Clint Eastwood explained that every morning he tried to go out and be active, not letting “the old man” inside his mind or body.

I love this.  Clint Eastwood (it feels disrespectful to refer to him as just Clint!) was taking a conscious decision to stay young, both mind and body.  As you get older, it’s the little things you do, or stop doing, that quietly open the door to the old man.  And once that old man is allowed in, he is so stubborn that it is hard to get rid of him.  By no means impossible, but it is harder to get rid of him than it is to stop him getting in in the first place.

That old man is devious though; you often won’t know he is there until it’s too late.  Have you found yourself walking less and taking the car more?  Filling the watering can a little less because it’s getting too heavy?  Going out to meet friends less?

Just being aware that the old man is ready to enter your life is the first step.  Then you can do things to keep him at bay.  Exercise and social interaction are two of the best things you can do.  Even if he has gained a foothold, you can still do something to evict him.

The hardest thing can be taking the first step (metaphorically and literally).  A personal trainer is a good place to get guidance.

I’m sure some of you have been wondering why I’ve only been talking about an old man.  What about the old woman?  The same of course applies.  One thing I’ve noticed is that women seem much more willing to take action to stop the old woman from getting in.  Out of all my clients, only 10% are men.

So, how good are you at spotting the old man or woman before they sneak in?  

Perhaps Clint Eastwood had the right idea all along. Every morning, make a conscious decision not to let the old man in.