Grow Bolder in 2010

Posted December 30, 2009, 11:56 am in News


From the Growing Bolder Playbook for Life:

If you're thinking about making a list of New Year's Resolutions, you're going to need some inspiration to stick to your goals. Sometimes obstacles can seem insurmountable or it may seem like it's too late to chase your dreams or reinvent your life. Growing Bolder is here to show you the way. Over the past year, we've met ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Let their examples encourage you to make 2010 your best year yet.

No matter what your goal is, we're going to show you how simple it can be to start Growing Bolder in your own life today. We've created a list of common Top 10 resolutions, and under each, you'll see people who have found a way to conquer these goals.

Happy 2010!

1. Lose Weight:

Finding Purpose Through the Pain
At nearly 300 pounds, Heather Quillen knew she needed to make a drastic change. And did she ever! Her new outlook on life ignited a passion to help others. See how simple changes changed her body and spirit, inspiring her to tackle childhood obesity before it even begins.

Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle
Is your middle having a mid-life crisis? Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, a husband and wife team of doctors, say they've discovered the tricks you need to battle the bulge once and for all.

How to Eat
Now in its 15th printing, renowned food expert Mark Bittman's book, "How To Cook Everything" has been a huge success, and his new book, "Food Matters," is threatening to do the same. His new book doesn't tell you how to cook, it tells you how to eat. It breaks down health and nutrition in a way you've never seen before. Mark says his tips can help you learn how to eat sanely, judiciously and consciously. He says simple lifestyle adjustments could help you lose weight, reduce your chances of many long-term diseases, and help stop global warming.

Finally Thin
Once upon a time, Kim Bensen was not unlike millions of us out there. She was closing in on 40, busy raising a family and her life was stuck on automatic. She always gained weight too easily, but she'd just start a diet and take it back off again. But suddenly, she couldn't take it off and the next thing she knew, she was tipping the scales at 350! She knew she was in the danger zone and she made up her mind to make a change. She learned that whatever diet you choose is not the issue. The key is making that diet, which was written for millions, and personalizing it just for you. She lost more than 200 pounds and has kept it off. Find out how.

2. Live a Healthy Life

Breast Cancer Survivors Tame the Dragon
You've heard of the battle against breast cancer -- but how about the paddle? One of the fastest-growing team sports is bringing survivors and supporters together: dragon boat racing. And at the International Dragon Boat Festival, Women Playing For T.I.M.E. was a roaring success. These women say learning to dip their oars in the water is making them stronger, healthier and more determined than ever to beat cancer.

The Streaker
He's a streaker. No, not that kind. He's a normal 59-year-old who decided to go for a run one day. And then the next. And then the next. 1,000 days and more than 3,200 miles later, his streak is still on track. Growing Bolder gets up early to tag along as the streak hits 1,000.

Finding Serenity and Health
Think you're too old to change your body? Wait until you meet 89-year-old Betty Rose, the world's oldest tai chi instructor. Just a decade after taking up tai chi, Betty says it's helped her manage her diabetes and arthritis without medication and says she's often mistake for someone 30 years younger. She's an example of a better physical life for anyone who hears her message.

3. Chase Your Dreams

Age is Not a Hurdle
Kay Glynn was a star athlete 30 years ago, and at the age of 46, she decided it was time to get back at it. She was thrilled to discover she still had the passion, the enjoyment and the ability to be more than competitive. In fact, she is the top-ranked American in her age group in short hurdles, long hurdles, high jump, long jump, heptathlon, pentathlon, and she just set the world indoor pole vaulting record! Oh, and did we mention she's now 56 years old and the grandmother of three?

Did You Hear the One About the 75-Year-Old Comic?
If you've ever dreamed of a new or more exciting career, Lynn Ruth Miller could be your role model. At the age of 70, she decided she was going to follow her lifelong dream. So, she enrolled herself in a course, and now, at the age of 75, she hotter than ever as a stand-up comedienne.

