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7 Longevity Secrets From My Rockstar 85 Year Old Mother-in-Law | The Mel Robbins Podcast

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In this episode, you will meet Judie, a total badass who has it all figured out, from killer biceps to fulfilling friendships to staying mentally sharp, spunky, and sexy. She’s got it all together. Who is Judie? She’s my 85-year-old mother-in-law. You don’t need a library full of books filled with the science of staying young forever. Today you are getting the cliff notes for living a long, happy, healthy, fulfilling, and purposeful life. She will teach you: - The reason moments of joy are fleeting for you and how to make them last longer - The most important relationship you need to foster in your life - The surprising thing you can do this week to create purpose in your life - Why you need friends that are younger AND older than you - How to create a killer morning routine that fuels your busy life - The 3 ways to keep your mind young at any age - The reason YOU need to be the first one to pick up the phone Today Judie is sharing her 7 secrets to #longevity and coaching you on how to get the life you deserve. She spills her no-BS secrets on how to take care of your mind, body, and relationships. Backed by research and 80 years of experience, her love of life and ability to embrace moments of joy and give back are what make her such an inspiration. I am so excited to introduce this wonderful person to you. I want you to take a page out of her playbook. You’re never too young or too old to start living life the way you want. And it is NEVER too late to be the badass you were meant to be. Xo, Mel In this episode: 00:00 Intro 04:47 How to create a killer morning routine that fuels your busy life 09:44 One mantra that you need for purposeful intention 10:58 When Judie first started working out (it’s not too late) 12:23 Judie’s #1 for feeling less depressed and isolated as you age 12:58 Why you need friends that are younger AND older than you 14:34 The surprising thing you can do this week to create purpose in your life 17:10 The reason YOU need to be the first one to pick up the phone 19:51 The 3 ways to keep your mind young at any age 21:58 How to maintain the motivation to move every day 28:25 The most important relationship you need to foster in your life 33:17 How you can really “stay young at heart” 40:24 How to get the life you deserve and live the way you want #liveyourbestlife #livewithpurpose — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel RobbinshostJudie (Judy) Robbinsguest
Aug 28, 202343mWatch on YouTube ↗

EVERY SPOKEN WORD

  1. 0:00 – 4:47

    Intro

    1. MR

      (ticking sound) Judy Robbins. Everybody, she's gonna be 86 and she's dropping knowledge.

    2. JR

      (laughs)

    3. MR

      How old were you when you ran your first marathon with me?

    4. JR

      70.

    5. MR

      How old were you when you jumped out of an airplane for the first time?

    6. JR

      81.

    7. MR

      (laughs) God, woman. If you were to talk directly to somebody who feels like they don't have anyone who loves them in their life, what would your advice be about how to get started?

    8. JR

      Without a skipping a beat, I would start by... (instrumental music plays)

    9. MR

      Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast. I am so excited for today's conversation because we're gonna talk about longevity, and by longevity, I don't mean how do you live forever? I mean, how do you live a long, vibrant, connected, happy, healthy and purpose-driven life? How do you do that? What are the guidelines, the keys, the secrets? What are the mistakes that people make that prevent them from doing that? And in order for us to really dig into this topic in a fun and entertaining and helpful way, I thought why don't I just track down the most badass woman that I know, in terms of somebody who's in their 80s? Who am I talking about? I'm talking about my mother-in-law, Judy Robbins. Every single time I post some photo with her or some video with her on social media, you guys hammer me with questions. "How does she have biceps and a six-pack at the age of 82? How can she hold a plank for two minutes and 30 seconds?" That is true. In fact, we were in barre class the other day and we walk in and I go and grab the five-pound weights. She freaking grabs the eight-pound weights. Show off. No, I'm joking, but seriously, I have been so impressed because she has been a widow since she was 69 years old, and she lives her life in a way that makes me want to be as connected and happy and optimistic and vibrant as she is at the age of 85. She inspires me. And you guys ask a lot of questions about her secrets every time you see her. In fact, I posted a photo of my family holding her up like a little doll, 'cause she's so petite, at our daughter's graduation, and she had just taken a gummy and was dancing with us at a, at, at, at a graduation party. I mean, she's just an absolute hoot. And I'm not the only one who feels that way. Her friends feel that way about her, and everywhere we go people are stunned that she is as old as she is because she doesn't act that way and she doesn't look like it. And so I thought, you know what? Let's get her on the podcast. Let's answer your questions and let's dig into what she believes are the habits, the mindset tricks, and the values and priorities in her life that have led to living such an incredible life in the last chapter of her life. I mean, how amazing would it be for us all to wake up at the age of 85 and truly authentically feel like the best days are in front of us? Because you know what? With small changes, they can and they should be, and that's what we're gonna dig in today. So ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, meet my friend and my mother-in-law, Judy Janks Robbins. Welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast. All right. So there's a lot to cover, but I just have to have some highlights here. So, uh, how old were you when you ran your first marathon with me?

