Show Notes:

Summary:

In this episode of "Aging with Grace and Style," host Valerie Hatcher chats about finding joy in aging. She challenges the conventional, often negative perceptions about growing older by debunking common myths and presenting aging as a time of unexpected joy, growth, and newfound freedom. Valerie shares personal experiences, listener stories, and research-backed insights, illustrating that aging can bring increased emotional regulation, the freedom to prioritize, the joy of mentoring, increased self-confidence, deeper relationships, and the ability to pursue passions. Through her empowering and inspiring approach, Valerie encourages listeners to embrace aging with grace, style, and a whole lot of sass.

Timestamps:

00:00 Empowering podcast for women over 50. Enjoy!

04:41 Granny gang has fun, age is irrelevant.

09:33 Embracing meaningful connections, pursuing passions, aging benefits.

10:39 Embracing aging, finding joy in unexpected places.

14:13 Embrace joy in aging, and challenge limiting beliefs.

Key Takeaways:

• Challenge common myths about aging by focusing on how happiness, strength, and confidence can increase after 50.
• Prioritize activities and relationships that matter most to you, shedding societal "shoulds" to live more authentically.
• Discover the joy and growth in mentoring others, as it can enrich both your life and theirs.
• Embrace new passions and hobbies that you've always wanted to explore, using newfound freedom and time as you age.
• Cultivate joy through gratitude and nurturing meaningful, intergenerational connections.

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Stay tuned for more inspiring chats, tips, and stories about the midlife journey.

See you soon!

Hey there. Welcome, if you're new, and welcome back

if you're a regular. I'm Valerie, and I'm super excited that

you're listening. Today, we're going to talk about

something that has recently been on my mind. It's

how to find joy in aging. Now I know

what you might be thinking. Joy in

aging? Isn't that an oxymoron? Well,

I'm here to tell you that it absolutely is not.

Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old fashioned

ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're ready to

own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch of

sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging with

grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here

with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of

fun just for us, women over 50. So grab

your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and let's get

started.

We've lived enough to know that life's too short for

pretense. We're ready to shed societal

self acceptance. I remember when I

first turned 50. It was kinda hard for me.

3040 were good, but I didn't embrace 50 as

quickly. Don't get me wrong. I was definitely

happy to be alive and to see that age because a lot of

people didn't, but it was mixed emotion.

I felt like I was supposed to to dread this next

chapter, like society expected me to fade into the

background. At times, I also felt

like maybe I was supposed to dress a certain way,

act a certain way, hide my flaws and my insecurities.

It became exhausting, but then

something just incredible happened. I had

an moment. I realized that

aging wasn't the end. It was the beginning.

And I started to discover all the

unexpected joys that came with it. So today,

let's debunk some common myths about aging.

We've all heard that aging means declining

happiness, losing purpose, or that

adventure some somehow ends. But recent

studies show that happiness actually

increases after 50. Isn't that something?

Here are 5 myths. Myth number 1,

aging means decline. This one's a classic.

We're constantly bombarded with images of

aging as a downward a. But here's the

truth. While our bodies may change, we don't have

to decline. In fact, many women find they

get stronger, wiser, and more confident as they

age. Myth number 2, older people

can't have fun. Oh, please.

Who says we can't have fun after 50? I've

seen women in their seventies tearing up the dance

floor, traveling the world, and starting new businesses.

Age is just a number, and it shouldn't limit our ability to

enjoy life. My close circle of friends

affectionately called the granny guy gained by our

kids. Now I've been and honorary granny,

but this is all gonna change in November, but that's a whole

other episode. Anyway, everyone is over 50.

And when I tell you this group knows how to have fun, we

laugh, we cut up in person and in our group

text. We like to dance, play games, you name

it. I remember my with birthday weekend.

It was an absolute blast. Everyone needs a

granny gang in their life, but this proves

that age is no excuse for not

letting loose and having fun. Myth number

3, your best years are behind you. Now this

myth is a real downer, isn't it? But it's simply not

true. Every stage in life has something unique and

beautiful to offer. Our fifties, sixties, and

beyond can be some of the most fulfilling years

if we embrace them with open arms. Think about it.

We have more time for ourselves, more wisdom to

share, and more freedom to pursue our passions.

It's not too late to create the life that

you've always dreamed of. Myth number 4,

aging means losing your looks. Okay. Yes. Our

skin might wrinkle and our hair might gray, But who

cares? Beauty isn't about looking like a 20 year

old. It's about confidence, self acceptance, and

radiating that inner glow. And let's be real.

Some of the most beautiful women that I know are

in their fifties, sixties, and beyond. They've

embraced their age with grace and elegance, and their beauty

shines through even brighter than before.

Myth number 5, older people are invisible.

You know, I've recently observed an organization where

older individuals are made to feel as if they aren't

relevant or like they're invisible. I don't

believe it's intentional, but it's definitely

noticeable. And it's a perception that something that's seen

by others. This 1 is plain

wrong. Older women and men, for that sake,

have so much to offer the world. Our

wisdom, our experience, our perspective,

we shouldn't fade into the background. We should be stepping

into the spotlight and sharing our voices.

