In the weekend I celebrated a birthday. Yep, I celebrated. In a day and age when so many of us loathe, anticipate, and fear the time our birthdays come around, I was more than happy to celebrate it. I wasn’t scared of it. I wasn’t afraid of telling people the age I was turning. I wasn’t the least bit perplexed that I was already half way to 70.
I instead was focussed on celebrating the day I was born 35 years ago. I instead was focussed on all the wonderful things I’ve been fortunate to experience in my short time on the planet. I instead was joyful, incredibly joyful. I was joyful for all the wonderful things currently in my life, and for all the wonderful people that surround me daily. I was joyful for being able to celebrate 35 with the zest and gusto that is present day in and day out in me. I am incredibly fortunate to live in the capacity that I do, and for that I am joyful. Needless to say, my gratitude reigned strong as I celebrated the day of my birth.
I think we have this warped and unnecessary ability to construct in our heads what a certain age should feel like, what it should look like. We have this fear about acknowledging how long we’ve been alive. We need not fear it, nor ignore it, nor analyse it. We should indeed cherish it.
You see, age is just a number.
If I was to be brutally honest, I actually don’t feel any different today than I did when I was 25. And other than having achieved a significant amount in my family and business domains since 2006, I really am no different in the way that I feel, in the way that I think, or in the way that I behave.
To what do I owe this pleasure? What is it that has enabled me to get to 35 without feeling a day over 25?
Without having to dig too deep for answers I’m pretty sure it’s highly correlated with the lifestyle that I have chosen to lead and sustain throughout the majority of my life. I place high value in living a life that is full of life-giving movement and energising nourishment. Alongside this, I also foster positive thoughts and nurture a predominantly optimistic outlook on all things in life.
Whilst investing in my health and wellness, however, I do take it all in my stride. To me it’s about living sustainably, and therefore I’m always mindful of never taking drastic measures, and instead doing all things in comfort and in moderation. Because life’s too short to not dare to succumb to the delicacies that we do so enjoy from time to time.
My 7 essentials for maintaining our youth and prolonging our longevity and vitality (and not ever having to focus on what being a certain age means):
- We need to move our bodies freely and naturally on a day to day basis via exercise and movement
- We need to eat as many natural foods (and as little processed foods) as possible, with a focus on abundance of in-season vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, herbs and spices.
- We need 7-8 hours sleep on as many nights as possible.
- We need to ensure the fluid we drink most of is water, in it’s purest form.
- We need to surround ourselves with people who love and uplift us.
- We need to incorporate natural and restorative practices in our daily lives – yoga, breathing, tai chi, reiki, time-out.
- These are all non-negotiable elements of a long, fit and healthy life.
Let me reinforce – age is just a number. No matter what you do in this life, make sure you define your age, don’t let your age define you.
- Corinne Austin
- Movement & Wellness Motivator
- corinne@fitfixnz.co.nz