    10. JR

      70.

    11. MR

      So she ran her first marathon at the age of 70. How old were you when you jumped out of an airplane for the first time?

    12. JR

      81.

    13. MR

      (laughs) God, woman. And the woman rocks a bikini. She has a six-pack. She's got just ridiculously cut biceps. She exercises every day. She has more fun than anybody that I know, and she has an enormous group of friends, and I want to know, like, what, what is it? Where do we even wanna start? Like, I, I, to me, you are a complete badass, so maybe what we should do is divide this into a bunch of questions, okay?

    14. JR

      Okay. Yep.

    15. MR

      Hold on. I'm starting to get hot. I gotta turn on the AC.

    16. JR

      (laughs)

    17. MR

      See? I'm having a hot flash. You're past that stage.

    18. JR

      (laughs) Thank God I'm past that.

    19. MR

      What's a day in the life of Judy Robbins look like?

    20. JR

      You wanna know specifically?

    21. MR

      Yeah, what time do you wake up? (laughs)

    22. JR

      I wake up very early because I'm old-

    23. MR

      (laughs)

    24. JR

      ... and you do when you're, when you're, when you get old you wake up too early. Um,

  2. 4:47 – 9:44

    How to create a killer morning routine that fuels your busy life

    1. JR

      I have a sauna in my house.

    2. MR

      Yep.

    3. JR

      So I go downstairs. I turn my sauna on.

    4. MR

      Mm-hmm.

    5. JR

      Then I make myself water and it's, it's the, uh, orange, you know, 1,000, you know those packets?

    6. MR

      Oh, you have an emergency?

    7. JR

      Yeah.

    8. MR

      Okay.

    9. JR

      I have an emergency in water.

    10. MR

      Okay. Vitamin C. Blast.

    11. JR

      Then I make myself a cup, nice latte.

    12. MR

      Yeah.

    13. JR

      I get back in bed.

    14. MR

      (laughs)

    15. JR

      (laughs) .

    16. MR

      God, okay.

    17. JR

      I have, I can do that now, you know?

    18. MR

      Yes.

    19. JR

      I don't have kids running around. And, uh, and then I go through my mail.

    20. MR

      In bed?

    21. JR

      Yeah, on my phone.

    22. MR

      You go through your mail on your phone?

    23. JR

      Yeah.

    24. MR

      Oh, you mean your email?

    25. JR

      Yeah, my email.

    26. MR

      You are doing the exact opposite of what I tell people to do by the way.

    27. JR

      Yeah.

    28. MR

      Keep going.

    29. JR

      And, um, I play one hand of bridge.

    30. MR

      On your phone?

  3. 9:44 – 10:58

    One mantra that you need for purposeful intention

    1. JR

      don't know. It's, it's all in your mind, right? (laughs)

    2. MR

      It is true, or it's not in your mind. Um, so-

    3. JR

      Okay, okay, so-

    4. MR

      ... then after the sauna, what do you do?

    5. JR

      Then I come upstairs and I make myself a kombucha, apple cider vinegar, and a fresh squeezed orange juice.

    6. MR

      Okay. Like, all together?

    7. JR

      Yeah, drink that.

    8. MR

      As one thing?

    9. JR

      Yeah.

    10. MR

      That's similar to the Farmer's W- uh, Swish- Switzel, Swishul, something Switzel. Switcher, something like that, that my grandmother used to drink and my mom drinks, which is hot water, apple cider vinegar, a little bit of honey, and some lemon.

