How to Age Beautifully

No matter what age you are, the best years of your life can certainly be ahead of you, says Costa del Sol Wellbeing Coach David Hurst. Here he explains how to get older elegantly and

beautifully. WORDS DAVID HURST

HOW TO AGE

BEAUTIFULLY

Getting older will have its difficulties, naturally. Yet with the right knowledge many of those challenges that are often encountered could be more swiftly put right – or even completely avoided. Certainly, being financially secure helps in some ways. But you only need to look at the news to know that having money doesn’t ensure happiness or immunity from depression or anxiety. Perhaps the most important thing is how people live their life. That’s because far too many people will simply eat, smoke, drink and worry themselves older. This is not just about when someone is in their later years. Our lifestyle habits and how we think are most often shaped in our younger years. So whatever your age now, there are positive ways to be that will let you live all stages of life wonderfully.

Z STAY CONNECTED Feeling alone is a huge emotional problem. That’s because people are made to feel connected to each other. So even though today’s technology means it’s easier to stay connected than ever before, nothing beats seeing someone face to face. In fact nothing is more certain to invigorate us than meeting up with people we love to be around.

Z LIVE SOMEWHERE BEAUTIFUL To age beautifully we need to relax. Our home and community need to feel like a sanctuary. Stem-cell biologist Dr Bruce Lipton has studied how the 50 trillion or so

cells in our body are either in fight or flight mode – or they are growing and consequently protecting our physical and emotional wellbeing. So where we live has to feel as free of any potential hazards as possible. Living in a peaceful home and somewhere with good neighbours and friends nearby will make for a much happier and healthier life.

Z EXERCISE AND EAT WELL Ageing beautifully is not solely about living until a decent age. It’s vital as well that we can still enjoy sports and physical activities for as long as possible. Keep active, try new things. Meditation and yoga are very beneficial for both mind and body. Then, we are extremely lucky in Spain as a Mediterranean diet is proven to be the healthiest. So eat well – and never let your age become an excuse for not doing something. As motivational author and speaker Dr Wayne Dyer said: “Refuse to let an old person move into your body.”

Z FIND MEANING Maybe there’s something you have always wanted to do, that you know will leave this world a better place than you found it. Now’s the ideal time for that. Finding meaning in life means you’ll feel increasingly more alive. “If you’ve found meaning in your life, you don’t want to go back,” said Morrie in Tuesdays With Morrie. “You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more.” Most likely you have more money and time than when you were younger. So what an opportunity to have new experiences, visit places you’ve never seen, and meet fantastic new people.

Z GROW OLDER GRATEFULLY If you are despondent or getting that way as you age, instead find gratitude as you realise many people who died before their time would love to have experienced the age you’ve reached now. Feeling sad about not being as young and all those ‘should-havedones’ will only make you age quicker. As an alternative, think about how you know a whole lot more now than you did in your teens. Most of us also have many achievements we can think about, as well as our children and grandchildren if we have any that are cherished aspects of being older. Remember those eras you’ve lived through that you wouldn’t have wanted to miss. Think about the friends you’ve made and your partner that you probably wouldn’t have if you’d been born another time. Acceptance about things we cannot change is an important part of ageing beautifully. One of these things is the year that we were born. “Find what’s the good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now,” Morrie said in Mitch Albom’s bestseller Tuesdays With Morrie, a true story about 78-year-old Morrie with only months left to live and the wisdom he shares with Mitch. “As you grow, you learn more.” “Ageing is not just decay, you know. It’s growth. It’s more than the negative you’re going to die, it’s also the positive that you understand you’re going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.” So focus on gratitude. Keeping our attention on all things to be grateful for will keep a wise smile on our face and yet a sparkle of childlike wonder in our eyes.

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g David Hurst is a Wellbeing Coach with four books published on emotional and mental health recovery, including 12 Steps To 1 Hero and The Anxiety Conversation. He has also written for newspapers and magazines around the world including The Guardian, The Times, Psychologies, GQ, Esquire and Marie Claire. To find out more or contact David to see how he can help you or someone you care about with any mental health problem or emotional issue, visit: david-hurst.com