told the crowd. “It is your responsibility, and it should be your great joy, to live as big, as out-of-bounds and as adventurously as you possibly can. I’ve said it before and I’ll leave you with this now: Be great every day. You only get one chance. Live fearlessly — and eat pie for breakfast.” Marc, Wendy and Mike Nanus, the film’s co-producer and editor, also fielded questions from the audience about the climb itself and how Marc, who at 62 was the oldest person on the adventure, was able to climb to nearly 20,000 feet and shoot a documentary at the same time. We’re just getting started with this project. Stay tuned for big news about when you can see it on TV or at a film festival near you in 2015. Until then, you can order your own DVD copy of the film at ConqueringKilimanjaro.com. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
BEHIND THE SCENES
GROWINGBOLDER.COM’S FRESH NEW LOOK Have you stopped by GrowingBolder.com lately? We recently unveiled a new design for our website, which houses the world’s largest collection of stories about active lifestyle, positive aging, health and wellness, masters sports, boomerpreneuers and much more. It’s still a work in progress, but we’re proud to say it’s now easier, faster and more fun than ever to enjoy and share our content. Check us out at GrowingBolder.com. We’ll be rolling out even more features in 2015, including a new way to listen to podcasts from the popular Growing Bolder Radio Show and more. Stay tuned for these exciting features!
GROWING BOLDER RADIO IS A HUGE HIT Long before we had a TV show or even a website, we had the Growing Bolder Radio Show. Every week for the past eight years, we’ve talked to the most interesting celebrities, authors, athletes, thought leaders, researchers and more and asked them to share their “takeaway” with our audience. The show now airs on 90.7 WMFE-FM, Central Florida’s NPR affiliate, and on High Plains Public Radio, which covers parts of Kansas, Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma. And our message of hope, inspiration and possibility is resonating with our listeners. In Florida, our show is the No. 1 non-music program in its time period and the most popular show on NPR on the weekend!
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT The Growing Bolder Facebook page (facebook.com/GrowingBolder) continues to explode in popularity. We’re quickly approaching 300,000 likes and our weekly reach averages more than 20 million people — with more than 1 million people interacting with our content. So if you haven’t checked out our Facebook page lately, come stop by and say hello! GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
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SURVIVING & THRIVING
TM
After losing more than 300 pounds, Cheryl feels great and has a new outlook on life.
GAINING LIFE Cheryl Faulk Is Winning the Weight War.
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BY BILL SHAFER heryl Faulk weighed 475 pounds. She’d gone blind in one eye from diabetes. She’d had stents placed in her heart, and she’d endured three operations on her hips because her bones couldn’t take the weight. Then one night, lying right next to her, her overweight husband died in his sleep. Her life was crumbling around her, and she had no idea how to stop it. 28 G R O W I N G B O L D E R
“My family was fed up, my doctors threw up their hands and, worse yet, I had no confidence in myself,” Cheryl says. She wondered how she’d gotten got to this point. Obesity was destroying everything. She felt lost, hopeless and alone. But, in reality, she wasn’t alone at all. The statistics are staggering. More than two-thirds of all adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. More than 30 percent of
all children have weight issues. And childhood is where it all started for Cheryl. She weighed more than 200 pounds at the age of 12. By age 18, she’d packed on another 100 pounds. She didn’t go to her prom. She never had a date. “Everything my parents tried just made things worse,” she recalls. “I was filled with shame, humiliation, anger and depression.” Adulthood brought more shame — and more weight. In her 30s Cheryl weighed well over 400 pounds. “It’s not that I didn’t care,” she says. “I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do.” She tried diets and would lose as much as 100 pounds, only to gain it back. Each time she gained a little more weight she lost a little more hope. During one of Cheryl’s diets, her adult son discovered a stash of candy bars in her pantry. He threw them out and screamed at her, “Are you trying to die?” She was ashamed, and realized she needed to make a major change. Out of desperation, she turned to her endocrinologist, who enrolled her in a nutrition program at Florida Hospital. Then it all started to make sense. “They literally taught me how to eat,” Cheryl says. The more pounds she dropped, the more determined she became. With additional help from NutriSystem, her diet became her lifestyle. This time, there’d be no turning back. Within a year, Cheryl was down to 178 pounds. That was three years ago. And now, at the age of 60, she’s never felt better. She goes to the gym three times a week and walks nine miles on Sundays. She’s off of her heart and diabetes medications. She’s eating healthy, nutritious meals — and is loving it. “I never thought my life could ever be like this, and believe me, if I can do it, I know there’s hope for everyone,” she says. “I’ll always have the obesity gene, but there’s hope, there’s recovery, and there’s a greater life than you can ever imagine.”
GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine. com for an in-depth interview with Cheryl Faulk to learn about her battle against obesity.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
GREAT TRANSITIONS Lyn and Paul Henderson are experts on lifestyle changes that come with moving.
1 LIVE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. Eliminating the need to use stairs greatly reduces the chances of falls.
