They say it takes more muscles to frown than to smile.  I believe that it also takes more energy to have a negative attitude than to have a positive one.  It’s easier to enjoy the moment than to waste energy worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

If you have trouble finding the positives, try this simple exercise.

Surround yourself with nature.  Take a walk in a park, in the countryside, or even your own back yard.  Sit quietly and discover the life around you.  Watch the leaves swaying in the breeze and the insects in the grass.  Listen to the birds.  Smell the flowers.  Breathe in the fresh air.

When the Creator designed our world, it was with a tremendous imagination and purpose.  Watching an inch worm persistently climb a stalk is a wonderful lesson in positive attitude.  Listening to the happy trill of a singing bird reminds us to sing with our own joy.  Going barefoot in the grass helps us touch down with our inner child and that wonderful time in life when we had no responsibilities, helping us to put life into perspective.

It’s easier to wear a positive attitude when we remember the little miracles of this world: the song of the lark, the journey of the inch worm and the feel of grass between our toes. – And to realize that we too are each one of God’s wonders.

Bonnie Fatio

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Rise and shine!  What a great expression that is.

Don’t just get up in the morning, rise and shine.  Make it a great day for those around you.  This includes the new people you meet in the course of your day as well as those you know.  A simple smile to someone walking towards you or a friendly greeting to the bus driver or sales clerk.  It is easy to shine, to share your own happiness and talents.

I’ve always loved the stories of Winnie the Pooh and to hear him exclaim as he got up in the morning,  “Ho hum, I wonder what great thing will happen to me today.”  When we arise with that positive attitude in the morning, it is easy to rise and shine.  We are ready and eager to discover the day and the adventures it will bring – and to greet it with open arms of enthusiasm.

Bonnie Fatio

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Brighten up a bad day with a positive attitude.

All of us have bad days.  And it’s true that some of us have worse days than others.  However, I feel sorry for people who think they need to drag others down with them.  It accomplishes no purpose.  In fact it only makes them feel worse themselves.

It’s possible to turn your day into a bright one at every age.

• If you wake up feeling miserable, turn your day around immediately.
• Before you open your eyes, tell yourself, “This will be a great day!”
• Smile.  The effort of lifting the corners of your mouth with lift your spirits.
• Think of something you can do today to make someone else feel good.
• Turn on some music and loosen up.  Dance and sing.
• Look for humor during the day.

Bonnie Fatio

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Isabel Contreras, 57, Switzerland

What comes to mind when I hear Age Esteem is having self esteem so that when you age you will feel good about yourself.  Age Esteem is about having self esteem while aging.  I suppose that for me aging is once you reach 55 onwards.

Isabel’s Tips: Because I am very active in the work that I do, my own concern with aging is that I want to look relatively fresh.  I feel very young inside so therefore I would like to look very young on the outside – and I know and see that gravity is inevitable in aging.  Sometimes I’m concerned about that.

Positive thinking is key.  I maintain a positive attitude in everything I do.  I keep my dreams high, exercise,  read positive books, and avoid being with negative people.  I think that has been the most important thing.

I would say that to age well you need to enjoy every day of your life, to greet every morning with love in your heart, and to be grateful to be alive and to enjoy every day as a gift from God.

Isabel Contreras is founder of  Life Motivations and an international trainer.

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July is a month of independence.  And not just for the United States and France.  It is also the month of the independence of Burundi, Rwanda, Algeria, Cape Verde Islands, Argentina, Solomon Islands…

Independence is a key word when it comes to age esteem.  It is a major concern as we age. – To lose our independence and become dependent on others.  It is a real concern, one that we should take seriously. – Especially since much of our independence is based on our attitude.

You can be visually impaired, deaf, or lacking normal mobility and still be independent.  Yes, you will have to accept care and guidance from others for some of your daily needs, maybe even most of them.  However, you are the one to decide how you will accept this help and what your relationship with the care givers will be.  Will it be one of appreciation and reciprocation?  Will you make it agreeable for others to help you, and maybe even make it a highlight of your care giver’s day?

