Hiya Gorgeous,
Last time I saw Christiane Northrup, MD on stage at an I Can Do It! event, I knew I had to share her most recent work in shifting our perspective on aging with you. One thing that came to mind when I saw her speak was just how fun and free this great woman is. She embodies being herself and loving every inch of her bad-ass awesomeness. If that’s what growing older like a glorious goddess is all about, count me in!
Dr. Northrup is board-certified ob/gyn and the author of countless New York Times best selling books that have changed the landscape of women’s health. Most recently, Goddesses Never Age was released into the world showing readers how to embrace aging just like she has—this woman walks the talk! She’s funny, hot and feisty. She’s also an incredible Tango dancer who lives for pleasure. When I grow up I want to be Chris. 🙂
I know that many of you will resonate with her empowering vision—she’s showing us all how to strip away the stigma of the stereotypical old lady and replace her with a glowing, vibrant, thriving goddess. You don’t want to miss the wisdom and tips she has in store for you today. Whether you’re a twenty-something or a sixty-something, Christiane’s approach will revolutionize the way you view your age with each day that passes.
Take it away, Dr. Northrup!
Thanks, Kris! When it comes to aging, our culture’s paradigm is starting to shift. One reason for this shift is that people are starting to understand that the terms “growing older” and “aging” are not synonymous. Aging, like I mention below, shows on the outside of the body long after it begins on the inside, and is associated with deterioration, decrepitude, and decline. How you grow older is entirely up to you. That’s the shift!
If you’re reading this, my guess is that you want to grow older with gusto, not deteriorate. Trust me when I say you are not destined to have to battle with your body, trying to get it to behave. You can get off the road that leads to illness, frailty, and a reduced quality of life. With a little courage—and a look at your underlying beliefs about growing older—you can have a life that’s rich in relationships, health, social connections, and everything your heart desires, regardless of your chronological age.
It’s never too early to become an Ageless Goddess—someone who embraces ageless living. At our core, we are eternal beings.
Here are 5 tips for becoming the Ageless Goddess you were meant to be:
Tip 1: Reframe the term aging. As I mentioned, aging is generally used to describe the process of deterioration and decline—a process that is not inevitable. As Dr. Mario Martinez says, “Growing older is inevitable, aging is optional.” Pay attention to the words you use when you speak about growing older and the meaning you give those words.
Tip 2: Update your beliefs. Your beliefs are far stronger than your genes. What are your beliefs about getting older? Do they include the belief that at a certain age good things stop and bad things begin? For example, do you believe that after 40 it’s all downhill or all the good men are already taken or you can’t have great sex after age 50? Until you bring these beliefs to consciousness, they can adversely affect your biology. Like a stealth program, you aren’t even aware of them, and yet they play a huge role in your health.
Tip 3: Age Proof Yourself NOW! The physical effects that we cumulatively call “aging” begin early. And most of them can be prevented by lifestyle choices. In fact, what we refer to as “aging,” actually begins in childhood. For example, the famous Bogalusa Heart Study found evidence of heart disease in the arteries of children. Loss of muscle mass begins as early as one’s 20’s, if you sit all day. It’s never too late to upgrade your diet and exercise choices, and still have a positive effect on your health.
Tip 4: Stop trash talking about age. And stop blaming your health problems on your age. Your body believes every word you say. Again, notice your language about age. And step out of any negative patterns. I once went to a hairdresser who thought her life was over because she was about to turn 30. I suggest that 21 be your last “milestone” birthday. If you don’t tell your body your age, it won’t know.
Tip 5: Resolve to get younger next year. There is a huge difference between biologic (the age of your cells) and chronologic age (the age on your driver’s license). By implementing lifestyle improvements, you can quite literally reverse the clock and grow biologically younger.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your sense of humor Kris. I’m having to adjust to getting older and this book is one I will add to my Library. ” The road is long with many a winding turns to who knows where,who know where”
Hi Cindy….it’s not as difficult as your message implies. I’ve turned 70, have been widowed and had to decide whether “life was over for me”….it is NOT. I contradicted my wrinkles with a home-made coconut-and-vitamin-E- cream….AND IT WORKS!!! I use it from my hair to my toes and have never had a silkier skin in all my life. I have recently met a man with whom I have a wonderful relationship….and love is as exciting as it was at 16, at 25, at 35, at 40….ecc…..and sex too.
