Here’s to the Joy of Aging Successfully!

Aging Successfuly…what does that mean for you?

For me this statement feels like there is this challenge that has been put in front of me. There is an opportunity to see if I can find the strength and dedication to stay healthy. There is also the potential to achieve greater health, and to defy our cultural norm.

I am feeling a calling to do this. Are you?

I’m sure if you are reading this you realize in order to age successfully, you do have to put in more effort than when you were living in a twenty year old body. I do not feel that is a negative statement. I feel it is an insight that in order to have health, joy and freedom in your elder years, you need to work for it.

With the wisdom of years under our belts, (and hopefully not pouring over our belts) we know what we need to do.

We need to use our experience and knowledge from years of living in these bodies to make wise choices.

And with every year you remain here, in this body, you are so blessed. Lucky.

It’s time to pay back our bodies for all we have put them through already.

You have a choice to make each day. Will you be strong and maintain the body you were given? Will you keep learning, and growing mentally? Will you take care of your internal wounds and heal your emotional body? Will you continue to look for new adventures, and stay curious about life?

Are you willing to make the time to care for you older body? To love your life and to be active, healthy and free?

Our body is a sacred vehicle that is the home of the soul while we are here. And it feels the effects of it’s environment. It protects us from so many things, and it absorbs toxins, negativity and painful blows from the outside world.

We often treat it disrespectfully as well. Sometimes it is from a lack of the correct information, such as back in the 60’s being told to eat margarine instead of buter and that eggs were also not good for us! Now we are learning that a lot of the information we were fed wasn’t good for us.

For many years I treated my body incorrectly because of a diagnosis when I was 20 of ulcerative colitis. I was told to eat more fiber. Lots of whole wheat, they said. Metamucil for life, the doctor told me.

My digestion got worse, and after awhile I stopped eating so much wheat and dumped the Metamucil.

When I was 56 I learned I have Celiac. All that fiber I had been told would be good for me, was actually causing more internal damage. So that lesson was validating, and helped me realize my body knows what is best for it. It was trying to tell me when I was in my 20’s, before anyone had ever heard of Celiac, that it didn’t want the wheat!

This happens to everyone when they listen to an authority figure and ignore what their body is telling them. I encourage you to turn within and make sure whatever you are being told feels like the best path for you.

I also know that we can make ignorant choices all by ourselves, though it is usually from a place in our mind, and not our bodies. I certainly made poor choices all by myself. Lack of money while pretending to go to college meant I lived on beer and free popcorn at the bars. Imagine what that was doing to my ulerative colitis/celiac! Ouch, it hurts in my stomach when I think about it.

Now when I go to the movies, and smell the popcorn, I know my head is craving it. My mind wants it even though it has caused my intestines great pain from too much of it in the past.

I move my attention to my digestion and it says, “NO, thank you!” When I stay in my body, it is easy to do what is best. I can walk away feeling good about my choice.

While traveling on the road teaching workshops, I existed on fruit and cookies. Again, back then, I was making decisions from my mind (basing everything on my pocketbook) instead of listening to my heart (which was craving surf and turf!) Red Lobster isn’t that much, is it?

There are many times because of lack of information, limited resources and stress that we may think we are caring for our bodies, when in fact we are causing them harm. Sometimes investing in that really good, organic food you are craving, in the long run, will save you money. It is an investment we must consider in order to avoid costly body repairs down the road…

And then there is the ignorance of youth, and pushing our bodies, doing so much, over a period of time, that decades later may show up as aches and pains. What can you do about it now? The body can heal, miraculously, from so many aches and pains, when you give it what it needs.

I think there is nothing wrong with pushing the body, in extreme sports, for example, if that is your calling. But I also feel it is important, if one is interested in aging as positively as possible, to learn to listen to the body. We need to use the wisdom to overcome the ego needing to prove something, and pushing our bodies beyond what is good.

Many times when I did not pause and listen to my body when I was doing a lot, traveling, teaching; with kids and pets in tow, that I have fallen down. Literally. And metaphorically. Sometimes both at the same time.

