You always hear "Age is just a number." I say, "Age is an attitude." If you act and feel old, chances are you'll look it. People ask me, how do you look the same as you did in high school??? My response? "I refuse to age."
People will say it's my genes. And I will agree that is part of it. But even more than that, I learned from parents who had a zest for life and a youthful attitude. We never ever got bored. There's too much to see and do! How can anyone ever be bored?
After years of people asking me my age and wanting to know my secret, I thought, why not start to keep track of my quest in finding the food, the vitamins, the supplements, the exercise routine, the beauty products that keep you healthy and looking great? (I am such a product junkie, I cannot walk past Sephora without walking in and handing over my credit card. Honestly, I'd save money if would just walk in & give someone a $20 to keep me from entering the store.)
So here we are. A blog that I hope wakes up the kid in you that has been longing to get out.
I will share 3 basic tips with you today. (More details on food choices, beauty regimes, etc. in the blog to come.)
#1) Refuse to age. Don't let the age dictate your behavior. Do the things that you love to do even if people say it's not "age appropriate." The things that are fun and keep you happy, Scream your head off at a football game. Go salsa dancing. Tell dirty jokes. Get dressed up for Halloween. Flirt with the bartender that is way too young for you. (It's his job to be charming anyway.) Wear those leopard print leggings if they make you feel fabulous. Hey, I still wear mini skirts & boots. And I'm thinking of dying my hair purple.
#2) Avoid the number one thing that ages you. Stress.
Stress will make you sick. It can kill you.
Whatever lifestyle change you need to make to get rid of any undue stress, get rid of it. Drop friends or a relationship that constantly makes you feel bad. Downsize to a smaller space, move to a less expensive town. Stop bitching about work and change jobs already! (Ok I know it isn't that easy to do these things, but you can start the process, if you don't at least start, you'll get stuck.)
My father passed away and I decided to leave NYC & move to my small hometown in the midwest. If I'd stayed in the City, the stress I had there might have made me very sick. Unbeknownst to me, I was already fighting something but didn't find out about it until after my dad died.
My body did not cope with stress well and I had to learn to deal with life's normal challenges in a different way. I try to not sweat the small stuff, and to stop comparing myself to colleagues I left back in NYC. Learn to be grateful and appreciative for what I do have and not long for the things I don't.
#3) Live healthy! Keep an active mind & body & make wise food choices.
If it's important to you to live a healthy & full life. You will make time for it. We'll do it together. If you need to, we'll take baby steps. One day at a time.