You Are Ageless
“I’m too old…”
…to wear that outfit.
…to start taking care of my body.
…to begin a meditation practice.
…to start learning to speak Italian.
…to change the way I do things.
…to live a better life.
If you only knew how often I’ve heard some variation of this phrase, from people of every age ranging from their 20s right on up.
The thing is, I’m convinced that our technical age has very little to do with whether or not we feel “old.” It seems to have far more to do with our energy, our level of enthusiasm, how connected and “alive” we feel in our lives.
Tell me, if you’ve ever caught yourself saying “I feel old” or “I’m too old for ___,” was it really that you felt old or that you felt tired, stuck, or unenthusiastic about your life?
I’d really like to know, but my guess is that it was the latter.
We often mistake feeling “old” for actually being tired, stuck, and unenthusiastic.
It happens to the best of us, but we can’t stay here if we want to live a fulfilling life— we’ve got to make some changes!
If you’ve been feeling “old,” it’s likely that at some point along the way, you’ve deserted your ideals. Years on earth may wrinkle the skin, but to forfeit our zest for life, our enthusiasm for living wrinkles the soul.
Everyone’s familiar with the cliché “to be young at heart,” right?
Well, that youth is a direct result of mindset and lifestyle and we all have control over those things in our own life.
We have the freedom to change how we think about things and to create habits in our life that support our wellness in both body and mind.
I absolutely love to study the words of wisdom offered by active and vibrant centenarians. As it turns out, these youthful voices have a few things in common.
The well-known yoga teacher and ballroom dancer, Tao Porchon-Lynch, said, “I never thought anything about age. I believed sincerely and still do, that there's nothing I cannot do. I believe that all the power in the universe is right inside me.”
She passed away late last month at the ripe age of 101 and taught yoga classes and danced right up to the very end.
She said, “I wake up in the morning and I tune into the inner breath, and I tune into the life force that’s in everything.”
Tune into the life force…that’s a pretty enlivening way to begin the day and it’s hard to feel disconnected when that's part of our daily practice.
Orville Rogers began running at age 50 and went on to break multiple world records for the next 50 years.
At 99 years old, his sprint match against 92 year old Dixon Hemphill went viral as Orville won in a photo finish by a mere 0.05 seconds. For his 100th birthday, he and his family ran a combined 100 miles together.
Before he died a mere two weeks prior to his 102nd birthday, he said,"The objective in my life is to slow down as slowly as possible."
Born in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil in 1903, Alida Victoria Grubba Rudge lived to be 113-years-old before her death in late 2016.
She credited her long life to 2 key things: keeping her mind sharp by playing card games and doing brain teasers and having a healthy diet.
She didn’t eat any fried foods or sweets, but she made sure to drink a glass of dry wine before meals. (Note from your friendly trainer here— she had “a” glass of wine…that means one…yes, I see you over there pushing your luck, wink wink.)
Wouldn’t it have been a shame and a loss to us all if any of these inspiring people had decided that they were “too old” to do the things they loved? I’m sure glad they didn’t.
Here are a few things we can all be doing to remain ageless no matter how many years we enjoy here on earth:
Wake up every morning and get excited for what’s possible that day.
Listen to how you speak to yourself and others. Words have so much power. (Check out Weeding The Garden for more on that.)
Eat to fuel your body well— avoid sugar, processed foods, and eat the colors of the rainbow in fruits and veggies.
Exercise! Move your body every single day (see my video library for inspiration).
Take time to focus on breathing.
Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Rest matters.
Keep your body hydrated. The rule of thumb is to aim for your pee to be clear.
Play! Yes play. This is so important! Be playful, have fun, get outdoors, and enjoy yourself, your body, your life.
If you aren’t sure what steps to take to bring greater vitality and youthfulness to your life, or if you know what to do, but could use some support and accountability to really make those habits stick, you should definitely join my next round of 12 Weeks to Wellness! Enrollment opens April 1 and it’s a perfect time to get some traction as we enter the summer season!
In the words of the timeless Sofia Loren,
You are alive and have the power to bring as much energy and vitality to every one of your days as you choose to.
Get out there and get living.
You are ageless, my friend.
*Don’t miss out on 12 Weeks to Wellness! Enrollment is April 1-10 and then it will be closed until the next round opens. Be sure to sign up for my email list to get the inside scoop and extra bonuses!