At last, I have found a new term to describe many of our modern young girls. – Girls who are much more than beautiful or pretty or cute. It is an expression to replace the plastic face and figure of Barbie with the depth and potential within the uniqueness of these girls.

It began when our ten-year-old granddaughter shared with me her history homework about the Middle Ages. It is an interesting historical period to study because there is the romantic concept of knights and royalty.

I made the comment to her that the Renaissance period will be even more interesting since she is a Renaissance Girl. That tickled her interest. “What is a Renaissance Girl?”, she asked. – And I realized that I had found the perfect term to describe her qualities.

She is a normal preteen. She does not excel in everything. However, she is a versatile, well-rounded person who is active in many different areas. She is fascinated by math, science, history, nature, travel to new places, and devours books and masters technology. She is active in sports, can play a tune on the piano, sing and hip-hop. She also has a good sense of humor and says what she thinks.

Yes, she is a Renaissance Girl!

I wish someone had given me that title as a preteen. You see, Age Esteem begins when you are young. How you see yourself and feel about yourself at each age and stage in life influences how you grow old and even your longevity.

Helping young girls recognize themselves as Renaissance Girls is also good for our age-esteem and health today, because intergenerational relationships keep us up-to-date and relevant, and therefore more vital.

Bonnie Fatio

Mushrooms For Healthy Aging

Mushrooms have been known to prolong longevity in many cultures. However, not all mushrooms are edible. Some are poisonous, so be very sure when picking them during a forest walk.  However, there are many that are very nutritious.

Mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, which control the free radicals in the body that promote aging. They contain vitamin B which makes red blood cells, lower cholesterol, and some mushrooms are believed to aid the immune system.

Add to this the exercise and fresh air that you enjoy while hunting the mushrooms and you have another reason to believe that mushrooms are a boost to your health as you age.

Grandma Nature

Age Esteem begins when we are children.  Research at Yale University and the American Institute on Aging indicate that the attitude that we have towards age and older people as children influences how we ourselves age.  Children who are raised with a positive attitude and relationship towards older people age better and more healthfully and tend to live longer.

The relationships we have with older people, the language we hear others use to describe older people, and the images that we see illustrating older people will impact our whole life and even contribute to our longevity.

Age esteemers have a positive attitude toward aging.  They embrace it with age esteem.  Age esteemers value, admire and respect age and tend to live longer, happier lives.

Bonnie Fatio

Why is it that when someone says “sex” our ears perk up, and when someone says “age” we tend to tune out?

Actually sex and age have a lot in common.

• Both are three letter words.
• How you relate to each of them is dependent on your attitude.
• Your attitude toward each depends in great part on the attitude of your environment, what you were raised to believe.
• What you get out of sex and out of age is influenced by what you put into each.
• You control how you live with both your age and with sex.

Having an intimate relationship can improve your health and longevity.  – Just be sure to practice safe sex.