The Perfect Age To Live Your Life

How to embrace aging and become the person you were meant to be

Mar 5, 2023

Welcome to Soulful Sunday #8 for March 5, 2023.

If you recently subscribed to The Power of Change, welcome, and thanks for spending a few minutes of your day with me.

Here’s what I have for you this week:

I. The Perfect Age To Live Your Life- How To Embrace Aging

II. Master Your Monday - A mindful tip to help you start the week.

III. Vision For You - An idea, image, or belief to help you create a vision for your life.

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I. The Perfect Age To Live Your Life

Aging is inevitable.

There’s no escaping it. But there’s a way to enjoy it.

I celebrate birthdays: mine and those of my family and friends.

I reflect on the past year. I celebrate what I learned and how I changed.

I remind others what they’ve accomplished and how unique they are.

I look forward to what comes next.

Not all birthdays are created equal. Turning 16 was one I looked forward to. When 30 hit, I was unphased. Forty was the new 20 for me. You may feel differently.

Today, when I look in the mirror, I see more than an older version of myself. Of course, I see the lines that weren’t there ten years ago, but I know the wisdom that came with those years.

I see the person I’m becoming. The person I was meant to be.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you embrace your age or fear it?

My son was born when I was 38. I was considered too old to be a first-time mother. My doctor told me my pregnancy was high risk due to my age.

I didn’t see it that way.

I saw it as a blessing. It was the perfect time for me.

My perspective was one of gratitude and excitement, not fear or concern.

Until science learns how to stop time, aging is inevitable. How you view the process is up to you.

My view may be very different than yours because our experiences shape our lives and, in large part, make us who we are.

Because my life was unexpectedly interrupted at the age of 26 due to illness, I learned the importance of resilience, gratitude, and a positive attitude.

My perspective changed considerably.

I learned that despite the challenges you face, you always have the ability to be who you were meant to be. You have choices.

A choice to smile, grow and change despite loss and hardship.

A choice to learn, explore, and reflect.

Everyone has the choice and the power to become their true, authentic self.

I’m still a work in progress, but I’ve learned to celebrate the process of aging and the passing years. I’ve learned that life’s journey is more than the path you take. It’s about learning to become the person you were meant to be.

Six ways to embrace aging

1. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.

Before I became ill, I never considered that I couldn’t do something. I embraced life and the opportunities that presented themselves. When my physical health limited me, I focused on what I was able to do. I couldn’t travel, but I could read about the destinations I longed to see and view beautiful pictures of the sites I wanted to visit. It wasn’t the same, but it was better than feeling bad I couldn’t be there in person.

2. Live in the present. Take each day as it comes. Plan, but accept plans change.

I don’t look back. I learned to find joy in every day, even when I’m unable to leave my house. I learned to surrender to the moment I was in. I accepted I was where I was supposed to be that day.

3. Enjoy simple pleasures.

I used to be a runner. When I couldn’t run anymore because of my health, I celebrated walking. When walking long distances was difficult, I celebrated the steps I could take. I changed my perspective and adjusted my expectations. Would I ever run that marathon? Probably not, but it’s okay.

4. Overcome limiting beliefs.

At one time, I managed a team of talented marketing professionals and multi-million-dollar budgets. After I became ill, I felt useless. I was a shadow of my former self. I lost confidence in my abilities, and I never thought I’d contribute to society in any meaningful way. As time passed, I realized that my physical limitations did not change who I was. In fact, they made me a stronger, more capable person. I learned to accept my limitations but overcome my limiting beliefs. There’s a big difference.

5. Practice gratitude.

Growing up, I was grateful for my family and the many opportunities I had. When the unexpected happened, I questioned why it was happening, but I quickly realized that focusing on the negative wouldn’t change my situation. It would only make me feel worse.

Through counseling, meditation, and a mindfulness practice, I learned to accept my new normal. I learned the importance of being grateful for the smallest things in life. A sunrise, hearing my son’s laughter, and time with my parents. Learning to practice gratitude is a process that will change your life if you’re open to it.

6. Help others.

I’ve learned so much about health, wellness, and self-improvement during the past twenty years. I’ve read hundreds of books and learned from many mentors and coaches. While my illness changed many things, I didn’t lose the ability to write, communicate, and help others.

Now I choose to use my gifts and knowledge to help those who may be struggling to make sense of their circumstances. It’s why I started The Power of Change.

Giving to others is a gift for the person you’re helping and for yourself as well.

Age is only a number.

It’s a representation of the years you’ve lived. What you do with those years is up to you.

I don’t let my age define me.

I don’t let it stop me from trying new things, learning, or becoming a better person.

I view age as a privilege.

I celebrate each year for the wisdom gained, the experiences enjoyed, and the opportunity to become the person I was meant to be.

If you have a different perspective on aging, try thinking about it this way:

Regardless of your age, you’re the perfect age to live your life.

Consider the coming year special because it’s the only time you’ll live it.

Embrace it.

Make it the best it can be.

If you found this content helpful, please share it with a friend who may enjoy it.

II. Master Your Monday-A mindful tip to help you start the week.

One day, you will look back and see that all along, you were blooming

— Morgan Harper Nichols, artist, and writer

I love this quote, but I’m using it today to remind you there is no reason to wait and look back on your life.

Instead, embrace the present and give yourself credit for the person you are today and the things you’ve already accomplished.

III. Vision For You

An idea, image, or belief to help you create a vision for your life.

This week, this image is for women who may feel their best years are behind them.

I’ve been a fan of Audrey Hepburn since I was a little girl. This quote and image of her is a favorite for many reasons.

Although I grew up in the ’70s, I loved films from the ‘50s. My mom got me hooked on classics like The Sound of Music and Singing in the Rain, but some of my favorites featured Hepburn. Not only was she a film icon, but she was also a fashion icon and later known for her humanitarian efforts. My favorite Hepburn films included Funny Girl, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Roman Holiday. I loved the costumes and the beautiful locations.

Times were different then. Women wore dresses, and men wore suits. I was probably drawn to these films because my parents seemed to belong in them.

Every Saturday night when I was a little girl, I watched them dress in beautiful clothes to meet friends or go dancing. On New Year’s Eve, they often attended a formal event where my mother wore a gown. My aunt and uncle, who were like second parents to me, owned a high-end women’s clothing boutique. Most of my mother’s ‘fancy’ dresses came from there. When I was a teenager, I helped my aunt and uncle at the store. I accompanied them on a buying trip to New York and saw the process of designing and producing custom dresses.

Now considered beautiful vintage clothes, I’ll cherish the ones my mother has saved. Maybe I’ll even do my best Audrey Hepburn impression and try one on!