“Seems like the only one who doesn’t see your beauty is the face in the mirror looking back at you.”
Sometimes when my besties and I are having one of our lazy days together we love to play our favourite game, 'If I can turn back time'.
The rules are that we choose a particular part of our lives to focus on such as relationships, careers, and mental and physical health. Interestingly our changing bodies have been a focus point of late.
The game is twofold. If you could turn back time and return to an age when you felt most beautiful or comfortable in your physical body, what age would that be and why?
I always choose my thirties. I was. a bit of an emotional mess in my 30s but I was always told that I looked good. Although I did not exercise or restrict my food in any way, my body looked athletic and healthy.
The second part of the game was if you could turn back time, what habits, choices, or decisions would you have made then to have the type of relationships, career, health, and body that you would like today?
As the focus of this series is on our ageing body, let's explore this in more detail below. Here are some strategies we might consider If you could turn back time and address the changes that come with our ageing bodies.
1. Prioritise Self-Care: Focus on self-care practices that support your overall well-being, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and stress management techniques.
Self-care was not a thing in my 20s and 30s and people who spoke of such things were seen as selfish. I was not confident enough at the time to endure such a label.
2. Maintain a Healthy Diet: Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to support your body's nutritional needs and promote healthy ageing.
With a fast metabolism, I ate what I wanted, when I wanted, and now that I'm wearing a soft pillow around my middle, I wonder if a slight change in diet in my younger years would make a difference now.
3. Stay Active: Engage in regular physical activity to maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. Consider incorporating activities like yoga, walking, or strength training into your routine.
I engaged in zero physical exercises other than dancing when I went out to nightclubs. Again, I wished I had trained my mind to be more motivated around exercise before the weight began to pile on.
I do exercise regularly now but it's not intuitive for me to do so. It takes a lot of effort.
4. Practice Skincare: Establish a skincare routine that includes gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection to keep your skin healthy and radiant.
I'm pleased to say that because of my culture and modeling career, I got into the habit of taking care of my skin from a young age. It's common for black people of all genders to moisturise their skin from birth.
5. Prioritise Mental Health: Take steps to prioritise your mental health, such as practicing mindfulness, seeking therapy if needed, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
I was fortunate to find meditation in my late teens and I've been an avid practitioner for many decades. For me, my daily meditation is equivalent to brushing my teeth. I will not leave home without doing it.
6. Stay Connected: Cultivate strong relationships with friends and loved ones to maintain social connections and support your emotional well-being.
Living on the other side of the world from my family has forced me to create a chosen family in Australia. I'm blessed to still have many of the friends I made when I arrived in Australia 32 years ago.
For me, playing this game is light-hearted and a bit of fun. Sure, hindsight is 20/20 but I am also a believer in acceptance and the value of embracing changes that come with ageing as a natural part of life.
I've said before that the key to ageing well is harnessing the opportunities while addressing the challenges. Like many of us in this group, I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of growing older, such as wisdom, experience, increased confidence, and self-acceptance.
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