Robyn Simon, 67, Blue Mountains of Australia

What is Age Esteem?   If you’re talking about ladies, I think a woman should be confident to be herself at every stage of her life and especially as she matures to have an understanding of how she presents herself to the outside world based on her own belief in herself and not that dictated by fashion, culture or status.  To realize that I can say from my life that the more mature you get, in actual fact in your own outrageous or quiet way the more outrageous you can be.

It’s an interesting word, esteem, and I think sometimes it is hard won.  The situations around us put us down and make us feel small and I think this is where the community of other women can really support us.  I think that Age Esteem can start at any stage of life from the youngest person to the most mature.

My greatest concern is the lack of physical flexibility and strength.  I feel that because I’m taking care of supplementation and diet and I have relatively good genes with aging I’m intending not to lose my flexibility and strength , but it is one of my concerns.  I’ve been crippled with arthritis and I’m looking after my eyesight but I would be very concerned to lose the faculty of eye sight.  My concern would be to lose the facility to have continuing new adventures in life.  I would not like to lose that.  And yes, a practical concern and a very valid one for most women of the world is to have enough finances to maintain my life in a relatively comfortable manner, and especially to have enough finance to move and to travel a bit.  I think that is very important to me.

Robyn’s Tips:  Stay in the present as much as possible and do not dwell in the past.  Do not live with regret mulling over negative things that may have happened in the past.  Keep your mind in the present as much as possible.

I think that Spiritual development and training is very important to well being because if you train your mind not to sweat the small stuff.  Sweating the small stuff is occupying your mind with criticism, hatred, or all things that can pull a person down.

It is very helpful for a woman to be sure that she has younger friends in her life.  I think you need to have a large spectrum in associations.  I actually went back to work in a spa industry that does massages and beauty treatments and facials and most of the young ladies who worked with me were between the ages of 19 and 25.  That’s one of the best things I’ve done.  I also love spending time with younger men.  Some of the greatest actresses in the world made it very clear that you should have young men around you.  Their energy, all they exude, their presence, I think it is helpful and important.  And I think that a lot of European ladies have known that for a long time.

Also diet.  There is a lot of knowledge out there now for how to look after your physical body that’s reasonable.

Robyn Simon, specialist in aromatic medicine, www.mydoterra.com/robynsimon

Ageless is a kindly word,

“She’s Ageless,” one has sometimes heard,

It’s nice for when you often seem

To lose your sense of self esteem.

Cheer up! And don’t think OLD is bad,

Time is what you have, and had.

There’s more to learn, and joy to come,

And ageless ways to have some fun!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

Mussels give you muscles!

This lovely little seafood is delicious, very healthy and so easy to prepare.

Containing very little fat, mussels bring a good quantity of protein to the body.

Their real value, however, comes in the form of zinc and iron of which there is a great quantity.  Zinc especially is vital in the development of the body as well as in the immune and neurological systems.

Mussels are found in the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.  They are very important in maintaining the aquatic eco-systems as each mussel filters about 25 liters of water each day.

Mussels are delicious steamed with a bit of garlic, parsley and wine.  They are best consumed fresh and have to be eaten quickly. – The same day, if possible.

Grandma Nature

Bernice Seigel, 78,  Holiday, FL, USA

What is Age Esteem?  Being a senior citizen myself I can put myself into that category because I feel fine being of the age I am.  I have a great deal of esteem for myself and for others of my age.  I have a great deal of respect for age and try to deal with my age the best I can.

One of my concerns with aging is that we moved here (Holiday, Florida) late in life two years ago, and I was just hoping that I would be able to fix the house and to be around to enjoy it.   It’s the same thing for my husband who just bought a brand new car.  We have the goal that we are going to live!

My chronological age is almost 79, but I feel as young as the people around me.  I’ve always worked with younger people.  I think that has a great deal to do with it.

Bernice’s Tips:  First of all I’m fortunate enough to have good health.  That is the most important thing.  My husband also is in good health, so we are able to do a lot of things together.  But we also do things separately.  He’s the math and science person and he taught.  I am the humanities and the languages, the fun person as far as that is concerned.

My tip is working with younger people, being with younger people.  I didn’t want to move into an older community because I honestly cannot relate to those people.  I sing in a chorus.  When we are singing for the senior citizens I am so happy to be one on our side of the stage.  I feel for them and I am very thankful.

I keep myself very active.  I’m involved with the chorus.  We go out to lunches.  We go shopping.  I just have a positive attitude toward life.  I’m at an age where I can enjoy it.  I feel fortunate.  We have the house and financially the means to live.  We have lovely children who are very active themselves and encourage my husband and myself to do what we have to do.

Get up and move around.  My parents died at 90 and 91, so my genealogy is pretty good.  But my parents thought when they turned 65 which is retirement age here, that was the end.  My father was more active, but they just waited all that time to die, which is horrible.  They had everything to live for.  They had their own house.  They owed no money.  They stayed in their house.  I was fortunate enough to be able to help them stay in their own home with help until they passed on.

My sister who is 8 1/2 years younger than I am has my same positive attitude.  She is 70 now.  Her husband died 3 years ago and she just got herself a new boyfriend.  He is 78, my age.  She says, “Look, if you can be as great at that age I guess he is also.”  Yes, I think you need a good attitude of mind.

Middle Age can be any age

Between the start and final ending.

It’s when you can turn back the page

And learn the many ways for mending

Some of the follies of your youth;

You’ll know what’s best ‘tween right and wrong.

The middle’s when you glean the truth

And be merry like an ageless song! 

    Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

What an attractive fruit, hanging on its vine, like purple and green decorations.  The various colors bring appetizing appeal as one chooses which to buy. – Green, light purple, dark purple, small, larger?