Ageless Art
Two men are proving creativity knows no age limits. At 104, Harold Rotenberg is still in love with life, still in love with his wife, and still in love with his art. And he's not alone. Major museums and art collectors worldwide covet his work. And if there's anyone to hold up as an example of Growing Bolder, it's Harold Garde. Now in his 80s, Harold has been painting for more than five decades. His creative process is stronger and better than ever, and his work will grab your attention.

4. Take Control of Your Career

"I Will Never Give Up"
Scot Weiss loves what he's doing but admits it's a daily struggle. Weiss left a promising career in finance to chase an American dream -- inventing a product and starting a company. But even good ideas can be extremely difficult to get produced, distributed and sold. Weiss is discovering the importance of belief and the power of persistence.

What Famous Person Do You Look Like?
Wouldn't it be fun to be in the spotlight just because you look like somebody else? And get paid for it, too? At the Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Tribute Artists, we found more than 100 hopefuls looking to make the most out of their similarities to a star and discovering a new line of work in the process.

The Boomerpreneuer
Jean Newell never set out to become an inventor. She simply needed a better way to carry around her stuff. So, fueled by little more than common sense and desire, Jean turned a $20,000 investment into a million dollar company.

5. Go Green

Here They Come to Save the Day
A trip to Australia changed Bernie and Carl Moro's lives forever. When they returned, they came out of retirement and started a new business -- with worms. Worms eat and they excrete, and Bernie and Carl say they can make the world a better place.

The Green Rock God
As leader of the Byrds, Roger McGuinn was one of the most influential musicians of the '60s. He helped create folk-rock, space-rock and psychedelic rock. Now, he's helping save the rock we live on! He shows us how he takes a ride powered exclusively by energy from the sun and how he figured out how to make ice from the sun.

Saving the World With Yogurt
Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg is one of the country's most respected entrepreneurs, most noted organic crusaders and leader of the sustainability movement, and he proves that being environmentally correct is not only is it possible, it's also profitable!

Go Green, But Stay Glamorous
Sure we'd all like to live greener, but who wants to give up creature comforts like cosmetics and chic clothes? According to Sophie Uliano, you don't have to! You probably saw her on Oprah's show with her pal Julia Roberts talking about all the harmful ingredients in cleaning supplies and cosmetics. She says there is a way to live greener without giving up the glamour.

And Cheryl Tiegs burst onto the scene at 17 years old, becoming one of the world's first supermodels. And throughout her long and successful career, she proved that beautiful women could have character, intelligence and depth. She is still smashing stereotypes today, fighting the good fight to encourage people to live healthier lifestyles, she's gone to the Arctic to report on global warming and now, she's shining a light on how big a deal indoor air pollution is.

6. Declutter Your Life

Rightsize Your Life
With the holiday season over, cleaning out your things may be a daunting task, but best-selling author Ciji Ware says rightsizing is necessary to make time and space for the things that matter most.

Eliminate the Noise
When her marriage of 22 years fell apart, Ellen Whitehurst was forced her to reexamine who she was and perhaps more importantly, who she wanted to be. She decided to completely reinvent herself. She walked away from a successful career as a commodities trader on Wall Street and began to focus on where her passion was. It led her to holistic health practices, the art of feng shui and aroma therapy. Now, Ellen is teaching you how to clear out all the clutter in your life, including your electronic clutter, in order to begin the new season with a renewed sense of energy.

Simple Living
TV host Wanda Urbanska really practices what she preaches. She believes in simplifying life and she and her husband have done just that. They moved out of the city and and headed for life in small town North Carolina. Urbanska is the host of the "Simple Living" show on PBS and she's also the author of three books on the subject. She and her husband wrote their first book of the same name in 1992 and haven't stopped downsizing since.

7. Keep Learning and Growing

A Model for Lifelong Learning
Oleda Baker is a former supermodel who's never had a facelift, yet still looks half her age. She's the designer of health and beauty aids sold worldwide. She's a self-taught artist exhibited in museums. Her looks will dazzle, her resolve will empower and her example will forever alter your image of aging!

