It is the little things that we do everyday that help shape how we experience life. I see it as on this path that I am privileged to walk, I am gaining the wisdom and understanding to enjoy the beauty in each day and meet myself where I am at. I am grateful for every day.
We hear a lot about aging well. We read about longevity, anti-aging products, and exercise routines. Supplements and the latest discoveries promising so many things.
All of this has me asking what does aging well mean to me? Is it about how old we look? How much do we weigh? How many wrinkles do we have? Or how many years can we add to our lives? Maybe you answer yes to all of these, some of these or none of these.
I am not certain that I can say for certain one way or another if I answer yes to any of these as for me it depends on the day, minute, month or year. Right!
For me in this season, I am choosing to view it as more about how I care for myself as I move through this incredible life. I am doing what I can to maintain the ability to do the things that I enjoy, by remaining curious about the world around me, nurturing relationships that fill me up, and recognizing that my body, mind and soul requires care at every stage of life. That brings me back to the little things I mentioned.
1. Keep moving, as I know that my future self will thank me.
Movement is one of the most valuable investments I can make in my future health. It doesn’t need to mean an intense workout, a gym membership or spending hours exercising. It can be walking, stretching, gardening, dancing in the kitchen, taking the stairs or incorporating a few minutes of movement throughout the day all contributing to a more active lifestyle.
As we continue on this journey it is so important to maintain muscle strength, mobility, balance and coordination.
Strength helps us maintain independence. Balance helps us navigate everyday activities. Mobility allows us to continue participating in the things that make life enjoyable. It is important to remember it isn’t about doing more but rather to keep doing what matters.
2. Nourish yourself, don’t just feed yourself.
Food is more than something that satisfies hunger. It provides the building blocks our bodies need to function, repair and maintain themselves.
Protein supports muscle maintenance and repair. Healthy fats contribute to normal cellular function and help with the absorption of certain vitamins. Fibre supports digestive health, and vitamins and minerals contribute to countless processes throughout the body.
Let’s not forget how much hydration matters as well. Our bodies rely on adequate fluid intake for circulation, digestion, temperature regulation and so much more.
I find that I am not as hungry in this stage, so I aim to focus on getting enough protein, whole grains, fruit and veggies. My naturalpath recently reminded me that my plate needed to be half fruit and veggies, a quarter whole grains and a quarter protein. She suggested that I focus on my protein first to keep my bones strong and a little from each of the other areas if I couldn’t eat it all. I use this as my guide and for now until I need to change something this is working for me and shifting my mindset from just eating to nourishing this incredible body. I have a sign on my fridge that says “ More nourishment. More Variety. More consistency.”
3. Give your body time to recover.
We often celebrate productivity, busy schedules and how much we can accomplish. I used to follow this and then about a year or a year and a half ago I was struggling with recovery. It was taking me much longer, okay probably not but because it was so vastly different it felt like it was taking an eternity. I can be dramatic. Lol! I asked people about it and some didn’t understand that after treating so many people in a day before, during or after work was not the time for me to hit a heavy workout. I then, with much processing of information, learned that it is a real thing. So, I have been trying to find the balance that feels right for me. I will be honest some weeks I have hit it right on and others I have not…. I am always aware and honouring my body as I am listening to it now and quieting the noise around me. This takes practice and redirection.
I encourage you to breathe and honour where you are each day. With sleep, rest and periods of relaxation so we can make it part of maintaining our overall well being. Our bodies are continually working behind the scenes. During sleep, important processes involved in tissue repair, immune function, memory and metabolic regulation take place. This is all part of taking care of ourselves. I now believe that the most beneficial thing we can do is recognize when we need to slow down.
4. Stay curious and connected.
Our emotional and social wellbeing matters so so much. Try to learn something new, having meaningful conversations with people that listen and that you can listen to. Maintain friendships that fill you up and make you feel good about yourself. I have been enjoying exploring new interests, and contributing to things that I feel a sense of connection with. This is keeping me engaged and it gives me a sense of community on my own terms. I will always try to grow and keep my life in motion.
5. Learning to listen to your body.
This has been and will always be a work in process for me. It also might be the most important part. My body is changing throughout my life. My energy level, recovery needs, strength, flexibility and nutritional requirements are all changing along my journey. I am reminded that my expectations of myself to operate exactly as I always did is not a fair expectation. Yet I was led to believe differently and in essence to push through. I pushed through fatigue, I ignored tension, put off appointments, delayed rest… and then when something starts demanding our attention we are forced to stop and pay attention. My plan moving forward is to listen and modify, quiet the outside noise and listen to my body. Don’t judge, just listen. This is self care. It is a way of developing a relationship with your body that includes awareness, respect and compassion. It is very powerful.
6. Practice a little self compassion.
Be aware of how often we criticize our bodies for what they can no longer do, instead of appreciating everything that they continue to do. We can compare ourselves to others, to what we used to be able to do, and unrealistic expectations. Let’s change the conversation!
What if we focused less on what we thought should be different and more on how we can support ourselves moving forward? Let me be clear, this doesn’t mean giving up on our health goals, it means that we approach these goals without constantly making ourselves feel inadequate along the way. Let’s frame it in a way that we can want to become stronger, healthier and more active while still appreciating where we are today. My thoughts are that as I wonder on this path I call life, I want to practice health and not see health as a final destination, but rather a moving, evolving, changing practice that honours this incredible body, mind and soul at every step along the way. This is life.
Something to think about: What is one small thing you could do today that your future self might thank you for?
Think uncomplicated, think imperfect… It just must be a new beginning. Because remembering consistency over time creates habits for life.
Life is always meant to be in motion.
Colleen Hurst
RMT, CLT, CST, CR
TLymph In MotionTherapeutic Massage
Colleen Hurst
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