3 Essential Life Lessons I’ve Learned from My Older Friends

I enjoy hanging out with older people. I like to learn and be ahead of the game, and I feel older people know what’s up simply because they have more life experience. More ups. More downs. More life lessons.

Below are 3 of my favorite pieces of advice from my older friends (in their 40’s & 50’s):

1. If you want to look young, keep doing meditation and yoga. While you’re at it, constantly moisturize everything, and don’t forget your NECK!

All my friends who do yoga in their 50’s certainly don’t look like they’re 50. Try subtracting 10 years! They are also some of lightest, carefree people I know. My current practice: I do Vinyasa yoga at least 2 times per week and a daily 20 minute meditation. To moisturize, I use Benefit Dream Screen SPF on my face during the day, heavy cream at night, and castor oil on my eyebrows and eyelashes (to keep them full and lush). I also put Homeoplasmine under my eyes every night, and especially after being on an airplane. For the rest of my body I use coconut oil. Everywhere.

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2. Make a conscious effort to keep stepping out your comfort zone. Take a trip to unfamiliar territory every year. The longer you go without getting out of your comfort zone, the harder it is to step out.

Traveling has always been highly effective personal growth tool for me. As I’m getting older I feel I’m getting particular about certain things. Dirty or cluttery rooms drive me nuts. When I travel to places that aren’t the cleanest, it forces me to let it go. What am I going to do? Have anxiety and avoid everything the entire trip? Eventually you let go and realize that the things you are particular about aren’t worth stressing about at all. I refuse to become an inflexible grumpy old person (Oh, that’s another thing yoga helps me with – flexibility – physically & mentally)! Traveling also teaches me to be more open-minded and empathetic. It’s made me realize that my way of doing things is not the right way – people simply do things differently.

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3. You have FOREVER to be married, so good god, no need to rush.

I’ve been single for most of my adult life. There have been moments of feeling lonely or asking myself if there’s something wrong with me, but overall, from my experience of being single versus a relationship, I realize I’ve chosen to be single because I find it more fun. Things are firey and unpredictable. I live in the idea of possibility. I am a sucker for the romantic stuff (I photograph weddings for a living – hello!), but when my married friends tell me about fights, compromises, etc., I think – Ahhhhh… I can come home and live however I want to without a PEEP from anyone else. I love feeling free! Of course, I believe if you are in a relationship that is right for you, you will feel free and like the best version of yourself. But for now, I’m enjoying my playtime, and like I love to hear romantic stories from my married friends, they LOVE asking me about the excitement of my single life.

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Any other older happy folks out there have life advice for me? Please leave it in the comments section below. 🙂

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Teri

    Remember my motto…never settle !

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