The Real Estate Investing Lifestyle has provided a tremendous amount of time freedom. I’ve been able to do most of what I’d ever want to in life. That said, time passes for all of us and I recently came to a realization that frightened me. Depending on your age, perhaps you have gone through a similar experience.
I am now 59 years old. Although I feel like I’m about 35 or 40 years old.
According to statistics I am now considered a senior and I have lived about three-quarters of my life. It’s hard to admit, but my wife Kathy and I qualify to live in Summerset, an adult community here in Brentwood! And it’s hard to grasp that I’m only 3 ½ years away from receiving Social Security if I so choose.
The Real Estate Investing Lifestyle
Where have all the years gone? Like most of you, Kathy and I decided to have children, and we have two girls, Trisha (34) and Emily (27). Looking back over the years, we both worked hard each day at our “jobs” to pay all of our household bills, and purchase a new car every so often. We went on a nice vacation once per year, paid for our children’s braces, cheerleading and then college and marriage. Those years were delightful for Kathy and I, and we loved watching our girls grow up to be beautiful, mature women, now with families of their own. We now have three beautiful grandchildren, Gunner 5, Kayak 4 ½ and Zeke 2 ½. If you have grandchildren you can understand the love we have for them, and the joy they bring to our lives.
I have accomplished and experienced many things and am still living a fulfilling life. I have raised my family, and have achieved most of my business goals in my 34 years as a residential Real Estate Broker, Appraiser and Real Estate Investor. Kathy and I have traveled many places in the world. I can still ride my unicycle, and recently Chad Doty, Dennis Huber and I climbed Mt. Whitney – the highest mountain in California (14,497.61 feet high.)
About a year ago, Kathy’s father Jim passed away from cancer – he was 87 years old. His passing was a great loss to our family. While Jim had a great and full life, he wanted to live even longer to watch his children and great grandchildren grow up. He would tell me sometimes that physically he felt about 50 years old. To those much younger, 87 years old may seem like a nice old age. To those of us approaching that number, 87 years is not nearly enough time to enjoy life.
Even though I have a family history of longevity, if I believe the current statistics I have another 29 to 30 years left of this physical life. This really scares me, because the last 30 years have flown by really fast! As a Christian I know that my spiritual life will continue on forever in Heaven, but like Jim, I want to watch my grandchildren’s children and their children grow up.
China Study?
Recently, I heard on a radio show that smart nutritional choices, regular exercise and stress free living (including plenty of sleep), coupled with recent and upcoming technological advances will make living well past 100 an achievable accomplishment in the not too distant future. Obviously, there are things that we can’t control – like accidents and common diseases. But there are a lot things we can control in our everyday lives. By making good decisions now we can control a good part of our destiny and what happens to us in the future.
With all of this in mind, I recently have made a decision that I’m going to live to be 120 years old. Since I’ve made that choice, my whole attitude toward life has changed — I’m not afraid anymore. I am 59 years old and I still have more than half my life left to live. To achieve this goal, I’ve made a decision to be more conscious of what I eat. Kathy and I try to juice most everyday now. We are also getting regular exercise, sleeping more, and we are making a conscious effort to reduce the stress in our lives.
In addition to taking care of our physical bodies, I am a firm believer in reaching out to help others at their point of need. Every day one of my goals is to try to find one person that I can help in one way or another, as I believe giving of ourselves automatically adds to the quality of our lives!
Living to 120
Living to be 120 years old may seem impossible to many of you, but I think it is very feasible by choosing to change what you are doing today and also living each day to the fullest as if it was your last day on this earth. Seize every second of your life, savor it, value the present moment and live with no regrets. Our earth suits are all we have so let’s take care of them to the best of our ability.
The Real Estate Investing Lifestyle has been good to us and will continue for the 2nd half of my life. What about you?
*( If you’re interested in learning more about living a longer and healthier life, look for the “China Study” article in future blogs.)
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Hi Ed,
I expect to be at that Birthday Party !!!!!! I support all the things you point out 110%
I was blessed with first hand experience with someone living a long life. My step grandmother died at 106. We lived the last 9 years together. I believe that her secret was a good diet and her faith, a devote Catholic.
At 100 – she went on a hot air ballon ride over Del Mar, California
At 103 – she went on her fist cruise to Alaska
At 105 – She had her “5th” (as she referred to the years after 100) Birthday Party in Guadalajara,
Mexico… where she was from, with remaining friends and family
She broke her leg. Though it was traumatic and difficult, it didn’t stop her. Even weeks before
passing, she said her rosary every morning, wrote her own checks to her charities…$5 here and there,as far as they would stretch, never complained and always had a positive attitude. She was the strongest woman I have ever known. I miss her “Hello Honey’s” but her spirit lives in my heart forever,and her devotion to the Sacred Heart.
Like my grandma, You are that Spirit that inspires many- associates, friends and family, strangers. I am grateful to know you and call you my friend. I know that grandma would have felt the same.
Toasting that glass of champagne to you at 120, will be an honor ! And, here before we know it !!!
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