Growing Bolder July August 2014

HOPE • INSPIRATION • POSSIBILITY

TONY LITTLE ON OVERCOMING OBSTACLES ■ AN INCREDIBLE OLYMPIC COMEBACK

How One Woman Reinvents Herself Again and Again.

For Roger McGuinnof The Byrds, ToEverything ThereIs Still a Season.

®

How One Woman Reinvents WHAT’S NEXT?

For Roger McGuinnof The Byrds, To

TURN!TURN!TURN!

1GB_Jul14_Cov TOC.indd 1 6/23/14 12:02:38 PM

Attention Medicare Beneficiaries

Y0011_78697 0913 CMS Accepted

*You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium, unless paid by Medicaid or another third party. Florida Blue is an RPPO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Florida Blue depends on contract renewal. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or copayments /coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at <1-800-926-6565. We are open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET, 7 days a week, all year long. TTY users should call 1-800-955-8771>. Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Llame a nuestro número de Servicio al Cliente al 1-800-926-6565. Estamos abiertos de 8 a.m. a 9 p.m., Hora del Este, los siete días de la semana, por todo el año. Usuarios de equipo teleescritor (TTY) deben llamar al 1-800-955-8771. Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

One simple plan. No gaps.

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Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan.

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Dr. Mitchell Supler brings 17 years of experience to NeuroSpine Institute. Dr. Supler graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1989, receiving the Lyerly Award for excellence in Neurosurgery. He completed his residency in Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in 1996, having trained with Dr. Masson. Dr. Supler was trained by Dr. Albert Rhoton, the father of microneurosurgery while at the University of Florida, in advanced microneurosurgical anatomy and surgery.

Dr. Robert Masson, founder of the NeuroSpine Institute, com-bined his skills in microneu-rosurgery with his passion for sports to create the fi eld of sports spine surgery. Inventor of iMas, an intepedicular minimal access surgery of the lumbar spine, he is responsible for the education, product development and re-search for Synthes Spine in iMas productis and techniques.

ORLCM_120700_NeuroSpine_FP.indd 1 12/14/12 11:23:04 AM1GB_Jul14_Cov TOC.indd 2 6/23/14 12:02:50 PM

Attention Medicare Beneficiaries

Y0011_78697 0913 CMS Accepted

*You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium, unless paid by Medicaid or another third party. Florida Blue is an RPPO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Florida Blue depends on contract renewal. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or copayments /coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at <1-800-926-6565. We are open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET, 7 days a week, all year long. TTY users should call 1-800-955-8771>. Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Llame a nuestro número de Servicio al Cliente al 1-800-926-6565. Estamos abiertos de 8 a.m. a 9 p.m., Hora del Este, los siete días de la semana, por todo el año. Usuarios de equipo teleescritor (TTY) deben llamar al 1-800-955-8771. Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

One simple plan. No gaps.

Why compromise your coverage? You can get more for less when you choose a BlueMedicare Regional PPO plan from Florida Blue. • You can take advantage of a $0

monthly plan premium*.

• Prescription drug coverage included.

• Medicare covered preventive screenings and tests at no cost.

• Freedom to use benefits outside of Florida.

monthly plan premiumsavailable*

$0Murray Insurance AgencyStephanie Murray Aldridge 407-332-0909195 Wekiva Springs RoadSuite 100Longwood, FL 327799 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, Mon. - Fri. to speak with a licensed agent. TTY users call 1-800-955-8771.

Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan.

All spinal surgeries are not created equal. The NeuroSpine Institute’s renowned minimally invasive surgery means

shorter downtime for patients so you can GET BACK TOYOUR LIFE

Dr. Mitchell Supler brings 17 years of experience to NeuroSpine Institute. Dr. Supler graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1989, receiving the Lyerly Award for excellence in Neurosurgery. He completed his residency in Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in 1996, having trained with Dr. Masson. Dr. Supler was trained by Dr. Albert Rhoton, the father of microneurosurgery while at the University of Florida, in advanced microneurosurgical anatomy and surgery.

Dr. Robert Masson, founder of the NeuroSpine Institute, com-bined his skills in microneu-rosurgery with his passion for sports to create the fi eld of sports spine surgery. Inventor of iMas, an intepedicular minimal access surgery of the lumbar spine, he is responsible for the education, product development and re-search for Synthes Spine in iMas productis and techniques.

ORLCM_120700_NeuroSpine_FP.indd 1 12/14/12 11:23:04 AM1GB_Jul14_Cov TOC.indd 3 6/23/14 12:03:18 PM

4 GROWING BOLDER JULY/AUGUST 2014

contents6 FROM THE EDITOR

8 GROWING BOLDER WITH...

10 OVERCOMING OBSTACLESI’ve had tough times, but I still chased my dream.By Tony Little

12 REINVENT YOURSELFValerie Ramsey keeps pouncing on new opportunities. By Jackie Carlin

14 5 QUESTIONSFormer war correspondent says yoga saved his life. By Jackie Carlin

16 STILL SOARINGAt 72, the founder of The Byrdslooks back at a 50-year career.By Bill Shafer

20 SURVIVING AND THRIVINGLarry Roofner rocks and rolls with the punches.By Marc Middleton

22 BEHIND THE SCENES

24 MOVE FORWARD GIVE BACKThe more she gives, the more she gets in return.By Jackie Carlin

26 BOLDER SPORTSThe most incredible Olympic comeback in history.By Marc Middleton

28 BOLDER NUTRITIONAre your meals nourishing you or killing you?By Mindy Kobrin

30 THE TAKEAWAYAn abandoned passion, an ‘old’ inspiration.By Karen Putz

ON THE COVER: Roger McGuinn was a rock icon in the ‘60s and ‘70s. But he says his life today is better than ever.

Family Caregiver... We Care for You!Uncertain and Anxious?Tired? Stressed?Do you neglect yourself...need “me” time?

Hospice cares for your loved one and you!

❖ Home visits to manage patient’s pain and symptoms

❖ Emotional and spiritual support for everyone

❖ 24-hour assistance and advice

❖ Patient Bathing and Personal Care

❖ And so much more for those facing serious illness Patient with caregiver wife and

Cornerstone Hospice Social Worker

Information Referrals (888)728-6234 and (866)742-6655

www.cornerstonehospice.orgwww.SeriousIllness.org/Cornerstone

Medicare, Medicaid, most commercial insurances accepted.


Information Referrals

Family Caregiver... We Care for You!

Cornerstone Hospice FP GB.indd 1 4/24/13 3:31:45 PM

TONY LITTLE ON OVERCOMING OBSTACLES ■ AN INCREDIBLE OLYMPIC COMEBACK

How One Woman Reinvents Herself Again and Again.

