Ok, where to start? “Forever Young”, tips on staying youthful and vibrant.

I am flattered that my good friend Robin Leach feels I am qualified to share my “tips” on staying young. A compliment I appreciate and welcome. These are just some of the things I have learned over the years that have enriched my life and kept me looking and feeling young.

Let’s start with the facts. I am 65! It’s a number and that’s all! I cannot tell you the number of times I have been around people who feel inclined to “be” identified by the number of their years. I hear conversations like “I’m too old to do this or that”. “I’m not as young as I used to be, better pace myself”. “If only I were younger…”. The first and most important tip I have for staying young is guard your mind!!! Be mind full of your thoughts. Thoughts follow action. If you think you are old then guess what, you are! I choose everyday to have positive, life affirming conversations about my life, my looks and my abilities.

Be aware of your thinking! You are NOT a number. You are a vibrant soul with endless possibilities!

 

Faith! For me this is essential for a youthful life. There is nothing that can age you faster than worry, anxiety, and fear. I choose everyday to turn over all the details of my life to GOD knowing that He has my back. This frees me up to be in the present with joy, excitement and wonder. When problems and disappointments visit my door, and they do,

I turn them over to The “Big Guy” and stay focused on the answers. When you choose the answer, the problem disappears. They cannot co-exist.

 

I am a firm believer in staying tapped into your feelings. They will always let you know if you are “in” or “out”. If I am having negative thoughts about myself, my life or a situation or person, I will feel bad. I choose to feel good so I change the channel so to speak and realign my feelings with joy, love, compassion, beauty and kindness. Feeling good shows on your face! If you feel good those around you are bound to feel good too. Choose to “feel” good!!!

 

We have a dog. His name is Joe! I cannot tell you how much he impacts my life in a positive way. Joe definitely keeps me young. It is true what they say about dogs, they love you unconditionally and isn’t that something we all crave? Joe, reminds me everyday of the power of LOVE! Whenever I come home he greets me with absolute enthusiasm. His tail wagging affection and boundless energy lets me know I matter. We all want to matter, right? He also insists that I get out and move everyday. We start each day with a long walk. Joe is constantly making me aware of the beauty and magic of each day and the simple things of life we can easily take for granted like the weather, the environment and one another. Joe defiantly keeps me looking and feeling young. I encourage you to open your heart and your home to a dog.

 

Say “YES”! Say yes to new opportunities, new adventures, new challenges and new people. Be willing to expand your world and venture into new terrain. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The times I have felt my most youthful where the times I said “yes” to things I had never done. “Yes” to being on Broadway in the “Will Rogers Follies” where I was required to sing and dance and memorize pages and pages of dialogue not to mention make dozens of wardrobe changes in seconds. I was terrified but fully alive! I met people who became some of my most cherished friends today and I experienced New York City in a brand new way and fell in love with it’s fast paced energy, magnificent buildings and cultural diversity. So, try new things. Be open to change and allow new situations to test you and grow you in new ways. SAY YES!

 

Humor is essential to staying young! Be able to laugh at yourself and not take things too seriously. I believe that laughter can heal just about anything and if it doesn’t heal it, it sure makes it better. When my husband and I get in to some disagreement we have learned that if we take a step back and really look at the situation it’s usually something silly and we start laughing. We instantly reconnect and move on. I was blessed to know one of the funniest people who ever lived, Dudley Moore. He was a wonderful actor, great musician and lovely man but his greatest gift was that he was funny and loved to make me and others laugh. I was once asked what makes me feel better, a good laugh or a good cry. I answered that when I laugh till I cry! I worked many times with the legendary George Burns. George laughed everyday and he lived to be 100 so LAUGH!!

 

Music keeps me young for sure! I LOVE music! As a girl growing up my Mom and Dad always had music playing in the house. I learned to love their music. Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Peggy Lee and many, many more. I can still see Daddy dancing with Mom in an impromptu moment when “their song” would come on, “In The Mood”. They would dance across the living room floor and in that moment I didn’t see Mom & Dad I saw Lou and Wally as they were when the met as young collage students. In the 1960’s I discovered ‘my’ music. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Beachboys, Mama and the Papa’s, Dylan, Stevie Wonder and many more. My husband Jeff & I keep music playing in our home and when Santana comes on we can’t sit still. We get up and start dancing. You cannot dance and feel anything but young, vibrant and happy. So make sure you keep the music playing. My friend, Robin Leach shared with me that Dick Clark, the perpetual teenager, slept with a little transistor radio playing music under his pillow when he slept at night. It worked for Dick Clark. It works for me and it will work for you. Play music and play it loudly!!!

 

Pick up trash. I know that sounds funny but it works for me. I absolutely believe that our surroundings, our environment and our homes are reflective of who we are and what we care about. How we take care of them is how we take care of ourselves. Make things beautiful. When you see something that can be made better by something you do it makes a huge difference. When we take Joe for a walk I always take a trash bag with me. I am constantly amazed at how much trash is cluttering up our beautiful city. We must treat the planet with respect. When I pick up trash I feel better because I know I have done this one small thing that will make the walk for the person coming after me better, more beautiful and enjoyable. Do what you can where you can with what you have. It makes a huge difference! When you feel you make a difference it reflects on your face. You too become more beautiful.

 

No article on staying young would be complete without some basic beauty secrets. I don’t really have secrets but I do have daily rituals. I love to start everyday off writing in my gratitude journal. I have been doing this for more than 20 years now. This morning ritual helps me to get focused, centered and ready for the day.

I exercise at least 5 times a week. I have discovered an amazing workout. It is done on a Megaformer. It’s like Pilates on steroids. It is the hardest, most complete workout I have come across and takes only 45 minutes. If you want to stay young you must exercise and stretch!!! Keep flexible!

I make sure I eat a pretty healthy diet. Lots of greens, lean protein and water. I’m also a big believer in indulging from time to time. My weakness? Potato Chips! Food that makes you happy is good for you I think. Just don’t make it a daily habit.

Wash your face in the morning and evening with a gentle exfoliator using the Clarisonic face brush. I moisturize with good old-fashioned baby oil. Coconut oil is also a great way to go. Sunblock is a necessity!

It’s important to have a great dermatologist and get regular check ups. I also take advantage of the great breakthroughs in skin care like Botox and Juvederm. Make sure you go to a licensed professional. It is an art form and you want the best!

Hair color is also important as we age. As our skin tone changes we need to adjust our hair color to compliment our coloring. Make sure you see a specialist in this area. It makes a world of difference.

Take advantage of the free make up demonstrations too. You don’t need to buy everything they will try and sell you but it may help you to discover some new techniques that will help you to make the most of the products you already have.

 

So, these are some of the things I have discovered in my 65 years that keep me looking and feeling youthful. But none of it matters if you don’t have LOVE!!! I have been blessed to been married to a wonderful man for the past 23 years, Jeff Lester. Yes, he is handsome. Yes, he is 5 years younger than me and that keeps me young. But the best quality about Jeff is that he is a good man. He is a kind man. He is a caring man. After many relationships came and went it would have been easier for me to decide not to get involved again. Breakups are hard. But you must be willing to let love come into your life no matter the consequences. Take every opportunity to work on yourself knowing that the perfect someone for you is out there working on themselves too and when you are both ready, you will connect. That’s what happened for me. It’s important to love yourself too. Have love for others, love for life and love for this amazing planet we live on. Get rid of the trash weather it’s in your mind or on the street. Choose to see what is good. Choose to be happy. Choose to be kind. Choose to live each day with gratitude. I believe 100% in the law of attraction. What you put out into the world is what you get back. So radiate love my friends.