I Discovered the Fountain of Youth at the U.S. Women's Open ⛳
And it's not what you think.
Hello!
A shorter intro today as I’m coming off a busy week volunteering at the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills Golf Course, which happens to be just five miles from my hometown. It was incredibly cool to be part of this world-class experience that was so close to my roots.
Maybe you’re thinking, ✌️out, I’m not into golf. I’m just going to skip this intro… or maybe the entire newsletter.
Please don’t skidaddle so fast.
Because while volunteering…
I think I discovered the Fountain of Youth.
And it has nothing to do with golf, though while we’re on the topic, I have to say that I do think playing golf (for as long as you can) is great for healthy aging. Fresh air, exercise, mental focus, and time with friends all sound kind of Blue Zoneish to me. (Just sayin’)
However, what I’m about share has nothing to do with golf.
Or serums. Or food or drink. (No influencers influenced me with this secret.)
Here’s the story.
To set the stage, my volunteer post was outside one of the VIP tents that tournament guests can choose to upgrade their experience for better & more comfortable viewing opportunities, networking/socializing, and of course swanky food & drink.
On this particular day, it was cold, windy, and rainy.
My job was to check people into the tent, with the help of a partner. We had a system - he’d scan a barcode on a guest’s cellphone and then scan a corresponding wrist band (which I was holding, like Vanna White), and then I’d place the band on the guest’s wrist, tightening it just the right amount to avoid cutting off circulation. (This is harder than you think.)
Simple, right?
For the most part, yes.
Except, like things usually go when you’re dealing with technology and trying to get someone from Point A to Point B quickly (and it’s windy and freezing)… we experienced some glitches.
I think it maybe the winds were interfering with the Wi-Fi. (Or maybe it was the fact that we were on a golf course.) Also, other times we’d have to switch devices because the wrong code showed up on a phone. (Don’t ask me, I just dealt with bracelets.)
As one might expect, these glitches slowed things down at times.
It was interesting to see how people reacted when the scanner didn’t grant immediate entry. Usually, their inclination was to apologize, thinking it was something they did to hold up the show. (Which was really never the case.)
Then they’d just take it with a grain of salt, accepting that technology glitches and delays happen. Plus, hey, how could they complain - they had the day off and were at a world-class golf course watching championship golf.
The occasional slow downs weren’t that big of a deal - just sort of a fact of life in a world of technology. I handed out a lot of bracelets that day, and since the process is so quick (minus the glitches), I don’t remember a lot of faces.
Except one couple, who had a certain star quality about them.
(Like seriously, I still wonder if they were famous.)
This couple had great style and a look that made them stand out.
(They were pretty people.)
But they had something beyond their looks.
They had great energy.
The kind of energy that if you were seated next to them at a dinner party, they’d keep your wine glass filled and the convo light. The kind of energy where if they were family, you’d secretly rig your annual gift exchange so one of them would get your name.
You get the idea.
When it came time to scan this cool couple’s tickets, it took an extra minute for the guy to find the tickets on his phone. He thought it was an eternity, but it had been happening all day.
As he was searching on his phone, he said something that clued me into the fact that he and his partner might be on the older end of the guests I’d seen that day.
The funny thing was, I didn’t even notice (or think of) their age until he said,
We take a little extra time these days,
but we’re still nice people.
I promise you.
That was all he said - just a fact, not an apology - hey, things take us longer, but we’re not letting that bother us, and we’re still the same nice people as before.
BAM.
That energy - visible from across the course, even before they approached the table - took at least 30 years off of them.
And it had nothing to do with looks, style, or mobility.
Simply, their spirit made them ageless, incredibly cool, and most importantly, nice people.
And wouldn’t you know, that energy is What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week…
Great energy makes everything better.
It makes us look better.
Feel better.
And, puts those around us at ease.
Great energy makes a positive situation better,
and a negative situation not as bad.
Great energy takes years off our faces
and adds years to our spirit.
Best of all, great energy is free.
It requires no needles and no serums.
Just good vibes.
Kind of sounds like a hole in one.
And that, my friends, is the secret.
Plus don’t forget, keeping clubs in your trunk doesn’t hurt either.
And with that… a few pics from the week on the links followed by LINKS for better travel, health, and everyday living.
The links below are actually inspired by YOU! (Remember when I asked what you wanted more of in the future?)
Here’s what you told me:
Don’t forget you can always make special requests… either leave a comment or drop me a message.
In light of the survey, let’s move on to this week’s links, with a special focus on Travel & Wellness.
travel
Healthy food to carry with you if you don’t dig airplane food. Whole30’s list of healthy snacks, and some sneaky hacks to get around airline food restrictions. (You can’t make me eat your TV dinner!)
Looking for new travel ideas? Five countries you’ve probably never heard of, and where Americans are traveling this summer according to the Folo by Travel Weekly podcast. (Some of the locations will surprise you.)
If you don’t care where you go, and just want a cool trip and great deal, Your Rich BFF has the solution - SkyScanner.com. Choose destination and click “go everywhere” to find the best deals.
Regardless of destination, before you head to the airport, be sure you know what to check before leaving home.
Unpaid ad… if you’re headed to Spain (or Europe) from the US, try Iberia Airlines. The best service and you can get some great deals.
wellness
Peak Health Starts Now is the motto of Super Power, an online health service that aims to provide the best healthcare that’s easily accessible. Super Power is one of many examples of concierge medicine - a growing healthcare option I’ve been exploring in addition to other holistic trends.
Mind-body-spirit includes your brain and here’s what you need to know to keep your melon healthy as you age.
An evidence-based guide to