Since antiquity grapes have been known to have therapeutic virtues.  They were eaten to fight against various illnesses like gout and obesity, and they aid in digestion because of the fiber found in the seeds. Many people do a grape cure to clean out the body.  Rich in minerals, grapes have a good amount of iron and potassium as well as vitamins A, B and C.

Grapes should be stored in a cool place like the refrigerator or cellar if not eaten right away.

As sugar is an important part of the fruit, grapes are utilized as an anti-fatigue cure as well.  They bring a lot of energy to the body at a time when one might be feeling lethargic.

Then, of course, there is wine, beneficial for cardio-vascular conditions, which is produced from grapes.  Furthermore, as a food, stuffed vine leaves are a delicacy.  Picked from the vine, the leaves are prepared by boiling and then can be stuffed with whatever one chooses.

Now that you know their benefits, add grapes to your shopping list and feel invigorated.

Grandma Nature

Christy Rutherford, 61, Sequim, Washington

I think Age Esteem is feeling good about yourself at any age no matter what age you are.

I’m not really concerned about growing older.  I just want to continue to grow and getting old is just part of the process.  It’s not something that I am concerned about.  I’m loving every part of my life and this is just a new part of my life. – Something to look forward to.

Christy’s Tips:  I do what I love and I love what I do.  It’s really true.  Every day I get up with the idea about asking what would you have me do today and what is it I’m supposed to be doing today?  That would be either to help my family, myself, or someone else.  I just go with my impressions.  Sometimes I don’t, but when I do I feel better about myself.  If I don’t, I give myself good excuses like I deserve to take a break and do just what I feel like today.

Keep a positive attitude.  Don’t worry about how you look and what other people think about what you are or who you are.  Be grateful for every single day and for every person you come into contact with and even for the difficulties you have. Even the difficulties make you a stronger person.

Christy Rutherford teaches youth and children drama skills and theater skills.

« Home is where the heart is, »

Home is there to start this

New day with a smile…

Everything’s worthwhile !

Even all the simple things :

Household tasks (like bathtub rings !)

Can be better than they seem

If you face Age with Esteem.

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

What could be more beautiful than flowers?  Their colors, their perfume, their shapes: everything regarding flowers is a true gift of nature.  They provide decorations in a home, color in a garden, gifts for people when happy, sad, healthy or sick.  What would we do without flowers?

And yet, as if this gift were not enough, they can be used in cooking as well.  Many chefs, famous and not so famous, have begun adding flowers to their meals.  Not all flowers are edible.  In fact, some are poisonous but the following ones may be eaten without fear:  nasturtiums, pansies, bachelor buttons, violets, freesias, marigold, roses and snap dragons.

For a long time cooks would add a flower or two on a plate for decoration. Today they are added in the actual food giving not only color but taste.  Arugula flowers are very popular for this because of their peppery and spicy taste.

Lavender flowers are a delight when incorporated in a cake or lemonade, emitting a delectable scent and flowery taste.  Red rose petals in a green salad delight the eyes.  The stems of hostas are consumed steamed or raw in Japan where they are sold at markets.

So to beautify your cuisine and have unusual tastes, add edible flowers, and you will feel as though you are dining in heaven!

Grandma Nature

Philip Selby, Yorkshire, England and Geneva, Switzerland

I imagine Age Esteem is about trying to help people to accept their age and to accept their values without regarding age as a negative, because many people regard age in a negative light. This is what I call ageism.

One of my personal concerns is to try and keep fit physically and mentally.  I’ve always been interested in physical exercise and sports so I try to continue my physical exercise by running long distances which I enjoy and I try to keep my mind busy mainly through learning new languages.  At the moment I’m learning Chinese.  I’ve been to China a couple of times.  I hope to go back and I’m struggling to learn Mandarin which is a big challenge.  It is far more difficult than other languages I’ve learned, including Russian and Hebrew.

One of my fears is that I will injure myself running and that I will have to curtail my running, so I have to try to adapt my exercise in such a way that I reduce the possibility of damaging my joints.  I think a lot of people who go in for long distance running don’t consider the impact it can have on the back, the hips, the knees.  I try to run within my limits.

Philip’s Tips:  I would say forget about your age, because I believe our chronological age should not affect how we feel about ourselves.  I would say we should do the things we want to do, to do the things that we enjoy and not regard age as a barrier or as an excuse.  I don’t think it’s an excuse to say that I can’t do such and such, I can’t run a half marathon because I’m too old.  If you have a physical disability, if you’re sick, if you have a problem with your knees for example then maybe you can’t run a half marathon but I don’t think age in itself is enough reason not to do what we enjoy doing.

Another piece of advice is to read my book about aging which gives advice on a wide range of topics helping to achieve successful aging.  By that I mean reaching an advanced age and still to be active physically and mentally and to be able to play a part in society and to have good relations with one’s friends and one’s family, to have avoided accidents and to have taken care of one’s finances.  There are many things one can consider from middle age which I would say is about 40ish in order to achieve successful aging.

I don’t really run to compete. I realize that I’m probably too old and not fit enough to do that, but I do enjoy taking part in long-distance runs in particular when there are a lot of runners and a great atmosphere.  Two runs which I enjoy very much are annual runs: The Matterhornlauf which takes place in August running from Zermatt in the Valais in Switzerland with a 1000 meters increase in height to Schwarzsee, and the other is the Great North Run which is a half Marathon in Newcastle in the UK with about 50,000 people taking part.  One of the great things about it is that all the runners are raising money for various charities, and I have had the opportunity not only to enjoy running but to raise money for a worthwhile cause, which presently is Children With Cancer UK.

Philip Selby is the author of Live Better, Live Longer: A Practical Guide to Successful Aging available as an ebook on Amazon.com; also published in French (Bien Savoir Vieillir), in Japanesse and in Chinese.