‘Tough Broad’ Caroline Paul on the Importance of Outdoor Adventures While We Age
Mar 5, 2024
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Caroline Paul discusses the importance of outdoor adventures for women as they age, challenging societal norms and embracing bravery. The podcast covers awe, novelty, loss, and empowerment in the context of aging and outdoor pursuits. From mountain climbing to skydiving, the conversation highlights personal growth, vitality, and the transformative power of nature.
Outdoor adventures in aging challenge societal norms and foster bravery for women.
Novelty and awe found in outdoor activities benefit aging individuals' vitality and well-being.
Deep dives
The Transformative Power of Outdoor Adventures in Aging Women
Women in their 60s and beyond are embracing diverse outdoor adventures to defy age-related stereotypes and explore new dimensions of life. Caroline Paul's book delves into the exhilarating experiences of women engaging in activities like base jumping, bird watching, and even wing walking, highlighting how these ventures enrich their lives by challenging norms and fostering bravery.
The Journey to Embrace Novelty and Awe Through Outdoor Pursuits
Through interviews with women who have taken up outdoor activities later in life, Caroline Paul uncovers the importance of novelty and awe in the aging process. From swimming to gyrocopter flying, these ventures offer a unique opportunity for self-discovery and resilience, presenting moments of courage and exhilaration beyond societal expectations.
The Vital Connection Between Outdoor Exploration and Fulfilling Aging
Caroline Paul's exploration reveals the powerful impact of outdoor adventures on aging individuals' vitality and well-being. By emphasizing the significance of age-positive mindsets and embracing uncertainties, individuals, irrespective of physical abilities, can enjoy the physiological and emotional benefits of venturing outdoors.
Community, Belonging, and Adventure as Pillars of Happy Aging
Adventure transcends the individual pursuit, fostering a sense of community, belonging, and shared experiences. Whether trekking, bird watching, or BMX biking, these activities create connections and a deeper sense of purpose, contributing to a rich and fulfilling aging journey for individuals of all backgrounds.
Caroline Paul is 60 years old and she rides a one-wheel, paddle boards wherever she pleases, and as the endurance swimmer Diana Nyad put it, is “the toughest broad I know.” But in her new book, Tough Broad, Paul sets out to show that all kinds of outdoor adventure from BASE jumping to bird watching can enrich the lives of women as they get older in a society that tells them to simply fade to irrelevance. We’ll be talking awe and novelty, accepting loss and challenging norms. As she writes, “This is not a book about adrenaline, it is a book about exhilaration. It is not about bravado, it is about bravery.”
Guests:
Caroline Paul, author, "Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking-How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age" and "The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure
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