Aging or Ageless: What path are you on?

Or does it just sneak up on you, slap you in the face and say – here I am – now just deal with it! Since it is going to happen to all of us, why not start integrating some strategies that will help you make the transition easier and teach you new ways of living so you can keep living it up! Nurses Retired Article

Aging or Ageless: What path are you on?

Change your perception of YOU

  • If you think you are old, you will be old before your time.
  • Don’t act your age.
  • Stop feeling guilty when you are drawn in the clothing section of a store when teens hang out. Their clothes are more exciting and fun than the ones you “think” you should wear.
  • If dressing youthful makes you feel youthful, then your mind thinks you are younger too.

Watch what you say

Red flag language is:

  • I’m having a senior moment
  • I’m too old for that
  • I can’t remember anything
  • Replace your negative language about aging with positive words about how cool it is to be older and wiser.

Look for positive role models

  • My current favorites are Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin - both in their 80’s and still rocking!
  • And what about RBG and Nancy Pelosi.
  • There are more and more public figures who are showing us that older is even better.

Activate personal healing practices

  • Ask your body what it needs to flourish
  • Reduce stress by establishing a habit of rest and restoration
  • Create balance between activity and rest
  • Embrace a daily nap
  • Exercise daily but protect your body from over-doing it.
  • Nourish your body with food it desires
  • Relax with yoga, mindful practices, music, breathing, warm baths

Grieve and release

  • Be aware of past hurts, grudges, resentments that drag you down
  • Create a ritual for release like writing it all down and then burning the paper
  • Practice shifting your thoughts to something pleasant when old negative thoughts pop into your head
  • Shout out loud – “get out of my head, I am done with you!”
  • Forgive old resentments by praying for them briefly every day for 10 days and then feel the release

Nurture relationships

  • Nurture yourself first – how would you treat yourself if you were the love of your life?
  • Protect your priceless energy by saying NO to toxic relationships, even family members
  • Have fun with your friends
  • Have fun with your partner
  • Protect your space by setting healthy boundaries
  • Say NO to rescuing others who need to rescue themselves

Eat with Pleasure

  • Treat your meal like an event
  • Arrange to eat with people you enjoy who are not in a hurry
  • Get excited about knowing that your body craves vegetables more than anything!
  • Start with a ritual of appreciation for this wonderful nourishment for your body
  • Look, listen and savor the food
  • Slow the pace of chewing to slow the pace of the meal
  • Pay attention to how your body feels
  • Stop eating when you feel full
  • Thank the food for nourishing your body

Move with Joy

  • Select movements that give you pleasure, stretch your muscles, get your energy flowing and make you feel alive
  • If you like to dance but not go to dance classes or clubs, choose Jazzercise
  • If you walk, change the pace and location
  • If you want freedom of movement try NIA
  • If you like being home put on music and make cleaning, dusting, gardening into dance moves
  • If you sit all day set a timer every hour and get up to do stretches, hip swivels, yoga, tai chi
  • Practice balancing on one foot at a time when on the phone, cooking dinner, watching TV

Be Beautiful

  • Look in the mirror every day and say “Hello gorgeous – you look awesome”.
  • Do a morning beauty ritual for your face and enjoy the process, feel, fragrance and transformation
  • Treat yourself to a professional beauty treatment in a salon and savor the process and feeling
  • Wear only clothes that make you feel great even if they are “way out”
  • Make an entrance into a room with head held high as if you are a movie star on the red carpet

Connect with your spirituality

  • Journal daily in peace and quiet and see what is revealed
  • Remember to be who you really are and not what others think you should be
  • Ground yourself by connecting with nature regularly
  • Practice mindful meditation and see what comes up
  • Connect with a spiritual community
  • Create meaningful daily affirmations

Personalize your environment

  • Rearrange your living space to reflect good feelings and rejuvenation
  • Purge and declutter one drawer at a time
  • Create a small meditation alter or zone
  • Locate a perfect place outdoors to replenish yourself
  • Schedule daily time to be with yourself

Affirm your true ageless self

  • I will bring more pleasure into my life
  • I will leave worry and fear behind
  • I will be more joyful
  • I will honor my spirituality
  • I will live in the moment in alignment with nature
  • I will have faith that what is meant for me will always come
  • I will surround myself with supportive people

Resource: Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality and Well-Being by Christiane Northrup, MD

Please share how you are embracing “Coming of Age” and your strategies for living “Agelessly”.

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Carol Ebert

About Carol Ebert, MSN, RN

Inspiring Role Model for Women in their Third Act

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My body craves vegetables???? I finally started eating more vegetables....a few days later I was sick with a cold...and I seldom get sick or colds...so I'm sure there's a direct cause and effect ?. I suppose I'll try to add them to my diet again, but I will never crave vegetables!

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Specializes in Wellness and Coaching for Women in their Third Act.
1 hour ago, brownbook said:

My body craves vegetables???? I finally started eating more vegetables....a few days later I was sick with a cold...and I seldom get sick or colds...so I'm sure there's a direct cause and effect ?. I suppose I'll try to add them to my diet again, but I will never crave vegetables!

Actually your body craves the "nutrition" from vegetables. I'm finding them much more palatable when seasoned properly instead of just salt and pepper. Plus exploring vegetables I've never tried before can be interesting and tasty too. I can send you a recipe for a tasty vegetable kabob if you want.

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Thanks, but honestly I hate to cook, I hate chopping stuff. I don't mind the veggies, I buy precut frozen ones. I don't think I'll ever crave them. I convince myself they're good protection from the natural wear and tear on my body.

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This was a great article and reminder of the important things in life. I get so busy, I forget! Thank you!

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My rules are pretty simple, eat when you are hungry. If I feel guilty eating something or a certain amount then I shouldn't be eating it or that amount.

Get rid of crap. That may mean people, animals or belongings. If it is crap then let it go. Simplify. Sleep when you are tired, live on your own schedule not on everyone elses. Breathe. Quit trying to control your emotions, if you are mad, then be mad, if you feel giddy, then act giddy. At work keep your distance and hide inside yourself, at home be yourself. Works for me, I'm still alive, I wasn't promised a rose garden.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

There is some strange old guy in my mirror that keeps looking at me - where did he come from?

Refuse to be old, keep finding things to do.

I like this poem by Jenny Joseph and quote it often:-

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/

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Specializes in Wellness and Coaching for Women in their Third Act.
2 hours ago, GrumpyRN said:

There is some strange old guy in my mirror that keeps looking at me - where did he come from?

Refuse to be old, keep finding things to do.

I like this poem by Jenny Joseph and quote it often:-

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/

Thanks for sharing the video. And I agree with the mirror image. Whoever that is - is not who I feel like inside. Interesting isn't it? Guess we need to stop looking in the mirror and get on with our lives.

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