I have decided to mark this day with positives about getting older. Let’s start changing the conversation about aging.
Yes, aging is inevitable. All of us are going to get older. And even while that is a fact, society still focuses on youth and how to cling onto it. The truth is there are so many positives about getting older or should I rather say aging gracefully.
My positives about turning 40.
- It is an absolute privilege to grow old. So many people don’t get to do it. I want to focus on appreciating what I have, instead of what I don’t. I love journaling everyday about one thing I am grateful for and honestly it has transformed my life.
- Caring less about what other people think. This one is such a relief! I love the concept of choosing who you take advice and feedback from, curating your circle online and off and unfollowing those who don’t add value to your life.
- More confidence. I am super proud about the fact that I no longer try to actively change my body. I have not weighed myself in 2 years. I wear clothes that fit me and not the other way around. I enjoy food and the amazing connection it can bring to our family. That doesn’t mean my body image is perfect all the time. We are all a work in progress. Want more info on making peace with your body image? Check out Bri and her podcast (Body grievers pod).
- More self-awareness. Growing older has helped me in understanding my strengths and what I need to work on. I personally love the enneagram. Learning about control and letting go of things I have no control over. Making peace with my anxiety and realising how much I can do to manage it.
- Resilience, by the age of 40 we have our all had our fair share of loss and difficultly. Facing adversity helps us learn skills that we need to bounce back after hard times. Heck starting my podcast at 40 was no easy decision. I put it off for ages until I realised that the most important thing to me is making a difference in other moms’ lives. Being there for them and adding value.
- Gentle movement can be joyful and specifically learning to move my body in ways that I enjoyed instead of using it to make my body smaller. For me that’s, walking not running it’s listening to a podcast or chatting to a friend on that walk. It’s doing low impact workouts like pilates (I am so over hiit). I love my relationship with movement and how I have learnt to use it to regulate my body and even my kids’ emotions.
- Quality over quantity. In so many ways. Friends, how I use my time, what I spend my money on. I recently finished Remit Sethi’s book this year and it definitely worth checking out.
- A successful marriage takes hard work. Michelle Obama said. “I would take 10 bad years in 30 years of marriage. “Her honest take on marriage reminds me that everyone has difficulties in relationships.
- Mindfulness (and meditation) takes practice and patience. Being in the present is something that does not come naturally. It takes work and persistence.
I am loving being part of the ’40’ group.
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