®

How One Woman Reinvents WHAT’S NEXT?

TURN!TURN!TURN!


Family Caregiver... We Care for You!Uncertain and Anxious?Tired? Stressed?Do you neglect yourself...need “me” time?

Hospice cares for your loved one and you!

❖ Home visits to manage patient’s pain and symptoms

❖ Emotional and spiritual support for everyone

❖ 24-hour assistance and advice

❖ Patient Bathing and Personal Care

❖ And so much more for those facing serious illness Patient with caregiver wife and


Information Referrals (888)728-6234 and (866)742-6655

www.cornerstonehospice.orgwww.SeriousIllness.org/Cornerstone

Medicare, Medicaid, most commercial insurances accepted.


Information Referrals

Family Caregiver... We Care for You!

Cornerstone Hospice FP GB.indd 1 4/24/13 3:31:45 PM1GB_Jul14_Cov TOC.indd 5 6/23/14 12:04:34 PM


Editor-in-ChiefMarc Middleton

Managing EditorBill Shafer

Associate EditorsKaty Widrick, Jackie Carlin

Contributing WritersWendy Chioji, Jill Middleton,

Bess Auer, Tony Little, Mindy Kobrin, Karen Putz

Digital Development and Production

Jason Morrow, Pat Narciso, Josh Doolittle, Mike Nanus

407-406-5910 1 Purlieu Place, Suite 139

Winter Park, FL 32792growingboldermagazine.com

All editorial content copyright 2014 by Bolder

Broadcasting Inc. Growing Bolder is a regis-

tered trademark of Bolder Broadcasting Inc.

Nothing may be reprinted in part or in whole

without written permission from Bolder Broad-

casting Inc.

Group PublisherRandy Noles

Art DirectorLaura Bluhm

Senior Associate PublisherLorna Osborn

Associate PublisherKathy Byrd

Growing Bolder is a publication of Florida Home Media LLC,

publishers of Orlando Life. 407-647-0225

2700 Westhall Lane, Suite 128Maitland, FL 32751

orlando-life.com

I n the heyday of Hollywood and TV westerns, it was easy to tell the good

guys from the bad guys. The good guys always wore white hats. The Lone

Ranger, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Tom Mix all wore white hats. The bad

guys they thwarted wore black hats.

Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys in the real

world. There are many individuals and businesses who are comfortable taking

advantage of others whenever possible. They’re adept at operating on the edge of

ethics and exploiting loopholes and gray areas to their own advantage.

I recently had a meeting with the president

of a very large, very successful health-care

foundation. We were discussing a project of

mutual interest; one that we both believe has

unlimited potential. As we brainstormed the

best way to move forward, there was a mo-

ment where it became apparent that our in-

terests were not fully aligned.

After a moment of silence, he said, “Let’s

do what’s best for you. I’ve always believed

that when you identify something that might

cause a future issue for your partner, you re-

solve it immediately to the bene� t of your partner, if possible. If this doesn’t work

for you moving forward, the partnership is doomed before we even begin.”

This is a guy who wears the white hat every day — and he has the business

success and personal relationships to prove it.

Of course, very little is truly black and white, and it’s the shades of gray that

cause the problems. Many of those who push the boundaries of right and wrong

believe it’s nothing more than an aggressive but sound business practice.

We’re not in that group at Growing Bolder. We strive to wear the white hat

every day, all day long. We encourage you to do the same in your personal and

professional life.

Be open, transparent and honest. Do all you can to

help others succeed; put their interests above your

own whenever possible and see what happens.

Wear the white hat.

Marc Middleton, Editor-in-Chief

[email protected]

From the Editor

What Color is Your Hat?


Is today the day you begin the next phase of your life?

NEW MODELS NOW OPEN &NEW HOME SITES AVAILABLE

At Del Webb communities, at least one resident must be 55 years of age or older, no one under 19 (18 in certain communities) in permanent residence, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55. This material shall not constitute a valid o�er in any state where prior registration is required or if void by law. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Contact a sales consultant for details. CGC1515415. ©2014 Pulte Home Corporation. All rights reserved. 2/7/2014.

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Growing Bolder With...

Marlo Thomas76Actress, Activist, AuthorEverywhere I go, I meet women who say to me, “It’s too late isn’t it?” And I

say, “Of course it isn’t!” If you’re 50, you could have 40 years left. If you’re 60,

you could have 30 years. That’s a lot of time to do a lot of things and make a

lot of dreams come true. I want to encourage people that, yes, you can start

over at any age. Dream big, but start small. Work small, one step at a time,

and you’ll get there. I think a lot of people get daunted. They think, “How

will I ever do it?” If you just do it, one thing every day, you will get there.

Marlo Thomas went from being an award-winning star of her own TV series,

That Girl, to becoming one of the driving forces behind St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital, a charity earlier championed by her late father, comedian

Danny Thomas. She’s just released her seventh book, It Ain’t Over ... Till It’s

Over: Reinventing Your Life — and Realizing Your Dreams — Anytime, At Any

Age. In it, she pro� les 60 women who share their stories of starting over.

Hector Picard46World’s First Double-Amputee IronmanTwenty-two years ago, I was working as an electrician and got hit twice with

13,000 volts. I suffered second- and third-degree burns over 40 percent of

my body. I lost all of one arm and part of the other. I went through all the

“why me” questions and suffered from the pain, but it didn’t take long before

I knew that I had to work hard to get my life back. I’ve just � nished my 89th

triathlon, and I keep adding to that number every other weekend. I want

people to see me doing it and think, “Wow, there’s no reason why I can’t do

this, too.” I love competing. Nothing brings me more joy than to pass some-

one on the bike, and they have to do a double-take because they can’t believe

what they just saw. I thank God every day for having legs to be able to do what I do. I’m very grateful.

Among his 89 triathlons, Hector Picard has also completed four Ironman distance races (a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-

mile bike ride, a 26.2-mile run), making him the � rst double-amputee Ironman. A husband, father and grandfa-

ther, he’s also a nationally known motivational speaker and helps children with disabilities through his organi-

zation, Don’t Stop Living.

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our full conversations with with Marlo Thomas, Hector Picard and Babette Hughes.

2GB_Jul14_GB With.indd 8 6/23/14 12:06:33 PM

growingbolderMAgAZine.coM growing bolder 9

Babette Hughes91AuthorIt seems to me our culture sends all the wrong messages about

aging. There’s this focus on youth and material things. That’s not

where it is for having a good, productive life. Aging has enhanced my

life rather than making it more limited. Age is not a disability. It’s

an intense and varied experience, and it calls forth new ideas and

strengths that weren’t available in our youth. There’s more freedom,

more wisdom, more toughness and a moral nerve in being old. You’re

also able to free yourself from the expectations of others, something

I don’t think you can do when you’re young. You never hear about

that. You just hear about how wonderful it is to be young, and I don’t

think it’s so great to be young. Do you?

