I turned 50, and realized I have so much yet to learn, explore, experience, share and live! How empowering is that?







Monday, January 25, 2010

Is Youth Wasted on the Young?

I was reading a fiction novel the other day, and in it a wise old Irishman said, “It’s not that youth is wasted on the young, but that the young waste youth!” That got me thinking. Is this true? I’m sure that no one sets out to deliberately waste their youth, but somehow all of us find ourselves getting old and wondering where our youth went.

So how does one make sure that at the end of the day, one can look back and say I lived life to its fullest potential?

One way is to make today count for something. The following is a quote someone shared with me. “This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it…let it be something good". –Unknown. Do something today that scares you. Do something today worth remembering tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be big.

Another way is to just slow down a bit. We seem to always be rushing onto the next phase of life, and we miss what’s going on in the moment. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, so don’t miss it! Learn to be present in the moment. Otherwise, you may find yourself wishing you hadn’t wasted your Youth! Youth is relative, by the way.

Country Western music artist Trace Adkins has a song out right now that says it pretty simply. “You’re Gonna Miss This”. Check out his video

Do It Now!

I heard those words the other day from one of my students at a barre workout studio where I teach. I hear it all the time, and it’s part of lululemon’s manifesto, but this time, those three words pierced me deeply.
After class I learned that my student was getting ready to travel to Italy. Her sister surprised her with the trip and she was taking her children as well. “Wow!”, I told her. “I have been dreaming of going for so long.”
My husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary a few years ago, and I was hoping that we could celebrate in Italy. I made it one of my goals for the year, and we even made plans to go with another couple. But as the date approached, it didn’t seem likely to happen. Life took over, and there were so many other things that zapped our savings. My husband was on disability for over two years, and it really affected our finances. Our anniversary came and went. The couple we were going to go with went without us. “Oh well”, I thought. “Maybe once we get back on our feet we’ll go.”
It’s been 2 years, and Italy has turned into a “someday” goal once again. Until that day in class, that is.
You see, after I told my student how much my husband and I wanted to go, she said “Do it now”! She and her husband always said they’d go someday too, but then he passed away before they ever got the chance, which is why her sister is taking her and her children. I realized I had to just find a way and go!
What might you be putting off for someday? “Do it now”, before you miss the opportunity. I’ve already begun checking out airfare and dates, and I just signed up to take Italian for travel. I’m so excited!
Buon viaggio!
This entry was written by Tori, posted on April 16, 2009 at 7:20 am, filed under goal setting. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

Thoughts on Turning 50

Thoughts on Turning 50

It’s surreal really to be sitting here writing about what it means to be 50! I can tell you, it doesn’t feel different really. I’m still the same me.

I have been dancing and moving since the age of 4, so I grew up with a keen awareness of my body, and what it felt like to move through space. I had a short professional dancing career in my mid 20’s to early 30’s, and also taught group exercise throughout my whole adult life. So, arriving at 50 was simply a graceful transition.

In the past few years, lululmeon has become a big part of my life and I have worn it almost daily. I was hired as a store educator over two years ago, and have continued to make living a healthy balanced life a priority. I get to work and workout with some amazing people that help to keep me young at heart.

I was married and had both my kids in my 20’s. Danced professionally and taught Aerobics through my 20’s, 30’s and continue to teach today. I am currently teaching a Barre Workout at Barre Physique in Manhattan Beach, California. I feel healthy and fit, and know that living an active lifestyle has helped me to reach this age and know that I have so much still to do! I’ve been married for almost 29 years and my husband Jim and I enjoy a wonderful marriage. With our children grown, we are having the time of our life.

I have to be honest though and mention that I did have moments of panic at the idea of being 50. Then a thought came to me, which continues to inspire me to seize this moment. There will come a time, when I only wish I was 50 again. So I am embracing this moment and celebrating the life I have lived so far, and know that I will continue to inspire and encourage those around me to live each day with gratitude and praise!

I know it’s kind of a cliché, but like a fine wine I only get better with age! Cheers!

The Count Down Continues.....

Today, I woke up and taught two barre workouts back to back. Went to the grocery store and helped an elderly lady with her grocery cart. I felt good and energized. I hear so many women around me comment on how they are getting older only to find out they are only 42. Wow, I feel so blessed to be where I am right now. I work with girls in their twenties, and learn so much from them every day.

I have a husband who adores me! How Blessed am I? My daughter has taken on planning my party, so I don't have to worry about it. Are things perfect in my world? No, but I am choosing today to look at the positive and count my many blessings. I'm PMSing, so tomorrow might be a different story. Keep you posted. Tori

I began blogging a month before I turned 50. Here is that first blog orginally posted on another site.

My birthday is on July 9Th. I have 1 month to go till I turn 50! Wow! It seems like just yesterday I turned 40! What happened? I remember thinking last year. "I have a whole year before I turn 50". Jim already turned 50, so I somehow felt safe. Although I knew it was looming.

Tomorrow is June 9Th, so I'll have exactly 1 month to go. So now what? Well for starters, I've been trying to decide whether or not I want a party. What do I want to do to make it special? A big trip is being scheduled for next year. Italy! I've never been to Italy, and have been wanting to go for so long. I have finally decided that if I am going to go, it is up to me to plan it. So next year it is.

But what does that leave me for this year? I kept dropping hints to my husband about it. I kept saying my birthday is coming up soon!! When he turned 50 last year, he said he didn't really want to do anything. Our daughter and I planned a very intimate party with close friends and family. Nothing major. He knows that I want to have a party, but he just is not taking the hints! I finally mentioned it to my daughter, and she is willing to help plan it, but I still need to decide what I want to do.

Why does it feel like so much pressure? It's not every day that one turns 50, so I guess it's to be expected. I don't have a very large budget, so that limits my options. I know I'd like to have dancing! I love to dance, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate feeling as good as I do at 50 than dancing up a storm. I've got the date set, July 11Th. I sent out a save the date Evite, so I'm sure something will come together.

I'll keep you posted!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Celebrating my 28th Wedding Anniverary!


Wow! Celebrated my 28Th Wedding Anniversary last weekend! Hard to believe it. We left Friday late afternoon and drove up the coast. Stopped off at some good friends for some wine and dinner, then went on to Cambria. We stayed the first night in an ocean front adorable room. Fell asleep and woke up to the sound of waves crashing! I loved it! We had a lazy morning, and then moved to a little private ocean front cottage. We sat on the front porch and watched the ocean all day. Read, drank wine, snacked on cheese and apple slices. It was glorious. Went to dinner and came back and soaked in the hot tub and drank Champagne.

We relaxed, made love, ate, drank, fought and made up, and it was wonderful! I can still honestly say we are madly in love with eachother after all these years. I am so grateful and blessed!

What a great way to rewind and recharge!