    11. JR

      Well, you have to mix apple cider vinegar with something 'cause it tastes terrible.

    12. MR

      Yes. Okay. So, now we've got our day done.

    13. JR

      And no, then I go and walk for five miles.

    14. MR

      Okay. Now this, I think, is really important. How long have you walked five miles a day?

    15. JR

      Well, I used to run. I used to be a runner.

    16. MR

      Yup.

    17. JR

      And I think I stopped running, oh, I don't know, s- when I was like 75.

    18. MR

      (laughs) That's such a casual-

    19. JR

      And then started walking.

    20. MR

      Okay. When did you start running? A lot of the questions that we get, because you are so physically fit and you look so young, I mean, you're gonna be 86, and most people peg you in your early 70s. And have

  4. 10:58 – 12:23

    When Judie first started working out (it’s not too late)

    1. MR

      you ever had any, like, facelifts?

    2. JR

      Um, every now and then, I'll have, you know, a shot here and there, but not very, not very often. I have been lucky that way. I've never had a facelift, no.

    3. MR

      Wow. Um, so you walk five miles.

    4. JR

      Mm-hmm.

    5. MR

      And you have walked five miles a day since I've known you.

    6. JR

      Mm-hmm.

    7. MR

      And we've known each other almost 30 years. And you get really grouchy if you don't get your walk in.

    8. JR

      If I don't exercise, I do get grouchy.

    9. MR

      H-

    10. JR

      But don't you?

    11. MR

      Well, some days.

    12. JR

      (laughs)

    13. MR

      (laughs)

    14. JR

      (laughs) Well, when things become a habit and you can't do it, it makes you kind of, you know, upset.

    15. MR

      Yes.

    16. JR

      Because it's something that you wanna do when you ... It's part of your routine.

    17. MR

      It's what makes you feel like yourself.

    18. JR

      Yeah, exactly.

    19. MR

      So, I think this is a really important thing, because you have walked or run five miles a day since I've known you.

    20. JR

      Mm-hmm.

    21. MR

      And that is a core habit. And what do you notice about your, about people that you know your age who have continued or who are mobile versus people who are more sedentary?

    22. JR

      Well, I think people that are more sedentary at my age-

    23. MR

      Yep.

    24. JR

      ... I think they're depressed.

    25. MR

      Mm.

    26. JR

      I- I mean, I have a lot of

  5. 12:23 – 12:58

    Judie’s #1 for feeling less depressed and isolated as you age

    1. JR

      older friends that would not even admit that they're depressed. That they, they don't go out, or they don't, you know... There's always something wrong.

    2. MR

      Mm-hmm.

    3. JR

      You know, "I would've done so-and-so today, but look at the day, it's raining."

    4. MR

      Yep.

    5. JR

      As if raining has anything to do with... (laughs) their day.

    6. MR

      Yeah, it's true.

    7. JR

      Um, but I have a lot of younger friends, and that's very important as you get older, to have a lot of younger friends. I have a lot of friends. That's also very important. I think being social is almost more important than exercise.

  6. 12:58 – 14:34

    Why you need friends that are younger AND older than you

    1. JR

    2. MR

      Why?

    3. JR

      Because it makes you feel loved. And if you can wake up every day and know that you've got people that love you, you feel good about yourself.

    4. MR

      We have a lot of people that write into this show who say they have no one, and if you were to talk directly to somebody who feels like they don't have anyone who loves them in their life, because I'm always surprised by the number of people who write in about this, what would your advice be about how to get started?

    5. JR

      I could... Without a skipping a beat, I would start by taking the hospice training-

    6. MR

      Oh.

    7. JR

      ... and go and take care of somebody. Because who you take care of is gonna give you love-

    8. MR

      Mmm.

    9. JR

      ... and is gonna make you feel so good about yourself, even if you don't have your neighbor or your friend, if they don't love you, the person that you are taking care of will love you. Makes a very big difference. I've been doing hospice for over 40 years, and, you know, people say, "I don't know how you do that. You know, these people are dying." It is the most rewarding thing that you can do. And you know, your husband does it now.

    10. MR

      Yeah. What do you get out of it?

