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Happy Tuesday, friends! After three days inside, I find myself thinking once again about OPTIMISTIC AGING: HONOR YOURSELF.<\/strong><\/p>\n What I mean is that optimistic aging really is about the call to honor yourself…and there are many ways to do this…that is why I am writing about it weekly.<\/p>\n Three days of pajamas and socks reminds me of how quickly we can slip into despondency if we do not take time for ourselves.<\/p>\n Oh, I know, three days is not much…but there was a time in my life that I went years without honoring myself.<\/p>\n During my time as a working mother, I put me at the bottom of the priority list.<\/p>\n I said to myself that others were more important and there was no time to take care of me.<\/p>\n It is so easy as we age to allow illness, winter doldrums, or even caregiving to take us to that same low valley where we do not honor ourselves.<\/p>\n I received a wake-up call early on…so allow me to be your wake-up call today.<\/p>\n OPTIMISTIC AGING: HONOR YOURSELF: I DID<\/strong><\/p>\n Stacy London, in her book The Truth About Style<\/em>, explained perfectly how taking care of ourselves and our appearance is transformative.<\/p>\n It was for me. Once I shed the oversized message tee shirts and the frumpy fitting jeans; practiced skincare; put on makeup; and took my hair out of the pony tail…I could feel improvement in my state of mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n I did not have much money at the time, but I read and learned how to improve my appearance and then shopped affordable stores and thrift.<\/p>\n It became fun….and even more fun were the comments as co-workers, family and friends took notice. It really was empowering.<\/p>\n By taking small steps daily to improve my outsides, I discovered that when you honor yourself, you can do more and serve others more with joy.<\/p>\n Now, when I go through times like right now when I am in my extreme comfy clothing for long periods, I get anxious to get back to self-care.<\/p>\n That is not a selfish statement…self care just means I can do more for others. Despondent people are stagnant and shut down….I was getting that way before I woke up to all I could be.<\/p>\n It does not take a lot of time and it does not take a lot of money.<\/p>\n No matter your situation or age, take just a few moments every day…for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are staying in…bathe, do your hair, care for your complexion, and wear something comfy but something that helps you to feel comfy in your own skin.<\/p>\n Avoid the negative thinking of “why bother” or “I am too old.” Just begin to do this anyway and watch how you will feel. <\/p>\n I honestly feel better about myself at age 72 than I did when I first began to care for me at age 50. And I am so glad that I learned to honor me.<\/p>\n OPTIMISTIC AGING: HONOR YOURSELF: LEGACY<\/strong><\/p>\n I want to share with you a story that I have shared before. <\/p>\n I wrote this for The Huffington Post in 2015 about a woman who had a huge impact on me as a child.<\/p>\n Please do not toss out the reason for this story because she was wealthy. <\/p>\n In fact, I later met a car salesman who spoke the same way of his mother who dressed and carried herself with elegance while dressing out of donation barrels and living in projects.<\/p>\n She made each day special and honored herself and her family. I loved listening to the story of his mother.<\/p>\n The conversation with him began after I complimented his jacket. That was when he said, my mother taught me to always look my best, no matter what was in my day.<\/p>\n Now, to read about Mrs. Burns who left a legacy with me, just click on LEAVING A LEGACY THROUGH PERSONAL STYLE.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Ladies, if you are experiencing some depression and have ceased to care for yourself, please consider changing that today…even in a small way.<\/p>\n Do it for yourself….Optimistic Aging: Honor Yourself…is a place to begin.<\/p>\n And if you know someone who needs this encouragement…pass it on, please…life is too short not to live it with joy.<\/p>\n![\"optimistic](\"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Optimistic-Aging-Honor-Yourself.-2-1024x875.jpg\")
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