Remember, the saying “you’re as old as you feel” is true! So don’t sit and despair…it’s time you cuddle and love yourself. Do things that make you feel good…..rediscover the enthusiasm you had when the years were less…..
Love your perspective & your energy, Angie! Thanks so much for sharing. xo
Would love to know how you make this cream. I believe you!
Thank you so much Kris & Dr. Christine and the Beautiful & Wisdom Women Here! I haven’t felt beautiful or young even when I was for a whole host of ridiculous reasons but reading this blog reminded me that it’s not too late. Angie, I could kiss you Muah!!! I am an Ageless Goddess and from this moment forward I Live Agelessly!!! My tip I will be 51 in 3 weeks and even though I’m carrying 100 extra lbs people say I look 10-12 years younger (even my thirty year old daughter) I attribute it to the Power of Kale & Avocados. I eat them salads, sauteed, juice and/or drink them in smoothies 3x a week or more. Can’t get enough of Kale or Avocados.
bravo! great attitude and response!
I am 64, & enrolled in a teacher training, Color of Woman, a movement to empower women through art, Id their stories, change what’s running us! This dovetails so beautifully with Dr Northrop’s message!
I also love dance! … Tango, yes!!
Perfect post! This is totally what I am about. We definitely do not have to become frail and weak! Aging healthy and strong is as much about attitude as anything, and radical is the way to go! Keep RAging! Thanks for sharing, Kris!
Love this super inspiring interview!
Being part of a very “traditional family”, I am often reminded how old I am getting and that – at my age – I should start thinking about having kids, getting married, etc. This has had a huge place in my mind recently…
But I know you can create the life you really want and that there is no rule!
From today, I am going to grow younger every single day 😉
<3
Paulinw
Thanks for that! This is a very important article and issue. I suffer from chronic depression and because my condition has eaten away so many years of my life, I’m having trouble moving on and just starting where I’m at…a typical case of “too-lateism”, I guess. Plus, I’m turning 35 in 6 months…haven’t finished my degree, my marriage is falling apart and driving me crazy, I haven’t got a high paying job, and I have a lot autoimmune symptoms related to long-therm depression….These tips are very useful but I still can’t seem to get rid of that age anxiety and panic…I think it’s also supremely important to surround yourself with people who can think outside of the box about age, success, procreation….
Hi Jo, Thank you so much for sharing your experience—you’re not alone and it’s not too late! I love what you said about surrounding yourself with positive people. So true! xo, kc
Hi Jo, I am an anxiety and depression survivor. I continue to educate myself as a way to better understand the nature of these states of dis-ease within the body. I am certified to teach Hatha yoga, but really this is a gift for me. I learned to watch the messaging in my mind about myself and what I was feeling when I felt anxious. This helped tremendously, so that I could challenge these thoughts.
The next thing that really helped me was understanding that, that feeling of ADD is really a concentration difficulty as a result of anxiety. That difficulty in making decisions that made me feel stupid, was from the depression. Once I understood some of these things, I changed what I thought and kept cards around with positive affirmations.
The last thing I highly recommend is meditation. Your body can only operate in either the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight – always on during anxiety) or the parasympathetic nervous system –
(the cool, calm and collected REAL you). To get to feeling relaxed and have more mental clarity, meditation will help and has a cumulative effect, so doing it even 10 mins, twice a day, will create a natural resistance to becoming anxious and stressed, the very things that lead to depression and anxiety.
I know that this may sound hokey, but there are a lot of ways to meditate, I highly recommend, if you can, to find a yoga studio near by or there are a lot of great books that teach wonderful methods. You can choose what is right for you. I wish you a lot of luck!
