Hello and Welcome back to the 3rd issue of my Newsletter for Women Who Want to Live their Best Life at 50 and Beyond.
I appreciate all of you who have signed up and I send a special Welcome to our new Subscribers! Thank you for joining us, and I hope you will find my thoughts and suggestions on successful aging helpful to you in your own life journey.
My goal is to encourage all of us to find a way to make this next stage of our lives as meaningful and productive as the first. Remember, you are not too old and it is not too late! I repeat this often to myself and I encourage you to say it too, and believe it.
This Month I want to talk about the importance of taking on challenges that take us out of our “comfort zone” as we age and help us continue to thrive and seek new experiences.
How do you know that you’re out of your own “comfort zone”? That’s easy.
It usually happens when you take part in a new and different experience that causes you to feel, nervous, anxious, and fearful, and when you’re concerned that you will be judged by others as not being good enough.
We have all had these uncomfortable feelings at one time or another.
The true test comes when you choose to face the fear and the challenge and do it anyway!
Courage is not the absence of fear. It is having the fear and not allowing it to stop you.
Every time you face a challenge and take it on, you will grow a little more!
We often hear stories of amazing feats accomplished by people in their 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and some over 100. They win recognition for running, swimming, climbing mountains and other athletic accomplishments that defy belief.
There are famous musicians who are still performing in their 80’s and 90’s. There are artists and writers who are still engaged in their art and writing at advanced ages.
There are many other examples of older people, both women and men who are defying the stereotype that old age is a time to slow down in both your body and mind.
They are wonderful role models for us!
We can’t all accomplish amazing athletic feats, or be a well known musician, artist, or writer, but we can all challenge ourselves to be the best versions of ourselves at any age if we choose to, particularly in the second half of life.
How many of us are content to stay in our “comfort zone” in our daily lives and not seek out activities that challenge us?
You might be surprised if you take on a new challenge and find that the experience gives you a sense of accomplishment and a big boost to your self-esteem!
Need some ideas? Think of something you have always wanted to do but are afraid to try, or did not have the time to devote to it. The time is now!
Learn to play a musical instrument, learn a foreign language, join a Toastmasters chapter and give a speech (like I did), sign up for a 5K Walk or run, learn to paint, go back to school. The list of opportunities is endless!
I hope you will find the courage to step out of your “comfort zone”, take a leap of faith and prove to yourself just how amazing you are!
Best Wishes to all of you and I’ll be back with another newsletter next month.
Carol
