Life Lessons

1.     When you hear something true, it resonates deeply as an inner knowing. 

2.     Spend time in the sunshine, daily.  Particularly in the early morning hours.  Use, sunscreen appropriately.  Sunshine in those early morning hours sets your body up for a good day AND it activates the melatonin production for a better night’s sleep! Grandma knew. I think her skin had tiny solar panels, here she is just before her 101st birthday! Please note the sexy compression socks!

3.     Sleep!  New evidence shows a consistent bedtime and waking time is more impactful in extending your life (39% longer).  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6L11cxCLi0V6mhlpdzLokR?si=402bade277f447fe&nd=1&dlsi=7d382c3f8b524efc This is a podcast interview from “Diary of a CEO” with Stephen Bartlett.  It’s pretty interesting.

4.     I will forget most things at least once.  Give myself grace around this.

5.     If I need to remember something, write it down (and don’t lose the list!).

6.     Kindness comes from the heart and is priceless.

7.     Fear is our default mode, and it takes hard work to change this – but, it can be changed ("Buddha Brain", Rick Hanson, Ph.D.). You can get it from the library, too!

8.     It’s totally, totally, unequivocally worth the hard work to make those changes (brain changes, #7, above - "neurons that fire together, wire together"). As Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying: "Do Something Every Day That Scares You...". Plus, it's confidence-building after the first few times - and, you'll be earning your superhero cape!

9.     Laugh Often – your body cannot differentiate when the laughter is fake, so you still get the endorphin benefit.  Practice faking it as necessary (info from Laughter Yoga training class 8/2016, Bharata Wingham, Yogaville, VA – yes, it’s a real place!).

10. When overwhelmed by the sheer number of important/urgent (anxious-making) things that need to be done…  and as a result, experiencing “Deer in the Headlights” syndrome…  pick one thing a day and do it.  That will start the momentum going and it becomes easier and easier.  Kind of like “the journey of a thousand steps begins one step at a time” (can’t remember who said that – Lao Tzu?)

11. Movement matters, even if for 3 minutes at a time, and many times per day… better to work up a healthy sweat… dance, anyone? Just put on your old faves and move your beautiful body - it all counts!  It’s the corporeal equivalent of an oil change and lube job for the muscles, joints, fascia and especially the brain.

12. Do what you love, always! Just don't hurt anyone in the process - celebrate being alive!

13. Find and celebrate Your Heroes! This is Ms. Ida, from an interview in Essence Magazine, at 103. As it says below, she won the Women's World Record for the 60-meter dash in the 95-99 age category. Look how happy she is at 103 years young!! What an inspiration!!