Warmly,
Holly
Holly (and Jo), I’m an anxiety survivor, too, and I couldn’t agree more about meditation! I lived a life of high anxiety until I began meditating in my 50’s. Now, I’m the one comforting others on the plane when there’s turbulence, and walking down the streets of NYC unfazed by the craziness. I’m 62 and I love my life. Kris and Dr. Northrup – what a great combo! Thanks for the wisdom. XOXO
Holly,
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I was recently diagnosed with ADD and high anxiety. I know it has caused many health and mental issues for me that I struggle to work through consistently, and I am sure it is playing a part in my difficultly to lose weight. Especially baby weight around my tummy. I’ve heard stress causes cortisol production to keep fat around the stomach area it something like that. I’m working with a counselor to create anode realistic rhythm for my day so that I have time to practice deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation. Anyway, I appreciate your encouraging words and knowing that there is hope for change. I’m only 31 and I want to find my turning point soon so that I can live vibrantly for myself and to better love my sweet family.
XO
Jess
Thanks for another wonderful post Kris! As always, you deliver a message right when I need to hear it. I’m going to work on my language about my age immediately!
xo
xo!
Kris,
You and Christiane make a dynamic duo! Your messages are so powerful. My personal secret is to question “Authority.” Rarely does the media give us stories of people living vibrant lives beyond age 30. There is no road map about what comes next. You two are among my favorite inspired and inspiring resources for drawing my own map of health, vitality and relevance!
Marian
Thank you so much, Mirian. And I love your personal secret. 🙂 xo, kc
Hi Kris– how FUN to see myself here on your page– alongside that rocking TRUCK!! Today is the day the book BIRTHS itself into the world. And it’s one of those orgasmic births that I have LONG been wanting to experience.!!! Wahoo. Thanks for being such a fantastic midwife!!!
Going to get the book today. You are a total bad ass and one of my idols after hearing your IIN lecture .
It’s an honor having you here. I love sharing your message with my Crazy Sexy Family. Congrats on your amazing book launching into the world! xo
Thank you Kris, and Dr. Northrup for this very positive article. At age 35, after having two children in close succession, I discovered I have Celiac Disease. My low/non-fat diet and chronic cardio lifestyle caught up with me — I was tired and sick!
So for the past 7 years I’ve been to a plant-heavy, Paleo-style diet (heavy on the good fats, etc.) and incorporated much more functional movement and body-weight exercises…. This took time, but little by little I got rid of all the bread, pasta, bagels, pretzels, non-fat cookies, etc. and those empty calories!
Wow, the change has been dramatic. I feel younger, lighter, more flexible + strong than I did in my 20s. I’m the energizer-bunny Mom in the playground, chasing my boys up the slide and playing tag with them and their friends.
Now I’m working on moving out old blocks and emotional baggage to clean out those dusty closets too 🙂
I agree with Dr. Northrup – you’re definitely only as “old” as you choose to be!
Love hearing about your success! Wishing you the very best. xo, kc
At 64, I’ve been off gluten 5 1/2 years, since my daughter had the DNA testing, and their family went off! Don’t miss 30+ #, brain fog, heart “flutters!”
I also eat good fat/ Lots of local OG veggies & local meat. Am so glad that has helped you as well!
Two words – Bikram yoga. 🙂
Kris, thank you for all that you do for women and some men around the world. I love the tips on Aging and ask that you check out the new Nrf2 technology that has been unleashed on the world. Although it is fairly new, the evidence that Making your own anti oxidants is far more powerful and effective than simply taking antioxidants…On top of eating right, exercising, we now have the ability and where with all, to protect our cells from Oxidative Stress and free radical damage at a rate of 40% in just 30 days. Clinical studies on http://www.pubmed.gov have proven this.
I am not sure if this is the vehicle in which to share this information, but the health benefits for everyone, dogs included are too important to keep quiet. Again, thank you for all you do and all the women you represent!!
