Climb Mountains, Kick Ass: My Mantra for Aging Boldly

I want to be climbing mountains and kicking ass when I'm in my 80s. Real mountains. Metaphorical ones. All of them.

For me, that might mean hiking the peaks I love in Colorado, tackling new trails, or simply maintaining the strength and stamina to explore wild places on my own terms.

The inspiration for my personal mantra came from an amazing woman named Joanne. I met Joanne in fall 2018 on a guided hiking trip. Our group of women, mostly strangers, spent a week slackpacking parts of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. In her early 80s, Joanne was the oldest hiker of the group and one of the strongest. She was usually at the front of the line, always ready to go farther and faster. Over the course of the week, as the group of strangers got to know each other, Joanne became a role model for all of us.

I can still see Joanne at the front of the line, her silver hair peaking out from under her baseball cap, pausing at a vista to take it all in before moving on. She didn't just hike—she radiated joy and energy. One evening at dinner, someone asked her secret. She laughed and said, 'I just never stop moving. From the time I get up in the morning until my head hits the pillow, I just keep moving.' Then she told us about learning to tango with her husband in their 60s—and going on to compete! That week, she became an inspiration for everyone in our group.

After that week, I knew exactly how I wanted to be in my 80s: fearless, capable, and still showing up for adventure. Not watching from the sidelines, but leading the pack. While I sadly did not maintain contact with Joanne, I often think of her when I think of my mantra.

Here's what I've learned: Joanne didn't wake up at 80 ready to hike mountains. She built that life, choice by choice, over decades. And that's what I help women do—figure out what their mountains are and start climbing them NOW, while there's still time to build the strength, confidence, and boldness they'll need.

Joanne made me ask myself these questions, and now I'm asking you. What are your mountains—the dreams you've been putting off? How do you want to feel in your 80s? And here's the real question: What's one thing you can do THIS WEEK that will start moving you toward that vision?