Insight: Life in the Moment

By Ed Pierce
Managing Editor

With yet another birthday less than three months away, I recently was fortunate to watch a video of Oprah Winfrey visiting with Al Roker to help him overcome his fear of turning 70.

Ed Pierce, age 7, Brighton, New York, 1961

Roker said he had experienced some trepidation about reaching his 70th birthday and sought out Oprah’s advice about reaching that milestone in life.

Her advice to him was encouraging and she told him she felt great peace and a sense of calm when she turned 70.

“I felt a sense of knowing there’s not as much time left and yet a sense of urgency about living well,” she said. “I think it’s all about being able to live in the present moment and worry about things as they show up.”

Oprah also told him she feels at age 70 that the greatest gift she has to offer people in her life is her love.

“70 is a number but it’s nothing to be worried about,” she said. “Don’t be scared.”

Roker told Oprah that he liked her confidence and enthusiasm about being 70 years old and he hoped to apply it to his own life.

She emphasized to him that by the age of 70, most of us have conquered the most significant issues that younger people struggle with, such as career, family or health issues.

“You’ve already overcome some of the greatest challenges,” Oprah said. “What is amazing is that your heart has been pumping and pumping right on time for 69 years just for you. Don’t be scared.”

Hearing that interview, I came to realize that in having already passed the age of 70 myself, I have nothing to stress about when it comes to age.

I’ve survived some of life’s most intimidating moments. I’ve overcome many challenges and obstacles thrown my way and been able to accomplish many things I never thought possible.

When I was 45, my doctor told me after exploratory surgery and having been diagnosed with cancer that I probably wouldn’t live another 90 days.

At the age of 32, I gave up my military career for an opportunity to finish my college degree and with the hopes of being able to pursue a career in journalism.

At the age of 50, I found genuine and lasting love and got married to my wife Nancy after having been single for 13 years. I also became a stepfather to three great young men at that same time after living for more than a half century without being a parent.

At the age of 12, I was selected to play in the Brighton (NY) Little League All-Star Game in my fifth season of playing. I hit a home run in that game after having gone through my first two seasons at age 7 and 8 without ever getting a hit and striking out in every single at bat.

At the age of 53, I purchased my first home and was finally able to afford to do it after years of renting townhouses and living in apartments.

At the age of 35, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of New Mexico after having first entered college 17 years before. I had dropped out after three years and lost half of my credits when I transferred to a different college and then resumed my studies after getting out of the U.S. Air Force.

At the age of 23, I was living in Germany and got to travel extensively throughout Europe as a member of the U.S. military. I have so many great memories of places and sights that many people will never experience like visiting the Cologne Cathedral or the real Oktoberfest in Germany or touring Anne Frank’s Home in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

At the age of 29, I was in Las Vegas, Nevada during the World Series and watched as my favorite team, the Baltimore Orioles, defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the championship. That was the third time in my lifetime that I have celebrated as my Orioles won the World Series title and some people are fans of teams that have never even played in the World Series.

At the age of 5, my last grandparent died, and I grew up without any living grandparents. Fortunately, our family friends Bill and Ida Topham stepped in and served as excellent foster grandparents and role models for me.

At the age of 37, I struggled and was distraught when a drunk driver in Florida struck and killed my father as he drove on a stretch of highway near Orlando. I experienced a tragedy and rode the roller coaster of grief for months and years afterward. It is certainly something I do not want to go through again, but knowing I endured the pain of that loss and am still standing today counts for something.

I have to say that I agree with Oprah and am not scared about what may lie ahead in the future after going through many of the experiences that I have in my life.

Age is indeed only a number and as I await another birthday, I’m eager to see what’s in store next.