Debunking the aging mindset ~ Life After Retirement.
Have you ever given any thought to what you want that to look like? I am not talking about repeating what they say or what you have heard. If you were in full control, what would your latter years look like? How would you spend your time and how would you want to live it and possibly where would you like to live?
Before I get into the juice on this topic I would like to take a moment to acknowledge my parents and to share the gratitude I feel in my current reality. I know now, that way back when I chose these amazing humans to give me the guidance I needed throughout my human experience, I made the right choice. I have much to say about these two, but just for today, I wish them both continued blessings of health as they navigate their own individual health challenges.
I specifically thought of them because of a conversation I had with someone, who believes that she has to make provision for her old age in case she becomes ill and has no one to take care of her. As I reflected on what was shared I suddenly recalled almost every conversation I have had with others in the past, who expressed similar sentiments.
These are some of the questions that flooded my conscious thoughts: Why do so many persons seem to feel that old age has to be accompanied with being sick? Where did the programming come from? Who programmed us to believe or for some embrace the thoughts that once we arrive at the chronological age of 50, we are old? Who programmed us to believe that old age will be accompanied by illness? Where did the programming came from that cause so many to go into panic mode once they hit 50 that things have to be put in place for old age because family or children would not take care of them when they get sick? This is the sad expectations of so many. Here is my disclaimer. I am not for one minute suggesting that you shouldn’t have plans in place for your future years. I am merely suggesting that the mindset behind our plans for those future years be adjusted. Plan for a blast rather than living a life of being ill and having to depend on someone to take care of you.
These beliefs shared via conversations that I’ve had directly and indirectly with various friends and associates are so disturbing, at least to me it is. I couldn’t help asking my own questions and exploring my own ideas on this very intriguing topic. What came out of my conversation with Divine intelligence is, “This is the biggest lie that was ever told”. “Would you believe that you can live a healthy life in your later years?’ “Do you believe that you can change that program anytime?” “By the choices, you make now, you are the only one that is fully in control of how you spend those future years”.
I thought wow, as I reflected on the many examples I had seen in articles which featured both males and females on social media and in various magazines who are in their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s who look as though they are enjoying their later years, not on a bed in a home somewhere, but very much moving around and living their best life. Actress Cicely Tyson is the perfect example, she was featured on the cover of Times Magazine in 2019 and at 95 she seems to be living her best life with no plans to retire anytime soon. She is one of the souls that is milking her human experience and squeezing every ounce of juice out of life as she continues her amazing journey. Okay, I get it, maybe you might be saying, well she is a celebrity bla, bla, bla, and have access to certain things that the average person doesn’t have access to because they don’t have the same financial freedom.
Let’s look at another example of someone else who is well kinda a celebrity in her own right, leave it to me we all are in some shape or form.
Willie Murphy, have you heard of her? The now 82 years old award-winning bodybuilder; she was featured on major news broadcasts for knocking out a robber who broke into her home. She came to my attention when she was featured and shared her story on Steve Harvey’s show. I was flabbergasted. I was so impressed with how dynamic the human body is. She said, according to USA Today, she was 77; “I can shovel my own snow. And I can push my car if it gets stuck in the snow… I’m almost 80 years old and I am still living life.” She said she started lifting 5 pounds at age 50. The one thing she said that I totally agree with is that your body loves to move. I believe it is the best gift to give your body to keep it moving no matter your age. Oh, the internet is full of examples of all kinds of people living their best lives way past their retirement age, everything is google-able if you need inspiration.
I didn’t even have to look that far I have the perfect examples in my own family history. The first person that comes to mind is my great grandmother, she was my grandfather’s mother, unfortunately, I never met him, he died in a freak accident when my mom was age 2. Anyways, we called my great grandmother Mama, she was really a beautiful soul. I have very fond memories of her. In her 80’s even though she didn’t have to, my girl was going to the market every Saturday morning by 6/7a.m she was gone, she took public transportation and did her thing. She returned by 9/10a.m on the money she would be walking back to the house with her basket of goodies which she carried perfectly balanced on top of her head, mainly of provisions, fruits, and vegetables. The taxi would have put her off on the main road and the walk into the house was probably between 5-10 minutes. I remember either myself or one of my cousins would run to the corner to meet her, taking her basket the rest of the way.