Babette Hughes is the daughter of a bootlegger who was murdered by mobsters during Prohibition. The 91-

year-old has written four books (and is working on her fifth) and is a regular contributor to the Huffington

Post. She was named the 2012 Historical Author of the Year for her novel, The Hat.

2GB_Jul14_GB With.indd 9 6/23/14 12:06:40 PM


‘You Can Do It’By Tony Little

I’ve Had Tough Times, But I Still Chased My Dream.

Overcoming Obstacles

GB EXTRAVisit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch Tony Little’s new Growing Bolder With seg-ments for Growing Bolder TV.

Growing BolderWhen asked me to write an

article, I thought the “Overcoming Obstacles”

section would perfect because it’s the story

of my life. You may know me for my infomercials, � tness

products and catchphrases like, “You can do it!” What you

might not know is what I went through to get here.

For a guy who’s had a great deal of good luck, I’ve also

had a lot of bad luck. Here’s the short version:

My father walked out on us, I got in trouble as a teen, I’ve

been in four near-fatal car accidents, I’ve been addicted

to painkillers, I was electrocuted twice, I nearly drowned

twice and I was drugged and kidnapped.

I’ve spent more than two years of my life in the hospital

and in rehab, where I gained more than 60 pounds — and

that’s just for starters. I’ve faced a lot of adversity. And yes,

I’ve said, “Why me?”

Here’s what I learned. You can’t change what happens

to you. But you can change what you do about it. Only

worry about what you can control. That starts with your

attitude. A negative mental outlook can easily become a

self-ful� lling prophecy.

You’ve got to believe there’s always a way. That will focus

you on � guring out how to move forward instead of dwell-

ing on what’s happened in the past.

In my case, I had no money, no contacts and no-

body to help me. All I had was a dream that if I

could get on television, I could be a great moti-

vator. I took a job cleaning gyms and found a

way to make my own videos. I took one step

at a time and my dream blew sky high! The

best part is, I’ve helped change a lot of lives

for the better.

I really believed I could do it, and I did.

That’s how I know you can do it, too! ■

GROWING BOLDER JULY/AUGUST 2014

of my life. You may know me for my infomercials, � tness

products and catchphrases like, “You can do it!” What you

know is what I went through to get here.

For a guy who’s had a great deal of good luck, I’ve also

had a lot of bad luck. Here’s the short version:

My father walked out on us, I got in trouble as a teen, I’ve

been in four near-fatal car accidents, I’ve been addicted

to painkillers, I was electrocuted twice, I nearly drowned

twice and I was drugged and kidnapped.

I’ve spent more than two years of my life in the hospital

and in rehab, where I gained more than 60 pounds — and

that’s just for starters. I’ve faced a lot of adversity. And yes,

Here’s what I learned. You can’t change what happens

change what you do about it. Only

worry about what you can control. That starts with your

attitude. A negative mental outlook can easily become a

You’ve got to believe there’s always a way. That will focus

you on � guring out how to move forward instead of dwell-

ing on what’s happened in the past.

In my case, I had no money, no contacts and no-

body to help me. All I had was a dream that if I

could get on television, I could be a great moti-

vator. I took a job cleaning gyms and found a

way to make my own videos. I took one step

at a time and my dream blew sky high! The

best part is, I’ve helped change a lot of lives

I really believed I could do it, and I did.

can do it, too! ■

'A negative mental outlookcan easily become a self-ful� lling

prophecy. You’ve got to believe there’s always a way.'

9GB_Jul14_Overcoming ObstaclesREV.indd 10 6/23/14 12:07:13 PM

9GB_Jul14_Overcoming ObstaclesREV.indd 11 6/23/14 12:07:22 PM


Valerie Ramsey knows a thing or two about rein-

venting yourself. She spent 30 years as a stay-at-

home wife and mother, raising six children, before

beginning a 15-year career as public relations director for

Pebble Beach Resorts at the age of 53.

At 63, while she was managing a photo shoot at the

resort’s golf course, Valerie was spotted by a Hollywood

producer. That sparked a new career as a model.

Then, in her 70s, Valerie became

a motivational speaker and an

author. Her � rst book was called

Gracefully: Looking and Being

Your Best at Any Age. Now, at 74,

she’s written her second book,

called Creating What’s Next:

Gracefully.

“There are so many opportu-

nities out there,” Valerie says.

“Even if you think you’re stuck

and nothing new is ever going to

come along, if you keep your eyes

and ears open to possibilities,

it’s amazing what’s out there. You

just have to be ready to pounce

when something inspires and ex-

cites you.”

Valerie’s advice? Consider the

things you truly enjoy doing, in-

cluding hobbies, and look for op-

portunities to pursue them fur-

ther. You may have to learn new

skills, she adds, such as becoming

more computer savvy.

“Taking that � rst step in the

direction you want to go is probably the hardest,” Valerie

notes. “Once you’ve done that, though, you’re on your way,

and you’ll start gaining self-con� dence to go after the sec-

ond and third steps.”

It’s a process she’s followed repeatedly in her personal

and professional life.

When Valerie was in her 50s, she and her husband

moved from the East Coast to California. She quickly set

her sights on working at the Pebble Beach Resort because

the couple lived in nearby Monterey at the time.

“I started out by working in the pro shop with the col-

lege kids because I wasn’t quali� ed to do anything else,”

Valerie recalls. “However, I learned how to use a computer

at the local community college, and I just kept on learning

as much about the hospitality business as I could.”

By “doing my homework” and not being reluctant to

ask questions, she made her way

into the resort’s marketing de-

partment, eventually becoming

public relations director. “When

the person who held that posi-

tion left, I pursued it,” she says.

Just as her career was revving

up, Valerie was hit with a triple

whammy of health issues. She

broke her foot and ankle during

a photo shoot at the club. The

following day, her doctor diag-

nosed her with uterine cancer.

Days later, she learned she had

a serious heart illness.

Recalls Valerie: “I thought, ‘I’m

down three-for-three. Am I going

to give up or am I going to live

my dream and create what’s next

for me?’”

She chose the latter.

“Opportunities kept coming

along and I would just grab

them,” she says. “It’s something

anyone can do. You must do

whatever feels right and excit-

ing for you, and create your ‘what’s next.’” ■

So, What’s Next?Valerie Ramsey Keeps Pouncing on New Opportunities.

Reinvent Yourself

According to Valerie, if you keep your eyes and ears open, you’ll be amazed at the number of exciting opportunities you’ll fi nd.

