Would you take the plunge?

Henry Allingham is no ordinary person. Not only did he fight in the First World War trenches and live to tell the tale but he was recently confirmed the world's oldest man. At 113, Henry says that the secret to a long life is keeping within your personal capacities.

Of course, knowing your limitations is wise advice. No point trying to swim the English Channel if you can't manage a short workout in your local pool. However, there are many aspects of life where pushing your limits is good council. For example, the chronically shy would do well to nudge themselves out of their comfort zone and talk to the taxi driver. From such small steps, great things come. Soon they could find themselves talking to a stranger in the local supermarket and, eventually, the day will come when they meet someone and make a new friend.

This is part and parcel of what we are talking about when we use the term 'Young Brain'. Young Brains are those people who push past their inhibitions and find new excitement out of life as a consequence - a new mate, a different place to visit, an inspiring career move.

I was thinking about all of this today. For the first time, I was asked to do a solo live radio interview. The BBC's Mike Powell was to ring at 2.40pm and question me about our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think'. Of course, I'd prepared but my heart was beating in my chest when the phone suddenly rang. Here goes, I thought. It was time to extend myself beyond my previous limitations!

And the truth is that, with a Young Brain attitude, I was able to give a fairly good account of myself and, hopefully, give a nice boost to the book's sales.

Would you? Would you be up for a live radio interview in front of thousands of listeners? Or, would you rather keep within your current capacities?

Of course, I'm not saying rise to every challenge - remember the failed Channel swimmer - but when something is within reach, give it a go. Prove to yourself that you have a Young Brain and that, in the future, you will be a bigger person than you are today.

Young like Bond.....James Bond

When you think about it, the Bond films have been amazing. Going since the early 60s, the film franchise is continually updated, always fresh and relevant.

Think, for example, about that standard feature, the Bond Girl. Starting with Ursula Andress, the Bond girl has been constantly rejuvenated. As time has gone by, she has become more assertive, less an adornment on Bond's arm or a victim that our hero rescues. In most recent films, she has become fundamental to the success of the mission. She has even, in Eva Green's incarnation Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale), been giving Bond the runaround!

This came to mind yesterday when I saw our now-launched book
'You Can Be As Young As You Think' on sales in Waterstones (a UK bookstore) next to Roger Moore's autobiography!

Surely the script-writers of the Bond series have Young Brains! They are in touch with social changes and have moved the films beyond conservative stereotypes and into 21st Century modern living.