On that market Saturday it was guaranteed that she would light up a fireside in the yard to prepare a pot of delicious food, or make some sugar cakes or whatever she fancied at the time. I have images of her as clear as day bending over doing everything for herself to light the coal pot from scratch.
One day, Mama had a shower, she sat down talking to her nephew, and the next thing he knew she wasn’t responding. They took her to hospital and the same day she transitioned at 89 years old a few months shy of her 90th birthday. I have no recollection of her ever being ill, I don’t even recall her being on any kind of medication, she was doing everything for herself including her own laundry.
And then there was my cousin, I called him Uncle Morro, he was a jeweler/goldsmith I noted he was in his 80’s and he was still working in his shop, without glasses, it was interesting to observe as he would be engraving a piece of jewelry with no glasses but whenever he read the newspaper he wore his glasses. No illness by him either, in fact, he transitions with no warning, he was age 83. Another observation I made along the way is people who follow their passion and made it into a career, seem to live longer and they age amazingly well.
My mom is another perfect example, from the time I was conscious of her she was sewing. She is currently 74, she suffered a stroke 15 years ago which affected her right side, she is left-handed which is such a blessing. Even though she does not have the full function of her right hand, she is still very active, very self-sufficient and she can still whip you up the best-tailored dress you might ever wear, I honestly don’t know how she does it. She’s a genius, a phenomenal human being. And currently still alive and well at 81 my aunt, my dad’s sister, my girl is still as active as she was from the day I became conscious of her.
Here is a little insight from my divine download. The first thing we need to correct is our expectations that in our latter years we will become ill. It is a big fat lie. If you believe it to be so, and prepare for it, you will get exactly what you wish for. Thoughts produce our reality. A lot of people retire and they seem to either lose their zeal for life, or they think that they already made their contributions to this life, and many sit around aimlessly at home watching television, not doing much waiting for their time. I believe once we are still breathing there is still a mission to accomplish. All of us came here with gifts and it should be maximized to its fullest potential. Remember I said earlier the worse thing we can do to our body is to stop moving it oh and our brain is so so important as well.
Wherever you are in your current reality, it is possible to make these shifts in your consciousness so you can be more intentional with the way you live your life……
Be intentional with your eating habits, find ways to manage your stress based on your lifestyle. Stress is our biggest enemy. Drop any habits known that will compromise your health in the long run. Keep your body moving, exercise even if you walk for 20 minutes daily or a few times a week, cardio is important. Take time to incorporate intentional breathing into your daily routine, I am recently exploring conscious breathing and meditation not quite there yet, but pushing through. Get enough sleep, sleep is so important to every aspect of our body, it’s the most important thing after nutrition, our bodies rejuvenate, restore, and rebuild while we sleep. Engage in healthy sexual activity, winks, winks, a lover who can kiss is yum yum, sex is amazingly great for every aspect of our being, mind, body, spirit, and it’s the most natural way to relieve stress, among other things. Engage in spiritual activity, connecting to your Source Energy on a daily or consistent basis. This is life itself. I personally cannot, imagine a life that was void of connecting to my Source(God/Creator or whatever works for you). I would be nothing without God’s Grace and His Mercy. Holistic living is it! We need a healthy balance of nutrition, spiritual, and physical activity. Mind, body, and soul. Figure out what works for you.
Reprogram your thoughts. Trust me when I tell you we have the power to change our expectations of how our future will be by simply adjusting our mindset. Mindset is everything. For you, Bible scholars, remember the scripture states, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
Love and Light 
Refresh, Rejuvenate, Exhale, Reprogram 