How to Love the Age You're At
By Genevieve Cunningham
It seems like no matter what age we are, we wish we were something else. When we're young, we just can't wait to grow up and be an adult. As teens, we're counting down the days until we turn 18, and then we do it again to 21. When we get older, we wish we were younger. We're never satisfied! But the truth is that the only real way to live a happy life is to be content with yourself. If you're guilty of constantly wishing you or your life was different, take a look at these tips for loving the age you're at for a healthier and happier life overall.
Stay Young With Good Health
You're never fully going to feel your age. No matter how old you are, you're going to feel younger in your mind. But why not keep the body feeling young too? A good way to keep your body young is by feeding it the right foods, exercising regularly, and paying attention to self-care. The right foods -- fruits, veggies, lean meats -- fuels our bodies without causing excessive weight gain. It also contributes to our overall nutrition, and proper nutrition has an affect on the way we age. Exercise -- whether you walk, run, or do yoga -- keeps you flexible and strong. If you avoid exercise and allow yourself to get stiff and inflexible, you're going to feel much older than you really are. Finally, make sure you're moisturizing your skin, caring for your mind, and taking personal time to keep yourself as healthy as possible.
Accept a Few Changes
Part of being happy with your age is accepting the fact that change is going to happen. You're going to get wrinkles. You're going to gain a little weight. You're going to -- gasp! -- look your age. And honestly, what's wrong with that? Embrace the changes that are happening. Yes, fight off the wrinkles. Yes, fight off the joint pain. But get comfortable with evolving into someone more mature. Someone with life experience. If we can look at the positives instead of dwelling on what we've lost, we'll feel so much better about whatever stage of life we're in now.
Stay Active
You have to stay moving. Inactivity is the enemy of feeling good. If you're not moving and participating and staying active, you're doing it wrong. As soon as you stop moving, you're going to start aging so much faster. Join a gym or a fitness class. Take nightly walks. Get involved at church or with a local organization or a volunteer group. Whatever you do, stay active. The more you're involved in life, the better you're going to feel about yourself, your body, and your whole life.
It's perfectly normal to dread aging. No one wants to get older. We want to stay young and fresh. We want to have the body of someone in their mid-20s, the mind of someone in their mid-30s, and the wisdom of someone much older. But life doesn't work that way, and that's OK! Learn to love yourself at whatever stage you're in, and you'll be living life to the fullest and making every day count starting now and for the rest of your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chandler, Ariz.