“Be the change
you want to see
in the world.” 
Gandhi

In 2004, when I turned 50, I was told, “50 is the new 30.” In 2014, when I turned 60, I was told, “60 is the new 40.” Last June, when I turned 70, I was told, “You’re old!” 

No, seriously, no one said that. They may have thought it, but that sentiment was never verbalized. Instead, I’ve been hearing people say, “Feeling good is the new looking good.” I like that!

Several years ago, an older friend told my wife, Kathy, “You know, when I was a young man, women told me that I was good looking. Now they just tell me that I’m looking good.” 

At this point in my life, looking good is not a high priority for me. Of course, I want to look clean and presentable, but my need to impress people with my looks, if this was ever a priority for me, is long gone. There is no need for this to be a serious concern.

My priorities at this point in my life are summed-up in the three brief statements above.

I make a concerted effort to be good. I fail from time to time, but this is something I strive for on a daily basis. I consciously choose to be consistently honest, fair, compassionate, understanding, forgiving, tolerant, and kind. It should come as no surprise that making these things a priority in my life has resulted in most people treating me in similar ways.

Each day, I look for opportunities to do good. I make an effort to anticipate the needs of others and lend a hand when I am able to do so. I look for ways to brighten people’s days. I do whatever I can each day to make the world around me a better place. Simple acts — holding a door open for someone, offering someone a seat in a crowded room, smiling and acknowledging others when I’m out walking, providing food for those who may not have access to it on a regular basis,… — have the potential to change the world one person at a time. And much like the reward for being good, when I do good, I find that people want to do nice things for me, too.

I decided to write about this today because for the first few days of 2025, I can honestly say that I have been feeling good. Exceptionally good. Maybe it’s the freshness of a new year. Perhaps my good feelings are the result of a significant increase in my daily walking. The app on my phone tells me that I have walked an average of more than 7,000 steps a day over the last seven days (compared to 5,000 steps per day in 2024.) With the holidays behind us, I am better able to refocus my efforts regarding making healthier eating choices. I’ve been getting a good night’s sleep every night. And after several months of struggle, I am again feeling inspired and motivated to write.  

So yes, the new year is off to a great start, and I feel good. For this I am immensely grateful.