I’m 70 and probably more fit, certainly more active, than I was at 40. Love walking, bicycling, yoga and have created a huge group of friends to enjoy life with. Granted, I’m very fortunate to have a fantastic, long-term marriage and wonderful, small family. But I believe that we each choose our level of joy and we can all develop what we need for positive living. I don’t think much about aging; people often believe I’m younger than I am. Life is very good.
You’re an inspiration, Marj!. xo, kc
Hi Kris! I have been a fan of Dr. Northrup for ages and she is amazing!!! Age is JUST a NUMBER and I wholeheartedly believe that like wine we definitely get better with age!!!
BTW, sex gets better 50+!!!! Trust me! 🙂
Ha! Love it, Colleen! Right on. xo, kc
I’m only 23 years old and have a lot of life to live, but even at this age I can appreciate the knowledge and lessons I have learned. I’m already starting to tell kids and college students my own life lessons when I was their age! What I look forward to in my future years are more life lessons and important life moments like purchasing my first home and my wedding day.
Beautiful. Love your outlook, Megan. xo, kc
Thank you Kris, for sharing Christine’s wisdom. I would like to share with whoever might be interested, that I have been able to reverse my perceived age thru Jenny Carr’s wellness Transformation program. She is an anti inflammatory nutritional health coach. My friends and family tell me I look ten years younger and I feel it! I am biologically 65, but look 55 and feel 45! It’s all about “elegant” thinking and eating whole unprocessed foods…..just like you and Christine tell us. Thank you for your work and dedication!
Wow, this timing is amazing. I am a student at IIN and just listened to Dr. Northrup’s lecture, which was one of my very favorites. LOVE all these tips. Can’t thank you enough.
Kris, after meeting your mother, I would say she is also a good example of maturing gracefully.
Oh my goodness, how I LOVE this post! I’m definitely smack dab in the middle of my own perimenapausal, earth-shifting-beneath-my-feet phase of life and here’s the path I find myself on…
I’m 41, my oldest son graduates high school in 3 months (full scholarship… woo hoo!), and I left my career as a teacher last year to start my own little business. I feel like I’ve been confronting one fear after another and have slowly come to realize that throughout life the fears have always been there, but somehow I just didn’t see them for what they were! I’ve always labeled it as other things… Practicality, Respect, Being Rational, Showing Consideration… all good things, when authentic.
However, something clicked in this last year and I’ve adopted a new mantra… It’s “Why the hell not???”. So I find myself thinking, Should I take that risk… why the hell not? Should I speak my mind and say what I feel… why the hell not? Should I leave an exhausting career to pursue more peace and simplicity… why the hell not? Is it okay, finally, to drop the person I always thought I SHOULD be and step fully into my own skin and just BE… well, why the hell not?
Fear is just so darn sneaky! It masquerades as a real thing, when most of the time it’s just simply a *thought*, one of millions. I think that as I grow older (and more ME), that question, “Why the hell not?”, will guide me towards more joy and vitality than just about anything else!
P.S. Sorry for all the h-words… I hope I haven’t offended anyone! “Heck” just doesn’t have the same rebellious, gosh-darn-it-anyway vibe to it!
Love “why the hell not?” That will be my new mantra. Thank you!
me too!!! Why the hell not!!!
Totally agree with this life philosophy, only thing I am struggling with is hormonal night sweats – have tried sage, Ashwaganda, vits E and C, Maca and more and each worked for a while then stopped. This is obviously causing sleep deprivation which in turn is having a knock on effect on my mental health.
Any suggestions please?
I absolutely refuse to get old & this is exactly what I tell people who complain about it! A few months ago, I celebrated the 31st anniversary of my 29th birthday (it’s a great brain exercise to do the math). Dr. Northrup’s Tip 5 is a work in progress, but …attitude is definitely everything! We all ROCK!!!
