This week, we hiked Mt. Van Hoevenberg – elevation 2,939 feet.
This mountain hosted the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Today, it still boasts an outstanding sports complex that makes full use of that Olympic investment. On the day of our hike, it was hosting a professional downhill mountain bike world cup event.
Yes, this is the same Olympics where the United States unexpectedly beat a heavily favored Soviet Union team in the medal round of men’s hockey, the moment forever known as The Miracle On Ice. These are the things movies are made about.
At the peak, we paused to rest and take in the beautiful fall views. Across the valley to our right stood the imposing ski jump towers – the tallest structures between Albany and Montreal. It’s hard to imagine the courage it takes to climb a tower that high and then launch yourself into the winter air from those heights.
After hiking back down, we headed into Lake Placid Village to grab something to eat and walk past other Olympic venues, including the arena where that legendary hockey game took place.
Going into the game, none of the athletes could have predicted the exact outcome. There were simply too many variables. But one thing they could control was how they prepared, and prepare they did. The rest, as they say, is history.
On the long drive home through the Adirondacks, I found myself reflecting on our day and how these moments apply to my own retirement adventure.
My takeaway is simple: I need to focus more on what I can control, my readiness, when facing a major life change. What I shouldn’t do is give in to fatalism by fixating on all the variables I can’t control.
So let me ask you:
What are the things within your control that you’re doing every day to position yourself for a stronger retirement? If you’ve already nailed down the “how” (your finances), have you spent time developing the “why” (your purpose)?
We can position ourselves for our own retirement wins by doing the hard work before the main event. Let’s keep our own version of the Miracle On Ice alive.