How about a little inspiration?

A dear friend of mine just turned 80. He acknowledged feeling bummed out about it.

I have a good number of friends who are that same age. They’re dealing with all the stuff you’d expect. Whether out of habit or determination, they’re chugging along. They’re active (sometimes more mentally than physically), and staying optimistic.

But optimism is one thing. My friend Karen Robertson, 79, is something else entirely.

After beating cancer fifteen years ago, Karen, who had been coaching entrepreneurs (“spending 20 hours a week on the phone”), closed up shop and vowed to spend the rest of her life doing “fun things.”

Karen’s always been kind of fearless. As a younger person, she enjoyed driving her motorcycle and snowmobile. Her favorite vehicular hobby was GoKart racing, for which she has her own helmet and matching gloves.

But after her recovery and her vow, and in spite of the setbacks of normal human life, these are the things she has tried and in some cases, stuck with:

1. Karen got interested in standup comedy, took many classes from ten different teachers, and performed for almost ten years. Her largest audience was approx. 1200 people at the Pechanga Ballroom. At 74, she was a finalist in the Clean Comedy Challenge at the Ice House in Pasadena.
2. She did a TedX talk on Humor.
3. She’s written and published seven books (see them here.)
4. On a whim, she had a swing installed in her backyard and can reach out and touch a tree branch with her toe.
5. She joined Groupon, which opened the door to kayaking, pole dancing lessons, indoor skydiving, belly dancing, and surfing lessons.
6. She’s done five reverse-sprint triathlons (you start on land and end up in the water), zip-lined in Idaho and Montana, and paddle-boarded in Montana fully-clothed.
7. She was an extra in five movies (and was in a scene with  Mark Wahlberg), taught classes at the high school on personality types, and has been interviewed on radio and Facebook shows.
8. She was on a women’s trap shooting team.
9. In GoKart racing, she was only beaten twice. Once was by her son, who bested her by 0.08 of a second.
10. Karen is currently enrolled in a 4-day a week program at her gym. It’s called Camp Transformation. She can now do two sets of 15 burpees as long as she rests as she goes. (I’m a healthy 67. Tried one geriatric burpee and called it a day.)

I’m telling you about Karen today because her energy lifts me up, and I thought maybe you’d feel the same. While I’m an introspective ruminator, she’s a person who just says, “Why not?” and hits the gas pedal. I suppose her biggest challenge is how to slack off when need be. How to avoid over-commitment. But she has a zest for life that’s uplifting, and I thought you’d enjoy hearing about her.

At the end of our talk, I asked Karen what is ahead for her. 

“This week I’m trying axe throwing.”

To learn more about Karen and her books and activities, click here to visit her website.