When your identity is tied to how much you live life, being forced to limit exciting activities as you age can cause you to readjust. In this episode, we meet Joel Bown, who put worthy miles on his joints through rock climbing and skiing, but who today has found other ways to re-engage, be active, and thrive.

“The key is to do what you like, as long as you can,” says Joel. “Do activities that other people are doing and befriend them. Find out if you've got more in common than just the fact that you're sitting on the edge of the lake throwing food to the ducks.”

Some highlights in this episode:

1:12: For Joel, thriving means “to be able to do the things that I want to do reasonably comfortably.”

1:24: Joel had been very active as a rock climber and a backcountry skier, but it wore out his joints

2:46: How has Joel changed the definition of thriving

3:29: Joel’s identity was changed when he was forced to limit his activities

4:22: Joel works with a personal trainer weekly to maintain his strength and mobility

5:17: The benefits and side effects of different pain medications from Kathleen Cameron at the National Council on Aging

7:51: Joel’s wife is part of his support system who encourage him to move around and thrive

9:02: “I think the key is to do what you like, as long as you can,” believes Joel

9:38: Joel and his wife bike more and take canoe trips with friends

10:36: Joel, his wife, and friends have thrived during bike excursions in Europe

Contact Our Host

Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education at the Global Healthy Living Foundation: lferguson@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to ThrivingWhileAching@ghlf.org

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