A College Success Story
54-year-old mother, grandmother and nurse's assistant Jennie Long had plenty to keep her busy. Then, she decided to add homework to the mix, by going back to school. A serious accident almost ended the dream before it began. But Jennie bounced back, and now she's getting national recognition.

Life is Beautiful
In one of her final video blogs, Growing Bolder member Ruth1898 -- the world's oldest blogger -- explains why she finds the simple things in life, like clouds, beautiful. Her words will inspire you to live your life well until the very end.

Back to School
While most people her age are struggling to stay alive, Estelle Rees-Arroyo is struggling to memorize history facts and figures … for her next quiz. The 90-year-old grandmother is hitting the books again to finally finish her long-delayed bachelor's degree. She may be the oldest out of 30,000 students at California State University, Sacramento, but she's certainly one of the most ambitious.

8. See the World

Around the World on a Bike
Like many, Pat and Cat Patterson found themselves marooned in middle-age. Both had just gone through devastating divorces. Both were financially destroyed. Both were confused, discouraged and without direction, until they met each other. Something else they had in common was a thirst for adventure. They had nothing to lose, so they decided to go for broke! They would go around the world, on the seat of a bicycle. It took them four years to complete their journey. They would never be the same again.

Travel With a Purpose
A chance trip to one of the poorest countries in the world turned a grieving widow into someone who is making a difference in the lives of thousands. Margaret says it's inevitable that we're all going to go through periods of grief in our lives. The key is what we choose to do next. She says giving back is the most fulfilling way to carry on. Find out her tips for finding a cause that can open your life and heart to others. She says in return, your heart will be filled in ways you never imagined.

The Balloon Man
You've heard of the Balloon Boy, but for some people, a trip into the skies is more than a publicity stunt gone bad. Kent Couch was living a normal life as the owner of a gas station until he decided he wanted to do more. He decided it was time to reach for the stars – and he almost got there. He tied 105 balloons to a lawn chair and took off! He soared 16,000 feet in the air for more than 200 miles.

The Travel Guru
Now that we've given you the travel bug, find out the smartest ways to travel. Peter Greenberg is one of the world's top and most recognizable travel experts, and he is charting your course through the ever-changing travel industry.

9. Control Your Finances

Smart Money
Julie Jason believes that everyone, given the right guidance, can learn to make wise investment decisions by avoiding common mistakes and understanding the investment sales process. She has become passionate about helping advise people of all income levels on how to handle retirement. She has joined forces with AARP and created books and articles designed to help Boomers prepare for later life.

Plan for the Future
It's not enough to simply hope for a long and happy life. These days you have to plan for it. That’s the advice from one of the most knowledgeable aging and longevity experts in the world. Laura Carstensen, Ph.D., is a professor at Stanford University and is a major player in the National Institute of Aging. She says that living an active lifestyle does not come cheap but there are simple ways to stretch our money and live the lives we want.

Win at Life
Suzy Welch is one half of a pretty dynamic corporate team -- she and her husband, former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, wrote the book "Winning" about leadership and now her new book, "10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea" is out to rave reviews. Suzy says it's critical to think about consequences not only for the short-term, but for the future. And she shares with Growing Bolder all the ways her philosophy has paid off in her own life.

10. Master Your Sport

Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic
We dig masters swimming. Men and women of all ages compete with those of equal ability but against those in their own age group. With great leadership, big name supporters, and tremendous grass roots support, it's quickly becoming one of the world's great intergenerational activities.  Dive into this story to find out why.

Masters Triathlon Championship
Why is triathlon one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.? And why is the 40-plus crowd the fastest-growing segment? Why is triathlon turning couch potatoes, cancer survivors, and grandmothers into weekend warriors? It's the Growing Bolder spirit.

The Ironwoman
Harriet Anderson is the most fearless and toughest athlete you'll ever meet. At 73, she completed an Ironman triathlon with a broken collarbone!

Jay Golden: Tips From a Pro
In golf, as in life, there's a fine line between success an failure. Not many have heard of Jay Golden, but his contribution to the game may be greater than those of anyone else on the Tour. Well, at least more varied! Pick up your club and get some golf tips from a pro!


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