    11. JR

      A tremendous feeling of satisfaction that I've contributed to somebody's life, you know, like Judy. Like, I went and saw her t- this morning,

  7. 14:34 – 17:10

    The surprising thing you can do this week to create purpose in your life

    1. JR

      and even if I only spend an hour, this is a very good friend, as you know, of mine, who has Parkinson's. You know, if I only came in for 15 minutes, she's grateful.

    2. MR

      Mmm.

    3. JR

      You know? You just have to make the time. Can't say that you're too busy. And so, for the people that feel very lonely that don't have anybody that love them, they can create love by taking care of somebody else.

    4. MR

      That is such beautiful advice, because we do start to look outside ourselves and look for other people to fill a need, and what you're saying is the truth. Fill it for yourself first, and the way to bring more love into your life is to give it to a perfect stranger and being part of the hospice community. That's an incredible piece of advice. Tell me more about your day.

    5. JR

      Well-

    6. MR

      (clears throat)

    7. JR

      ... I'm, I'm active, obviously. I play golf-

    8. MR

      Mm-hmm.

    9. JR

      ... a little bit.

    10. MR

      In fact, you played 18 holes today.

    11. JR

      And I walk. I don't take a cart.

    12. MR

      So did you walk your five miles and then go play 18?

    13. JR

      No, I didn't.

    14. MR

      Okay, 'cause the walking 18 holes-

    15. JR

      Serves it.

    16. MR

      Yes.

    17. JR

      Yeah.

    18. MR

      Okay. So you play golf. What else do you do during the day?

    19. JR

      I play bridge.

    20. MR

      Yeah.

    21. JR

      Which I think is good for the mind.

    22. MR

      Yep.

    23. JR

      I have an organized group that plays at my house.

    24. MR

      Yeah.

    25. JR

      Um, I have like 40 women on a list, but I can only take 16, so I arrange them. (laughs)

    26. MR

      (laughs) So you have 16 women that come and play bridge once a week-

    27. JR

      Yeah.

    28. MR

      ... at your house?

    29. JR

      Yep.

    30. MR

      Wow.

  8. 17:10 – 19:51

    The reason YOU need to be the first one to pick up the phone

    1. JR

      about me, and if they're starting to worry about me, then they know something I don't.

    2. MR

      Right. Well, I think there's a bigger takeaway for everybody, which is that so many people sit around and waste time and build up resentment and stress for themselves by wishing things were different or wishing more people would care.

    3. JR

      Right.

    4. MR

      And you don't sit around and do that. You, I have witnessed, are someone who is focused on her life, and as hard as it may be as a grandparent or as a mother to sit back and go, "Oh, well, they're busy. They have busy lives. I'm not the center of their lives. They don't have to call me."

    5. JR

      Exactly.

    6. MR

      If I want to have a closer connection, I have to create it. And so, I see you in every area of your life, creating what you want, and that you don't sit around and get angry about the fact that the grandkids might not call as much as they should, or your sons might not call, or your daughter-in-laws might not call as much as you wish that they would.And you have this, you've created this ability to basically give people the freedom to live their lives, to just pour the love out. And if it doesn't come back in the way that you want it to come back, in terms of the frequency of phone calls, you don't get your knickers in a pinch about it. Like, I don't get, I don't ever call you and have you go, "Haven't heard from you in a while."

    7. JR

      (laughs)

    8. MR

      I don't. And we don't talk all that often-

    9. JR

      Right.

    10. MR

      ... ever really, on the phone.

    11. JR

      No, we don't.

    12. MR

      I never call you. (laughs)

    13. JR

      No, you don't.

    14. MR

      (laughs)

    15. JR

      But I understand that.

    16. MR

      Yeah.

    17. JR

      I mean, I get that. You're a busy woman. We text.

    18. MR

      Yep.

    19. JR

      You know, you'll say, "Come on over," and I come.

    20. MR

      Yep.

    21. JR

      Um, you know, everybody has their busy life.

    22. MR

      Yes.

    23. JR

      You just have to understand that, you know? It doesn't center around you.

    24. MR

      Right. That's true. It's important. What are other thi- I noticed you're a big reader.

    25. JR

      Yes, I am.

    26. MR

      You tend to, do you read every single day?

    27. JR

      Yes. I listen to a book-

    28. MR

      Yeah.

    29. JR

      ... when I walk.

