Summary

The author describes how a promise made to himself on his 30th birthday to be in better shape at 40 transformed his mindset and lifestyle, leading to significant health improvements.

Abstract

On his 30th birthday, the author received advice from his friend Blas that prompted him to commit to being healthier at 40. This promise led to a series of personal achievements, including running a half-marathon and losing weight. The author emphasizes the importance of self-improvement and a positive mindset in combating the societal expectations of physical decline with age. He believes that this personal challenge has greatly improved his quality of life and suggests that others adopt a similar goal for longevity and health.

Opinions

The author believes that reaching the age of 30 is not the start of a downhill trajectory in health and fitness, contrary to common belief.
He suggests that the busyness of life in one's 30s, with events like marriage, parenthood, and career advancements, often leads to neglecting personal health and well-being.
The author is convinced that maintaining or improving one's health after 30 is largely a matter of mindset.
He advocates for continuous self-improvement and personal growth rather than comparing oneself to others.
The author views the challenge to be healthier in the next decade as a fun and ambitious goal that can lead to a better quality of life.

Make This One Promise To Your Future Self

A challenge to change your life.

My 30th birthday was one to remember, but not for the usual reasons.

I didn’t throw a party. I didn’t get drunk. I didn’t even celebrate with friends.

It was just an ordinary day.

Except for hearing a little grain of wisdom that changed my life:

The 10 year promise

Like most sunny Saturday mornings, I met my friend Blas on the park opposite my house.

We’d made our own little club where we’d practise each other’s languages (English and Spanish) and train together in the outdoor gym.

Over time, Blas became more and more like a mad scientist.

[Photo taken by author] The outdoor laboratory, featuring Mr.KB.

Every week he’d arrive with new kettle bell exercises and circuits to torture our bodies with.

Half way through the science experiment, the fact that it was my birthday came up in conversation.

After wishing me a happy birthday, he said something I’ll never forget:

Now you’ve gotta aim to be in better shape at 40 than you are now at 30.

And there it was. The challenge. The promise to my future-self was made.

If you asked Blas, he probably wouldn’t remember saying this with his strong accent.

But for me, a switch turned on inside of me.

Over the hill

You see, during my 20's I used to think the other side of 30 was all downhill.

With our best days behind us, we’d better be careful and lower the intensity to keep the injuries at bay.

Plus, it’s usually when life gets more hectic than ever.

A lot of us get married, we have babies, we buy our own place, and work steps up a gear.

And what’s first thing we drop? The time spent caring for our physical and mental well-being.

We start to copy the people around us who start neglecting their health too.

Then before we know it, we feel like crap all the time. We’re shocked to look in the mirror and see ourselves with a new potbelly. We put up with back pain. We even become experts at complaining about our bad knees.

But I’m convinced 95% is a question of mindset.

Since my friend Blas challenged me that day 2 and half years ago:

I’ve completed my first half-marathon and then broke my PR 3 more times.
I’m 14kgs lighter than I was at my heaviest (at 26).
I can finally touch the floor without bending my legs.

This all might mean nothing to you, but it’s massive for me. And that’s one of the best things about this promise:

We’re only measuring against ourselves, no one else.

If we set out to always better ourselves, then we’re doing all we can for a better quality of life as we get older.

Of course there’ll be limitations the older we get. We can’t keep getting in better shape than we were 10 years ago forever.

But hey, where’s the fun in aiming low?

If you needed an ambitious goal, here it is to help you strive for longevity and health.

Thanks for reading.

If this story struck a chord with you, drop me a follow for more Anthony J.F.