Who Are Your Heroes?

Action to take

Have at least one hero that you aspire to emulate.

Why

When we were kids we had lots of heroes–perhaps they were
football stars, cowboys, movie stars, TV stars, rock stars, or even our parents
or teachers. Many people outgrow their heroes and don’t replace them with new
ones. Perhaps they think heroes are just for kids. If you want to
be youthful, do what youthful people do. Youthful people have heroes.

I often see clients who see trust as an all-or-nothing issue. They either
trust someone or they don’t. This is a bad idea. I can’t think of anyone
I trust on all matters, e.g.,
~to honestly say what they think (some people are “too nice” to risk hurting your feelings)
~to be honest and responsible with money
~to speak up when you are making a bad decision
~to be punctual
~to help with problems
~to keep a secret
~to be loyal
~to follow through, etc.

The idea is to appreciate a person’s or hero’s strengths and not insist they be
perfect in all areas. Especially when it comes to political leaders, it is hard to find one who does not have
faults and make some bad decisions. Not being perfect should not preclude you from having heroes.

Who is my hero? I thought you’d never ask. When my career turned to
anti-aging psychology, speaking, and writing, my favorite hero became
Art Linkletter. He was host of two of the longest running television programs–
“House Party” and “People are Funny.” One ran on radio and TV for 25 years.
Keys to his success included his wit, his great sense of humor, and his consummate
interviewing skills. He was MC for the opening of Disneyland in 1955 and at age 93 was
MC at Disneyland’s 50th anniversary in 2005. There is an interesting story that when
Disneyland opened Walt Disney said he couldn’t afford to pay him an appropriate fee.
Linkletter graciously suggested he would settle for the camera and photo rights for ten years.
I think he did OK on that deal.

He was adopted at an early age (and later in life adopted many children himself).
Despite family tragedies, (his 20-year-old daughter committed suicide and his
31-year-old son died in an automobile accident,) adversity didn’t stop
him from his passionate interest in children and seniors. In a Larry King
interview in 2000 he said he has been married 65 years. He swims laps every day
and only recently stopped skiing because his wife was afraid snowboarders might hit him.

His “Kids Say the Darndest Things” format interviewing young children has been often imitated.
His 27 books include Old Age is Not for Sissies. He does more than fifty lectures a year
and is active on the Boards of many businesses and charities. At 84 he still travels the world on
philanthropic causes. To me the crowning jewel is his new book,
How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life.
It has great advice for what it takes to live well into your hundreds. You can tell in reading it that
this is what he really believes and follows. His life is a testimony to following the principles
and the wonderful life that can flow from it.

P.S. When I sent Mr. Linkletter a copy of 52 baby steps to Grow Young,
I was thrilled when he wrote an endorsement for it.

Quotes

Don’t ask me if I’m going to retire. Retire to what? I love what I’m doing
because I think it matters. And I think this book can matter to anyone who
is getting into the later years. Don’t stop living and learning.
I never want to be
What I want to be,
Because there’s always something out there yet for me.
There’s always one hill higher–with a better view,
Something waiting to be learned I never knew.
So until my last days are over
Never fully fill my cup.
Let me go on grouping–up.
~Art Linkletter, from his newest book,
How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life

Humor

The only thing you should Re-tire is your car.
~Art Linkletter

When you get old, love making is less like the Fourth of July and more like Thanksgiving.

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Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey is keynote speaker and author of the Oprah-featured book, Defy Aging and 52 baby steps to Grow Young. The books and his Reverse Aging anti-aging hypnosis CDs comprise his anti-aging system.