FIT at 50 feels like FINE WINE

This Sunday happens to be Mother’s Day and my 50th birthday.  Turning fifty does feel like fine wine and it just gets better with age.  I am not going to hide behind the number, be embarrassed because I am a fifty year old woman, or even feel old for that matter.  Age is really a state of mind and overall attitude about self and life in my opinion.  I think the most mind boggling thing is realizing how fast time goes by, and seeing my grown children living their adult lives.  The best thing I can do at any age is be my best self physically, emotionally, and spiritually each and every day.  I will always be a work in progress until I take my last breathe and how great is that. 



Living 50 years has provided me lots of education, and I am not just talking about my college degrees or even my fitness certifications.  I am talking about the wisdom that comes from living life.  I am a woman who has journeyed through lots of crap to get to the cream, and learning how to process all that along the way has been a challenge and a blessing.  Just like a great red wine as it matures becomes smoother, more palatable, and carries the flavors and scents of the work in the oak barrels, my life resembles this fabulous growth in a positive way.  I have always looked at circumstances from a point of view of “what can I learn from this to make me a better person?” As all of you who follow my blog know, I am a Christian and I have definitely leaned on a power greater than my own during my maturing process.  All I can be is better than the person that I was yesterday and I have had 18,250 days on this earth to do that and counting.  I feel it is truly an honor and privilege to be gifted each day.


A milestone is an important event and I do believe that turning 50 has proven to be that for me.  I celebrate that I no longer “Sweat the Small Stuff” of my immature younger self, no longer seek the approval of others to feel acceptance nor do I really care what people think of me.  It is an age of freedom in many ways as life comes full circle in meaning of what is truly important.  My husband, children, family and friends come to mind when I think about the meaning of life, and helping as much as I can to take care of my parents, spend time with those I love, and getting lost in the kid in me and not take life so seriously that I forget to live.  I do not care if dust bunnies live under my sofa, or if the bed goes unmade for the day if I make the choice to spend quality time with my hubby or kids.  I want to be a woman of “no regrets” as I journey into the second half of my life. 

My idea of health and fitness at fifty is taking care of me so that I can have a quality life for as long as I am here.  I want to feel good, strong, confident, and sexy and I know it will take consistency of living my healthy lifestyle to maintain that.  I do the best that I can with my abilities, and modify when I need to along the way.  I am not here to impress anyone or compare myself to others in my journey of living a fit life, but I do want to motivate others to live a healthy life.  The beautiful part about my passion for health and fitness is that I have turned that passion into my occupation, and it is such a joy that it never feels like work. 

I am not saying that there are not days that I feel every bit an older woman because those days do come around, especially if I am struggling with my hormones and lack of sleep.  There is nothing worse than feeling sluggish and having low energy to the point of not feeling like hitting a workout, or for that matter getting out of my pajamas. On the other hand, I have learned to accept this new and improved Darla who can now accept the changes that go along with this journey.   I do not always like it, but what is my alternative?  I focus on as much positive as I can, surround myself with positive, and get rid of anything that does not nourish my mind, body and soul. 



I am a very simplistic 50 year young woman and quite comfy in jeans and tank top, but can also enjoy a dress up date with hubby.  I have become a great listener and really love to dig deep into people’s feelings and passions about themselves and life.  I love to laugh, enjoy the balance of work and play, and feel that I have learned the importance of this along my fine wine journey.  I feel less stress and more relaxed with who I am at 50 and look forward to what 60 has to bring. 

I want to dedicate this Blog to my beautiful Mother.  I love you dearly, and wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!
ME AND MY FABULOUS MOM AND FRIEND



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LOVE THE HATERS

Yes I do.  I love my haters and I will share that typically those who are “hating” or critical of others really do desire to be loved.  There is something down deep inside of each of us that longs to be accepted and  feel good enough, and when hate comes to the surface it usually defines deep insecurities or unresolved issues within a person.  The ability to be motivated or happy by or for another is replaced with bitterness, jealousy, and to the point of “hating” a person for their accomplishments.  Because I realize that there are underlying factors involved with “hating”, I can look past comments and know that it is not about me when my haters come to calling.  Lately, I have received lots of negative comments, and especially when I share motivational posters that feature me in fitness wear or bathing suits.  If I allowed the negative posts I receive to negatively impair me as a person, I really do not have any business being an internet personality.  I have been in this industry for thirty years, and have read and heard my share of negative as well as the positive.