Yes we do, Gail! xo
HI! Love both of you ladies! My tips for ageing with grace..To say YES!! I was a NO person for so long and then one day I just started saying YES to everything..I spent one whole year in my late 30’s saying YES to all invitations and adventures I was a TOTAL blast! Now at 43 hubby and I are 3 yrs away from retiring and starting our new journy..We will hike the Appalachian trail all 2100 miles of it!! I love this age and every minute of every new year! What a gift to be who we are in this moment and at this age! ENJOY!!! xoxoxo
Be happy to be given the opportunity to grow older ( and make it COUNT ) since many are not as fortunate to embrace that that special opportunity.
I always remember one of my mother’s famous sayings, “Age is mind over matter and
if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter !” She was a very very optimistic & strong woman
who met all the challenges of her life with hope & a sense of conviction. When she died at the age of 88, she barely had a wrinkle on her face. I believe it was because she always had do much love, smiles & happiness to share with others.
I believe if we act young we feel young. The more an aging person engages in activities they love, the more young and vibrant they feel. I am 52 years young an from my own experience reaize that the more interaction we have with like- minded people the more excited and young we feel. We all grow older – the key is to not get the old in our thinking .
Love every word, Marcie! xo, kc
I am a firm believer that age is just a number. I am proud to be 60. Being 60 means that I have had 60 years of experience on this planet in this body. I feel good when I wake up in the morning and am grateful every day. I love myself, my husband and the rest of my family (4 legged and 2 legged). I do have health issues but they do not define who I am. I eat what is good for me and if I want a cookie or two I eat those, too. I improve my mind every day by reading different things. I listen to music. I paint. I just enjoy BEING. I am here and that makes me happy. I am loved and I love and that makes me loving. There is no greater joy than walking outside and looking at the trees and hearing the birds and just knowing that I can walk outside. Life is really simple. Breathe in and now breathe out. Smile. That’s it.
Unfortunately, no matter how good a 50 years old woman looks, most men and Bosses up to 80 still prefer younger women under 40…..
And verbally says so….
I have to disagree with this. I am 48 and have NEVER felt better or gotten more attention from men, even some much younger than me. I definitely take care of myself, but I think so much of it is in your attitude too.
I am a 7 year stage IV melanoma survivor…and I don’t like to admit I am 50 because I can’t believe I am….I feel younger, freer, happier and healthier than I have my entire adult life. Cancer made me get more committed to my yoga practice, made me go vegan and made me realize that surviving a terminal prognosis is such an amazing gift that I can never complain about getting older. I tell you, my body has never been happier….which makes my mind happier. As for men, if you believe you still have it going on, so do they..it’s weird , but true!
I do take very good care of myself, I’m a size 6 yoga instructor, with no grey hair nor wrinkles at 50. I think maybe I’m just hanging with the wrong crowd, or perhaps I’m expecting the attention I once got at 35, which means anyone from 21 to 80 wanted to date me,.
Yes, you are right, a matter of attitude and ego…
I feel younger everyday. I am 53 and think I am 33. I am the one at the playground running around with the grand kids not sitting on the bench. Can’t wait to watch this on PBS Saturday .
Why are we so scared of aging?
Because people worry about what they are losing instead of what they are gaining. They worry their looks will fade so they won’t be physically desirable and that they will get all the chronic diseases that we have been brainwashed to believe we get as we age. It’s all nonsense and if people just had the right mindset and looked after themselves there wouldn’t be an issue. I can’t wait if I get to 60 or 70 and see all the experiences and knowledge I have stored in the old noggin!
my key to staying young just shy of the big 4 – 0 is green juice everyday, get outside everyday, running, dreaming, and spending time with my fur baby
Every st-age in life is sooo beautiful!!
Thinking in every step I have given in the process of growing older makes me smile and enjoy.
I am sixty now, and I feel so happy! Maybe I do not look as Young as I feel, but I feel good with
the image in the mirror.
I love to hear Dr. Northrup when she gives talks in some health conferences, she is one of my favorite
experts in health and happiness, together with Marianne Williamson, Dr. Dyer and Eckhart Tolle.
