Be kind to yourself. You are perfect just the way you are.

Every day is an opportunity to awaken your soul and live a wonderful life!

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Learning how to look younger, even if you begin that beauty journey after the age of 50, is possible.

Not only is it possible, it can be a great adventure. The more you look forward to aging and the more you move your body to get there, the better quality of life you will enjoy.

It might sound impossible at first. For many of us, age creeps up on us. Slowly at first; then at the speed of light.

So…what can you do when you wake up to discover you’re 50 years old? Where has all the time gone, you may wonder. And who is that “old” person looking back at you in the mirror? She wasn’t there yesterday!

When the reality sets in that you could…or should have…started taking care of yourself a little bit better much earlier than today, your immediate question may be how to look younger if you want to start today.

And not just younger, because age is really just a number and no matter how hard you try you will never be 35 again. Personally, I don’t want to be 35 again! It was great…but I’m so much better at a lot of things now!

But younger in terms of energy levels and your zest for life. Maybe a few less wrinkles or more radiant skin. Maybe younger in terms of the ability to try something new without the fear of failure. You know, stuff that came easily when you “didn’t know any better.”

You can’t change the past; however, the body is an amazing machine that can positively respond to the right efforts.

So step one is this: Be grateful.

You are 50! Not everybody gets here and not everybody has what you have to offer the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that person staring back at you in the mirror. Those wrinkles? Just evidence your face had something to express, something to laugh about, and something to love.

This body you’re living in has served you well so far. Be kind to yourself. You are perfect just the way you are. You simply want to take better care of the person in the mirror, right?

Let’s Get Started!

Once you determine you’re ready to take excellent care of yourself then you should consider a visit to your doctor for a checkup. If it’s been a while then talk to your doctor about which screenings should be added to your yearly physical based on your family and personal medical history. Let the doctor know you plan on making some lifestyle changes to enhance your youthful soul. Take any cautions under advisement as you continue.

Energy and exercise as you age go hand in hand. If you have been active, then you are already on the right path. Choosing a new type of exercise or adding strength training and stretching to your routine may bring your fitness to a new level.

If you have been more sedentary, then there is no better day to start moving than today.

Again, follow your doctor’s advice based on your personal health history. However a good place for most everyone to start is walking. Walking is a non-impact activity that most of us do everyday anyhow. However since you want to look (and feel) younger, you will walk with a new purpose.

Start slowly if you need to and build in a little more distance each day. Walk at a pace that allows your heart to beat a little faster and also allows you to carry on a conversation. Don’t jump into this so hard you put yourself in danger or get injured and have to stop before you see any real results.

Next, think positively about aging.

You might wonder why this is important. In general, having a positive outlook on life has the benefit of adding enjoyable years. For those over the age of 50, looking positively on each year in front of you will give you a sense of anticipation instead of dread. This alone could add almost 10 years of quality to your life.

Why do I say quality? Well, there are two ways you can approach aging. You can just add the candles to the cake and hope to stand up long enough to blow them out. Or, you can strive to carry your cake box up a hilltop and blow the candles out as you watch a beautiful sunset with your companion.

Which approach sounds better to you?

There are so many ways to discover how to look and feel younger. And while it starts on the inside, you have to start somewhere. The best place to start is exactly where you are. Begin an exercise habit and make it a point to acknowledge what you are grateful for each day.

This is the beginning of getting your body and mind in shape to carry you for at least another 50 years!