There’s a phrase I’ve been thinking about lately:
“Don’t let the old man in.”
That line came from a conversation between Clint Eastwood and Toby Keith. Eastwood was about to direct and star in The Mule while pushing 88 years old, and Toby Keith asked him how he kept going like that. Eastwood basically told him he gets up every morning and goes out — and he doesn’t let the old man in.
That hit Toby Keith so hard that he wrote a song about it.
And I get it.
Because there comes a point in life where getting older is not just about birthdays. It’s not just about gray hair, wrinkles, sore knees, or how many times you say, “What did I come in this room for?”
Getting older is partly physical, sure. But a lot of it is mental. Emotional. Social. Spiritual. Creative.
At some point, the “old man” starts knocking on the door.
He tells you to stay home.
He tells you not to try new things.
He tells you concerts are too loud.
He tells you technology is too confusing.
He tells you your best stories are behind you.
He tells you not to start the podcast, not to write the book, not to launch the business, not to take the trip, not to wear the cool shirt, not to dance at the concert, not to post the video, not to learn the new app, not to talk to younger people, not to keep dreaming.
And you have to decide whether you’re going to open the door.
That’s what this episode is about.
Not pretending we’re 25.
Not chasing youth like some desperate Hollywood vampire.
Not buying every magic pill, cream, supplement, gadget, or “reverse aging” gimmick that pops up in your Facebook feed.
This is about something better.
It’s about staying alive while you’re alive.
It’s about staying curious, useful, active, engaged, creative, and open.
It’s about delaying getting old — not by denying your age, but by refusing to surrender to it too early.
Another phrase that contributed to this episode is one used by Yungblud.
“Don’t forget to live.”
I believe as we get older some of us do forget to live. This episode is about not forgetting to live.
Here are 50 ways I use to keep the old man out and most of these you should be able to use as well.
1. Get up and go out every day
The old man gets stronger when you stay inside, sit too long, and stop participating in life. Get up. Go outside. Walk. Drive around. Go to lunch. Visit a store. Take photos. Talk to people. Keep yourself in motion.
2. Move because movement creates health
Don’t wait until you feel healthy to exercise. Exercise is what helps you stay healthy. Walk, lift weights, stretch, work on balance, and keep your body used to doing things.
3. Walk daily
Walking is one of the easiest ways to fight aging. It keeps your heart working, your joints moving, your mind clearer, and your mood better. Even a short walk is better than no walk.
4. Lift weights
Muscle is independence. As we age, we naturally lose muscle unless we fight back. Strength training helps with balance, bones, metabolism, confidence, and the ability to keep doing normal life stuff without help.
5. Stretch every day
Stiffness makes you feel old fast. Stretch your back, shoulders, hips, legs, and neck. You do not have to become a yoga master. Just stay loose enough to move comfortably.
6. Work on balance
Balance is a hidden superpower as you age. Practice standing on one foot, walking carefully on uneven ground, stepping up and down, and strengthening your legs. Staying upright is a big deal.
7. Get down on the floor and back up
This sounds simple, but it matters. Being able to get down and get back up is a sign of mobility, strength, and independence. Practice it.
8. Go to concerts
Live music keeps something alive in you. Go hear the songs. Feel the crowd. Watch the lights. Let the bass hit your chest. Whether it’s classic rock, a tribute band, a local act, or a big arena show, go be part of it.
9. Attend live events
Go to festivals, parades, ballgames, comedy shows, art shows, movies, plays, car shows, fairs, and local events. The old man wants you to say, “I’ll just stay home.” Don’t make that your default.
10. Keep learning new technology
Learn AI. Learn your phone. Learn video editing. Learn new apps. Learn podcasting tools. Learn social media trends. You don’t have to master everything, but you should stay adaptable.
11. Don’t become afraid of change
The moment you start saying, “I don’t understand anything anymore,” you start aging yourself out of the modern world. Stay curious instead. Say, “I don’t know how that works yet.”
12. Stay connected to an audience
Podcast listeners, blog readers, social media followers, customers, friends, family, community groups — any audience keeps you sharper. It gives you a reason to observe, think, respond, and create.
13. Keep creating
Write. Paint. record. Design. Cook. Build. Garden. Take photos. Make videos. Start projects. Creativity gives you a future, and having a future keeps you younger.
14. Have something on the calendar
Always have something to look forward to: a concert, lunch, trip, movie, podcast recording, creative deadline, local event, or small adventure. Anticipation is powerful.
15. Try new things badly
Let yourself be a beginner. Learn guitar badly. Paint badly. Make videos badly. Try pickleball badly. Use AI badly. You stay young by being willing to look a little foolish while learning.
16. Spend time with younger people
Don’t try to act young, but stay around younger energy. Ask what they’re into. Let them show you music, apps, memes, tools, and trends. It keeps your world from shrinking.
17. Spend time with older people who are still alive inside
Find people older than you who are still active, funny, sharp, adventurous, and curious. They prove what is possible.
18. Stop saying “I’m too old”
Your words train your brain. Replace “I’m too old for that” with “I might need to train for that” or “I’ve never tried that before.” Don’t talk yourself into decline.
19. Don’t make old age your personality
Avoid becoming the person who constantly complains about young people, technology, music, prices, change, and how everything was better before. That ages you faster than gray hair.