Thanks for sharing this interview, I will translate and share with my friends.
Hugs from Saltillo, Mexico. Mireya
Dr. Northrop certainly looks like she has found the secret to reverse aging. She looks amazing! I’ve enjoyed her common sense, calm-inspiring approach to health for many years. I’m not perfect in my efforts but I try to keep positive. Never give up!! Thanks for keeping the positive mojo going!
Christiane Northrup has been a North Star for me since her brilliant “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom”. I have often wanted to write you, Kris, to let you know how much of guiding light you have been in my life, as well. I am 58 years young and I have often wondered if you realize how your wisdom spans the “ages”! It’s so much more than the tons of incredible information you’ve imparted – it’s your spirit; your confidence in your journey. I often reflect on you crossing a street in Manhattan (in the Crazy, Sexy Cancer doc) remarking on the various predictions you were given regarding your diagnosis and saying, “I can’t listen to that nonsense.” It comes from such an inspired and inspiring place. Too often, we girls give our power over to someone else because the culture tells us that our value is in how we make others feel; that the belief is that we need to reel it in in order to get what we need from others.
Anyway, your light and the light of goddesses like Christiane Northrup is a gift to women of ANY age.
with deep gratitude,
Dawn
Thank you so much for your beautiful comment, Dawn. I’m honored. xo
Dr.Chris, You have always been one of my Greatest Inspirations, way back some 30 + yrs. ago in Yarmouth, I’d leave your office hanging onto very word you had spoken to me. Age is all a figment of the imagination, I feel better and more vibrant than I did 30 yrs. ago. I’ve raised me daughter and now inspiring my grand baby girl they Are Goddesses….Believe It…and it shall come to pass. Thank you once again for sharing your talents and God given gifts.
Love and Light always be wih you. Charlene
Looking forward to the book! My only disagreement is 21 being the last birthday–I say celebrate all your years, and the difference between how you look, feel, and act vs. your drivers license age will be inspiring!
Hey Kristen! I think Dr. Northrup was speaking more to the idea of “milestone” birthdays. I’m sure she’d want you to celebrate to the fullest each year! xo
I find it challenging when I have a physical issue, like neck or back pain, and someone (even the doctor) says, “Oh that’s just what happens when you get older.” Never quite sure how to respond. Any suggestions?
I love how she has coined the term Ageless Goddess!
I have been a big fan of Dr. Northrup for more than 15 years. The wisdom in her books have helped me immensely, including getting through breast cancer in 1999. Being healthy and ageless is a philosophy I have lived by for many years, so much so that I turned it into my business.
I’m excited to read her new book now.
Thanks for the interview Kris! I’ll be sharing it with my audience as I do with many of your posts.
Good info, need to work on it.
I LOVE nr. 4: “I suggest that 21 be your last “milestone” birthday. If you don’t tell your body your age, it won’t know.” 🙂 🙂 🙂 Great advice!
I think I am 57? I own and run a teahouse and vegetarian restaurant and a Tea business and a wellness coaching business. I run interval training every other day and yoga every other day. Meditation is a big part of my life including gratitude for every blessing coming my way. my feet hit the floor everyday with excitement. I eat light and well . Do my best to spread love. I believe this to be my anti-aging practice. People often say whatever you are eating I want that. But actually I believe I stopped aging when I stopped worrying about the past or future. I fell in love with myself.
loved this article…..
sometimes society or (fashion magazines!) make you think if you don’t have youth you can’t be happy, beautiful or fulfilled.
always stay curious, care about yourself and be outrageous not boring!!
I am in my 80th year & yes I believe I am an ageless Goddess. I have a wonderful gentlemen with whom I share my life for the last 4 years. He is 83 & we don’t see any reason to marry at this age. Perhaps when we grow up? We enjoy laughing, dancing, healthy eating & drinking. We enjoy loving each other & we like engaging people of all ages in conversation on countless topics.
I published my third book during the past year & beside writing prose, poetry & keeping a journal for the last 50 years I am also a mix media/asemblage artist having had recent exhibits in both NY & Fl.
