Better Not Younger: Take It To The Next Level

All joking aside I do feel “better not younger” is the right mantra to traverse the middle years; spending time wanting and dreaming of the impossible is not only a complete waste of time but also ridiculous and foolish. The thought of being the best version, the improved version of us is empowering.

 

That is the space I want to conquer.

I don’t care about younger, while it was fabulous, wonderful and actually at times completely impossible, I want to be better with age. I want to face maturity with a tried and proven mantra to help me conquer the doubts and fears I inevitably will face. Like everyone else I do feel shaky and unpleasantly surprised when I look in the mirror, I do think for a second before I spring up from the floor and I do consider an activity before I run in headlong. I want to do it all but age has garnered caution. I might be feeling more vibrant and energetic than ever before but sense does prevail more than it once did. Life and the inevitable shocks along the way provide for that.

In some ways, “better not younger” is a way of thinking for every decade of our life and I wish I had embraced it years ago. There is so much focus ‘out there’ on looking younger, feeling younger and just about doing everything, ‘younger’. I don’t like it. I am not embarrassed to be older, with age comes wisdom and experience and I am so grateful to have made it this far. So many have not been so fortunate. I cherish this opportunity to age with grace and I am grateful for the opportunity to do it better. I want to learn from experience, open my eyes and embrace what is to come in the most well equipped way I can.

Are you with me?

This year I want to take it to the next level.

For starters I want to talk more about this idea of “better not younger” here. I would love your input and I am sure there are many facets of this conversation we can cover. Like our Q&A’s, the resources amongst ourselves are brilliant and I want to tap into them. Taking “better not younger” to the next level can be as broad or as specific as we want.

Let’s start with the exercise; an easy and natural place to start.

Physical activity has all the obvious rewards and then some. The hidden benefits, the mental clarity and composure that come from taking time to challenge us are the most important. Whether it’s the acceleration and exertion of the heart, the peace and tranquillity of meditation or the newfound flexibility from stretching and bending; mental state changes for the better. Movement elevates mood and allows clarity into thinking, not to mention time for us. Time for ourselves is the one area we women so often neglect. I need to take this to the next level; there is no point writing about it if I don’t practice. Note to self.

 

Of course, the inevitable has happened.

My daughters have taken me in hand and subtly suggested I need to bring my workout pieces up to the new Millennium. Ouch.

I now have a crush on the sporty and have gone from a drawer with one pair of plain black tights and black tee to wanting a wardrobe of styles and looks.

With a monochrome mood affecting my choices, this is where I am. Let’s look as good as we feel, right? xv