In today’s episode of the Inspiration2grow podcast I am talking about aging gracefully and on your terms but also stressing the fact that age should never hold us back from the things we want to do as women.
Recently I experienced a situation where I was doubting myself, my ability and thinking perhaps I was too old for a sport I have always loved participating in. This got me thinking that maybe other women out there are excluding themselves too just because of their age. I want to change that!
Just a few days ago my husband and I returned from a skiing holiday in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec. It was an amazing time spent out in the fresh air, on the slopes high above the village overlooking beautiful scenery. However, I came very close to throwing in the towel and not even trying to ski again after about 20 years. Why? Because I felt my body and my mobility limitations wouldn’t respond well to the physical nature of skiing. It really felt like a mental and physical impossibility to push past my fear and anxiety when I put my skis back on again that first day. So many thoughts and worries were going through my head. Am I too old for this? Should I even put my body through this?
I was convinced that my body would somehow rebel against the physical exertion, flexibility and movement required to ski for even an hour each day, as it has done over the past 4 years now. Every time I have made attempts at picking up a sport I love again, my body wouldn’t cooperate, and I’d be left in severe pain, not being able to move for a few days.
Long story made short, I was able to keep up with all the people in my group: the teenage snowboarders, the other skiers and my husband, who was born in Austria and grew up on skis. So, he is kind of like a world cup slalom racer if he wants to be and not so easy to keep up with.
All in all, I was amazed at how well my body responded to this type of exercise and exertion. But, if I hadn’t been in fairly good condition from my months at the gym – strength training, attending spin classes as well as swimming most days, I am sure my body would not have made it through 4 days on the slopes.
And so, here is my plug for strength training – it really does make a huge difference. Without my strength in my quads and hamstrings, abs, arms and shoulders, I would never have been able to overcome my other mobility issues. There is so much value in building muscle, ladies. I just can’t say it enough. I am truly a testament to the power of weight lifting.
Sorry, but I digressed slightly. You know every chance I get I will advocate for women to take up strength training.
Let’s get back to the topic of aging but still living life to the fullest…
But here’s the thing…I don’t want to age to hold me back from doing things I want to do. Nor do I want fear of failure to keep me from taking risks or pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.
How we age is a decision we make for ourselves. What we think aging means is what we tend to believe based on our actions, thoughts, and habits. What I mean by this is…if we assume you are washed up at say 50 or 60, then you will believe this to be true. If you think you and other women in their 50’s and 60’s are old, done, life is over, wrinkles are showing up everywhere, all the pains and injuries come out.
If you believe all of this, you will start to model your life after this.
However, if you believe that it’s just the beginning. If you believe you’re going to navigate it differently and you’re going to thrive. If you trust that you will find work arounds when the going gets tough AND if you believe that your best years are yet to come, you’ll start taking the actions and form the habits that represent these thoughts.
It comes down to mindset. Your expectations will strongly impact what you think you can do.
Are you going to sit back and coast through life aimlessly just because you’ve reached 40, 50, 60 or beyond?
I hope not!
I really want to change the conversation around aging. I want women to see the vast possibilities and potential within themselves at any age.
I want women to redefine themselves and, in the process, rebrand themselves.
How do you see yourself? What labels or descriptors do you use when talking about yourself?
Chances are good that you don’t even consider yourself: beautiful, capable, sexy, vibrant, amazing, sensuous, empowered, energetic, tenacious, a force to be reckoned with.
Sure, there might be a few more wrinkles, sagging skin here and there and a few grey hairs that are visible. But these don’t and shouldn’t define us.
I’ll tell you a short story… some years ago now my family had gathered at our home for Easter and all the women were in the kitchen getting the meal ready when we were all approached by someone who was offering us Botox injections. We were all taken back and stunned by this. I think we were all a bit self conscious at that moment wondering if we looked like we truly needed some smoothing out on our faces.
My sister-in-law had the best comeback when she said, “Why would I want to get rid of or hide my experience/life lines? After all, they show that I have lived life to the fullest and what I’ve been through.” BEST REPLY EVER!