Aging gracefully is a privledge & a pleasure so long as one exercises the
right attitudes. Friends, good friends of long standing, both female & male are a must. Exercising both your mind & your body is also a must. I play duplicate bridge once a week, swim & walk often. Grace, wisdom & spirituality are also a must as we growi older. With the right attitude they seem to accompany us quite naturally. Live life with courage. It’ not for cream puffs. It is a wonderful adventure & the journey of a lifetime for this ageless Goddess.
My work is Massage therapy (30+ years!)
I eat local, in season, organic, inc pasture raised meat. No gluten or dairy. Good healthy fat (coconut oil! avocado) water and herb tea, chocolate! (dark) herbs, well water….
Movement: qigong and Tai chi, dance, watching preschool grandkids!
Attitude and beliefs are So Important!
I’ve been reverse aging for years
Use it or lose it…….that is basically what aging is all about. Exercise every muscle in your body, including
your brain………feed your body, healthy nourishing food………
hike, dance, walk, laugh and sing your way through the day……and find something and someone
you are passionate about.!!!
that’s it.
I know mindframe has a lot to do with how we age. I’m now 62 but in my late 50s I was terrified of becoming 60 because I had not yet found my “soulmate” and I thought it was “all over” after that, particularly because other people LOVE to put us in neat little boxes. It was not surprising that even months before I turned 60 my health took a dive and I began seeing alarming signs of aging, but I’d kind of been examining myself in the mirror to see if I still looked the same so I was sending fear vibes into the Universe.
The following year I started a relationship with someone that I shouldn’t have. On the upside, it confirmed that I’d gotten better sexually than before. But on the downside, I began eating wheat again after being g/f for 15 months, and as a result of a combination of that and the stress in the relationship I gained around 15 lbs. which I haven’t shaken up yet, and I think it might be due to all the negative programming about aging that even prevented me from truly believing that I can still get healthy.
However, in my heart of hearts I KNEW it didn’t have to be that way, that just because the rest of the world had negative beliefs about getting older I shouldn’t make them mine so I kind of struggled to be free from them. Sooooo, when I saw Dr. Northrup’s special on PBS last month it all resonated with me. I went “Yes, yes!”, because I was thinking already that I was “too old” to have new dreams and pursue them. I was really happy to get validation from “Dr. N” about not telling my age to anybody. My main reason has been so they won’t expect me to act “my age” because I want to be whatever age I feel like.
All of my life people have told me what I should not do at almost every age, but thank goodness I’ve always had my own mind so they couldn’t completely convince me, and now that I have Dr. N’s “permission” I’m going to act whichever way I want, I’ve done it before anyway so this should be very easy!
Things I’ve done and still do to “stay young” are: eat as healthily as my budget allows, exercise several times a week (light weights – for now, cardio, yoga for my back, pilates, etc.), drink lots of water, try to get enough sleep (a big challenge sometimes!), exfoliate, massage, and moisturize my skin and do facial exercises daily. I recently cut out gluten again and became virtually sugar free, and am avoiding MSG & artificial sweeteners as much as I can. I also take assorted vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants, and extra iodine to ward off breast and hopefully other cancers that appeared in my family. 13 years ago I embraced my wavy-curly hair which actually makes me look younger (something my older sister frowned upon…) and reflects my spontaneous, somewhat “rebellious” temperament and my out-of-the-box way of thinking.
I got a pet, a beautiful kitty now 8 mo. old whom I had to nurse with a bottle when I got him last August, he fills my heart with love and he returns it. He keeps me from feeling depressed, he gives me a reason to get up every day (I don’t work) and also to get dressed so I can go out in the sun with him. Ah, and I’m starting a garden for the 2nd year in a row, which along with my crochet kept me pretty busy last year.
There is so much more I could say but this already got long enough, I just want to close saying how thankful I am for this article which I’m going to pass along. 😀
I so loved your post. Wishing you well always.