When I slow down, and talk to my body, and ask it what it needs, before beginning a project, journey or anything outside my comfort zone, it will tell me. Sometimes I need to ask what it wants, as a reward, for helping me accomplish something that requires physical strength or stamina. And I make sure to follow through.

Sometimes our bodies want a little down time, Or to lie on the ground, to go outside, to hug a tree or eat a wonderful meal. Sometimes our body wants sleep, sometimes it wants activity. Your body needs to be fed more than food. It needs to see the stars, to gaze at the moon, to see the sunrise and set….

Even though I ignored my body quite a bit when I was younger, I learned from those experiences. When I was much younger and I did notice hunger pangs, I would toss a couple of Oreos down, like tossing scraps to a dog. (Actually, I fed my pets better things than I was feeding myself! I would never toss scraps to a dog! But to myself, yes.) I didn’t always consider what my body really needed. Nor did I always feel my body deserved the completely healthy meal it was craving. So I kept trying to quiet the body.

A few hours of sleep, with the promise of more on the weekend, again, was a way my younger self pushed my body and did not treat it with respect. So I have learned, I need to respect myself, my body and every choice I make. Is it good for me, or not?

Now that I am older and thank Goddess, wiser, I am listening. Or course my body had to get my attention first. It became miserable before I started to pay attention. I had inflamation, poor digestion, aches and pains. Some would shrug that off and say it’s just a part of aging.

But I said, “No, that’s my body saying something is not right.” And I worked to fix the problems. I changed course, and put in more time and effort to really treat my body as the treasure it is to me now. As I affirmed health, the information I needed came to me, such as learning about Celiac. It is through the focus on health that we will come to know what we need to know.

I love classic cars. I love the uniqueness of them, and how their owners dote on them. They listen carefully to the engine, and are proactive if any mechanical issue comes up. They treat these old vintage cars with so much love and care, it is a joy to go to an old car show and witness the cars and their owners. There is a connection, often a nostalgic one, and we can experience a similar connection with our bodies as we age.

Did you know the cells in your body contain all your memories? Did you know your organs house your emotional wounds? Your body is like a scrapbook of your life.

Cherish it. It remembers everything. Even when your mind doesn’t, the body knows.

So if you want to enjoy the rest of your life, in health, and personal freedom, then treat it like a vintage car. Take time each day to listen to it. Sit inside your body, be centered there, and realize it is a very wise vehicle that wants to go the distance.

Begin in the morning by doing Self Reiki. If you do not know Reiki, then simply place your hands on your body, and breathe. Send love to your body. Imagine a Divine Love flowing from above, in and through the crown of your head, through your body, through your hands and back into the body.

Say positive, loving statements to your body.

You can talk to various parts of your body that need healing, or do a comprehensive love fest, speaking terms of endearment to every organ.

Such as,
“Thank you, feet, for all you do. Thank you for standing strong for me, for taking me to amazing places. Thank you for running, and jumping and dancing! Thank you, feet.”

“Thank you, legs, for your flexibility, and helping me take a step forward when I needed to. Thank you, legs, for getting me through this life.”

And so on, speaking to every part of yourself. Even more importantly, listen to each part. Ask your aching joints what they need to feel better. Go within and know the answer lives there.

I would also suggest affirmations to counter the negative feelings of aging and to get the mind willing to move in a posiitve direction. These are most powerful said while looking in a mirror. Try affirmations such as:

“I am enjoying my ever lengthening life each day in wonderful ways.”

“My body is growing younger and healthier. It feels good to be in my body.”

“I am making choices that allow my body to regenerate naturally, to heal organically and to feel vibrant and strong.”

Remember that the opportunity to stay here in your physical body, for many, many more years means that you spend more time, each day, maintaining the beautiful vehicle you were given.  It is a gift.  Love your body.   Respect your body. Reward it often in wise ways! 

You and your body, you need each other! In the mind/body/spirit movement, which part have you been neglecting?

Be kind to yourself as you reflect on all the good choices you have made over the years.  Do your best not to be too hard on yourself for the less than stellar things you did when you were young. It was experience, and it was no doubt an important part of your learning journey.

So here’s to applying all that we have learned thus far, and going the distance with joy!

Love,

Juliane

Psychic Advisor/Healer/Coach