Book: Aging Beyond Belief by Don Ardell

If you plan to age, prepare yourself — it's later than you think. The challenge of aging well should be taken seriously, but not grimly! Whatever your age, it's never too soon, or too late, to learn and apply the fine art of aging well, really well. Discover what aspects of aging can't be changed and improve the rest that can. Mold your own realities with REAL wellness, Ardell-style.

The 69 tips — one for each year of the author's life — are thought-provoking, challenging, eye-opening, manageable and fun to read. And all provide practical guidance for intelligently designing your own life-style evolution.
Learn more

Don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
Read Don's blog!

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Report of World Triathlon Championship

Monday September 14, 2009

In The Consolations Of Philosophy by Alain De Botton, a paperback summarizing the lifestyle advice of six of "the finest minds in the history of philosophy" (Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche) read to pass the time prior to the big race, two rather remarkably contrasting views about expectations were noted.

The first is from Schopenhauer, the great pessimist (We can regard our life as a uselessly disturbing episode in the blissful repose of nothingness. Human existence must be a kind of error. It is bad today and every day it will get worse.) The prudent man strives for freedom from pain, not pleasure. The happiest lot is that of the man who has got through life without any great pain, bodily or mental.

At first besotted with such sentiments, Nietzsche came to regard this advice as both timid and untrue, a perverse attempt to dwell hidden in forests like shy deer. Fulfillment was to be reached not by avoiding pain, but by recognizing its role as a natural, inevitable step on the way to reaching anything good.

At times during yesterday's race, I thought of both philosophers, especially during the run. However, when it was over and done, my sentiments were entirely with Nietzsche. While the outcome in terms of place was unknown, I knew I had a good race. In fact, for a few minutes, it was the consensus of my support team—darling Carol, Karyn and Rod Lees and Grant Donovan that I must have won. Nobody at all old looking had gone through the line ahead of me! Of course, this was not very scientific so it seemed wise to curb one's enthusiasm, as Larry David might advise.

Don

Nietzsche nailed it—a bit of pain for this level of fulfillment was a necessary step I'd cheerfully endure—any day of the week. We all had a fine celebration. Carol took lots of pictures—one is included and more to come. Between winning the bike and the race, it's been a series of epic and triumphant days, one after the other.

Off to Brisbane for two leisurely days of museum-going, then Canberra where I am giving a speech at a conference and then back to Brisbane before going to Carolina for the world duathlon race.

Domain: physical
Subdomain: adaptations and challenges

Search other reports in the Don Ardell report archive.

	Custom Search