A pirate looks at 40

If you’ve never heard it, I strongly recommend the Jimmy Buffett song “A Pirate Looks at 40.” And even if you’ve never heard the whole song, you’ve no doubt heard a phrase from it that continues to change in meaning as I get older: “If I knew then what I know now….”

If I knew then … In my 30s and 40s, I was invincible. Rugged and tough, resilient, running marathons. I could work long hours, under the sun and in the swamps, drink a few beers, and come back the next day to do it all over again. Happily.

... what I know now … There are few pieces of advice I wish I had paid closer attention to back then. If I had, some aspects of my life, particularly my physical well-being, might be very different now. Not that I’m complaining: Life is pretty darn good at the moment. But with age comes wisdom and the urge to share this wisdom — whether others want to hear it or not. Starting with my fellow superintendents.

Maintaining physical, mental and emotional health equates not only to a balanced life, but, potentially, a longer, more fulfilling and comfortable life.

Moving naturally and maintaining good cardio health is a great starting point. Get out of the cart and take a walk. Only two to three miles each day can make a big difference. Notice I didn’t say run or jog. Just walk. If you are a step counter, set goals. I get a charge out of checking my Fitbit after logging an 18,000-step day in the yard and the gym.

If you must regularly haul heavy hoses and equipment, or love lifting your kids or grandkids over your head, make sure your body is up for the task. As you get older, strength training can be the difference between independence and the nursing home. Or as someone recently posted, “strength training is my retirement and insurance plan in one.”

And stretching is just as important. It can keep you mobile and prevent injuries.

Sleep has been an issue my entire life. I never got enough of it. I’d wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something, then worry about missing the alarm, then worry about not being able to get back to sleep. These days — without the 3:30 a.m. wake-up call — I’m logging a few more zzzzs and the results are noticeable. If you don’t get enough sleep, there are plenty of products and tools to help, from special sheets to sound machines, gravity blankets to different mattress types, and lots of apps that can help.

Same with what you eat and drink. I used to be able to down the double burger with everything, plus a chocolate milkshake and large fries. Do that now and I can hear my arteries hardening. I’m very careful to watch the fat, minimize the sugar and, especially, control portion size. A healthy, nutrient-rich diet will make you feel good and keep your mind sharp. It’ll even help you sleep better.

As for alcohol, people in most blue zones (the places around the world where people live the longest) drink alcohol regularly, but moderately. Careful drinkers outlive non-drinkers, but the trick is to drink only one to two glasses per day and do so with friends and/or with food.

But that’s not the only drinking that makes a difference. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. The reasons are too numerous to list here.

Focus on the present. Much of our job entails planning and anticipating, looking to the future. But in our personal lives, we are well advised to live in the moment. While I know that’s easier said than done, especially in the heat of the summer, you must put things in perspective. As I say all the time, it’s just golf. Furthermore, we can’t control Mother Nature. So, breathe. Find ways to reduce stress, which leads to chronic inflammation, ulcers, heart attacks and every major age-related disease. Start a daily exercise regimen, use a mental-health app or adopt some other regular routine that helps lower your anxiety level.

In agronomics, the grass is always greener where you water it. In relationships, make the same investment to nurture and grow your interpersonal skills. Prioritize family, cultivate friendships. You’re sure to feel better and possibly gain inspiration as well. Put the phone away and be present at least a few hours a day for your spouse, your children and yourself.

When time permits, give back. To your community, to a cause, to the greater good. Remember, we can all find some higher purpose, and along with helping the rest of the world, it will likely ease some of your stress.

Finally, save and invest — in your bank account, in your family and, most importantly, in yourself.