The Upside of Aging


Now there’s a twist. Most people don’t think of putting the words aging and upside in the same sentence. Looking at the news and advertisements, you’d think that getting older is all doom and gloom and it’s all over by the time you hit 40. But I’m living proof to tell you otherwise. Here are some of the benefits I have experienced as I age:

First, I have better skin. As I get older, my skin produces less oil – and that leads to less blemishes. No more unwanted or unexpected pimples that come out of nowhere. What a relief!

Second, my headaches have nearly disappeared. When I was in my 20s, I suffered from migraines and I felt like my head was going to explode. Well, with age, those intense headaches have disappeared completely, and on the occasion when I do get some pain, it is minor.

Third, and most importantly, is my mindset. Yes, I have a much better outlook on all the crap that life sometimes throws my way. And you know why? Because I have been through it before and know that I have survived. Over all those years, I have gained the knowledge and the skills to cope with anything. Does that make my challenges any less scary and painful? NO! But what it does do is give me the confidence to know that I will survive and this too shall pass. And that is the greatest gift of all.

So, you see, like everything else, aging comes with its pros and cons. You can’t control getting older, but you can control how you embrace it.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Attitude Professional Development Professional Speaker
Tags: , , ,

Never Too Old!


Have you ever heard the words: “Oh, you’re too old for that…†I’ve certainly heard it a LOT, especially when I was starting my own business as a professional speaker. So many friends and family members, all of them really trying to help me, thought I was crazy when I started this business in my 60’s. I realize that deep down they were truly trying to help, and in many cases, they were dealing with fears of their own.

I became my own worst enemy, though, when I began to doubt myself. That’s when I began to research other late bloomers and found some interesting stories. Did you know:

  • Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing her wildly successful Little House on the Prairie series when she was 65 years old.
  • John Glenn did a nine-day journey into space at age 77.
  • Colonel Sanders was 65 years old when he started Kentucky Fried Chicken.

So, now I’m a firm believer that you should always pursue your dreams and desires, no matter what your age is. That’s why I made this short video: Never Too Old.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about the photo, that’s me accomplishing my dream of being a professional speaker and not putting limits on myself. Of course, there are many reasons why we cannot accomplish certain things in life, but never, ever let the number of your age be one of them

 

Categories: Personal Development Positive Attitude Professional Development Professional Speaker
Tags: , , , , ,

Ageless Beauty


You are as old as you choose to feel. Really, I mean it! Of course, there are some factors that come into play as we age: a few more aches and pains, not as much flexibility, maybe a bit of a memory lapse now and then. I’m not denying that there are challenges as we get older. One of the biggest ones? People telling you: “you’re too old for that.†After some time, you begin to believe it yourself.

A perfect example of this is the hilarious movie titled Book Club. It’s a hysterical story of four “older†women who refuse to let their age dictate the way they want to live their lives. Each of them have chosen to write the final chapter of their life the way they want it to be. And you know what? You can do the same. You, also, can write the story of your life so it will bring you all the happiness and joy that you can possibly handle – with no judgment. After all, there are many limitations that are placed on us as we get older, but never let the number of your age be one of them

Recently, I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful woman named Jodi Lyon-Grams who started a series titled Your 50 Forward Story. I am honored that she included me to tell my story.  I hope it helps you feel comfortable with your age and enjoy every single minute of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvHtQr2twew.

 

Categories: Personal Development Positive Attitude Professional Development Professional Speaker
Tags: , , ,

The Possibilities of Aging


One way to ruin a compliment is to follow it with the words: “for your age.â€

     “You really look great – for your age…â€

     “You’re a great dancer- for your age…â€

     “You have a lot of energy – for your age…â€

What scares me the most is that several of my friends are buying into the theory that they can’t accomplish certain things because of their age.  They truly feel that they are just too old to even start.

Well, did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder, the famous American writer who wrote the Little House on the Prairie series, began her writing career when she was 65 years old.  She was surprised at her success and told an interviewer after writing her first book: “I thought that would be the end of it.  But what do you think?  Children who read it wrote to me begging for more.  I was amazed because I didn’t know how to write.  I went to little red schoolhouses all over the West and I never was graduated from anything.â€Â  Yet she didn’t let her age stop her from writing her first book – then another and another and another. 