Great post. I have a lot to say about aging and no longer looking beautiful, as well as what I valued in this post but I am afraid I might bore people if I pour all of my thoughts onto the screen, so I will try to be as brief as possible. I am so sad for my cousin who is only forty and doesn’t look young anymore. She has a lot of wrinkles and I think she wishes she could go back and listen to what was said in this post. To me it is not an issue of whether this is true, but why so many people are not aware of the truth of these matters. With the internet, we can spread the truth about these matters in the blink of an eye. Every single person in the world can have access to this information with just the punching of a couple keys on their keyboard. It is amazing and exciting to know that truth can be disseminated with such speed, but it is also discouraging that so many people have chosen to remain ignorant. So many people are just content with the amount of knowledge they have. They are not curious and they do not go out of their means to learn anything else. This is a bit annoying and I must say that I am sad that it has come down to this, but regardless, we still have the greatest tool at our disposal, and with time, hopefully the word spreads to more and more people. As far as my thoughts, being an advocate of http://www.facialfeminizationsurgeons.com, I think that it behooves us to look into these issues further and find out what it takes to look beautiful for longer.
Do you think this information is of value? How many folks have refused to look into this stuff? What percentage? Personally, i would turn the question around a little bit and I would say that it is not a matter of if people will know, but when people will know. And I cannot answer that question at the moment. There are far too many factors that go into the equation.
Hello Everyone! I Just Love the title of Christiane Northrup’s New book-Ageless Goddess. My sister told me about it Just today and thought to myself, I’ll have to read it. I am a big fan of hers-She is definitely Fabulous! I am almost 60 -and am amazed at saying that number because I I know I don’t look or feel that age. One of the reasons is that as long as I can remember-whenever anyone asked me how I was-My answer was always the same-Fabulous! I believe a Positive attitude, waking up each day giving Thanks for the Gift of being alive and choosing to have a Great Day is an amazing way to start your day-It is soooooo Powerful!! Everyone can benefit from this Positive mindset!! Throw in a few aspects such as Love, acceptance and a space to simply Be and voila-A Great Day is in the making.
Movement is one of the sources of my Goddess Powers-Dance(Music) and movement of any kind. Positive, loving thoughts throughout the day are other ones. I Love the Me today so much more than the Me of yesterday and am able to Share this Me with others and learn and love anew. Thanks to the Creator of All There Is! Mua!
Am grateful for Christian Northrup’s contribution to womanhood – what a sage! & the example she sets herself about living & loving a full life (Not about a man or the NEED for one) – I am her age – have had a different life so far & am enrolled in loving this life every day. Thank you for putting out the Good news – for me one bottom line is move more physically …
I am 95 years YOUNG!! I live alone, drive my own car, take 2 yoga classes and one tai-chi every week. I also walk and swim. I have many younger friends in their 70’s and 80’s. My tip for ageing is : Keep active and have lots of friends AND think young!!!!!
I want to be like you when I grow up! (but that’s half the secret, huh? Never grow up!)
How can I get the DVD “Make peace with your feet”???
Thank you
Thanks for this Kris & Dr Northrup! Love you both. This year I’ll be celebrating my birthday but without mention of an age. I’m going to focus on growing younger – how fun! X
Turning 62 in two months. Still working with special needs kiddos (my passion) and training for my 124th triathlon, planning my 10th swim from Alcatraz and an Alaskan cruise where you get to swim around the boat and then are treated to a hot toddy in the jacuzzi. Just got back from a 30 mile hilly ride! Now I am going to clean my house and get ready for my 40th year of teaching (school starts tomorrow). Old? What? pffft.
I will be 96 in November and my goal is to reach 100 in good health. I do yoga and tai-chi, swim and walk. I do these things with women in their 70″s and 80’s. We go to the movies and lunch together on b’days. I call them my Support Group because they help keep me young. They tell me they want to be like me when they are my age. This gives me my purpose in life–To set a good example! I live alone and take care of myself and I still drive. I hope this is helpful to your readers..