By Jackie Carlin

GB EXTRA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our multiple conversations with Valerie on the Growing Bolder Radio Show.

12GB_Jul14_Reinvent Yourself.indd 12 6/23/14 12:08:32 PM

12GB_Jul14_Reinvent Yourself.indd 13 6/23/14 12:08:42 PM


You’ve overcome some seemingly insurmountable ill-

nesses and injuries. Can you tell us what’s happened

to your body?

In 1993, I was declared permanently disabled. I had broken

my back lightly seven years earlier, but I kept working as

a Type-A journalist throughout the Gulf War and in South

America, Africa or wherever there were cataclysmic events.

Finally, that crack in my lowest vertebrae split wide open

and cut into my spinal cord. I underwent major surgery

and it failed. I was pickled on medications like Vicodin,

Valium and Prozac. During that journey, I was diagnosed

in 1998 with Stage IV cancer from exposure to depleted

uranium during the Persian Gulf War years earlier. I was

told I wouldn’t live past two more years.

■ ■ ■

So, what changed your outlook?

It was my young son. He was my only relationship. All

these medications and alcohol make you dark, angry and

� lled with self-pity and fear. But I loved him so much. He

was the only light in my life. I was on my deathbed, and at

the age of 2, he � nally got it that Daddy was not long for

this world. And he said to me, “Get up, Daddy!” It hit me in

a place that I didn’t know I had. I decided the only way I

could answer that prayer, because I had a broken back and

cancer, was to detox from all the medications that had so

deranged my personality. Then, someday, someone would

By Jackie Carlin

Former War Correspondent Says Yoga Saved His Life.

5 Questions

Brad Willis, aka Bhava Ram, is a former network-news war cor-respondent who won the presti-

gious duPont Award for his work inside Afghanistan during the Soviet occupa-tion. His career abruptly ended after a broken back and failed surgery left him permanently disabled. He was later diag-nosed with Stage IV throat cancer, and doctors told him he had little chance of survival. And then, he says, something remarkable happened. He got up and cured himself. He shares his remarkable story in his book, Warrior Pose: How Yoga (Literally) Saved My Life.

A Warrior Within

4GB_Jul13_5 Questions.indd 14 6/23/14 12:09:09 PM


tell him at least I died with dignity.

n n n

You began meditating, fasting and practicing yoga. How

long did it take before you knew something good was

happening?

After I detoxed seven or eight nights cold turkey in the

hospital — during which, I can tell you, all of the demons

from Dante’s Inferno checked in with me! — I crawled out

of there. I was then invited into an experimental pain-man-

agement program involving ancient Eastern and holistic

Western applications. They hoped they could help me with

the pain, but not with the cancer. It was like a lifeline for

me. In the very beginning, I did biofeedback and listened

to a 20-minute meditation. By the end of that 20 minutes,

I felt a different inner taste, a different chemistry, in my

body. All of my vital signs smoothed out. They had been

impacted by stress and anxiety before, and now they were

smooth and rhythmic. That’s when I realized that I couldn’t

just let healthcare happen to me; I had to take charge of my

life and, in my own way, maximize my healing potential.

And I no longer needed to do it for my individual self. I

had to do it for that little boy.

n n n

What was it like when you first started yoga? Were you

a complete beginner?

I was a crippled-up guy and 80 pounds overweight. But I

soon learned when I started therapeutic yoga that there

was much more to it. I learned it’s a complete science of

how to be a human being. Yoga postures, which are primar-

ily what we think of as yoga in the West, are just a very

small part of this whole practice. It’s about aligning your

mind, your body and your spirit together as one. I became

vegan, calling it my organic chemotherapy. I fasted for long

periods of time. I took 80 pounds off my body, which helped

cure the cancer, and I took about 1,000 pounds of emotional

darkness off my body as well. I started cultivating grati-

tude, forgiveness, compassion and acceptance instead of

self-pity, fear, anger and blame.

n n n

You had to make changes to save your life. Can the rest of us

make that change? What do you want people to know?

Suffering is always a catalyst for positive change. When

things are going well, we all tend to get a little lazy. Any-

one has this power. For anyone else facing tremendous

challenges, I want you to know: there is a way out. You do

have an inner power. You do have self-discipline, even if

you think you don’t. My advice is, don’t wait until it gets

as bad as it got for me. I really got pounded down because

I wasn’t listening to the messages that were being sent

to me. If you take charge of your life now, take gentle and

loving steps in a more positive direction and listen to your

deeper inner voice, miracles will start to happen in your

life. It feels so good after awhile that there’s just no turn-

ing back. n

Yoga, according to Brad Willis, is “a complete science of how to be a human being.” In his book, Warrior Pose, he describes how yoga, diet and detox saved his life.

gb eXTrA Want to read more from Bhava Ram? Visit Grow-ingBolderMagazine.com for two bonus questions and find out if there’s still any of his Brad Willis personality in Bhava Ram and learn about plans to turn Warrior Pose into a major Hollywood fea-ture film.

4GB_Jul13_5 Questions.indd 15 6/23/14 12:09:15 PM


here’s a photo that hangs on the wall at Roger McGuinn’s home in Orlando. It shows � ve hope-ful young men, completely un-aware that they’re about to be-come rock stars. On the back it reads:

Dear Mom and Dad, This is the “Byrds.” Little Jimmy is the leader, plays lead guitar and does vocals, too. Our � rst record to be released in three weeks is called Tambourine Man. Please pray for its success because lots depends on it. All my love, Jimmy. P.S. I got the $5. Thanks.

here’s a photo that hangs on the wall at Roger McGuinn’s home

STILL SOARINGBy Bill Shafer

wall at Roger McGuinn’s home in Orlando. It shows � ve hope-ful young men, completely un-aware that they’re about to be-come rock stars. On the back it reads:

Dear Mom and Dad, This is the “Byrds.” Little Jimmy is the leader, plays lead guitar and does vocals, too. Our � rst record to be released in

here’s a photo that hangs on the wall at Roger McGuinn’s home T

At 72, the Founder of The ByrdsLooks Back at a 50-Year Career.

That letter was written 49 years ago. Mr. Tambourine Man, penned by Bob

Dylan and recorded by McGuinn’s � edgling band in early 1965, became a world-

wide hit. Little Jimmy changed his name to Roger, and began making music

history.

The Byrds, who pioneered a fusion of folk and rock that would in� uence a

generation of younger musicians, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall

of Fame in 1991. In 2004, the band was ranked No. 45 on Rolling Stone’s list of

the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Mr. Tambourine Man meant that McGuinn no longer had to hit up his parents

5GB_Jul14_Feature.indd 16 6/23/14 12:09:37 PM

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM GROWING BOLDER 17

STILL SOARING

“Quite honestly, in my heart I feel

17 or 18, and I probably still

behave that way a lot of the time.”