The only thing in this life I can control is me, and I let go of all the rest.  What I share with you comes with pure intention to motivate you to live a healthy life, and if that is not well received that is the chance I take, and the positive will always outweigh the negative in my opinion.  The recent “hating” on my body and boobs with a post focus/motivation  to live a healthy lifestyle, exercise, eat healthy,  or be happy with self is a clear demonstration of people that are not happy with “self” and feel the need to project and vent their frustrations.  The sad part about hating on the internet is the people acting out the behavior do not know the circumstances or life journey of the person they are criticizing.  Let’s use breast augmentation as an example in general and the possibility that the woman making this choice is doing so for cancer reconstructive purposes, or has been involved in an auto accident which has disfigured her breast, or to feel better about herself by gaining a more proportionate figure, or to regain fuller breasts post pregnancy of one or more births and breast feeding her blessings in life, and the list of reasons can go on and on.  I had a girlfriend who was out for a jog and an unleashed dog attacked her, leaped at her breast and pulled it off her chest, which took months of reconstructive repair.  We all need to realize, accept, and appreciate that personal choices belong to each person and that it does not make that person fake or a “bad” example.  In fact, it could be this person’s life story that can reach out and help others in similar situations.  It really comes down to if you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all. 


Wouldn’t life be grand if all of us were pro-positive of each other, supportive, motivating and complimentary?  The sad truth is that life is not that way, and within this imperfect world we are imperfect people trying the best we can to deal with unfair issues in this life.  That is the point of it all to be happy, and become a better person each day through our journey.  That is not accomplished riding in the “hate” wagon of life.  So whether it is a new house, car, clothes, body, face or your life in general, haters will hate because you possess something they don’t.  Their inability to figure out how to obtain happiness within their own self and life can create a very upset and angry person who copes with frustration through “hating”.  They deal with personal feelings of inadequacy after comparing themselves with others by turning themselves on what they think is making them feel upset…Me, You, Us.



Understanding the psychology of people has helped me a great deal in my journey of life, and has enabled me to develop a “turtle shell” skin that shields me from the negative drama in life.  Also, knowing that there is a lot to be said and appreciated with that old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”.  I think it also comes down to maturity and realizing that life is too short and precious to not be surrounded by positive and to choose to be positive in life.  Loving my haters is a decision to persevere through adversity, and a choice to continue motivating no matter what the cost.  Also, I do wish for their health and happiness deep down and regardless of the negative, I get people talking and learning through the process.  That is a great thing! 




Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!



Darla

HAPPINESS DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN

Wouldn’t it be nice to wave a magic wand, and all of life is just how we wanted it to be?  We are blessed with the gift of life but how we live it is up to us, and that takes effort and choices.  There are consequences, hard lessons learned and happiness along the way, but ultimately it is in our choices that create the life of happiness we all desire.  Sometimes we do not even know what we want or how to create this happiness, and wander around going through some sort of life motions that we learned from healthy or unhealthy example.  Choosing the right way to create a life of happiness is quite the goal, but like anything else that takes time and effort, it is worth the journey to get there. 



I have gone through the ups and downs of not being happy in this journey of life, and have held onto the hope that God has a greater plan than I can ever imagine. Life has not been what I thought it would be as I contemplate it, but I am thankful for the life lessons of each circumstance that created an opportunity for me to learn and grow in positive ways. It took a choice for me to go to counseling during tough emotional times, to go to physical therapy during horrific physical times, and to rough up my knees in prayer during doubtful spiritual times.  All the choices to become a better person were in search of a happiness that I wanted in my life and I have always been in pursuit of all methods of work to reach that goal.

The pursuit of happiness also includes being a healthy person.  I believe that the two go hand in hand.  When we feel our best physically, it is easier to handle the emotional rides of life.  Also, when our “mental game” is healthy and our responses to life’s circumstances are handled with maturity, clarity, and good intentions this enhances our state of being healthy and happy overall. Happiness is a goal just like being healthy is a goal, and both are lifetime achievements.  There is no end to being a happy and healthy person, and each day is our chance to make choices toward being both. 

Easter seemed like the perfect time to share how important it is to be happy and healthy, and to take this opportunity to let you know that it is possible and necessary in this life.  Happiness does not just happen, but will take a commitment of self-discovery, and not being afraid to peel the onion and take a look at what is keeping you from being happy or healthy. This took years of work in my life, and I am thankful for it.  I will share that it has not always been easy, and nothing worth anything is, right?  My wish for you this Easter is health and happiness and for you to know that each day is a gift that provides a step closer to reaching those goals.  

Have a very Happy Easter from My Family to Yours

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Darla