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 Order of B.C., an Honorary Doctorate, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.
Connect with John
www.johnabrink.com
www.facebook.com/johnbrinkceo
Who am I?
Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins.
With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.
www.sarahdawkins.com
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