18 GrowinG Bolder JUlY/AUGUst 2014

Du

tch

Nat

ioN

al

ar

ch

ive

for food money, of course. But the ascent of the California-

based band had only just begun.

For a time in the mid-’60s, The Byrds rivaled the Beatles

in popularity. Hits included Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Every-

thing There Is a Season), I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better, Eight

Miles High, Ballad of Easy Rider and Chestnut Mare.

Through it all, there were conquests and controversies,

loves and losses, experiences both exhilarating and dev-

astating. McGuinn and his bandmates, which at times in-

cluded David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Clarence White and

Gram Parsons, traveled the world and hung with the most

famous pop culture figures of the era.

In his book Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last

Stand in ‘60s Hollywood, music historian Domenic Priore

contends that The Byrds “had a much larger, more posi-

tive impact on the world at large than any Billboard chart

position or album sales or concert attendance figure could

possibly measure.”

That’s quite a legacy. Indeed, it would seem that life

might not have much left to offer someone with McGuinn’s

extraordinary resume. Yet, the legendary singer and gui-

tarist, who turns 72 this summer, says he has more true

happiness in his life now than ever before.

“Me? I love it,” says McGuinn, who paused, realized the

irony, and continued. “I really think you have to live one

day at a time. Each day is a gift from God. That’s why they

call it the present. So I just live in the present.”

McGuinn has many things now that he didn’t have at

the peak of his career; things that he believes are far more

important than fame and fortune. Chief among them, he

says, are faith and family. He and his wife, Camilla, have

been married for 36 years.

Camilla, McGuinn adds, is his best friend and his con-

stant companion as well as his manager. The two, who

are virtually inseparable, read and discuss the Bible and

classic literature and analyze national and world events

on a daily basis.

“We’re together all the time,” McGuinn says. “For a lot

of people that might not work. But for Camilla and me, we

wouldn’t think of living any other way.”

McGuinn’s unmistakable voice has been unaffected by

time, and his guitar playing is as clean and complex as ever.

Nothing about this ‘60s rock icon belies his chronologi-

cal age. Perhaps, he speculates, that’s because age simply

doesn’t enter his mind.

“It’s more a matter of attitude,” McGuinn notes. “Quite

honestly, in my heart I feel 17 or 18, and I probably still

behave that way a lot of the time.”

McGuinn, Skip Battin, Clarence White and Gene Parsons were the longest-lived of any Byrds lineup. By 1970, when this photo-graph was taken, the group was a staple on FM radio and a huge concert draw.


GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM GROWING BOLDER 19

McGuinn says his mother, Dorothy, was his greatest in-

� uence. She lived to be 102 years old, and was physically

active and mentally sharp until the end. Her loss caused

McGuinn to re� ect on his own life story.

He’s often been asked to write an autobiography, but

he had a better idea. Just in time for the 50th anniversary

of the founding of The Byrds, he’s telling his fascinating

story in a new CD/DVD combination called Stories, Songs

and Friends.

The two CDs encompass a live 2012 concert during which

McGuinn tells stories about the songs. And in the bonus

DVD, old friends like Hillman, Tom Petty, Joan Baez, Judy

Collins, Bruce Springsteen and the late Pete Seeger (writer

of Turn! Turn! Turn!) talk about McGuinn and The Byrds.

It’s a project that might never have come together if it

wasn’t for McGuinn’s mother. “The reason we recorded it

was so she could hear it,” he says. “She did get that chance

just before she passed away, and she loved it.”

We think you will, too. Stories, Songs and Friends is

available at mcguinn.com. ■

McGuinn shows Bill Shafer and Marc Middleton a transistor ra-dio that he owned as a youngster. On that radio, he fi rst heard Elvis Presley and was inspired to pursue a career in rock music.

“Each day is a gift from God. That’s why they call it the present. So I just live in the present.”



The � rst time we met Larry Roofner, he was making

doors. But not your standard-issue doors; these

were exquisite, one-of-a-kind works of art. Larry

had retired from his job as a healthcare executive to pursue

his creative passion after suffering a heart attack.

“The heart attack was a wake-up call that I needed to do

something that I love,” Larry says. “I’ve never looked back.

This is the best time of my life. It couldn’t be any better

than it is right now.”

But he almost didn’t make it. Ten years after retiring,

while riding his bike, he was broadsided by a car going 60

miles an hour. “My whole life changed in an instant,” he

says. “It was early in the morning and I was crossing the

street. I never even saw the car coming.”

Larry was airlifted to the hospital, where doctors said

they didn’t know whether or not he’d survive. He had eight

fractured vertebrae, spinal cord damage and traumatic

brain injury. He was hospitalized for � ve months.

In the aftermath of the accident, he had to relearn how

to walk, talk and even think. It helped that his wife, Mari-

lyn, is a physical therapist. “It was horrible,” she recalls. “I

escaped from the reality of the situation by slipping into

my physical therapy mindset. I just started thinking about

what needs to be done.”

When Larry was � nally able to return home, he immedi-

ately got back into his workshop and began building a new

future. “I could no longer build doors because they’re too

big and heavy,” he says. “So I mastered something a little

more manageable.”

He’s now making rocking chairs — functional works

of � ne art handcrafted from more than $1,200 worth of

rare and exotic hardwoods. He sells the chairs, which take

at least two months to complete, at prices ranging from

$3,800 to more than $5,000, depending upon the wood.

“It’s therapy for me to get in my workshop and work with

my hands,” Larry says. “To create something beautiful is

a real joy.”

Larry recaptured his passion for life, but it hasn’t been

easy for him or for Marilyn, who admits that his accident

has tested their relationship.

“It’s that huge test you hope you never have, but we both

worked very hard and helped each other get through the

tough times,” Marilyn says. “Fortunately, we really love

each other, which makes a huge difference.”

Larry Roofner has not only survived two serious health

challenges, he’s thrived in the aftermath of each. Best of

all, he no longer wonders or worries about what’s next.

He’s too interested in what’s now.

“I used to live in the future,” he says. “I’d always plan for

the future. Now I’m living in the present — and enjoying

life even more.” ■

Woodworking WonderBy Marc Middleton

Larry Roofner Rocks and Rolls with the Punches.

Surviving and Thriving

Bouncing back from a heart attack and traumatic physical injury following an accident, Larry now crafts beautiful rocking chairs from rare and exotic hardwoods.

GB EXTRATo learn more about Larry and his art, check out beautifulwoodart.com. Also, visit Grow-ingBolderMagazine.com to see a video of Larry in action in his workshop.

