I was at the pool last weekend, getting ready to pack up and head home actually, when a friend I hadn't seen in a little while walked in and sat down near me (but not too close!).
We exchanged normal introductory pool chat, mostly about the temperature of the water, and she mentioned she was so excited to swim, she'd been wearing she bathing suit all day.
"What did you do today?" I asked.
"My cousins came over for lunch and popsicles in the back yard and I set the sprinkler up for us to run through."
"That sounds lovely! Did they enjoy the sprinkler?"
"It took a bit of convincing to get them to do it, they thought they were too old"
"How old are they?"
"They're my age"
My heart swells at the thought of a group of women in their 70's running through the sprinkler and eating popsicles.
A few summers back, at the same pool, I turned to a friend and asked "when was the last time you went off the diving board?"
It had been over a decade for us both. Maybe longer. We stood up, walked over to the deep end and jumped. It was exhilarating!
We pledged to jump off the board at least once every summer.
The secret to staying young?
Eat popsicles, run through the sprinkler, jump off the board.
When my niece was six we went to a playground near my house. We parked the car and walked over to the jungle gym. It was cold and we were the only people there, Cali stops, stands in place and begins looking around.
"What are you looking for?"
"A bench."
"Why do you need a bench?"
"For you. To sit on"
"Oh, thank you, but that's ok, I don't need a bench. I'm going to play with you"
The secret to staying young?
Don't sit on the bench, go play!
It was a clear November evening a few years back, I went to dinner with a girlfriend and as we were leaving the restaurant she looked up at the sky and said "Look, a full moon!"
We exchanged a glance and somehow we both new exactly what was to happen next.
We both started howling at the moon.
There was a family walking towards us on the sidewalk and they looked a little startled.
The secret to staying young?
Howl at the moon (aka be a little weird)
Last Thursday I led my weekly relaxation class, Chill the __ Out and I began with an anecdote about my Aunt Sarah. Sarah is an artist, one of the best cooks I know, and just an overall badass.
Years back she made a bumper sticker to sell at the gift shop at Kripalu.
It read 'Be Where You Are".
It sold out in weeks.
Be Where You Are was the theme of my total relaxation a class, Chill the ___ Out, last week.
My dear friend Jaci is learning Calligraphy and she made this BEEAUTIFUL work of art yesterday morning.
The secret to staying young?
Learn new things. (Bonus points if they involve using your hands)
I’ve heard a fair share of friends and clients tell me they don’t have hobbies. Perhaps they used to but not so much anymore. Some struggle to come up with an answer to ‘what do you like to do in your free time?’. Women especially aren’t used to having ‘free time’.
It’s important to do things you enjoy.
We weren’t put on this planet to pay bills, fold laundry, grocery shop, run meetings, and answer emails all day.
It’s important to have fun.
I’m going to double down on this one - it is essential that we have fun! And it’s how we stay young.
If you’ve lost touch with your passion and the things that bring you joy and if you would like support in reuniting with the you that runs through sprinklers and howls at the moon - or whatever your version of fun and goofy is - reach out and we can chat.