About this episode
Discover an incredible story of survival and thriving on the Heal Yourself podcast as I interview 84-year-old John A. Brink, who went from surviving Nazi-occupied Holland to becoming a CEO, philanthropist and the oldest competitive bodybuilder in North America. John reveals his secrets to health, longevity and a powerful mindset, including the daily routines and diet that keep him thriving and why he considers his late-in-life ADHD diagnosis a "superpower." This is a must-listen for inspiration on resilience, health and aging without fear.Time Stamps 11:04 A Daily Gratitude Mindset: John starts every day at 5:30 AM by going outside and declaring, "I'm in paradise." He emphasizes that counting his blessings and maintaining a positive, grateful attitude is a critical part of his mental and emotional wellness.13:55 A Life-Threatening Wake-Up Call: A severe case of diverticulitis in 2008 became a major turning point for his health. The condition breached, causing toxins to spread and his doctor later told him he "came this close" to death. He took this as a "message" to get serious about his health.15:17 Proactive Diet Transformation: Following his health crisis, John became more proactive, adopting his wife's more vegetarian-focused lifestyle and moving from an "80/20" to a "90/10" approach to healthy eating.15:41 Embracing Fitness in His Late 60s: John became serious about personal fitness. He hired a trainer and began working out 3-4 times a week, proving it's never too late to start. This new passion eventually led him to bodybuilding.23:34 Finding His "Superpower" in ADHD: At age 62, John discovered a book called "Driven to Distraction" and realized he had ADHD. Instead of seeing it as a liability (which had caused him to fail school), he reframed it as his "superpower," crediting it for his strategic thinking and success.26:34 The Importance of Downtime: John schedules downtime and flies to Vancouver Island every Friday afternoon to spend the weekend relaxing with his wife and their seven horses, emphasizing that recovery is crucial.31:52 Overcoming Addiction: John shares that in 1992, his wife "hit him with a 2x4 across the head" (metaphorically) and "dumped him" as a wake-up call. This event prompted him to stop drinking, smoking and taking prescribed Xanax all within one week.36:48 John's tip for healthy ageing is to understand your body and have a good mindset.John's Bio Born in 1940 in Nazi-occupied Holland, John A. Brink survived war, hunger, and hardship before emigrating to Canada in 1965 with just $25.47. He founded Brink Forest Products in 1975, now North America’s leading value-added wood manufacturer. At 84, he leads the Brink Group of Companies and hosts ON THE BRINK, a top 1% global podcast. A fierce advocate for ADHD awareness, John is also a philanthropist, pledging $1M to the College of New Caledonia. His achievements earned him the
