“Make the most out of every single day! Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment.” – Unknown

Let this be your best year EVER! Resolve to do more….be more engaged….be more involved….Do something you haven’t done before!

There are a few things every woman over age 60 should have. Feel free to agree or disagree. Keep in mind, however, that this is my personal list!

What do you think? Did I miss something? If you would like to add to this list, please do.

Whether you’re approaching 50 or pushing 60, here are 5 habits your older self will thank you for.  Not only will your older self thank you, but so will your loved ones. Most of these habits I started in my early 30s; and still today, I wish I had done more.

1. Start an exercise regimen and stay with it. Start this early because over 25, your metabolism slows down; and it becomes harder to lose weight. If you start this habit early enough, it becomes a habit. I have been exercising for well over 30 years. It’s what I do. Exercising comes as naturally to me as breathing.
2. Mind your money. This is a no-brainer, regardless of age. Don’t fall into the “money doesn’t matter trap”. It’s ok to be young and broke. But, there is nothing glamorous (or even pretty) about being old and broke. It can be UGLY! So, save…for retirement, for a rainy day, for opportunities, for those unexpected emergencies. Like exercise, make saving a natural part of your life. Never too late to start saving. 
3. Take control of your health. This means taking care of your body, making wise and healthy food choices. Think of your body as you would a car. Would you fuel your car with junk instead of the right fuel? Would you use water instead of oil or gas? Probably not. Because either your car wouldn’t run properly or not run at all. Just as your car needs certain care to run efficiently, so does your body. You wouldn’t put junk in your cars’ gas tank; so, why would you put it in your own gas tank – your precious body?  Taking control of your health also means getting those routine annual checkups, including dental.
4. Make yourself a priority. Another way of saying this is: put yourself first or take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself is not only the right thing to do; it’s the responsible thing to do. You can’t adequately take care of others if you haven’t taken care of yourself.
5. Live with purpose. We all have a reason for being; a purpose. People who live with purpose remain active and engaged much longer than those who are not. So, find yours and live it! Forget your age and live with purpose.

“A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.”- Charles Gordy

Nothing adds beauty to your face like a smile. It’s your million-dollar asset. You can work miracles with a smile. People simply don’t smile enough. Smiling is a way to write your feelings on your face. It communicates that you are happy, friendly, approachable, and sociable. People who smile are seen as healthier and more trust worthy.

Nothing speaks louder than a frown or a crappy or fake smile. So, smile from the heart. Let your smile be authentic – lighting up your eyes, your entire face, and your entire body. This quote from an unknown source clearly underscores the importance of smiling: “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”

A smile is little; it’s big; it’s easy. It costs nothing but gives much.

Think on This: What does your smile say about you?

A necessary ingredient for aging gracefully is adopting healthy lifestyle habits. I can’t talk about healthy lifestyles without extolling the importance of a total conditioning exercise program. Such a program includes:  cardio, strength, balance, and flexibility (stretching). Yet, most people only focus on cardio. Cardio (walking, jogging, running, swimming, biking, raking leaves, and other activities that get your heart pumping) is great. But, it is not enough to sustain you as you enter your 50s and beyond. It is imperative that you engage in the other three if you want to age gracefully as well as remain active.

Many women readily understand the importance of balance and flexibility, but shy away from strength training.  They equate strength training with lifting weights. I can’t tell you the number of times I have heard a woman say, “I don’t want to lift weights because I don’t want bulging muscles.”  First of all, lifting weights is not the only way to train for strength. But if your program does involve lifting, it is highly unlikely that you will develop bulging muscles unless that is your goal.  And, even then, it takes a lot more than lifting to a few weights to build huge muscles.

So, because I want my readers to start doing strength training, here are four compelling reasons to include it in your fitness program.

• Increased mental and physical stamina.  Strength training helps you to get stronger, leaner, and healthier. And, leads to increased mental and physical stamina so that you can better handle the stresses of everyday living.
• Strengthens your bones. Strength training strengthens your bones reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis. Stronger bones mean that you can enjoy daily activities with more confidence and ease.
• Prevents injury. Strength training strengthens muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones thus lowering the chance of injury.
• Slows down the aging process. Strength training is the only exercise proven to slow down the aging process. It prevents muscle loss that normally accompanies aging.

If you don’t include strength training in your regular workout program, you’re missing out on a key component of overall fitness and health.

What are some of your thoughts and stories about exercise, graceful aging, or strength training? I want to hear from you.

