STOP POSTPONING YOUR LIFE!!
LIVE YOUR PASSION NOW!!
January 27, 2011
The day we stop planning for our future, is the day we stop living says Joel Osteen, Minister of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX .
This morning, I was listening to one of his podcasts. Rev. Joel goes on to say that when we're not planning for our future, we're just breathing. These words penetrated my soul when I realized that I stopped truly looking forward to my future. I stopped imagining. I stopped daydreaming and I stopped being excited about my life. I could not make long term plans 5, 10 or 20yrs from now. It was too frightening. It seemed that I had nothing to look forward to and I was too afraid to acknowledge that.
It's 2011 and I'm a 72yr old Grandma of 6 and Mother of 3. I'm a successful Health & Wellness Coach, Licensed Massage Therapist, Author, Speaker, Certified Reiki Practitioner and Licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor (Basic, Advanced, Gold, Aqua and ZumbAtomic). In 5yrs I'll be 77; in 10yrs, 82; in 15yrs, 87 and in 20yrs, I'll be 92yrs old. These facts took my breath away. These facts terrified me and interfered with my daily life.
I had an awakening around my 70th birthday, when I realized I was in the last quarter of my life. My thoughts depressed me for about 6 months. When others celebrated my 70th birthday, I didn't really want to participate. Something was stirring deep within me. I could no longer fool myself into believing I was young. I was now a septuagenarian.
Many of my fears arose from seeing a majority of seniors, 76, 86 and 91+yrs old, who are not healthy, who have had many surgeries, whose minds are riddled with Alzheimer's or dementia, who are in nursing homes, wheelchairs or using walkers. My thoughts drifted towards the questions, "Will I be healthy as I age? Will I be able to teach Zumba? Will I be able to drive or....or......?"
I was not living. I was merely existing, just accepting what life was dealing me- as Joel Osteen said, 'just breathing'. I allowed all the losses, discouragements and difficulties I had experienced, to take away the spring in my step.
The good news is that I was living my life in the now, which is a good thing, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. The sad fact is that I was living with no hopes, dreams and aspirations for tomorrow. Why? Because I when I was in my future 5yrs, 10yrs, 15yrs or 20yrs from now, I was too frightened to look.
June, 2012-
That period of reflection was very a very powerful chapter in my life . It's passed and I passed through it with flying colors. I am very grateful that I experienced it. I am now more feisty than ever, more courageous, more adventurous and once again, I do believe I am ageless - that I could do, be and have anything I want regardless of my age. I reached a point where I don't care what others think of my choices. It's my life and I have to follow the beat of my own drummer.
What helped me get through the short negative period, was searching for women, in their 80's, 90's and beyond, who had made a difference in their lives well past their 70's. These women became my role models, my inspiration to keep on keepin' on.
Yes, there would always be women, whose retirement years would be lived in a nursing home, in a wheel chair or with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, etc. And thankfully, there would always be women like myself and Maya Angelou, Estee Lauder, Gloria Swanson, Grandma Moses, Kathryn Hepburn and more, who would continue to be vital, beautiful, creative, productive women in society, well into their 80s and 90s.
Once again, I believe I am unstoppable with an enormous future ahead of me, filled with fun, adventure, a great relationship with my soulmate and many accomplishments. I celebrate each day by doing something special for myself. I don't wait for a birthday to celebrate. Today is the most important day of my life and I try to appreciate that fact.
When we''re depressed, we tend to look at everything through negative lenses and we tend to wallow in our losses.
I could focus on the 'what if's', 'poor me' or I can focus on the 'wow', 'what's next'. I have to ask myself often, "Which thoughts feel better and which thoughts are more supportive?"
I am extremely grateful that I continue to be youthful and energetic, healthy, on no meds, no major surgery and no medical conditions.
I realize that my 70th birthday was an epiphany, a life changing event that I had to go through to reach the other end. The other wonderful end.
RE-ESTABLISHING OUR HEALTH GOALS:
MAKE A VISION BOARD OR TREASURE MAP
ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GETTING YOUR PASSION BACK? I AM!!!
