Almost ten years ago, I wrote a post titled Flying into my 40s. I had just turned 40 and made a simple promise to myself. I wasn’t going to slow down just because a number changed on the calendar.
A few years later, I followed up with another post titled Life in my Forties. By that point, I had a little more experience under my belt and could say with confidence that nothing had changed. I was still training, still moving, and still enjoying the process.
Now almost a decade later, the same philosophy still applies.
Not Today
I wake up each day with the same mindset that I’ve carried for years.
Today I will not lose ground.
That may sound simple, but it’s something I challenge myself to each day. Whatever strength or fitness I had yesterday, I’ll work hard to keep today. At face value, that might sound crazy, and it probably is. But I’m actually a big believer in being a bit crazy, defiant, and stubborn. Normal is boring. I’m not here to abide by conventional wisdom. I don’t want to be like everyone else.
My goal each day is to hold on to what I’ve already built. I’m not worried about chasing breakthroughs or setting world records. Instead, I focus on preserving the strength, conditioning, and habits that have been built through years of work.
And oddly enough, when you focus on not losing ground, you often end up moving forward.
Consistency Still Wins
If there’s one lesson that has remained true throughout my 40s, it’s that consistency is a superpower.
There’s no secret workout. No magic routine. Just years of showing up and doing the work.
Some days the training is intense. Other days it’s lighter. But movement is always part of the day. The body responds well when you use it regularly.
Step away for weeks or months at a time, and age suddenly becomes much more noticeable.
Keep moving, and the years tend to blend together. This doesn’t mean you won’t age, but when you do it’s gradual. You are never away from the gym long enough to notice much of a difference.
As I’ve said many times before, maintenance is progress. The ability to hold on to what you’ve already built is a victory in itself.
Training Without Ego
Another lesson that has become more clear over time is the importance of leaving your ego at the door.
When I was younger, I was constantly chasing bigger numbers and tougher challenges. There’s nothing wrong with that mindset, but eventually you realize that longevity matters more than any single workout.
These days I’m grateful to be strong, move well, stay healthy, and continue doing what I love. That doesn’t mean I’m not still trying to improve. It’s more about enjoying the journey rather than obsessing over the result.
If I hit a personal best on an exercise, that’s great. But it’s also fine if I don’t, because I know I’m still working hard to become today’s best version of myself. And when you continue to stack those types of days together, you’ll find that you can hold on to your strength as the weeks, months, and years pass by.
Don’t Obsess Over Age
Aside from sitting here and writing this article, I rarely think about age at all. There have been times when someone asks how old I am and I actually have to stop and think about it for a moment. It’s not something that crosses my mind.
My focus has always been the same. I wake up, work, train, and keep pushing forward. When you live that way, there isn’t much time left to sit around wondering how old you are or how you’re supposed to feel (despite what some idiots might tell you).
Most days the only reminder of my age is what’s written on my driver’s license. Beyond that, it’s largely irrelevant. I’m too busy doing the work to spend time thinking about the number.
Age will move forward whether we think about it or not. I’d rather spend my energy on something more productive.
Final Thoughts
When I wrote about flying into my 40s, I said I planned to keep going hard for as long as I’m alive.
That hasn’t changed.
I still wake up each day with the same goal. Work hard, don’t lose ground, and don’t get lost in complexity. Complexity might sell, but it’s consistency that works. In fact, my own training becomes more and more simple as each year passes.
It’s not about chasing perfection or trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s about showing up and putting in the work.
Protect what you’ve built. Maintain what you’ve earned. And keep moving forward.
Do that often enough, and the years have a funny way of working in your favor.
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” – Satchel Paige
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