It's time for a perspective shift.

Instead of focusing on what we might lose with age,

let's celebrate what we gain. Because believe

it or not, there are some pretty

amazing perks to getting older. A let me

share a few that might help change your perspective.

a is increased emotional regulation. I know.

Yeah. That sounds deep, doesn't it? As we age, we actually

get better at managing our emotions.

Drama becomes less appealing, and we find more joy

and peace and stability. Secondly is the

freedom to prioritize. Remember all those

shoulds that used to dictate your life? Well,

now you have the wisdom to focus on what truly matters

to you. If you want a day of doing nothing, that's fine.

If you don't feel like going to an engage engagement,

then that's fine too. It's up to you.

Next is the joy of mentoring. There's

a unique satisfaction in sharing your

wisdom and watching others grow because of it.

I have a mentee at work, and it's nice being

able to help her navigate some of the challenges

based on what I've already experienced.

Next is increased self confidence. As we age,

we tend to care less about what others think and

more about what we truly value. This

newfound freedom from societal expectations

can lead to a boost in self confidence that we might

not have experienced in our younger years. We're more

comfortable in our own skin. We know who we

are and what we want. And that, my friend, is a

powerful thing. And then there's deeper

relationships. So let's think quality over

a. That should become our mantra, leading

to more meaningful connections. I

don't need a lot of friends. I just need strong,

healthy friendships. And then lastly

is freedom to pursue our passions.

When we were younger, we might have been focused

on building careers, raising families, or

juggling multiple responsibilities. But as we

age, we often have more time and freedom to

pursue those passions that have been simmering on the back

burner, whether it's writing a novel,

starting a business, or just simply spending more

time in nature a, now is

the time to embrace those dreams and to live

a life that truly lights you up.

These are just a few of the unexpected benefits of aging.

And remember, this isn't about denying

the challenges that come with getting older. It's

about acknowledging those challenges

while also celebrating the unique gifts and opportunities

that this stage of life has to offer.

I, received a message from a listener named

Sarah the other day about the

unexpected joy that she's found in aging.

When I turned 60, Sarah told me, I thought it

was the beginning of the end, but then my daughter signed

me up for a local community theater group.

Initially reluctant, Sarah gave it a try. It

was sure I was sure I'd be

the oldest person there, but I found a diverse group of

all ages. The director, a vibrant woman in

her seventies, immediately put me at ease. As

Sarah started attending rehearsals, she discovered

unexpected joy. There's something

liberating about being on stage. I found myself

laughing more than I had in years. The

experience began to influence other areas of her

life. She said she started seeing the world differently.

Her relationships changed too. Her grandkids

she said her grandkids think that it's hilarious that grandma

is in place. They come to every performance and they

cheer the loudest, and she's made new

friends of all ages through the theater group.

They often go out after rehearsals and

laugh and share stories. A reflected on

how this changed her perspective on aging. She

said she used to think joy was about big

moments, but now she sees it in the

small things, remembering a difficult line, the

camaraderie of the cast, and using her imagination.

I never expected to find so much joy at this stage in

life, Sarah concluded. But here I am at

60, having the time of my life.

Aging isn't about slowing down. It's about discovering

new parts of yourself. Sarah's

story shows us that joy in aging

often comes from unexpected sources.

It's about being open to new

experiences, connecting with others, and rediscovering

parts of ourselves that we might

have forgotten. Most importantly,

it reminds us that it's never too late

to find passions and new sources of joy.

And Sarah's story, it isn't unique.

There are countless women out there who

are discovering new passions, deepening

their relationships, and finding a newfound

sense of purpose and fulfillment as they age. Are

you inspired yet? Well, here are some practical

tips to cultivate more joy. 1,

embrace new experiences. Explore new hobbies.

Try that dance class that you've been eyeing.

2, practice gratitude. Focus

on the blessings in your life, big and small.

Start a joy journal and record daily moments

of happiness. 3, nurture

intergenerational relationships. Volunteer at a

school or mentor a younger colleague.

Remember, joy in aging isn't about

clinging to youth. That's not what I'm trying to say. It's

about embracing the unique gifts at

each stage of life. I

encourage you to challenge your own beliefs

about aging. What limiting thoughts are

you are holding you back from embracing

this stage of life with joy and enthusiasm? You know,

I'd love to hear your stories of joy in aging. Share them with

me at pod.aging with grace and style.com.

And maybe like Sarah, I'll include you on our next episode.

Remember, aging is not a disease.

It's a privilege, and it's not too

late to start finding joy in it. Until

next time, keep embracing the joy in every

day.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling

inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I love

sharing this space with you. And if you of today's episode,

do me a favor, share it with a friend who could use

some extra inspiration. A quick rating and

review really helps too. Don't forget to subscribe

so you never miss an episode. Let's keep this

conversation going. Head over to pod.aging

with grace and style.com to sign up for my newsletter.

Until next time, keep shining with grace,

style, and a whole lot of sass.