The impact of gratitude, serving others, embracing mortality, and living intentionally | Walter Green (#288 rebroadcast)
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this deeply moving Thanksgiving special episode, Peter Attia interviews Walter Green, an 85-year-old philanthropist, author, and founder of the "Say It Now" movement. Walter shares his remarkable life journey across three distinct phases: finding himself (ages 0-29), making himself (ages 30-58), and becoming himself (ages 59-85). (06:30) The conversation explores how Walter's challenging childhood, including multiple relocations and early exposure to mortality through his parents' health struggles, shaped his intentional approach to life and relationships.
- The episode centers on the transformative power of expressing gratitude to people while they're still alive, rather than waiting until funerals or memorial services to share meaningful tributes.
Speakers
Walter Green
Walter Green is an 85-year-old philanthropist, mentor, and author of "This Is the Moment!" who founded the globally impactful "Say It Now" movement. After overcoming a challenging childhood marked by frequent relocations and early exposure to mortality, Walter built a successful career in the executive conference center industry, eventually becoming the major shareholder of a company that ran 6,000 conferences annually for Fortune 500 companies. For the past 30 years, he has dedicated his life entirely to mentoring and philanthropy, with his "Say It Now" movement now active in 38,500 classrooms across 75 countries worldwide.
Peter Attia
Peter Attia is a physician and author focused on translating longevity science into accessible insights for everyone. He hosts The Drive podcast and has written extensively about health, wellness, and human performance, including his work on emotional health that Walter specifically mentions as authentic and impactful.
Key Takeaways
Transform Fear of Mortality Into Intentional Living
Walter's early exposure to death—losing his father at 53 while in college—created what he calls an "incredible branding that life is short" and unpredictable. (11:12) Rather than being paralyzed by this fear, he transformed it into a powerful driver for intentional living, describing himself as someone who has been "walking up escalators" ever since. This urgency became his greatest asset, making him extremely selective about how he spends his time and energy. The key insight is that acknowledging life's finite nature can become a source of motivation rather than anxiety, pushing us to prioritize what truly matters and live with greater purpose and focus.
Master the Art of Thinking in Reverse
Walter learned a transformative thinking process in his thirties that changed "every day of his life"—always thinking in reverse by starting with desired outcomes. (32:42) Instead of asking "what will we do," he asks "if this conversation is really successful, what would have happened by the end of it for us to know that our time was well spent?" This reverse thinking applies to everything from business meetings to personal interactions and even weekend plans with family. The approach provides freedom rather than limitation because it focuses on desired outcomes rather than specific activities, allowing for creativity in execution while maintaining clear direction.
Express Gratitude Publicly for Maximum Impact
Walter discovered through decades in the conference business that expressing appreciation publicly has far greater power than private acknowledgments. (30:00) At his 50th birthday celebration, instead of making the event about himself, he paid detailed tribute to his five closest friends in front of all attendees, explaining specifically how each had enriched his life. This public expression created lasting impact—his friends later created a leather-bound book documenting what the weekend meant to them. The lesson is that group acknowledgment amplifies the emotional impact for both giver and receiver, creating shared witnesses to the gratitude and deepening relationships in ways that private conversations cannot achieve.
Practice Deliberate Relationship Investment
At age 70, Walter embarked on an 11-month journey visiting 44 people who had significantly impacted his life, traveling globally to express specific gratitude to each person. (43:00) His systematic approach involved four phases: discussing how they met, sharing memories of experiences together, expressing specific appreciation using prepared notes, and asking each person to contribute one piece to help him create a "mosaic" of who he is. He recorded every conversation and later sent each person a framed photo, summary letter, and CD of their conversation. This wasn't about quantity—the key insight is that even one such meaningful connection can transform relationships and create lasting impact for both parties.
Embrace "Finishing Strong" Through Service to Others
Walter's concept of "finishing strong" involves shifting focus entirely away from personal concerns toward serving others and expressing gratitude. (1:08:03) Even when facing potential end-of-life scenarios, he found his greatest peace came from ensuring his relationships were "current" and that he had publicly acknowledged the people who shaped his life. His "finishing strong" checklist included practical elements like simplifying finances for his wife, but the emotional core was being completely up-to-date with all meaningful relationships. The profound insight is that life's greatest fulfillment comes not from personal achievements but from the impact we have on others and our ability to express appreciation before it's too late.
Statistics & Facts
- Walter lived in 16 different cities during the first phase of his life, which contributed to his difficulty forming lasting friendships until adulthood. (09:09)
- The "Say It Now" movement has reached 38,500 classrooms across 75 different countries, demonstrating the global resonance of expressing gratitude while people are still alive. (67:00)
- Walter has been married to his wife Lola for over 60 years (over 20,000 days), and has been participating in men's forums for 37 years, spending approximately 4,000 hours in deep authentic conversations about life issues. (55:14)