11GB_Jul14_Surviving and Thriving.indd 20 6/23/14 12:10:25 PM


11GB_Jul14_Surviving and Thriving.indd 21 6/23/14 12:10:33 PM


Behind the Scenes

See Yourself Growing BolderWant to see yourself in Growing Bolder Magazine? Send us a photo of you doing your thing and a short descrip-

tion of how you’re Growing Bolder. Send it and your contact information to [email protected]

or send to Growing Bolder Magazine, One Purlieu Place, Suite 139, Winter Park, FL 32792. You can also post your

photos and comments on our Facebook page: facebook.com/growingbolder.

DOCUMENTARIES THAT CAN CHANGE LIVESBolder Docs’ very � rst � lm, Conquering Kiliman-

jaro, is now being edited and should be ready to

debut in late August or early September. Emmy-

Award winning producer/editor Mike Nanus is

editing the inspirational documentary on Sur-

vivor Summit, during which a group of cancer

survivors and advocates climbed the world’s

highest freestanding mountain to celebrate the

power of the human spirit. Stay updated on the

project and check out pictures from the climb at

ConqueringKilimanjaro.com.

WE BEAT THE BIG BOYSON SOCIAL MEDIAEveryone talks about the importance of social me-

dia engagement, and Growing Bolder is leading the

way on Facebook. GB’s page has grown from 10,000

to more than 115,000 “likes” in the past few months.

Our most impressive growth has been in user engage-

ment. More than 2.8 million people interacted with

our page during one recent week through comments,

shares or likes. Our engagement numbers are higher

than those of The Today Show, The New York Times, PBS, NPR, AARP, Entertainment Tonight and most major television

networks! Clearly, our message of hope, inspiration and possibility is resonating coast-to-coast. We got a particularly

big response when we asked our Facebook fans to tell us what has surprised them most about growing older. Here are

some of the answers:

“... that your � tness level can be much better than it was in your 20s or 30s. Who knew?” —Kim Lane, Orlando, Fla.

“... it’s so empowering! Life just keeps getting better and better!” —Linda McCollum, Omaha, Neb.

“... how fast life goes as we get older.” —Tom Horan, Asheville, N.C.

“... I’m living for my own happiness. I love others, but now I put my own desires closer to the top of my ‘to do’ list

(because nobody else is going to prioritize me!).” —Vicky VanPelt, Georgia

“I’m sorry, I forgot the question.” —Nancy Short Logan, Glendale, Ore.

8GB_Jul14_Behind the Scenes.indd 22 6/23/14 12:10:56 PM


GB EXTRAVisit GrowingBolderMagazine.com for more details about how you can watch Growing Bolder TV and listen to Growing Bolder Radio through-out the U.S. Plus, get details on how your brand can work with Growing Bolder.

NATIONAL COMMERCIALFEATURES ‘BABY-FEET BILL’

Bill Shafer is a championship youth-hock-

ey coach who spends so much time in skates that his heels

started getting dry and cracked. That’s when he discovered

Callex Foot Ointment, and began bragging around the office

about his soft feet. When the story of “Baby-Feet Bill” got

back to the folks who make Callex, Bill became the star of a

national TV commercial in which he skates, coaches and does

a little more bragging. Look for it on a TV screen near you.

It’s a great commercial and Bill does an amazing job.

THE PERFECT PITCHFOR A PRIME AUDIENCEMore and more advertisers are understanding and appreciating the value of

the Growing Bolder audience. We’ve done recent on-air campaigns for Depend

with athlete, author and TV host Mar Jennings, known as “America’s Top Life-

style Expert,” and entrepreneur Carol Buck, CEO of Xenna Corporation, which

develops and distributes innovative footcare products.

REVOLUTIONIZING THEPATIENT EXPERIENCEWe recently welcomed Page Heyward, the director of mar-

keting for Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic, into the Growing Bold-

er studios to record a series of patient-education videos for

our joint project, OrthoNet TV. Together, we’re revolutionizing

the patient experience, starting in the waiting room. Ortho-

Net TV and SpineHealth TV at the Neurospine Institute fea-

ture physician video biographies, patient testimonials and

stories from the Growing Bolder library that showcase active

people overcoming obstacles and bouncing back from injuries and other serious medical conditions. We also produce

Road to Recovery Minutes and Physical Therapy Minutes, both of which encourage patients to stick with the recovery

programs prescribed by their physicians. We’re thrilled to help Jewett expand OrthoNet TV to all eight of its Central

Florida locations over the next several months. Keep watching to see these videos featured on upcoming episodes of

Growing Bolder.

Growing Bolder’s

8GB_Jul14_Behind the Scenes.indd 23 6/23/14 2:24:28 PM


You never know where inspiration is going to come

from. For lifelong of� ce worker Beryl Wiltshire, the

inspiration came from a TV pro� le on former First

Lady Rosalynn Carter.

“She was banging nails and making all sorts of things,”

Beryl says. “I could see that she could do it and enjoyed it. She

inspired me to go and give Habitat for Humanity a try.”

So, at the age of 68, Beryl volunteered to help the orga-

nization, an international non-pro� t dedicated to building

“simple, decent, and affordable” homes for deserving, low-

income families who are willing to provide sweat equity.

“I was very nervous when I started,” Beryl recalls. “At

my age, I thought, ‘Will I be able to do this?’ I was a legal

secretary for most of my life, and it turns out, all of those

organizing skills I’d used came in quite handy.”

Before she knew it, one Saturday turned into nearly every

Saturday. Soon it was Beryl leading the crews and helping

to organize the volunteers. Now in her mid-70s, she � nds

herself growing stronger and braver than ever before.

This Retiree Nails ItBy Jackie Carlin

The More She Gives, the More She Gets in Return.

Move Forward. Give Back.

After seeing former First Lady Rosalynn Carter interviewed on TV, Beryl Wiltshire was inspired to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Now in her mid-70s, she’s leading crews of other volunteers.

9GB_Jul14_Move Forward Give Back.indd 24 6/23/14 12:11:25 PM


“I go up on roofs, I tear shingles off, I help put drywall up,

I help put siding up,” she says. “They teach you everything

gently, step by step. There’s always someone to ask if you

have any sort of problem, which I constantly do.”

Beryl says she enjoys being on the rooftops of homes

she helps to build. “It’s just empowering when you’re up

there. You feel free.”

Like many volunteers, Beryl found the more time she gave,

the more satisfaction she got back. She says the connections

she’s made with other volunteers have reinvigorated her.

“It makes me feel that I’m part of life still,” she says. “You

can get sort of sidetracked when you retire. I feel like I’m in

there still. I feel like I’m helping people still. I drive home

from the builds and I just feel really good about myself.”