For the past few weeks, I have been posting quotes for you to ponder. My intent is to provide some food for thought as you go about your day. Here are the 10 that reached the highest number of people.

• “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Nelson Mandela
• “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”
  – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” – Henry James
• “Be what you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter; and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Suess
• “Everybody has the power to make someone else happy. Some do it by entering the room, while others do it by leaving.” – unknown
• “It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity that never comes than to be unprepared when one comes.” – Whitney Young
  “In order to become brilliant – to let the most light shine through – you must go through a great deal of pain. Think of a brilliantly cut diamond.” – Joanna Fox
• “Whatever happened to you yesterday shapes you for today; and prepares you for tomorrow.” – Pastor Leonard T. Wesley
  “One kind deed, one compassionate act, one thoughtful gesture is enough to change the course of an entire lifetime.” – Karen Hesse
• “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”
  – Charles Swindoll

Do any of these resonate with you?

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Nelson Mandela

Six ways to let your light shine
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• Take care of yourself.  Make this your number one priority! When you feel good, it’s easier shine your light on everything and everyone.

• Volunteer. To cast your light even further, volunteer. You and everyone around you reap tremendous benefits when you give the gift of your time and expertise.

• Listen more.  Listen without interrupting, without giving advice, and without telling your own story. Sometimes, people just want to be heard.

• Be positive. Every day, resolve to do these three things to maintain a positive attitude:  smile, focus on what you have not what you don’t have, and expect only great things to happen to you.

• Be appreciative. William James, an American philosopher and psychologist, stated that the deepest craving in human nature is the desire to be appreciated. So go out of your way to let those around you know that you appreciate them – for little and big things.

• Be thankful. Stay in a state of gratitude. Begin and end each day with a “thank you”. Quoting Meister Eckhart, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
How can and do you let your light shine? Let me hear from you.

Here are 10 positive things you can do to brighten your day or someone else’s day.

1. Smile.
2. Laugh hard, laugh out loud.
3. Give someone your undivided, unwavering attention for at least one (1) minute.
4. Listen non-judgmentally without giving advice.
5. Dance like no one is watching.
6. Call your best friend just to say, “I’m thinking of you.”
7. Compliment a total stranger.  Make it specific.
8. Compliment yourself.
9. Tell someone how much you appreciate them; and why.
10. Say “Thank you”.

Do you have something to add? I would love to hear from you.

This is what an ageless beauty looks like

Do you know women who are healthier, happier, more confident and more beautiful today than they were 5, 10, or 15 or more years ago?  Are you one of those women?

I am. My hair is no longer long, black and thick; my skin is no longer tight and smooth. I don’t move quite as fast. I don’t even think I am as tall. Yet, I am, without a doubt, an ageless beauty.

Being an ageless beauty isn’t something that’s reserved for a few. Anyone can be one by practicing these 5 easy-to-implement beauty tips.

• Exercise. Most ageless beauties have one thing in common: exercise. We engage in some form of physical exercise at least 5 days a week. Our routine falls into 3 categories: cardio, strength training, and flexibility (stretching). And, we engage in activities that we enjoy. For example, I love to dance. So, I dance at least 3 days a week – at home or at my gym. Whether at home or at my gym, I dance as if no one is watching.

• Eat and drink more consciously. This doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes overindulge. For the most part, however, we watch what we eat and when we eat it. We include more fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish in our diet. And, we limit our intake of fried foods, red meat, prepackaged foods, sugary drinks, alcohol, and caffeine.

•  Establish and stick to a beauty regiment. Clean your skin before going to bed, use a moisturizer daily, wear sun screen and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Make drinking more plain water a vital part of your beauty regiment. It does wonders for your body, especially your skin. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturize skin and increase skin elasticity.It flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion; a more youthful complexion.

• Update your appearance. Don’t let your wardrobe and your shoes date you. While I don’t obsess about it, I love to look fashionable – even when working out. I keep abreast of fashion trends. And, once or twice a year, I add a trendy yet classic item to my wardrobe.

• Cultivate an empowering relationship. An empowering relationship is a nurturing, supportive relationship that can show up in different ways: spouse, partner, boyfriend/friend or simply a bff (best friend forever). Not just anybody, but a person who shares your enthusiasm for living; and is willing to do things – like go dancing.

Being an ageless beauty isn’t dictated by one’s genes, it’s about one’s attitude, lifestyle, and the willingness to embrace change.

Are you an ageless beauty? Do you know any ageless beauties? If yes, please let me hear from you.