25 Ways to Age Gracefully Art by Eleatta Diver Aging with Grace The classic Rolling Stones’ song, ‘Time is on Our Side’ belies the brutal truth. Time relentlessly marches on and leaves its mark on our faces, bodies ...and emotions. In a culture obsessed with youth, fighting against the affects of time is a preoccupation. American women, on average, spends $300,000 on beauty products over her life time. A search for ‘How to prevent wrinkles,’ shows nearly 40,000,000 hits. But aging doesn’t only show on your skin. It permeates your psyche. Disappointments, frustrations, and loss wear lines and dig creases into your heart. I dash into Target to grab a bottle of my favorite anti-wrinkle serum, musing, 'If only I could buy a bottle of potion to moisturize my soul!' There are no creams or lotions for an aging psyche. However, you can learn tips from those who have managed to age with grace. Who are they? You can recognize them them by the twinkle in their eyes and the hope in their voice. Not only do they mindfully care for their bodies, they also tend their emotional well being. Here’s a list of practices common to these inspiring ones who live out the art of graceful-aging. TIPS FOR AGING GRACEFULLY Habits of those who age gracefully We have routines. We put our heads down and check off our to-do lists. But did you know the simple act of being intentional about doing just one small thing each day we really get pleasure from can fortify our emotional well being just like a daily vitamin fortifies our body? Doing one ‘happy thing’ everyday...fuels your motivation, improves emotional health and increases productivity. It also gives you a new outlook on life and enhances your relationships! Friends make life more colorful. Friendships are the flowers in life’s garden and just like a garden, we proportionally get out what we put in. Your friendships need tending for continued blooming. Actively cherishing your friendships ... Increases life satisfactionOffers different outlooks on lifeFacilitates loving honestySupports encouragementProvides an adventure partner. Celebrate yourself. We usually celebrate big accomplishments. But congratulating yourself even on those tiny incremental victories, can spark joy, affirm your self worth and increase your motivation to keep going.. Celebrating yourself even for little wins...Increases your energyPromotes personal growthBoosts your happiness levelsAffirms self-worth. Welcome change. Resisting change wastes precious time and energy. Accepting and embracing it can create adventures and fresh possibilities Responding to change…
Art by Eleatta Diver Prints available HERE New experiences keep life exciting. Although we usually resist change, the truth is we actually need it to feel alive. Even small alterations in our daily routine can be little sparks that energize us. Staying open to new experiences…
6.) Dare new things. Art by Eleatta Diver Prints available HERE Variety adds spice to life. New experiences keep life exciting. Staying open to new experiences…Grows your sense of self-worthIncreases feelings of optimismOpens you to new perspectives Exercise your brain. By intentionally engaging our brains we can enhance our engagement with life. Our bodies thrive through use. That includes our brain! Exercising our brain...
7.) Share happiness. Spread a bit of love. Make a point to spread joy whenever possible. It feels good to make someone else feel good. Spreading happiness has a ripple effect of...
Be a friend to yourself. We know we should be kind to others. But what about being kind to yourself? Make it your goal to treat yourself as kindly as you do a good friend. Being kind to yourself...
9.) Laugh more. Laugh lightens the heart. You can certainly cry too, but be sure you laugh a lot more. It feels good by releasing endorphins – the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Laughing creates …
Practice being thankful. Each morning before you get out of bed thank the Lord for five things for which you are grateful. It’s a nice way to start the day, and you’ll find yourself thinking about a lot more than five. Practicing gratitude…
11.) Smile more. Life goes better with smiles. When we smile, we get some powerful dividends. The simple act of smiling …Improves mood
Happiness is contagious. Those you spend the most time with in your inner circle have a huge influence on your moods, expectations you have of yourself, and the way you view the world. Positive people help…
13.) Control your reactions. Reactions are choices. Choosing how you react is really the only true control you have in this world, so you may as well make the most of it. Little things can really bring you down if you let them. But you don’t have to let them. Controlling responses helps...
14.) Pray daily. The power of a prayer practice. Research shows a regular practice of prayer has positive benefits. A practice of prayer...
15.) Take adventures. Keep a spirit of adventure. Whether it is a trip to the mall, theater, a sports event or even a different state or country, little and big adventures can produce wonderful results. Taking even small adventures...
16.) Get more rest. Sleep rebuilds and rejuvenates. Getting sufficient sleep is just as important to your health as eating healthy and exercise. Resting ample rest...
17.) Write and journal. Writing and journaling helps unpack life. It's a great place to express who you are, and generate new ideas. Writing helps unpack life by …
18). Get a pet. Pets give us comfort and companionship. Animals are companions with positivity. Pets offer a multitude of benefits such as...
Showing respect helps us improve our relationships while also making us feel good about ourselves. Offering respect and dignity helps...
20.) Forgive yourself Giving mercy to ourselves is the most important gift we give to ourselves. Forgiving yourself...
21.) Release regrets. Understanding mistakes and releasing our regret helps us move forward with greater insight. Releasing ourselves from regrets …
Have an ongoing project that sparks joy.The practice of keeping a side project or a new creative endeavor offers powerful benefits. Side projects that spark joy…
23.) Practice acceptance. With acceptance, we humbly acknowledge the reality we are ultimately not in charge. Exercising acceptance...
24.) Simplify. Start with cleaning a closet. You’ll quickly see there is a lot of stuff that’s just clutter and serves no use. Next simplify other parts of your life. Simplifying ...
Cherish the 'now' you are in. Embrace the joys of your present age. The ability to accept and celebrate the ‘now’ of your present age, circumstance and situation is a skill that gives repeated rewards. Embracing ‘now’...
Don’t try to be everything to everyone. It’s impossible. Be fully ‘you’ helps you…
Considering the limitations of our life span heightens our appreciation for every day. Considering your mortality …
Wow! So there you have it. A list of 27 ways to age gracefully. Gracefully aging is an art. And it can be cultivated and practiced. Personally, I'm focusing on #27. For me, knowing the brevity of life, helps frame all others. For more inspiration for your journey in aging with grace, check out these videos. Growing Old Is A Blessing | Maria Alejandro | TEDxNewYork Accepting the Effects of Aging. The Unbearable Lightness of Aging: Jane Caro/ TEDxSouth Bank The Art of Aging Well: Harvard Medical School Lecture 'Aging with Grace' with Steve Brown and author guests.
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