chasing answers newsletter #40
“Getting old ain’t for the faint of heart.” - Anthony Hopkins
Happy Sunday!
It’s finally over.
I finally had my surgery to repair my hernia this week, and I’m three days into recovery.
If having my abdomen swollen like a mylar balloon and my genitals looking like they just stepped in the ring with Mike Tyson is a good sign, then things are going great.
For some reason, in my head, I was going to have this surgery on Thursday and, on Saturday morning, be walking my dogs. That’s not what’s happening. I’m bouncing back and forth between my desk and the couch. An hour of work and then an hour of lying down with ice on my stomach and groin. I actually had a hernia on each side, so both sides are a tiny bit tender.
I’m not a fan of taking medication, and I’ve managed to only take the pain meds the first night to help me sleep, but I have to admit, this is a little more than I was bargaining for.
But mentally, I’m a thousand times better now that it’s over. The challenge now will be waiting the required amount of time before jumping back into exercise (something I’m historically bad at.) But at least I’m on a path forward.
Thank you to everyone who offered words of encouragement, and especially to
, who even took the time to send me an excellent book for some recovery reading.My First Man Crush?
This week I listened to my first episode of the Danny Miranda podcast. It was the specific guest he had on that had me tuning in. He had Bryan Johnson, the founder of Braintree, Kernel, and Blueprint, on for a discussion covering everything from the kids’ books Bryan has authored to his attempts to reverse aging.
I have read a little about Bryan, his company, Blueprint, and the strict routines he maintains to attempt to reverse aging. And while that is what initially drew me in, it was the way he talked about his children, being a parent, what we are doing to our planet, and the human condition in general that stuck out to me in the interview.
I’m not impressed with many people or things, but after listening to the podcast, I can’t help but want to hear more of what he has to say. About everything. I was so impressed with how he answered every single question thrown at him.
And while many may think his incredibly strict routines to not just stay young but reverse his epigenetic age sound insane, it’s right up my alley.
I have been obsessed with not getting old my entire life. On my ninth birthday, I locked myself in my bedroom and wouldn’t come out for my party. I basically had to be dragged out of my bedroom. I vividly remember my Grandma sitting on our floral-designed couch with me, explaining that we all have to get old. It’s part of life. All I could think was, “no way, not me.”
I was never excited about 16, 18, 21, or any typical coming-of-age birthdays. All I ever wanted was to stay young.
Not young, for vanity's sake, but young, so I could do the things I enjoy. I always say that exercise is the one addiction I’ve had in my life. Because of this, I have to be strict about how often I exercise. If I’m not careful, I’ll work out three times a day, but won’t do anything else…….like pay my bills.
I don’t enjoy movies, TV, or going out to dinner. But if you want to go kayaking, do a plyometrics workout, or take a hike, I’m your guy. And I want to ensure I can do those things as long as possible.
Because of this fear of getting old, I have maintained a strict workout and diet regimen my entire adult life. My consistent workouts started back in my high school football days and have been interrupted only by injury. And my diet is as boring as they come. Starting in college, I began eating the exact same thing six days a week for breakfast and lunch. And that is still mostly my practice today. Every few years, I will change what those meals are, but then I set it and forget it for a few more years. So, it’s easy to see how this idea of finding the perfect formula and then replicating it again and again naturally fits my personality and my lifestyle.
I’m all in on the Bryan Johnson bandwagon right now. I will be reading and listening to more about what he is doing to reverse his epigenetic age so I can figure out if this is really a thing or just a play on the numbers.
Even if you aren’t interested in such strict regimens for the sake of youth and health, I still highly recommend taking a listen. In my best estimation, he seems to be an incredibly impressive person with an interesting take on all aspects of life.
Best of Twitter
Unless you live under a rock, you heard about the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria this week. The death toll has surpassed 29,000 and will undoubtedly continue to climb in the coming weeks.
This tweet displays some of the heroism occurring right now and offers a little glimmer of hope amongst all the tragedy.
Below are a few organizations assisting with rescue efforts in these areas in case you would like to donate.
The White Helmets - The White Helmets (also known as the Syria Civil Defence) are volunteers who have saved more than 100,000 lives over the past five years. In a place where public services no longer function, these humanitarian volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need – regardless of their religion or politics.
The Syrian American Medical Society Foundation - The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Foundation is a global medical relief organization that is working on the front lines of crisis relief in Syria, in neighboring countries, and beyond to save lives and alleviate suffering. SAMS proudly provides medical care and treatment to every patient in need.
Direct Relief - Direct Relief works in the US and internationally to expand access to medicine and healthcare by equipping doctors and nurses with lifesaving medical resources.
I hope you all have a great week!
As always, I would love to hear from you.
If you read something here that resonates with you, leave a comment.
If you would like to discuss something further, shoot me an email.
If there was something you absolutely hated, @ me on Twitter.
And if there is something you think I should be writing about, please let me know.
If you want to see more of my work, visit chasinganswers.co.
Thank you for reading, and if you liked what you read, please share.
randy
Hey, congrats on making it to #40 of Chasing Answers!! You're cranking these out like a madman. How do you do it? Keep it up!
Happy to hear you're feeling somewhat better after surgery! You survived!
"I was never excited about 16, 18, 21, or any typical coming-of-age birthdays. All I ever wanted was to stay young."
You're forever young Randy!!!
How did you get it together to post while in such a vivid state of pain? I look forward to the podcast listen. I wonder how some parts of it may intersect with the book I sent?
And thank you for the links to donate.