    30. MR

      Okay.

  9. 19:51 – 21:58

    The 3 ways to keep your mind young at any age

    1. JR

      I wanna know what's happening, so as soon as I get out of the house and I start my book, I'm on my way.

    2. MR

      Well, what's also nice about that, especially for those of you that feel like you don't have a lot of friends in your life, is that if you're listening to a book while you're out, you actually are with somebody.

    3. JR

      Yeah.

    4. MR

      You're listening to the narrator. You are learning something. You're having input, which is very, very important when you're lonely. And it's active input. It's not you sitting on the couch, mainlining a series alone in your house. You're out and about, and moving. And it's true, you are always listening to a book, ever since I've known you.

    5. JR

      Yeah.

    6. MR

      You've had books on tape in the car.

    7. JR

      Yeah.

    8. MR

      Now you've got books in your ears as you walk.

    9. JR

      Right.

    10. MR

      And you have tons of books-

    11. JR

      That I read, too.

    12. MR

      ... that you read.

    13. JR

      I try and read every afternoon for an hour or two if I can.

    14. MR

      Wow. Um, I wanna just kind of hit some topics, because I remember I took you to a barre class, uh, at this place where we, uh, rent a beach house every summer in Rhode Island. And every time we walk into a barre class, you're lifting heavier weights than me, you are super bendy and stretchy, and you're sitting there pumping the iron, and your biceps are bigger than mine, and everybody is floored that you're as old as you are. And so, when I post, like you and I once did a plank challenge. You held a plank at the age of 82 for two and a half minutes. That's incredible. And so, I've got questions from listeners. And people wanna know, have you always worked out or did you start later in life?

    15. JR

      No, I definitely started later in life, in my 30s.

    16. MR

      You started exercising in your 30s?

    17. JR

      I mean, I had children. I didn't have... But (laughs) that's exercise in itself, three kids, you know?

    18. MR

      Yes.

    19. JR

      Um, but no, I never had a routine. My husband and I started running, um, in our 30s.

    20. MR

      And how do you maintain the motivation to do it every day?

    21. JR

      (smacks lips) Guilt.

  10. 21:58 – 28:25

    How to maintain the motivation to move every day

    1. JR

    2. MR

      (laughs) What?

    3. JR

      Yeah. If I-

    4. MR

      What do you mean?

    5. JR

      If I don't, you know how everybody talks about 10,000 steps?

    6. MR

      Yes.

    7. JR

      I look at (laughs) my frigging phone to see whether I've done 10,000 steps, and if I haven't, I feel guilty.

    8. MR

      Why do... Well, this is what psychologists call good guilt.

    9. JR

      Yeah.

    10. MR

      Good guilt motivates you.

    11. JR

      Yes. It does.

    12. MR

      And so, you, and d- wh- why, why do you think 10,000 is the magic number?

    13. JR

      I don't know. They write about that, and I believe all that stuff I write. (laughs)

    14. MR

      And what's your fav- "I believe that's true." You read The New York Times.

    15. JR

      I do. (laughs)

    16. MR

      Yes. What's your favorite way to stay active?

    17. JR

      Well, getting up, like you say, right away, and moving.

    18. MR

      Yep.

    19. JR

      Just moving.

    20. MR

      Yep.

    21. JR

      I have stairs. I have three floors. And a lot of my older friends say, "Well, you know, why would you get a condo with three floors?" Well, it's the best thing that you can do. I will always walk the stairs, always. My laundry's down in the, down the lower level, and my bedroom's up above.

    22. MR

      That's incredible. That's absolutely incredible. What do you think is the biggest challenge to staying active as you age?

    23. JR

      Just making it a routine. I would think that's a challenge. Not to say, "Okay, well, I think I'll take a week off."

    24. MR

      Hmm.

    25. JR

      I don't think that's a good idea.

    26. MR

      I don't either.

    27. JR

      You take a week off, then you can take 10 days off. So, I don't take days off.

    28. MR

      What is your secret to staying young at heart and young in your mind?

    29. JR

      Staying connected. Staying connected to your friends, old friends. Um, I've always had a man in my life. I've been very lucky about that.

    30. MR

      Ha cha cha.