And everyone she works with, Beryl adds, feels the same

way. “We’re all there for the same reason — to make this house

a home,” she notes. “It’s something incredibly worthwhile,

and I would encourage everybody else to give it a try.”

All you have to do, she says, is take the first step.

“It just makes me happy to do it,” she adds. “Don’t think,

‘Oh I couldn’t do that.’ Because if I can do it, anyone can

do it.” n

GB EXTRAVisit GrowingBolderMagazine.com for our Grow-ing Bolder Radio Show conversation with Beryl Wiltshire and to find out more about becoming a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

THE CARTERS’ COMMITMENTThe Carters work on homes in the U.S and in other coun-tries, such as Haiti.

In 2011, Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Cmdr. Jeanine Avant spent Veteran’s Day with other U.S. Embassy employees working a Habitat project alongside the former First Couple.

The volunteers worked on 150 homes in Leogane, Hai-ti, the epicenter of the January 2010 earthquake.

Rosalynn Carter’s work with the orgaization inspired Breyl Witshire — and undoubtedly countless others — to get involved in local Habitat chapters.

To find out how to get involved in your chapter visit habitat.org.local.

9GB_Jul14_Move Forward Give Back.indd 25 6/23/14 12:11:33 PM


Bolder Sports

One for the AgesThe Most Incredible Olympic Comeback in History.

By Marc Middleton PH

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12GB_Jul14_Sports REV.indd 26 6/23/14 12:12:02 PM


gb eXTrA Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch vid-eo of Jeff Farrell in action, both in 1960 and today. Plus, Marc Middleton will show you the program from that exciting 1960 meet.

The finals of the men’s 70-74-year-old 100-meter

freestyle are about to begin at the U.S. Masters

National Swimming Championships. The fit-look-

ing man in the middle lane is Jeff Farrell, a world-record

holder and the fastest over-70 sprinter in swimming his-

tory. Only a few know his inspirational backstory.

The year was 1960 and Farrell was the gold medal favorite

for both the 100- and 200-meter freestyle in the Rome Olym-

pics. Three days after setting new American records in both

events, and just six days before the Olympic Trials, he was

rushed to the hospital for an emergency

appendectomy.

This was before minimally invasive

laparoscopic surgery was an option.

“They cut me open,” Farrell recalls. “My

appendix was inflamed and swollen so

they made a very large incision.”

Farrell’s Olympic dream was shat-

tered when doctors said it would take

at least six weeks for him to return to

competition. However, the U.S. Olym-

pic Committee met quickly and offered

him an unprecedented opportunity. He

could still make the team via a special

time trial to be held when he had suf-

ficiently recovered.

He declined the offer: “I would have

had to take somebody else off the team.

That’s not right.”

Three days after the surgery, and just

three days before the trials, Farrell was

lying in a hospital bed when his coach

mentioned that there happened to be a

pool in the basement.

“I lowered myself into the pool and

dogpaddled in pain,” he says. “The next

day I was able to take a few strokes,

and the day after that I decided to swim in the Olympic

Trials.”

Wrapped in yards of surgical bandages, in pain every time

he breathed and unable to perform the standard racing dive

or turn, Farrell made it into the 100-meter freestyle finals,

needing to finish first or second to make the team. There was

a sellout crowd and the atmosphere was electric. A whistle

blew and silence fell over pool.

“Swimmers take your mark.”

Farrell slowly bent down. The gun sounded and he deli-

cately dove into the water. Once there, he began a game of

catch-up against the world’s best sprinters.

I know all of this because I was there. I was a nine-

year age-group swimmer and my parents had driven us

to Detroit for the Olympic Trials. I still have the program

54 years later, with my father’s handwriting recording the

results of the 100-meter free. Farrell swam a courageous

race, finishing third and missing a spot on the Olympic

team by just one-tenth of a second.

The following day, second-place finisher Bruce Hunter

made an extraordinary offer. Recalls

Farrell: “He came up to me and said, ‘I’m

not going; you’re going take my place on

the team because you’re a faster swim-

mer.’ I said absolutely not.”

Still, Farrell would have one more op-

portunity. If he finished in the top six

in the 200, he could compete on a re-

lay. He finished fourth and was off to

Rome. There, just a few weeks later, he

anchored both the freestyle and med-

ley relays to gold medals and world re-

cords. His splits would have won gold

in both the individual 100 and 200.

If it sounds like it should be a book, it

will be. Farrell is working on a memoir, My

Olympic Story: Rome, 1960. But his story

hardly ends in Rome. He quit swimming

for 20 years, but returned to competition

in the early 1980s and has, so far, broken

nearly 30 Masters World Records.

“It feels good to be able to swim and

compete with these guys. It’s a lot of

fun and I know it’s good for me. I’ll keep

swimming as long as I can.”

With that, Jeff Farrell steps on the

blocks and wins another national cham-

pionship. The fans in the stands know they’re watching a

great swimmer. Few realize they’re watching one of the

most inspirational Olympic athletes of all time. n

In 1960, just before the Olympic Trials, Jeff Farrell underwent emergency surgery and appeared to have been knocked out of the competition. None-theless, he brought back gold medals from Rome and continues to set records 50 years later.

PH

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12GB_Jul14_Sports REV.indd 27 6/23/14 12:15:32 PM


Food is life. We crave it. We need it to survive. From

the very � rst time our moms put a spoon to our

lips, we’re encouraged not to be so picky. We eat to

please. We � nish our plates. We don’t want to waste.

Food is also health. Nothing, in fact, affects our health

more than what we eat. But because of our reliance on

processed foods, few of us have any idea what we’re really

consuming.

We judge our food by one criteria — taste. It’s not until

we’re adults and � nd our waistlines bulging and our cho-

lesterol levels spiking that we realize there’s far more to

food than just taste.

Somebody should have told us. Somebody should have

been looking out for us. Because once we’re adults, it can be

really hard to change. That’s why food is also my career. I’ve

always been passionate about cooking, traveling and enter-

taining.

I’ve been hosting events since I was a kid. As an adult, my

work with the Princess Grace Foundation honed my culi-

nary skill set and re� ned my palate. I worked alongside the

greatest chefs in the world. It inspired me to create Meals

on Heels, a lifestyle and entertaining company.

Then, something completely unexpected happened. Food

almost killed me. I had no idea what was wrong. Doctors

were puzzled. Finally came the diagnosis: severe adult on-

set food allergy.

Are you kidding me? I was forced to look at food from a

completely different perspective. I was going to have to

give up some of the foods I loved the best. It made me stop,

made me think and made me change. It was my Growing

Bolder moment.