SUGGESTED AFFIRMATIONS (or make up your own)
MY GRATITUDE LIST
IF YOU NEED SUPPORT IN SETTING YOUR GOALS, ENCOURAGEMENT OR COACHING, CONTACT ME:
EMAIL: [email protected], CALL: 602-708-9018
The day we stop planning for our future, is the day we stop living says Joel Osteen, Minister of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX .
This morning, I was listening to one of his podcasts. Rev. Joel goes on to say that when we're not planning for our future, we're just breathing. These words penetrated my soul when I realized that I stopped truly looking forward to my future. I stopped imagining. I stopped daydreaming and I stopped being excited about my life. I could not make long term plans 5, 10 or 20yrs from now. It was too frightening. It seemed that I had nothing to look forward to and I was too afraid to acknowledge that.
It's 2011 and I'm a 72yr old Grandma of 6 and Mother of 3. I'm a successful Health & Wellness Coach, Licensed Massage Therapist, Author, Speaker, Certified Reiki Practitioner and Licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor (Basic, Advanced, Gold, Aqua and ZumbAtomic). In 5yrs I'll be 77; in 10yrs, 82; in 15yrs, 87 and in 20yrs, I'll be 92yrs old. These facts took my breath away. These facts terrified me and interfered with my daily life.
I had an awakening around my 70th birthday, when I realized I was in the last quarter of my life. My thoughts depressed me for about 6 months. When others celebrated my 70th birthday, I didn't really want to participate. Something was stirring deep within me. I could no longer fool myself into believing I was young. I was now a septuagenarian.
Many of my fears arose from seeing a majority of seniors, 76, 86 and 91+yrs old, who are not healthy, who have had many surgeries, whose minds are riddled with Alzheimer's or dementia, who are in nursing homes, wheelchairs or using walkers. My thoughts drifted towards the questions, "Will I be healthy as I age? Will I be able to teach Zumba? Will I be able to drive or....or......?"
I was not living. I was merely existing, just accepting what life was dealing me- as Joel Osteen said, 'just breathing'. I allowed all the losses, discouragements and difficulties I had experienced, to take away the spring in my step.
The good news is that I was living my life in the now, which is a good thing, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. The sad fact is that I was living with no hopes, dreams and aspirations for tomorrow. Why? Because I when I was in my future 5yrs, 10yrs, 15yrs or 20yrs from now, I was too frightened to look.
June, 2012-
That period of reflection was very a very powerful chapter in my life . It's passed and I passed through it with flying colors. I am very grateful that I experienced it. I am now more feisty than ever, more courageous, more adventurous and once again, I do believe I am ageless - that I could do, be and have anything I want regardless of my age. I reached a point where I don't care what others think of my choices. It's my life and I have to follow the beat of my own drummer.
What helped me get through the short negative period, was searching for women, in their 80's, 90's and beyond, who had made a difference in their lives well past their 70's. These women became my role models, my inspiration to keep on keepin' on.
Yes, there would always be women, whose retirement years would be lived in a nursing home, in a wheel chair or with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, etc. And thankfully, there would always be women like myself and Maya Angelou, Estee Lauder, Gloria Swanson, Grandma Moses, Kathryn Hepburn and more, who would continue to be vital, beautiful, creative, productive women in society, well into their 80s and 90s.
Once again, I believe I am unstoppable with an enormous future ahead of me, filled with fun, adventure, a great relationship with my soulmate and many accomplishments. I celebrate each day by doing something special for myself. I don't wait for a birthday to celebrate. Today is the most important day of my life and I try to appreciate that fact.
When we''re depressed, we tend to look at everything through negative lenses and we tend to wallow in our losses.
- I was no longer married.
- I'm not in a relationship today.
- I have to work harder to maintain muscle tone and skin texture
- I use reading glasses
- I have a few more senior moments
I could focus on the 'what if's', 'poor me' or I can focus on the 'wow', 'what's next'. I have to ask myself often, "Which thoughts feel better and which thoughts are more supportive?"
