Stronger At Any Age
Last month I celebrated my 45th birthday.
To kick off my weekend I took a class from Ernestine Shepard. This woman is my idol. She’s so incredibly inspiring— driven, determined, and deeply dedicated to her wellness.
Oh, did I mention that she just turned 84 years old?
Yes, you read that correctly: eighty-four. And redefining what “octogenarian” means every day.
And yes, you read that other part correctly, too: I did, indeed, take a class with her.
Because she’s still teaching. Still training hard. Still getting dressed, looking good, eating well, and taking care of herself.
A fitness rock star by anyone’s measure.
Here’s the thing: people try to tell me all the time that they’re “too old” to do this or that. Too old or too busy or too out of shape or too whatever to start working out or changing their habits.
Well my new BFF, Ernestine, and I would like to set the record straight: YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO BEGIN LIVING A BETTER LIFE.
Let me say that again for the folks in the back:
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO BEGIN.
Begin working out.
Begin eating healthfully.
Begin keeping promises to yourself.
Begin taking care of your body and your mind.
Begin being healthy, feeling good, and moving your body.
With constancy, determination, and dedication you will get stronger every day. I see it over and over and over in my clients day in and day out.
Let me tell you a little more about Ernestine.
She and her sister were in their 50s when they decided to start working out.
Yup, she was well into her 50s when she decided to BEGIN working out and taking care of her body.
Now, at the age of 84, she continues moving her body daily.
During the class I took with her, she shared that not only did exercise impact her physical health, but that it helped her cope with anxiety and depression as well.
Look. This isn’t news.
You know that moving your body is one of the very best things you can do for both your physical and mental well-being.
You just have to decide to do better today than you did yesterday.
It’s small changes in your lifestyle done on a consistent bases that lead you to the big result you're after.
The secret to living your best life is simple, really: eat well, sleep well, move your body daily, continually reach for positive thoughts, and surround yourself with a good support system.
At 45, I can honestly say that I’m stronger physically and mentally because I know I have the power to create my life by living well and following these simple principles.
You can live your best life starting NOW as well.
Don’t wait. Decide what you want your 80s to look like.
Me? I want mine to look a lot like Ernestine’s, so I’m going to make the choices I need to today to make that happen.
I hope you’ll join me.
This is Ernestine. Her motto is Determined, Dedicated, Disciplined To Be Fit. Words she recites and lives by daily. You Rock Girl. Thanks for being you and inspiring all of us.