Food shocked me. I took a step back and looked at the big

health picture. Childhood obesity rates have tripled. Obe-

sity related-health problems have skyrocketed. Because

both parents work in so many households, the traditional

home-cooked meal is vanishing. More families are turning

to processed and re� ned foods to � ll the void.

The value of fresh fruits and vegetables, the concept of

proper proportions and the bene� ts of family time around

the dinner table have given way to speed and convenience.

And there’s still more. Crop yields are down while trans-

portation costs are up, combining to drive the price of

fresh foods sky high.

Food is the Fountain of Youth. It’s the one thing we can

control that has a profound impact on our vitality, ability

and longevity. Once we educate ourseleves, we learn that

it doesn’t take a lot of time or extra money to buy, prepare

and consume healthier food.

I’ve started a program called “Don’t Worry, Eat Happy,”

which is aimed at individuals and families as well as edu-

cational institutions, nonpro� ts, governmental organiza-

tions and businesses. Its mission: to inspire individuals

of all ages to eat mindfully.

Together, we can educate, inspire and encourage each

other to celebrate food, cook with joy and maximize

our health. Because in the end — food is love. ■

For the Love of FoodBy Mindy Kobrin

Are Your Meals Nourishing You or Killing You?

Bolder Nutrition

GB EXTRAVisit GrowingBolderMagazine.com for more information about Mindy Kobrin’s programs and to watch our feature story on her.

Mindy Kobrin’s mission is twofold: To teach parents to feed their families with style, confi dence and fun, and to spread the message of good nutrition for children to carry into adulthood and pass along to the next generation.

7GB_Jul14_Nutrition.indd 28 6/23/14 12:15:58 PM

7GB_Jul14_Nutrition.indd 29 6/23/14 12:16:08 PM


Judy “Old Lady” Myers came into my life in the fall of

2009 via a Today Show segment. My husband found

the link online and sent it to me. And I watched it

over and over, even though it wasn’t captioned.

You see, when I was a teenager, I loved to barefoot water

ski. I spent summer days on Christie Lake in Michigan,

barefooting with the guys. No other females on the lake

seemed to be into the sport.

One day, I turned to cross the lake and took a hard fall.

In an instant, I went from hard of hearing to deaf.

I abandoned barefooting a few years later and met my

husband-to-be, Joe, in college. After we married, one by

one, three kids popped out and life settled into a routine.

By the time I was 44, I’d resigned myself to the idea that

I’d never barefoot water ski again.

That is, until I saw Judy on the Today Show.

If a 66-year-old gal could barefoot water ski, then why

not me? Judy took up the sport at the age of 53 and, heck,

I was only 44! I had a big challenge, though. And when I

say big, I mean big.

I was overweight, out of shape and the last time I had

barefooted was more than 20 years before. But that old ex-

citement overcame me. Every time I watched that video of

Judy on the water, I could feel the passion coming back.

I got in touch with Judy through Facebook, and she in-

vited me to the World Barefoot Center in Florida to learn

how to barefoot again under the instruction of Keith St.

Onge, the two-time World Barefoot Champion.

Both Judy and Keith welcomed me with open arms and

smiles when I arrived. I was pretty darned nervous, very

intimidated and a little scared (they have alligators in

those lakes!) when we walked down to the dock. Just get-

ting into the wetsuit was a workout.

But the moment I put my feet on the water and stood up, I felt

like a teenager again. Two weeks later, I went back for another

lesson. Within a few months, Keith had taught me to barefoot

backwards on shoes, and then on my feet. Judy and I became

great friends, and we ski together whenever we can.

Even at the age of 70, Judy kicks my butt on the water,

and I scramble to keep up with her. If I dare complain

about sore muscles, the Old Lady will just tell me to “suck

it up.”

Judy has taught me so much about life, both on and off

the water. At an age when many of her peers have chosen

to slow down, Judy’s out on the water learning new tricks

and pushing herself faster over the wakes. She’s not plan-

ning to slow down anytime soon.

On my 44th birthday, all I could see ahead of me was

the slow, steady creep of age and the eventual etching of

wrinkles. Judy changed all of that for me — she showed

me a blueprint for life that was entirely different from

anything I could have dreamed up on my own.

She taught me that I didn’t have to fear the idea of grow-

ing older — especially when you can chose to grow bolder

instead! ■

Back to BarefootBy Karen Putz

An Abandoned Passion, an ‘Old’ Inspiration.

The Takeaway

Karen (right), who lost her hearing as a teenager, rediscovered her passion for barefoot water skiing from Judy Myers (left), who calls herself “Old Lady” but behaves like anything but.

Karen Putz is a wife, mom, author, motivational speaker and certifi ed passion coach. We’re also proud to have her on our Team GB Elite blogging team. Visit Growing-BolderMagazine.com to read Karen’s blog posts plus posts from the other Team GB Elite bloggers.

Download the new Healthy 100 Habits app from Florida Hospital, and choose from more than 100+ habits that will keep you living to a Healthy 100.

This app doesn’t just help you lose weight or eat better. Healthy goals could also include spending more time with family, setting aside time for spiritual renewal and making sure you get a full night’s rest.

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Turn your healthy choices into healthy habits.

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10GB_Jul14_Takeaway.indd 30 6/23/14 12:16:28 PM

The Takeaway

Download the new Healthy 100 Habits app from Florida Hospital, and choose from more than 100+ habits that will keep you living to a Healthy 100.

This app doesn’t just help you lose weight or eat better. Healthy goals could also include spending more time with family, setting aside time for spiritual renewal and making sure you get a full night’s rest.

H10

0-13

-114

59

Turn your healthy choices into healthy habits.

Which healthy habit will you create?

FREE for iPhone™ or Android™ devices

H100-13-11459_GrowingBolderMag-Nov/Dec.indd 1 10/1/13 1:38 PM


A STIMULATING LIFESTYLE

“You can’t help but make new friends here!”After an eclectic career that ran the gamut from agriculture to advertising to entertainment, Bob Pittman chose The Mayfl ower as his retirement destination. “Life is simpler here,” he says. “I no longer have to worry about looking after a house, but I’m still surrounded by the possessions that are meaningful to me. My apartment feels like ‘me’ … because it is!”

A theater afi cionado who traveled the world and hobnobbed with diplomats and celebrities, Bob has embraced all aspects of The Mayfl ower – including the community’s exclusive lifelong-learning partnership with Rollins College. “I love the exchange and conversations with students,” he says. “And I’ve also enjoyed getting to know the other residents. You can’t help but make new friends here!”

What’s your plan for the future?Call today, and let’s talk about it: 407.672.1620.

[ NEW CONNECTIONS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ]

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www.themayflower.com1620 Mayflower CourtWinter Park, FL 32792


Growing Bolder July August 2014

Documents

Transcript of Growing Bolder July August 2014