Feeling Great at 58
As my friend Renata points out, when our birthday has us starting (or gently within) a new decade (33, 40, 51, 62) it can feel much less ominous than when we are at the end of a decade and creeping up towards the next one. But maybe that’s just she and I. I don’t love the sound of 58 as much as I do 62. She and I (as enneagram type sevens) may be so apt to project into the future that by the time we get to the actual new decade, we are prepared.
BUT, and this is what my birthday has to do with health, I feel better now than I did three years ago, at the end of 54. I'm reminded of this because I have a photo of Ray and I in Paris from 2018 that stares at me everyday. It is the wallpaper on my phone. I look blissfully in love and am bubbling with excitement. AND, compared to now, my eyes and face look kind of sallow. The color of our skin and eyes reflects what is happening in our organs and microbiome. My jowls may currently be sliding on down (along with my eyelids and neck) but the insides of me are pretty happy. The chronic fatigue I was still struggling with is gone, my joints no longer hurt, and I know what it can feel like to be at peace, in the moment, more often than ever before. Just in case I've stumbled upon something that could help you too, I thought I'd pass along a few things that have worked for me in my most recent journey towards better health.
It's important to have support. I have to give a lot of credit to Ray. He is disciplined and consistent. I would still be drinking celery juice, doing yoga and meditating without him. Would I be doing these things as often? Extremely doubtful. But as you know, this inspiration needn’t be your life mate. You can find a friend with different strengths than yours and help one another with accountability. Or you can get a health or life coach. Both a coach and a friend would be best.
Three years ago, I was eating only organic and knew to eat lots of vegetables, fruits (and less meat) for decades at that point. I took good supplements (though they are better now) and had always exercised. Here are some of the main things I have added over the past few years:
Drinking 16 ounces of celery juice every morning.
Drinking detox smoothies several times a week (more often during a cleanse.)
Doing cleanses periodically.
Not eating fat before 11 am.
Meditating most mornings.
Grounding (I have grounding mats from here for when sleeping, and when on the computer.)
Drinking more water.
Drinking less alcohol (I will be re-reading This Naked Mind soon. It changed my relationship with alcohol.)
Drinking less caffeine.
I have no idea which of these things has had the biggest impact. Maybe it’s a cumulative effect of changes done consistently over time? We are all different. Finding what works best for you specifically can take some experimenting.
I still remember having those chronic fatigue spells, when I wondered how I was going to drive that day to get my kids to where they needed to go, or the times when it was a struggle to get dinner cooked. I'm really grateful to have so much energy now and just wish I'd had even more answers back then.
My next group cleanse is starting on January 10. That gives you plenty of time to prepare after the holidays. As always, if you’re a client, it is free. If you have been in a previous cleanse with me, it is $25. Bring a friend along. Start your new year off well. There is more information here.
Much Love,
Madeline
