{"id":17638,"date":"2017-02-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=17638"},"modified":"2021-01-29T18:35:54","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T18:35:54","slug":"2017-02-16-giving-up-not-giving-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2017-02-16-giving-up-not-giving-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving Up not Giving In!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did I really just turn 55?….<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Closer to 80 than 30?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Closer to 90 than 20?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Damn!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I first worked at Skydive Perris when I was 29. On my way to the drop zone I would drive through Sun City past signs reading, \u201c55 and over community\u201d and think to myself, \u201cI\u2019d never live in a place like that.\u201d I was driving down the same street the other day and thought, \u201cA little house on a golf course ten minutes from the drop zone doesn\u2019t sound too bad.\u201d What\u2019s that about?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it turns out 55 isn\u2019t nearly as bad as I thought it sounded when I was 29. But I have to admit I\u2019ve taken on a somewhat new approach to life. I\u2019m not quite sure how to describe it, a new way of picking my fights or maybe adjusting my priorities. I guess I\u2019d call it \u201cGiving in but not giving up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For example, when I was training and competing full time my fighting weight was between 160 and 165. I still eat pretty healthy and go the gym regularly but these days it\u2019s all I can do to stay below 175. Well, apparently all I\u2019m willing to do anyway. (I\u2019m sure it\u2019s all muscle. I just can\u2019t figure out how my waist measurement is now bigger than the length.) I\u2019m giving in. I decided to be happy weighing between 170 and 175. But anytime I get on the scale and weigh one ounce over 175 I\u2019m going on a coffee-only diet and doing cardio every day. I\u2019m not giving up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Dan in his younger days<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u200b<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Silver grey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My hair, or what\u2019s left of it, has turned pretty grey. It would be nice to still have a full head of hair that wasn\u2019t white. I could get hair replacement or dye it. But that sounds like a total pain in the ass and I\u2019d look ridiculous. Grey hair matches my face better. Nah, I\u2019m giving in on that one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silver not Gold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Each year I have the privilege to jump with the current AZ Airspeed team and some of my old teammates at the US National Skydiving Championships. It\u2019s a blast jumping with the team and we still do some pretty good skydiving. I\u2019m often asked if I miss it and wish I was still competing and going for the Gold. I do miss it, a lot. But I\u2019d never want to train that hard now. Its way too much work and I lost interest in winning Gold medals at the Nationals a long time ago. I\u2019ve given in on that. But I\u2019m not giving up. I can still show up at the Nationals and get Silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Airspeed
Airspeed, 1995, World Champions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Working out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Back in the day when I was working out I would only lift heavy dead weights. I would never even consider getting on a machine. Machines were for wimps. When you\u2019re lifting heavy dead weight you\u2019re really moving some mass. It made me feel strong. It made me strong. When I got done working out I felt like I could pick up a house. These days I never lift heavy or dead weights at all. Anytime I have, it felt like I was about to rip a limb right off my body. I\u2019ve given in. I only work out on machines now. I definitely don\u2019t feel strong enough to move a house but at least all my limbs are attached when I\u2019m done. I haven\u2019t given up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve given in on a few things but given up on nothing.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not the man I was at 29, but fortunately I don\u2019t want to be. 55 is ok. I\u2019ve given in on a few things but given up on nothing. Just the same, I think I\u2019ll hold off on the house on the golf course in Sun City for a few more decades!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>
<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Visit Us<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
<\/span>
<\/a><\/div>
<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div >