Championing Age

“I really want to lose some weight” a client said to me.
“How much would you like to lose?”
“Probably 35 pounds, I’d like to weigh 125.”
“When was the last time you weighed 125?” I queried.
“When I was in college.”
“And how old are you now?”
“Fifty-five.”

Does this conversation resonate with you? You’ve put on some weight and you’d love more than anything to lose it and have the body you once had.

May I ever so gently remind you that you'll never be twenty again?

I don’t mean to sound defeatist. Not at all. I’m a realist and by that I mean, I accept the present moment with compassion. I allow that who and what I am in this moment is exactly the way I’m intended to be – a little rounder in the middle, gray hair, sagging breasts.

Sure, I’d like some things to be different. I too wouldn’t mind wearing some of the cute little outfits of my youth, but then again…

Why not let the youth have their youth? I feel certain there are many things about being twenty that you’re more than happy to leave behind.

Being older is a blessing.

Wouldn’t it be cool if, instead of society suggesting we should all want to look 10, 20, or 30 years younger, we proclaimed our right to our age and our own unique bodies? With the years of our lives revealed?

Can we change our mindset from one of loathing to one of respect and honoring? I think we can.

When we honor our bodies, we don’t wish them to be different. We cherish them. We provide them with healthy food and movement, and we see and thank them as a beautiful vehicle that allows us the opportunity to experience life on this beautiful earth.

That feels a lot different than wishing they were thirty years younger, doesn't it? And since that’s not possible anyway, maybe we can be grateful for the present moment and respect our bodies for all they are and for all they have given us.

I believe this shift in mindset will bring us in alignment with our true desire – a body that can thrive.