I am extremely grateful that I continue to be youthful and energetic, healthy, on no meds, no major surgery and no medical conditions.
I realize that my 70th birthday was an epiphany, a life changing event that I had to go through to reach the other end. The other wonderful end.
- THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH TO YOURSELF IS THAT YOU NOW HAVE THE OPTION TO CHANGE.
- BEING SURROUNDED BY LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR CONSCIOUSNESS SUPPORTS US IN RECOGNIZING WE HAVE A CHOICE AND WE CAN CHANGE
- WE CAN'T CHANGE THE AGING PROCESS, BUT WE CAN CHANGE HOW WE PERCEIVE IT AND WHAT WE SAY IT MEANS.
- TODAY IS THE DAY YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
- WHAT CAN I DO TO STAY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PASSIONATE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD?
- WHAT ADVENTURES AND DREAMS HAVE I SET ASIDE THAT I AM READY TO FULFILL ?
- WHAT DO I WANT TO DO THAT I HAVEN'T DONE YET?
RE-ESTABLISHING OUR HEALTH GOALS:
- Take vitamin/mineral supplements/herbs
- Eat at least 10 fruits/veggies per day, local, organic preferably
- Avoid 'fat-free' foods loaded with sugar
- Cut down on foods containing white sugar, white flour
- Eat more whole grains
- Move your body. Park your car far from your destination and walk. Join a gym. Take a dance class. Walk around the supermarket a few extra laps. Take the stairs not the escalator or elevator. Walk 10,000 steps/day
- Have massages, at least once/month or more often
- Have a chiropractic adjustment every few months as a preventive measure
- Make new friends and visit long time friends either by phone or in person
- Challenge your brain. Learn new skills. Take a class
- Sleep 8hrs or more
- Drink 6-10 glasses of filtered water /day
- Listen to more music and reduce TV watching
- Laugh more often. Watch funny movies, learn new jokes
- Take The Landmark Forum or if you're a graduate, sign up for a seminar
- Get involved in a spiritual group
- Make a list of adventures you'd like to experience
- Make a list of places you'd like to visit
- Make a list of fun things you used to do that you're ready to do again
- Make a list of people you want to meet or visit
MAKE A VISION BOARD OR TREASURE MAP
- Cut out pictures from magazines that reflect your new goals, dreams, people, places, things you want to do, be or have
- Use a poster board, cork board or photo album and look at it every night before bed and morning upon awakening
ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GETTING YOUR PASSION BACK? I AM!!!
SUGGESTED AFFIRMATIONS (or make up your own)
- I am committed to getting my PASSION back
- There is more in me to be manifested
- Setbacks cannot stop me from reaching my destiny
- I am not average or ordinary. I am Extraordinary
- Now is the time for me to dream a new dream if my original dream didn't work out
- We've come too far to stop now
- Something good is going to happen today
- Difficulties and discouragement are tests of our faith
- Nothing can take away my joy today
- Spirit has great things in store for me now or I wouldn't be alive.
MY GRATITUDE LIST
- My friends, family, children and grandchildren are healthy, happy and beautiful
- I am healthy
- I love my work as a Massage Therapist, Zumba Fitness Instructor and Health Coach
- I teach Zumba Gold to other seniors, who are able to stand and/or sit
- I live in Virginia Beach, VA (VA is for lovers state)
- I have a reliable beautiful Red Toyota Prius
- I've lived in the most spiritual, beautiful places, AZ, NM, CA,FL, NY and VA
- I have a beautiful apt, with w/d, patio, central a/c, pool, gym
- I love my new 32" HDTV
- I appreciate Verizon Fios
- I am blessed with great friends around the U.S.
- I am grateful for my friend Fran W. who invited me to do The EST Training, preceding The Landmark Forum, in 1980. It changed my life
- I am grateful that I have the energy and persistence to re-create my life every day.
- I'm grateful for my adventurous spirit.
IF YOU NEED SUPPORT IN SETTING YOUR GOALS, ENCOURAGEMENT OR COACHING, CONTACT ME:
EMAIL: [email protected], CALL: 602-708-9018