  11. 28:25 – 33:17

    The most important relationship you need to foster in your life

    1. JR

      this is before you started into the business, I rented a- an apartment in New York, as you remember.

    2. MR

      Oh, yeah.

    3. JR

      By myself, which was a, kind of a lonely experience actually, because I would, went to dinner by myself. And um... But of course, as soon as people realized I had an apartment, they started coming. (laughs) But it's still, being in a big city alone can be very lonely.

    4. MR

      Right, 'cause you see people everywhere.

    5. JR

      Yeah. But I was right next to the Hudson River, so I was running, and I took my bike.

    6. MR

      Mm-hmm.

    7. JR

      So I stayed active physically. But I remember mentioning to you that I was gonna go to Florida. I didn't know w- you know, what I was gonna do. And you said to me, "Pick up the phone and call some of your friends and make sure you have something on your calendar before you hit the ground in Florida."

    8. MR

      Mm.

    9. JR

      I'll never forget that. And it made a difference, because I had something to look forward to.

    10. MR

      Yeah.

    11. JR

      Otherwise, I just had a blank slate, and I probably could have felt pretty sorry for myself.

    12. MR

      Yeah. But even, even beyond that, you have kept in close touch with your women friends.

    13. JR

      Yes, I, it's very important to do that.

    14. MR

      And how do you do that?

    15. JR

      You pick up the phone and call 'em. Um, you know, it's... So many people go around the back door, and I'm gonna give you an example. I have a good friend who has Alzheimer's-

    16. MR

      Mm.

    17. JR

      ... and she's young, and she admitted that she has Alzheimer's. So she's very open about it.

    18. MR

      Yep.

    19. JR

      And she recently, her husband got her on the new drug, the Alzheimer's drug by Biogen this winter. He was very glad that he did, and she was glad that she was on it. Three days ago, she went out to lunch with a very good friend of mine and said to her friend, and my friend, "You know, I just had a physical."... and I'm 100% all right. I don't have Alzheimer's.

    20. MR

      Really?

    21. JR

      So, obviously she's coming all the way around into the denial-

    22. MR

      Oh.

    23. JR

      ... which she wasn't before. So this is when I... This is my point. Shirley said, "Do you think I should call Marsha and tell her?" Marsha being a good friend of hers.

    24. MR

      Yeah.

    25. JR

      And I said, "Well, why would you do that? Why don't you call Bob, her husband? Why don't you go directly to Bob. He might already know that she said that, but he might not." And say to him, "I just had lunch with Connie, and this is what she said." And this is what's so important in life, is that if you have a good friend that you wanna talk to, you talk to them. Don't talk to your other friend that's a friend of your friend.

    26. MR

      Right.

    27. JR

      You know? If you wanna talk to somebody on the phone, call them. And I don't think a lot of people do that.

    28. MR

      They talk about their friends, but they don't talk to their friends.

    29. JR

      That's right.

    30. MR

      Yeah. If you're thinking about somebody, pick up the phone and call them.

  12. 33:17 – 40:24

    How you can really “stay young at heart”

    1. JR

      some place where I could teach, which is really quite ballsy since I don't know anything about teaching. I just know-

    2. MR

      (laughs)

    3. JR

      (laughs) I know how to talk English or speak.

    4. MR

      I know she talks English well, everybody.

    5. JR

      (laughs) But that's it. Anyway, um, yeah, they got me a position in this school that, um, the kids go to a regular school but they come here-

    6. MR

      Mm-hmm.

    7. JR

      ... to learn English-

    8. MR

      Mm-hmm.

    9. JR

      ... after school.

    10. MR

      Yep.

    11. JR

      And I mean, I had monks in that class. I had mothers in that cl- I mean, I had... Oh my God, it was hysterical. And you've heard me say this, this was quite an experience.

    12. MR

      How many years did you go to Cambodia?

    13. JR

      Six.

    14. MR

      Six years. You'd live there for almost three months-

    15. JR

      Yeah.

    16. MR

      ... and teach seven days a week.

    17. JR

      Plus your daughter came.

    18. MR

      And our daughter in, when she was in eighth grade went over and-

    19. JR

      Fell in love.

