2010: A Year of Inspiration

Posted December 21, 2010, 8:47 am in News


In years to come, what will be your story from 2010? Even though our country is living through a period of unprecedented financial worry and hardships, there are still stories of hope to be found.

This year, the Growing Bolder team made it our mission to find the people who are still out there, living their dreams and proving that it's not about age, it's about attitude. We know a lot of you are doing your best just to survive these days, so it can sometimes be hard to take a step back and consider if what you ARE doing is what you WANT to be doing.

One of our favorite quotes is by the Cuban-French writer Anais Nin, who once said, "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

As you look forward to how your story will unfold in 2011, we encourage you to take some time and draw inspiration from the following stories. The people featured below are living proof that it may not always be easy to follow your dreams, but you'll never regret it.

Happy holidays!

(Note: you can watch all of the stories on this page. Or, if you prefer, click on the headlines to watch them in a bigger player. From that page, you can also share individual stories on Facebook and Twitter or leave a comment)

I Am Growing Bolder

Are you Growing Bolder? There's a revolution underway, and your future and the futures of your children and grandchildren are at stake.

Growing Bolder Founder and CEO Marc Middleton and Director of Video Production Jason Morrow collaborated on a moving message about the power of possibility, the threat of ageism and the importance of Growing Bolder. Join the revolution.

The Edison Effect

Meet a man who took reinventing himself to a whole new level. Frank Attwood was one of those guys who seemed to have it all -- he just wasn’t happy. He was very successful in the business world but he couldn't shake that nagging feeling that something important was missing.

He began to search, inside himself and out, and realized what was missing: purpose. Frank yearned to reach people, to inspire people, to make a difference.

The deeper he looked inward, the more clear the answer became. And what came into focus was the greatest inventor in American history. But why Thomas Edison?

Discovery of a Lifetime

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Joanie Schirm always knew there was more to her family history than what she had learned from her parents. When they passed away, she made a remarkable discovery in an old desk. It was a discovery that sent her on the adventure of a lifetime and caught her up in a world of survival, loss and suffering during World War II.

Paul McCartney and Me

He looks like Paul, sounds like Paul and except for being right-handed he even plays like Paul! John Babcock's career has been a magical mystery tour.

A lot of people love the Beatles, but how many have ever performed as one? Or ever recorded at Abbey Road Studios? Or toured with the cast of Beatlemania. Perhaps the only person in the world who has done it all, is John! It’s a love affair that began at age five when he was one of the millions who first saw the Fab Four on the Ed Sullivan Show.

He may never have landed that big record deal, but he’s still writing, still recording and still as passionate in his 50s as he was in his 20s.

Don't Stop Believin'

The recession has led to difficult times for a lot of people, including 48-year-old Don Cupo. A year ago, he had lost his job and his optimism. But then he decided to take action and a leap of faith.

He enrolled at the nation's second largest university to pursue his passion -- film and music. And since he was already being bold, he decided to chase another dream. He tried out for and made the marching band.

Now he's pushing himself in ways he never thought possible, and he's got a message for anyone who's lost hope -- don't stop believing.

 

Discover Your Inner Sex Symbol

Photo shoots are moving out of the studio and into the bedroom! Boudoir photography is attracting women who prove you're never too old to be sexy.

"People look at a woman over 60 and think she’s halfway dead, she’s got one foot in the grave and the best part of her life is over and that’s just not true anymore. It just isn’t," says 61-year-old Lynn Fleeger.

Bobby Goldsboro: Musical Colors

In 1968 while Joplin, Hendrix, the Doors and Jefferson Airplane were singing about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, Bobby Goldsboro was singing about "Honey."

After a career in which he sold more than 35 million records, hosted a national TV show, wrote six best-selling children's books and produced a national PBS show, you'd think the soon-to-be 70 Goldsboro would be winding down. Think again.

He explains why he launched a whole new career, something he'd always dreamed of doing, on the day he turned 65.

The Most Vibrant 107-Year-Old in the World

It wasn't long ago that living to 100 was a monumental feat. But in most cases, the centenarian would be frail and barely aware.

Thankfully, times have changed! Now, many are quite vibrant. At 107, Wilhelmina Hoorn raises the bar of what's possible to a whole new level!

 

And at Growing Bolder, we're lucky enough to spend our days with two men who not only talk the talk, they walk the walk. See how even in their personal lives, GB's Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer epitomize the Growing Bolder spirit every day.

How World Records Are Broken

Motivated by the stories we do every week, Growing Bolder Founder and CEO Marc Middleton got back in the pool for the first time in 35 years. That was two years ago.

Today, Marc is a member of Rowdy Gaines' Blu Frog Masters Team and after this weekend, the Froggers have something to croak about. This is a story of a dream, a plan and perfect execution. Whether you're an active swimmer or you've never been in a pool, watch this story and see how any one, at any age, can still kick down walls and seize opportunities for greatness.

Life Lessons From Coach Bill

We read the stories in the newspaper and see them on TV -- a youth sports coach loses control and strikes a player, shoves an official or erupts in a profanity-laced tirade. Fortunately, most coaches are good-natured volunteers who just want to give back. The best are great role models intent on making a real difference -- not just in a game but in a life.

We're lucky enough to have such a person on our own team. Growing Bolder Vice President Bill Shafer spends his days guiding the GB team and his nights and weekends molding lives on his son's youth hockey team. We followed Coach Bill and his team as they battled for a spot in their league's championship and discovered what they learned off the ice may be more important than any final score at the rink.

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