Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Tag: growing bolder

  • What an ‘Old Lady’ Taught Me About Life

    At the age of 44, I thought I was old.

    I felt old.

    I wasn’t looking forward to the years ahead. Aches. Pains. Wrinkles. Medicines. It seemed like everyone around me was slowing down and just going through the motions of each day, coasting until they could reach retirement. And for some, retirement simply meant they could watch their television programs anytime they wanted to.

    So there I sat on my 44th birthday with tears running down my face, thinking that the best years of life had passed me by. I missed the carefree days of my youth spent gliding across the water on the soles of my feet. I had tried barefoot water skiing the day before my birthday, with dismal results. My feet, I reasoned, were truly hung up to dry.

    Until an “Old Lady” changed my life.

    My husband sent me a link to a TODAY Show segment featuring Judy Myers, a 66-year-old competitive barefoot water skier. I sat there and watched the TODAY Show over and over. The passion that I saw on Judy’s face reminded me of the feelings I had when I was a teen. I loved barefoot water skiing.

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    I got in touch with Judy and she invited me to Florida to learn how to barefoot water ski again. In the process, I gained a mentor and a friend. Judy taught me some great lessons that apply to life; lessons that I put together in a new book, Outside the Wake, How an “Old Lady” Taught Me to Live.

    Outside_the_Wake

    At the age of 44, I thought life was a downward slide of life becoming less and less, and I was afraid that the best years of life were behind me.

    Judy taught me the opposite: the best years of life can be whatever you want them to be. You don’t have to accept growing older–you can choose to grow BOLDER instead.

    Grab a copy and find out for yourself: Outside the Wake

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  • The Growing Bolder Lifestyle

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    Back in 2011, I discovered an awesome website called Growing Bolder.  I stumbled upon the Growing Bolder segment on Banana George while doing some research for the Gliding Soles, Lessons from a Life on Water book I was writing at the time. “It’s not about age, it’s about attitude,” was the Growing Bolder tagline.  “It’s an attitude. A mission. A passion. A team of people who believe in the power of hope, inspiration and possibility.”  The site was filled with one inspiring story after another featuring people living passionate lives.  Marc Middleton, the founder and CEO, left his job as a reporter in 2006 to form Bolder Media Group.  He was tired of constantly reporting news that was physically, emotionally, and mentally draining day after day.

    Intrigued, energized, and inspired by all the stories, I connected with Bill Shafer, the Executive Vice President and introduced myself.  Like Marc, Bill also left his job as a reporter and shared the same mission and vision of creating positive, uplifting content.  I boldly invited Bill and his crew to come to the World Barefoot Center. We ended up having a great time together and Growing Bolder produced two segments which were shown on PBS stations:

    A Mom Who Walks on Water

    The Barefoot Competitor

    I loved the mission and vision of Growing Bolder so much that I told Bill, “I want to come and work for Growing Bolder.”

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    And now I’m the lucky one. I recently joined the Growing Bolder Blogging team. I get to share inspirational stories, thoughts, and ramblings with a passionate group of Growing Bolder Elite Bloggers.  Of course, it was only fitting that I introduced Judy Myers, The Barefoot Competitor, in my first blog post.  Four years ago, Judy was pivotal in helping me to unwrap my passion for barefoot water skiing again. I want to pay it forward in encouraging others to pursue their passions, no matter the age.

    If you’re at a point in your life where you’ve become stuck in the “same old, same old” routine, I invite you to come over to Growing Bolder and hang out with some truly amazing people, because as Jim Rohn says, “You’re the average of the five people you hang out with.”   Get a daily dose of passion on the Growing Bolder Facebook page.  Adopt the Growing Bolder lifestyle.  You don’t have to settle for growing older. Grow bolder instead.

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  • Karen Putz Barefooting on Growing Bolder TV

    Bill Shafer and cameraman, Jason Morrow from Growing Bolder TV did a great job capturing the story of how I met Judy Myers and Keith St. Onge at the World Barefoot Center.  You can see my very first, sort-of-official backward barefoot start (with no shoes!)– but don’t blink, or you’ll miss me keeling right over two seconds later.

    Find more inspiring video, audio, and images at Growing Bolder.

    Filming at the World Barefoot Center

    Karen Putz on Growing Bolder