Caroline Paul: Outdoor Adventure for Healthy and Happy Aging
Mar 21, 2024
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Caroline Paul discusses how outdoor adventures can improve aging, challenging stereotypes and emphasizing the benefits of community and purpose. They explore the importance of trying new activities for brain health and optimizing hydration during endurance sports. It also delves into magnesium supplements, reframing aging for women in adventure sports, and embracing active aging through outdoor exploration.
Adventure promotes healthy aging by providing purpose and community.
Challenges stereotypes about aging women's capabilities and interests.
Engaging in outdoor activities enhances brain health and emotional well-being.
Deep dives
The Power of Outdoor Adventure in Healthy Aging
Outdoor adventure, especially for women, plays a significant role in promoting healthy aging by providing purpose, novelty, community, and sensory benefits. Caroline Paul's book, Tough Broad, emphasizes the importance of adventure for women as they age, highlighting how activities like boogie boarding or hiking offer holistic benefits beyond just physical exercise. The book showcases how engagement in outdoor activities can lead to a positive mindset about aging, contributing to a healthier and happier aging journey.
Breaking Cultural Stereotypes About Aging Women
Caroline Paul addresses the cultural perception that aging women become less physically competent and less interesting as they grow older. Women often feel invisible or lacking in cultural portrayals after a certain age. The book challenges these stereotypes, advocating for the recognition of women's continued vitality, capabilities, and interests even as they age. Through real-life examples like Louise and Dot, who engage in activities like scuba diving and boogie boarding, the book highlights ways to combat societal misconceptions about aging women.
Fulfilling Aging Through Curiosity and Engagement
Caroline Paul's book emphasizes the importance of curiosity and engagement in promoting fulfilling aging. Through interviews with inspiring individuals like Dot Fisher Smith and Louise Holy, who actively participate in outdoor activities like hiking and citizen science projects, the book illustrates how engaging in novel and adventurous pursuits contributes to enhanced brain health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. Exploring nature and challenging oneself through outdoor adventures can lead to a more purposeful and vibrant aging experience.
Adventurous Aging and Overcoming Limitations
The podcast delves into the concept of adventurous aging and the ability to overcome limitations as individuals grow older. Through various stories shared, it highlights how saying 'yes' to new opportunities, even later in life, can lead to transformative experiences. Examples such as individuals taking up activities like base jumping or bird watching in a wheelchair demonstrate that adaptability and a positive mindset can enable one to push past perceived limitations and engage in fulfilling outdoor adventures. By embracing change and being open to new experiences, individuals can lead vibrant lives and defy age-related stereotypes.
Rediscovering Fun and Community in Outdoor Activities
Another key focus of the podcast is on rediscovering the fun and community aspects of engaging in outdoor activities, regardless of age. It discusses the importance of venturing outside one's comfort zone, embracing vulnerability, and finding joy in uncertainty. By emphasizing the playfulness and primal nature of outdoor adventures, the podcast advocates for simplifying activities and enjoying the process without overcomplicating it. Additionally, it underscores the role of supportive partners in encouraging participation in new endeavors, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and growth. The podcast ultimately encourages individuals to prioritize fun, community, and personal growth through outdoor adventures for a fulfilling and enriching life.
Caroline Paul is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure and Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology, which has been translated into fifteen languages. She is also the author of the memoir Fighting Fire, the middle-grade book You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the World, and the novel East Wind, Rain. Her TED Talk, “To Raise Brave Girls, Encourage Adventure,” has been viewed over 2 million times. A longtime member of the Writers Grotto, she lives in San Francisco. Her latest book, Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking, How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age came out in March.
We absolutely love the importance Caroline puts on ADVENTURE for healthy and happy aging. She makes it really clear that adventure is everybody regardless of your interests and tastes, and provides purpose, novelty, community and so many things that benefit our brain health, durability, and mental well-being.
SPONSORS
This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT, a tasty electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don’t. That means lots of salt — with no sugar. Juliet really had to lean into LMNT on her bikepacking trip. Riding 8 hours a day, carrying all her gear and nutrition, she couldn’t just bring unlimited water. LMNT really helped make every ounce of water she was able to carry count and ensured she was absorbing the water and using it efficiently. Go to DrinkLMNT.com/TRS and check it out!
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This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by Momentous, a leading high-performance lifestyle company making the best supplements and sports nutrition products for individuals looking to optimize all parts of their lives. Our go-to sleep supplement is Magnesium L-Threonate. We’ve taken many magnesium supplements over the years, but with Momentous Magnesium we can really tell the difference on nights we take it and nights we don’t. It’s like a tranq dart. To check it out, go to livemomentous.com/TRS and use code TRS for 20% OFF your first purchase.
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