    20. MR

      ... fell in love, and she's actually on her way back because of that experience as we speak. Wow. Um, what... Talk to us about staying young at heart, maybe 'cause every, at the heart of every one of these stories there's very similar themes. You have to create what you want in your life.

    21. JR

      Right.

    22. MR

      You... Connection is incredible, and you have this wonderful sense of humor about you, where you just try it. Like you don't even stop yourself-

    23. JR

      (laughs)

    24. MR

      ... and think, "Well, how's this gonna work? I'm moving to Cambodia. I'm 69 years old. I'm gonna do this alone. Am I g- Like, I don't even know what I'm doing. Like wa- how is this gonna work? W- where, where am I gonna..." You just are like, "Okay, let's do this. We're gonna figure it out." So how do you stay young at heart? What do you think that's about?

    25. JR

      (clears throat) Well, I go back again about living in the moment.

    26. MR

      Mm.

    27. JR

      And I, I don't take any day for granted that I have. I mean, I'm really grateful for every day I have.

    28. MR

      Yeah.

    29. JR

      And that's the only thing I can say. I mean, I think most people live their lives like, "Well, of course there'll be tomorrow."

    30. MR

      Mm.

  13. 40:24 – 43:39

    How to get the life you deserve and live the way you want

    1. MR

      how old or young you are, you have everything that you need to do the work to create the life, the friendships, the mindset, and the daily habits that you want in your life. Stop waiting around for other people to do it for you, and wake up every day and be grateful that you have this day. And yes, I'm talking to you. Whatever it is that you've been putting off, whatever griping you've been doing, whatever it is that you think you need to achieve in order to be happy, I hope you take everything we talked about today to heart, and I hope you start waking up and being grateful for what you have. I hope you don't wish your life away. I hope you make today the day where you say, "That's it. I'm gonna wake up every day. I am going to create a morning routine that works for me. I'm gonna stay close to my friends. And if I don't have any friends, I'm gonna reach out and I'm gonna volunteer at a hospice, or I'm gonna do something that makes somebody else feel better, because that will bring what's missing in my life to me, by me, by doing something for somebody else." I got so much out of today's conversation. You can reinvent yourself whenever you want, so listen up. Your age isn't stopping you from doing anything. Your excuses are. Now, I love you. I believe in you. Get out there and go create the life that you want, 'cause I need you here. We're doing life together, and I want your life to be long, happy and fulfilling so we can lock arms and do it together. I'll talk to you in a few days. Mwah. (beep)

    2. JR

      All right, I'm testing you right now. See how my voice sounds.

    3. MR

      I think it sounds pretty sexy.

    4. JR

      Good.

    5. MR

      (beep) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10. Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. What about this one? (beep) All right, here we go. Okay. Um... (clears throat) (beep) All right. You got to-

    6. JR

      (laughs)

    7. MR

      ... hold the mic up to your beautiful-

    8. JR

      Okay. Okay.

    9. MR

      ... mouth with your gorgeous pink lipstick. (beep) Ho- hold the mic up to your mouth-

    10. JR

      Yep.

    11. MR

      ... woman.

    12. JR

      Yep.

    13. MR

      (beep) Why do you take a probiotic? I don't know, but talk into the microphone.

    14. JR

      Why do you take a probiotic?

    15. MR

      Well, here, you can look at me, but just-

    16. JR

      Okay.

    17. MR

      ... make sure the microphone's there.

    18. JR

      Okay.

    19. MR

      (beep) Wait a minute.

    20. JR

      I'll be 86.

    21. MR

      When did you turn 85?

    22. JR

      Remember, we had my birthday. We celebrated my birthday late.

    23. MR

      Oh, at my house last year. We threw you a party.

    24. JR

      Here?

    25. MR

      Yes. Oh my God. See, I'm losing my mind and I'm only 54. (beep)

    26. JR

      How fun.

    27. MR

      Isn't this fun?

    28. JR

      (laughs)

    29. MR

      Okay. Oh, and one more thing. And no, this is not a blooper. (laughs) This is the legal language. You know, what the lawyers write and what I need to read to you. This podcast is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. I'm just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I'll see you in the next episode. (instrumental music) Thanks for watching here on YouTube, and if you loved this episode of the Mel Robbins podcast, you're gonna wanna watch this one next. It's awesome.

Episode duration: 43:40

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