What does it really mean to live with more vitality — to not simply add years to our life, but to add more life, energy, purpose and meaning to our years? In this episode of Ordinary Extraordinary, Karen O’Sullivan is joined by Dr. Mark Rowe, GP, Lifestyle Medicine pioneer, author, speaker and wellbeing advocate, for a fascinating and inspiring conversation about health, happiness, resilience and living well. Dr. Mark Rowe graduated as a GP, achieving first place in the 1995 MICGP examination. His own journey has included extraordinary challenges, including an arson attack that destroyed his first practice premises. From that experience came a remarkable new chapter, leading Mark to establish The Waterford Health Park, an innovative multidisciplinary primary care centre which went on to receive a Global Health Improvement Award, A Place to Flourish, in 2013. Mark was among the early cohort of medical professionals to become certified in Lifestyle Medicine, an evidence-based, lifestyle-first approach to preventing and managing chronic health conditions. For many years he has shared this message with healthcare professionals, medical students, organisations and audiences around the world. He has also lectured UCD medical students on Lifestyle as Medicine and delivered his TEDx talk, The Doctor of the Future: Prescribing Lifestyle as Medicine. As the author of bestselling books including Things Your Future Self Will Thank You For, The Vitality Mark, A Prescription for Happiness and The Men’s Health Book, Mark encourages us to think differently about our health and our future selves. In this conversation, Karen and Mark explore what vitality really means and the simple but powerful ways we can take greater responsibility for our own wellbeing — through movement, nutrition, sleep, relationships, purpose, resilience, mindfulness and our connection with nature. They also talk about change, starting again and the importance of remaining curious throughout life. One of the messages Mark shares is one that is particularly worth carrying with us: “It’s never too late to start again. Never stop starting. Never stop learning and growing.” Because wherever we are in life, there is always an opportunity to begin again, make a different choice, learn something new and take another step towards becoming the healthiest and happiest version of ourselves. To discover more about Mark’s work, books, wellbeing programmes, keynote talks, coaching and upcoming events, visit his website: Dr. Mark Rowe — drmarkrowe.com You can also explore his wellbeing coaching and Lifestyle Medicine programmes, as well as his speaking and workplace wellbeing work. For details of upcoming events and programmes, visit Mark’s website regularly for the latest information. This is a conversation about more than health. It’s about how we choose to live, how we respond to change, and how we can continue to grow at every stage of life. Because it’s never too late to start again.Never stop starting.Never stop learning and growing. Connect with Dr. Mark Rowe
