"No one ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and they are not the same person." — Heraclitus

I caught up with a close friend from business school the other day. He had just crossed another birthday in the 40s bracket and noticed his VO2 max had dropped a point. (I’ve been there.) He was a little bummed about it.

You see, my friend wasn’t just fit—he was an elite special forces operative. His endurance, strength, and conditioning were once off the charts. That was a moment in time, one he can’t replicate in the same way now. But he remembers. The body remembers.

The truth is, Father Time always wins. At some point, we stop setting PRs.

But here’s what I believe: Father Time only wins if we stop moving altogether.

Aging is inevitable. Fine, we can’t change that. Maybe we’re not chasing PRs anymore, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t meaningful goals still worth pursuing.

My friend recently found a weightlifting program designed for busy parents in their 40s. He was excited about it. And I love that! Because life evolves. A 40-something parent balancing work, kids, and family isn’t in the same season as a 20-year-old special forces soldier.

You don’t have to be who you were in a different time and place. You just have to be the best version of yourself right now.