2 REMOVE THE CLUTTER. Loose area rugs can be dangerous. Keep electrical cords out of traffic areas. Don’t leave your pet’s toys lying around. Arrange your furniture to create open walkways instead of an obstacle course.
3 OVERHAUL YOUR KITCHEN. Get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year. Move items you use most often to lowlevel shelves so you don’t have to reach above your head. Be careful when using stepping stools to get to those hard-to-reach items.
4 CUSTOMIZE YOUR BATHROOM.
SAFELY HOME Tips to Keep You Aging In Place.
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BY LYN AND PAUL HENDERSON f you want to find out what someone is really like, just take a look at his or her home. How you live speaks volumes about how prepared you are to face your future. Most home-buying takes place during one of two major life-stages: starting a family, and readjusting when the kids have grown and moved out. The first stage is full of excitement; the second can GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
be full of uncertainty. Our entire team at Team Henderson are experts at aging in place — making certain your home can accommodate your changing needs. We believe the key to aging in place is safety. According to the National Institutes of Health, most home injuries occur from falls, which can lead to the loss of independence. Here are four factors to minimize the chances of injury in your home:
Install grab bars near the shower, tub and toilet. Consider switching to comfort-height toilets that make it easier to sit down and get up. Create an area where you can sit by the mirror to dress. Replace round doorknobs and faucets with lever-style handles. Don’t adjust your lifestyle to fit your home, adjust your home to fit your lifestyle. Whether that means moving or making some changes, you’ll increase your odds of many years of independent living. Downsizing, rightsizing, moving out and moving in are among the transitions we face as we age. The results can be liberating. That’s why Growing Bolder has partnered with the experts on helping you make a GreatTRANSITION™, the realtors at Team Henderson. Visit TeamHendersonOrlando. com for more information. G R O W I N G B O L D E R 29
THE TAKEAWAY
MITCH ALBOM W
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late to Realize What Really Matters.
hat would you do if you answered the phone and it was your mother calling, even though she died years ago? What would you say? What would you talk about? That’s the premise of my latest book, The First Phone Call From Heaven. What would we say to those we no longer have the opportunity to speak with? What if we had another chance? I used to call my mom on the phone every day. That stopped suddenly and unexpectedly when she had a serious stroke. She’s still alive but hasn’t spoken a word in years. I still go visit her and hold her hand, but I’m not even sure she knows it’s me. I think about all the things I wish I could tell her, all the things I wish she could tell me. There is something about losing someone close that makes us take a closer look at ourselves. It gives us perspective, helps us see the big picture, makes us look at how we live. It’s something I learned when I wrote the book Tuesdays With Morrie. All those
conversations we had at the end of his life helped me see myself with clarity. He inspired me to do more and be more. The reaction I get from readers confirms that most of us need a jolt in our lives to get us to remember what’s really important. People ask me why I always write about death. I don’t think I do. My books are about life. Death is just the lens that helps us focus on finding life’s true significance. Doctors will tell you that people don’t start taking care of themselves until faced with some kind of crisis. It’s only then when many decide to clean up their diets and start to exercise. I feel that it’s the same with my writing. By talking about things like heaven and death, it pushes people to reconsider what’s important in life. So, here’s my takeaway: Are you living the life you want? Are you asking the right questions in your conversations? Don’t wait until someone you care for is taken away. Pick up that phone, talk the talk, then walk the walk. Then, you won’t need a phone call from heaven to get you to live the life you really should.
“People ask me why I always write about death. I don’t think I do. My books are about life. Death is just the lens that helps us focus on finding life’s true significance.”
Mitch Albom is a best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, dramatist, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide. His latest book is The First Phone Call From Heaven.
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GB EXTRA Mitch Albom continues this conversation on Growing Bolder Radio. Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to the entire interview and to find out more about his charitable work.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
SAVE MORE
on Medicare Part D
0 as low as
$
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Talk to our pharmacist to learn more or visit Walgreens.com/Medicare *Applies to Tier 1 generics. 14MD0084
GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM
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Artistic inspirAtion... [ near the heart of winter park ]
Rae DelFosse cherishes proximity to culture and family The active pursuit of a creative lifestyle is an important reason Rae DelFosse chose The Mayflower. Here, the former teacher can further explore her artistic interests in a resort-like setting close to Winter Park’s world-class museums and galleries. “The pace of life is perfect for me,” she says. “When I visited The Mayflower, I fell in love with everything about this place: the layout, the grounds, the Fitness Center and pool … it’s even right next door to the Crealdé School of Art!”
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With family in New Smyrna Beach, Clermont and Windermere, Rae also enjoys The Mayflower’s Winter Park location. “I’m just a short drive away from everyone I care about,” she says, “and I have access to everything I need.”
What’s your plan for the future? Call today, and let’s talk about it: 407.672.1620. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
88141 PRAD GB 1/2015
www.themayflower.com 1620 Mayflower Court Winter Park, FL 32792