“Frosty,” the nickname by which this 72-year-old has been known since age 12, has had a career path that reads like a disjointed list of career possibilities. At one time or another he has been a math and science teacher, an 18-wheeler truck driver, bartender, dance teacher, ski instructor for the handicapped, writer, author, speaker, personal trainer and cardiac catheterization technician.
But there is much more to Frosty Wooldridge than “job-hopping.” The author of 14 books (with two more coming out shortly), Frosty is a man who never gives up. In fact, he submitted dozens of manuscripts to hundreds of publishers for 22 years before finally finding a willing publisher. Of that experience, Frosty says, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Frosty has cycled over 240,000 kms on six of the world’s continents with plans to cycle Africa soon. One of his books is titled Living Your Spectacular Life and he is certainly living his. From humble beginnings, this self-made man has enjoyed a “million-dollar life on minimum wage.”
Lest anyone think Frosty did all his cycling when he was much younger, since turning 55, he has bicycled from Vancouver to St. John’s, Newfoundland, as well as across the US from west to east four times and from Canada to Mexico four times.
Although he lives in Colorado, Frosty has bicycled throughout British Columbia on his way from Washington State to Alaska, after which he cycled across the Arctic Circle on the Dempster Highway to Inuvik. “British Columbia reaches into a cyclist’s soul to pull out wanderlust along with dollops of joy, delight and a deep appreciation of the stunning natural beauty of the province.”
To say Frosty is “high energy” is an understatement. As he puts it, he lives life with “high vibrational frequency,” living every day excited about the gift of life. “By choosing your highest and best, you will capture a meaningful life,” he says. He also says he doesn’t think about age. With a childlike exuberance, Frosty is thrilled to experience each day. To him life is one continuous adventure.
Frosty credits his parents “for their profound guidance, positive impact and the emotional balance” they bestowed on him. He talks about their “even-keeled parenting” that allowed him “to sail the tempests of life with confidence, tenacity and joy.” In addition to his parents, Frosty has drawn, and continues to draw, inspiration from Abigail Adams, Thoreau, Emerson, Jack London, Susan B. Anthony, Theodore Roosevelt, Edward Abbey and Jane Goodall.
It only takes a few minutes of conversation with him to feel Frosty’s zest for life. His determination to live a joyful life to the fullest, no matter what, is palpable.
From a very early age, Frosty has loved dancing. He even met his wife, Sandi, on the dance floor. He has taught all forms of swing (jitterbug) dancing, plus he also enjoys salsa, ballroom and country & western. Frosty and Sandi still dance every week. To him, dancing is just another joyful expression of life.
Frosty has also known tough times, including battling cancer. But he says he “always chooses to have a positive, effervescent life”; he believes we can all make the same choice. He is living his “highest and best life, which means always maintaining a positive attitude, no matter how difficult the circumstances.” He knows people have negative thoughts from time to time, but he is always on guard to purge any negative thoughts and not be their victim.
Frosty treasures time, which he describes as one of our most valuable non-renewable resources. He says we all have a choice. Do we want a “lifetime of stupid, inane and meaningless TV and video games” that dull our minds “or a life in which we appreciate nature or one that expands our intelligence by reading or that exposes us to courses in painting or sculpting?”
Cycling for Frosty is “like being a kid again.” If he keeps pedalling, old age will never catch up to him. Paraphrasing the quotable Jean-Luc Picard, he says he does not believe “that time is a predator that stalks us all our lives,” but rather he believes “time is a companion who travels with him to remind him to cherish every moment… because they’ll never come again.”
Regardless of age, we can each choose to have a spectacular life “as long as we retain our most powerful passport to having a spectacular life: self-confidence,” says Frosty. “When you put your heart, mind and spirit into the joy of living, you discover a passionate, purposeful and energy-filled life.”
Frosty keeps his mind active with creative thoughts. Above his desk is a small card that reads: “The Idea Fairy may strike at any time – so be alert and write down her ideas, so she will feel appreciated and come back often.”
To stay in peak condition (physically, mentally and spiritually), he follows a vegan diet and has for the last 48 years. He also swims, cycles, runs and lifts weights two hours a day, six days a week. He does not watch TV, smoke, do drugs, drink alcohol or coffee.
Frosty says he never gives into fear and doesn’t compare himself to others. He never thinks about dying; he just pursues living. Quoting author and teacher Rachel Naomi Remen, he says, “Life is known only by those who have found a way to be comfortable with change and the unknown. Given the nature of life, there is no security, only adventure.”
As Helen Keller said and Frosty believes, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
To see videos and learn more about how to live your most spectacular life, visit Frosty’s website: www.HowToLiveALifeofAdventure.com
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