20. Take care of your grooming
Trim the eyebrows. Trim the ear hair. Trim the nose hair. Keep your beard clean or shave. Get a decent haircut. Smell good. Look like you still have somewhere to be.
21. Update your clothes
Don’t dress like you gave up. Wear clothes that fit. Get rid of worn-out shirts, bad shoes, giant wallets, and anything that makes you feel older than you are.
22. Wear better shoes
You can wear comfortable shoes without looking sloppy. A clean pair of leather sneakers or sharp casual shoes can make a big difference.
23. Stand up straight
Posture matters. Rounded shoulders, forward neck, and a shuffling walk make you look and feel older. Pull your shoulders back, look forward, strengthen your core, and walk like you still have business to do.
24. Empty your pockets
A giant wallet, overloaded keys, and bulky pockets can make you sit crooked and look sloppy. Simplify what you carry.
25. Smell good
It sounds small, but it matters. Clean clothes, good hygiene, and a nice scent tell the world — and yourself — that you still care.
26. Keep your sense of humor
Laugh at yourself. Laugh at aging. Laugh when your knees sound like cereal. Humor keeps bitterness from taking over.
27. Avoid bitterness
Bitterness is one of the oldest things in the world. Don’t let resentment, regret, or anger become your default setting.
28. Stop living only in the past
Love your memories, but don’t move into them permanently. Use the past as fuel for stories, creativity, connection, and meaning.
29. Listen to some new music
You can still love Boston, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, and all the great stuff from the 70s. But occasionally listen to something new. It keeps your ears and brain open.
30. Watch new movies and shows
Rewatch the classics, but don’t completely ignore current culture. Staying culturally aware keeps you part of the conversation.
31. Keep asking questions
Curiosity is youth. Ask people what they’re working on, what they’re excited about, what they’re watching, what they’re learning, and what they think.
32. Stay useful
Help people. Teach something. Share what you know. Volunteer. Mentor. Create resources. Useful people stay engaged with life.
33. Build routines that serve you
A good morning routine can keep you from drifting. Walk, stretch, read, write, create, or plan the day. Momentum matters.
34. Protect your sleep
Bad sleep ages everything — your mood, your face, your brain, your energy, your patience. Prioritize real rest.
35. Eat like you want energy
You don’t have to be perfect, but food affects how you feel. Eat in a way that gives you enough fuel to live the life you still want.
36. Keep up with checkups
Get the physical. Do the bloodwork. Check your teeth. Get your eyes checked. Preventive care is not glamorous, but it keeps you in the game.
37. Don’t let health become your whole identity
Take care of your health, but don’t turn every conversation into medications, numbers, procedures, aches, and symptoms. The point of health is to live, not obsess.
38. Keep your home from becoming a time capsule
Keep the memories, but don’t let your house become a museum of a life you used to live. Freshen things up. Rearrange. Declutter. Make your space feel alive now.
39. Take photos and videos
Document life. Capture sunsets, walks, friends, events, concerts, pets, family, and everyday moments. It keeps you noticing the world.
40. Keep telling stories
Stories keep your memories alive and useful. Tell them on a podcast, in a blog, in videos, at lunch, or around the table. Your stories are part of your value.
41. Have a creative deadline
Deadlines create energy. Finish the episode. Publish the blog. Post the video. Launch the shirt. Complete the chapter. Deadlines keep tomorrow interesting.
42. Travel somewhere unfamiliar
It does not have to be Europe. Drive to a town you’ve never explored. Visit a museum. Take a different road. Eat somewhere new. Novelty wakes up the brain.
43. Say yes more often
Not to everything. But say yes to more invitations, more adventures, more chances, more conversations, and more moments that might become stories.
44. Call people
Don’t just wait for others to reach out. Call, text, message, comment, reconnect. Isolation makes people old.
45. Keep flirting with life
Not necessarily romance — although that counts too. Flirt with possibilities. Flirt with new ideas. Flirt with adventure. Flirt with the question, “What else could I do?”
46. Stay a little rebellious
Push back against expectations. Wear the shirt. Start the project. Go to the show. Post the video. Be a little weird. Normal can get old fast.
47. Keep a project that scares you a little
Write the book. Start the channel. Launch the brand. Apply for the thing. Record the episode. Big projects keep you from shrinking.
48. Don’t retire from being interesting
You can retire from a job, but don’t retire from curiosity, opinions, creativity, music, adventure, style, stories, romance, humor, or wonder.
49. Notice when your world is shrinking
When you stop going places, stop seeing people, stop learning, and stop making plans, pay attention. That is the old man sneaking in.
50. Fight aging with daily defiance
You don’t beat the old man with one big heroic gesture. You beat him with small choices every day.
Put on the shoes.
Take the walk.
Buy the ticket.
Record the episode.
Trim the eyebrows.
Learn the app.
Call the friend.
Start the project.
Stand up straight.
Laugh more.
Go outside.
Stay curious.
Stay useful.
Stay creative.
Stay in the game.
51. Remember the real goal
The goal is not to be young forever. That’s impossible.
The goal is to stay alive inside.
To stay curious.
To stay engaged.
To stay useful.
To stay creative.
To stay open.
To keep moving forward with a little spark in your eye.
Because every morning, the old man is waiting at the door.
And every morning, you get to decide:
Are you letting him in today?
Or are you putting on your shoes and going out to live?
PODCAST
VIDEO
Leave a Comment