Hi Friends!
My name is Kathryn. Six years ago, I retired and after majorly downsizing, packed up my belongings and my 2 aging kitties, and I moved by myself to Florida. What an adventure! Since arriving, I have made great new friends, have experienced much fun most every day, and have been ever evolving!
Living in Florida, I have the privilege of walking among many people with gray on top – almost 40% of our population is 65+. As a frequent people watcher, I notice my peers, especially women, often looking very similar in the way they move and in the way they dress. I consider them all to be lovely, but one after another, I see them wearing long loose-fitting pants, somewhat large flowing tops, comfortable shoes, and shorter hair. I don’t see the variety of expression that I see with younger people.
I wonder if these ladies are being authentic to themselves. Are they really expressing on the outside who they are on the inside? Are the two aligned with one another? I wonder if what they are wearing is really their style or are they just following what they perceive to be the norm for their age.
Society holds and projects many beliefs and expectations about those 60+ years. If we blindly accept these, we can lose our true selves. And what we think is what we will be! The mind follows the body and the body follows the mind – this connection is well documented.
I ask you to consider your mindset. I ask you to realize that no matter your age, you can still evolve as a person. I ask you to break any preset rules about how you should dress, how you should act, how you should be. I ask you to “Age with Attitude!”
What is aging with attitude? Aging with attitude is breaking those expected rules, it’s tossing away fixed beliefs, it’s creating your life on your own terms. How? My thoughts. Start with yourself.
Love yourself in mind, body, and spirit.
Care for yourself with nutrition and activity. With your best health possible, you will have the energy to live your best life possible.
Love who you are today! Recognize and appreciate the gifts you have developed over the years. You were created as a unique, special person- embrace that person. At the same time, allow yourself to grow and change. You are still unfolding, still blooming so to speak !
Keep learning! Continue to learn about yourself – your talents, your desires, your dreams. Explore new topics and new skills. Stay informed about the world we live in including the new technologies which can open a multitude of doors. As you learn more, you will continue to grow and evolve, and your brain will actually strengthen.
Explore new passions! Was there ever anything you wanted to do that you didn’t pursue for some reason? Maybe you didn’t have time or maybe someone told you that you shouldn’t or you couldn’t. There are no couldn’ts or shouldn’ts. Many now famous people and many more not so famous folks later in life became painters, writers, photographers, dancers, etc. etc. Now is the time!
As you change your mindset, as you age with attitude, I truly believe you will find that you are living a fuller life. You will experience more positive and deeper connections with others. You will identify and fulfill your purpose – the critical aspect to living a meaningful life. Living with purpose is your real power, your lasting power, YOUR PERENNIAL POWER!