Recently I saw an IG post and caption from the former super model, Paulina Porizkov, who is fully embracing her grey hair and effortless look without any makeup these days. She posed nude and wrote, “I’m finally comfortable in my own skin. I don’t need armor when I’m already armed with my experiences and the wisdom they’ve brought. All the really good stuff is crammed into this body and invisible on the outside. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s what keeps me standing tall and proud – even when undressed.”
Your face and body reflect the full experience and character of your life. Should we be ashamed of it? Absolutely not.
Just remember… you are so much more than your appearance AND there is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best at any age.
Aging is not a disease. It should be celebrated for what it is -> a time of growth and change.
What are you telling yourself about who you are, what you are capable of and what you really want?
What story are you telling yourself?
I’ve learned something very important in my 50’s and that’s not to blindly accept what may look like a hopeless situation when it comes to your health. I’ve learned to challenge that and say, well yes, that might be true for some people, but it’s not going to be true for me. I changed my story, my narrative around my health, my mobility, my attitude toward pain.
If you don’t learn to advocate for yourself and your health, no one else will.
If you give in to your own excuses, you will forever remain stuck and possibly declining or regressing.
If you don’t look for work arounds when the going gets tough, you will admit defeat.
If you consider your age an impossible hurdle, you will miss out on so much in life.
If you constantly fall into the “woe is me” trap, you’ll never make progress and always feel like a victim.
You hold all the cards in your hand. You are in control. You are 100% responsible for your health.
Don’t let age be an excuse for not taking action on your goals and dreams.
Ask yourself, what is it that you really, truly want? And now think like this, if I’m going to be that person, who is fit, toned, running after her grandchildren, confident, living her best life, feeling vibrant and amazing, then what actions, habits and thoughts will I have or take in order to BE this person?
Define who you want to be regardless of your age. Start showing up each and every day as this person.
One very important thing I want you to stop doing NOW -> and that is comparing yourself to anyone else. Whether it’s on TV, on the news, on social media, in magazines, on billboards. Stop comparing your life and your looks to their highlight reel.
Oh, look at her. She’s so much more beautiful. She has accomplished so much more. She has more likes, more comments on her posts. She is so much MORE than I am or will ever be.
We get sucked into this comparison of how we are supposed to look, act, and be based on what society thinks or expects. It is so detrimental.
My tip for you is to take control of how you start your morning. You will show up differently to the world and feel better about yourself if you stop being influenced by others – on TV, on social media, or elsewhere first thing in the morning. Instead of scrolling your phone or turning on the TV, do something positive like meditating, journalling, listening to a podcast, doing a craft or your hobby, exercising is my favourite. This will help you stop feeling “less than”.
Wow, I feel like I covered a lot in today’s show. But let me bring the message home by saying, you are never too old to start a new chapter in life. You are never too old to start something completely new.
I’d like women to embrace their age more and not allow it to hold them back. Stop saying, “I’m too old.”
You don’t have to ‘accept’ your situation. You are in charge and can pivot or adjust the course of your journey at any time.
Imagine the person you want to become and start taking action to become and embody this person.
Age gracefully but on your terms. Your age is simply a number not a definition of who you should be or how you should act.
Our bodies are amazing and we should not give up on them just because we are 40, 50, 60 or beyond.
Love yourself, love the stage of life in which you find yourself, love your body for all it does for you, love your looks, love your uniqueness, love being YOU.
Remember this: You are much more than your appearance; you have a special purpose in life and a true gift to be shared; you are an example to others, so be sure to be a good one.
And if that wasn’t enough of a pep talk, ladies, I’d like to leave you with a quote from Caroline Caldwell that I thought was so fitting…
“In a society that profits from your self doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act.”
So, let’s all be rebels.
And that’s my message for today, friends.
My only hope is that you start to implement some of the ideas, tips and strategies that I talk about and I would love to know which ones have been beneficial for you personally.
I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook. The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters. It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out. There will be daily journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more. So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.
You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.
In case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…
You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless. Never forget that I believe in you 100%. Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.
I hope to have inspired you to grow.
Til next time,
Lisa xoxo
