Maureen Bell, 53, Canada

When I hear Age Esteem I think of being happy with who you are whatever.  Just being happy with who you are so that when you are 14 you don’t wish you were 21 and when you’re 50 not wishing you were 40. It’s living your life as it is, enjoying what you’re doing and not being conscious of how old you are.

Maureen’s Tips: I can’t say that I’m doing anything to prepare for my own age esteem other than living.  I never think, “Well I’m too old.”  I go and do it.  I ran the 10K because I realized I hadn’t run the 10K for awhile and it would be a fun thing to do.  I enjoyed the race and it got me onto a whole new level so that I started doing other things too.  I don’t really think about how old I am.  When it sort of comes to mind when I have a birthday and I add it up in my head I think, “Oh, gee, I’m older.”  It doesn’t bother me.

Maureen Bell is a financial specialist and treasure of the World YWCA.