One of my favorite Frank Moran stories occurred when I was in my early 40s and Frank was in his 70s. Both of us were members of the Birmingham Athletic Club (actually, Frank was one of the founding members).

One evening I was standing in front of my locker after a long day, having a debate with myself about whether or not to exercise. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash go by. It dawned on me that it was Frank. His appearance put an end to my debate.

After I was dressed but before going into the gym, I went over to Frank’s locker to say hello. As always, a huge Irish smile lit up his face and he greeted me warmly.

I said to him, “Frank, where do you get all the energy?” Without thinking about it, he looked me straight in the eyes and responded, “What makes you think I have a lot of energy?”

That few-second exchange made a lasting impact on me.

I am venturing out of my professional field here (I admit I’m not a psychologist!), but I’m telling you what I and others have experienced. Some of us are so driven, and our minds think we’re still 18 years old. Unfortunately, both physically and emotionally, we’re much older than that. After so many years, sometimes our “young” minds drive us to exhaustion and/or burnout.

Having been burned out more than once, my advice to you is to give some serious thought as to what you can realistically accomplish/achieve in a healthy way. I’m not saying you should lower the bar, but I am suggesting that you try to be honest with yourself. It will save you from a lot of pain, as well as possible embarrassment and regrets.

I think the saying “Act your age” may fit here.