And then there was John Glenn.  His mission of almost nine days on the space shuttle orbiter, Discovery, launched when he was 77 years old.  It made him the oldest human to venture into space.  He didn’t stop and think – I’m too old for this.  He just followed his passion without any regard for the number attached to his age.

And the list goes on.  There are so many more people who experienced success far into their “twilight†years.  So the next time you are feeling that you can’t do something because of your age, think again.  Maybe this list will give you some inspiration: https://bit.ly/2KLAIlx.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Attitude Professional Development Professional Speaker
Tags: , , ,

Are They Wrinkles or Are They Laugh Lines?


I love being an older woman.  You may think I’m crazy, but it’s true.  With age comes freedom.  I have finally figured out what I like, what I don’t like, and I have stopped making excuses for either.  I finally have the freedom to be myself; to live my own life and not the life that others think I should.

This lesson did not come easy for me.  It took years, actually about 60 of them, before I arrived at this place in my life.  You see, I grew up at a time when everything around me said I had to be domestic.  You know, cooking and cleaning and that kind of stuff.  For years, I tried – I really tried, but I hated to cook, every minute of it, and I just didn’t want to do it.  My family and friends truly wanted to help and refused to give up on me.  They were convinced that if I just knew HOW to cook, I would like it, so they gave me cook books, videos of famous chefs, even cooking classes.  And you know what?  I STILL hate to cook.  But now I don’t make excuses for it anymore. With age, I have learned to embrace my own uniqueness.

Yes, I have wrinkles, and yes, I have more pounds on my butt than I’d like to admit, but I have earned every one of them through experiences, some good and some not so good, that led me to where I am today.  And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

True beauty is ageless, and to find yours:

  1. Surround yourself with confident, kind and interesting people who encourage you to go after your dream
  2. Stay “curious” about life and never let your age limit your possibilities
  3. Take some time to discover who you really are and not what someone else wants you to be

Once you find the answers, you will begin to experience life like you have never known it before  You will see things with an excitement and a passion that you have never felt before  When you look in the mirror, you will see a confident, vibrant, mature person looking back at you.

Aging is inevitable – it’s not going away  So take control of your life and find more time to do the things that make you smile.  After all, it’s not the number of your age that matters, it’s your attitude and the way you look at life.  A positive attitude is something no one and nothing can ever take away from you, not even your age.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Attitude Professional Speaker
Tags: , , ,

Aging to Perfection


I love being an older woman. You may think I’m crazy, but it’s true.  With age comes freedom.  I have finally figured out what I like, what I don’t like, and I have stopped making excuses for either.  I finally have the freedom to be myself; to live my own life and not the life that others think I should.

This lesson did not come easy for me. It took years, actually about 60 of them, before I arrived at this place in my life.  You see, I grew up at a time when everything around me said I had to be domestic.  You know, cooking and cleaning and that kind of stuff.  For years, I tried – I really tried - but I hated to cook, every minute of it, and I just didn’t want to do it.  My family and friends truly wanted to help and refused to give up on me.  They were convinced that if I just knew HOW to cook, I would like it, so they gave me cook books, videos of the famous chefs, even cooking classes.

And you know what?  I STILL hate to cook.  But now I don’t make excuses for it anymore. With age, I have learned to embrace my own uniqueness.

Yes, I have wrinkles, and yes, I have more pounds on my butt than I’d like to admit, but I have earned every one of them through experiences, some good and some not so good, that led me to where I am today. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

True beauty is ageless, and to find yours, try one of these three tips:

  1. Surround yourself with confident, kind and interesting people who encourage you and help you pursue your dream.
  2. Don’t ever let anyone discourage you or tell you anything less than “you can do itâ€.
  3. Take some time to discover who you really are and not what someone else wants you to be.

Once you find the answers, you will begin to experience life like you have never known before.  You will see things with an excitement and a passion that you have never felt before.  When you look in the mirror, you will see a confident, vibrant, mature person looking back at you.

Aging is inevitable – it’s not going away. So take control of your life and find more time to do the things that make you smile.  After all, it’s not the number of your age that matters, it’s your attitude and the way you look at life.  A positive attitude will give you armor that no one can crack, and nothing can dull – not even your age.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: , ,

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories

Archives