Independence comes through doing what we can.  That may be listening actively, smiling, sharing, giving your support and encouragement, being grateful…   Independence is manifested through our own positive attitude.

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A 100 year old doctor is still delivering babies in Georgia, USA.  He has delivered over 16,000 babies since 1947 when he began his practice.  It seems that everywhere he goes he is greeted by someone who he helped bring into the world.

What is his secret?  Being passionate about what you do!

Other people who have celebrated 100 years of living have shared the same important age-esteem traits.

• Purpose, meaningful activities
• Contact with others of diverse ages
• Keep moving
• Continue to learn and to exercise their mind
• Positive attitude

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It’s easy to distinguish that the rugby player on the right is Matt Damon, but who is he shaking hands with?  Is that Nelson Mandela or Morgan Freeman?

Don’t  miss the film Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood.  Morgan Freeman is exceptional in the role of Nelson Mandela.  Freeman had known for a long time that he would some day play the role of Mandela.   When Nelson Mandela’s autobiography was published in 1995, Mandela was asked who he thought could play him on screen.  He cited the name of Morgan Freeman.

In a recent interview in Switzerland published in Migros Magazine, his interviewer said, “Mandela is a wise man; he’s 91 years old.  You are also getting older and therefore also becoming wise?”   Freeman’s response was, “Careful.  I am getting older, but I am not becoming old.”

Age is an attitude.  Nelson Mandela, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood share the fact that they are getting older – as are we!  They also share age-esteem with a positive attitude toward age that will keep them from ever becoming “old”.

Bonnie Fatio, AgeEsteem

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One of my favorite card over the holidays is copied below.  – Not the message on the card, but the message of the sender.

Why is it a favorite?  Because the words of June, the friend who wrote it, express how she puts her AgeEsteem to daily use via her

• acceptance of her present health,
• positive attitude,
• gratitude for what she has,
• social contact with others despite not getting out and about,
• interest in the lives of others and what is happening,
• continued purpose and contribution to others.

Precious Ones,

I hope all is well with you and your family and that you will be together for a Happy Festive Christmas…

Things here are ok.  I’m having to use the walker all the time to get around and don’t go out, only to the doctors.  My son and his wife were here the first of Nov. and took me shopping for necessities but that’s it.  I’m just happy I’m here where there are people and I have a nice warm room and plenty to eat, and at 93 that is a lot – Especially when I think of how many older people aren’t warm or have enough to eat.

I finally finished the 60 Hats of Love, (for Cancer patients) and 80 ski caps (for the needy) – my fingers don’t do quite as good as they did – and gave them all away – know they will keep some heads warm even if winter is cold…

June is a wonderful example of AgeEsteem for all ages.

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Mix with positive people: People we associate with influence how we feel about ourselves and about life in general.

• Make a personal audit of the people you see regularly. What do you admire about them? What sides of your personality do they bring out? Do they encourage you? Do you learn from them?
• Eliminate negative people from your inner circle. Move away from anyone who does not positively influence you or who stresses faults rather than qualities.
• If you must be with negative people at work, be polite but don’t let them into your inner circle.
• Seek people who have positive, « can do » attitudes. Spend your time with these positive thinkers.

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Even if your first reaction to “Just be happy” is “Bah, Hum Bug”, give yourself a chance. Multiple research shows that people who have a positive attitude and are optimistic live happier, healthier lives. Test these AgeEsteem techniques for finding happiness at every age.

Smile: Did you know that it’s impossible to be depressed when you smile and look up?

• If you’re feeling low, smile! Smiling actually makes you feel happier.
• Need help? Put a pencil horizontally across the front of your mouth. It forces the edges of your mouth up, making you feel better. Look at yourself in the mirror. Who knows? You may really smile!
• Look up! Do this when you are caught in traffic, too. Rather than stress out, look up. You will feel better – and there is a whole new world up there to discover.

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