Monday, September 30, 2013

Practical ways to make the rest of my life the best of my life...



I don't think of my age all that much.
I don't feel fifty six.
At least, not most of the time.

When I'm out on my run I think of my age with pride and gratitude.
I'm fifty six and I can run.
Thank God!
I've been a walker for over twenty years,
but it wasn't until age fifty five that I decided to celebrate my double fives by running a 5K.
I've been running ever since! 
I try to walk a half mile, run two miles, then cool down by walking another half mile or so.


Sometimes the enemy tries to use my age against me.
He tempts me to begin to fear and worry when I remember that sixty is only four years away.
What about this, what if that?
 He most certainly likes to get me to fret.
He most certainly does not like me to trust God and to have a mind that is at rest and filled with peace.

I notice my age when I first wake up.
My legs and feet are a bit stiff, a bit achey, especially on that first trip down the stairs to the kitchen.
And that first look in the mirror without make-up, why there's my mama looking back at me!

Growing older is inevitable.
But, I refuse to be a cranky, joyless, anxiety filled old lady.
 I am determined to make the rest of my life, the best of my life!
Here are some things that I am trying to do to help make my days the best.

1) Stay spiritually fit.
By reading, meditating on and heeding God's Word.
By communicating with God continually through prayer.
By staying free of offenses, unforgiveness and bitterness.
By keeping my heart soft, yielded, pliable and obedient to God.
By loving and serving others.
By staying involved and active in my local church.
By mentoring others.

2) Stay mentally fit.
Don't be mentally lazy and slothful.
Learn new things.
(I've been learning photography the last couple of years. 
 I'm hoping to learn to knit this year.)
Read good books.
Keep writing.
Keep creating.

3) Stay physically fit.
Exercise at least 5 days a week.
Eat right. 
Drink lots of water.
Moisturizer is my friend! 
(Take good care of my skin.)
Keep up with regular doctor visits and exams.

4) Stay emotionally fit.
Let the Spirit of God in me rule over my emotions.
Let the peace of God rule my mind and heart.
Keep my thoughts centered on the truth found in God's Word.

5) Stay socially fit.
Get together with old friends.
Make new friends.
Mix it up!  Hang out with people older and younger than myself, as well as those my age.
Have people over to our home...practice hospitality.
Stay young by being around my children and grandchildren.

6) Keep having goals and dreams to reach for.
(If there's nothing to look forward to achieving, life feels purposeless.)
Keep asking God to show me His purpose for this time in my life.

These are just a few practical ways I want to live so that I make the most of each day God gives me.

I'd love for you to comment and tell me how you are coping with aging
 and practical ways you are making the most of this time in your life.


still following,

25 comments:

  1. Oh man, I am dreading turn 50 (I have three years to go). I feel much older than I am. I get little to no exercise and my body just seems to be wanting to slow way down. I am trying to embrace these golden years and make small steps towards a healthier me. Easier said than done!

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    1. Friend, don't grow old before your time! You have a rich, full life to live and lots of things to do for the kingdom. Take care of yourself. Remember, as we age, if we don't use it, we lose it.

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  2. FANTASTIC post!! I love this and want to share it with others.

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  3. I love this post! This sort of thing has been on my mine and my own mom's mind this year, too. We both have milestone b-days (30 & 50). I want to find the positive in each decade. While--for me and my hubs-- 20's have been excellent socially, and through His grace I grew leaps and bounds closer to my Savior despite trials, it also has been filled with lots of inconsistencies with him going through his med education. I've been SO stretched in lots of ways because of this! Practically, my 30's should be more consistent and all about our new family. I certainly don't want to neglect my body even though I feel so busy with children!
    I look forward to see what God has in store for us. Elizabeth, you certainly look beautiful,and I can see in your writing and photos how creative you are, so keep up the awesome inspiration!!!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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    1. You are a sweetie....oh, to be thirty again! :)

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  4. Great points, Elizabeth! I'm right there with you--53.

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    1. Sometimes when I say my age it sounds shocking, like I can't believe it myself that I'm 56! I'm determined though, to be the best 56 year old I can be!

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  5. It's easy to focus on the things I can't do - or don't do - but it's important to remember that God isn't finished with me yet! I'm encouraged by stories of gals who started ministries and effective causes when they were in their later years of life. The women on one side of my family have all become extremely negative as they aged. Several years ago I asked God to help me stay positive and full of faith. And fun! I keep busy in things that help me stretch and grow - spiritually, emotionally, mentally. I need to work on the physical things. Need to add exercise once I get some answers on an ankle problem that is keeping me slowed down. Staying in God's Word and hearing Him speak to me every day - and through the day - is a key part of facing growing older. I want to grow in Him until the moment He takes me to Heaven!
    ~Adrienne~

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    1. Love you, friend. "The best is yet to be", as the saying goes.

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  6. Elizabeth. This is so beautifully said. Going to print this😃. After my life so abruptly changed 2 yrs. ago & now I'm 62 I am choosing to wake up every morning & say I expect something good to happen to me today! & choose to make each day a good day! My husband & I walk every morning now that we are both home & trusting God daily to lead guide & direct us! Growing older Gracefully ❤ love reading your blogs. Blessings❤

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind encouragement, Carol!

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  7. excellent. will be reading and re-reading so as to fully embrace the truths in each point. thank you so much. :)

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    1. I need to reread it too, gotta make sure I take my own advice! :)

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  8. That was wonderful. I'm 45 and this edified me today. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you so much, AllyJo. Now's the time to "build your life". You can't change others, there are some circumstances you can't change, but the one thing we can change is ourself! I try to remind myself of that often.

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  9. SO good Elizabeth! These are some of the reasons I am so thankful for your friendship. You really live out Luke 10:27, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind....'

    This encourage me too... to get moving!!! And though you were blessed with beautiful skin, I want to feel comfortable in the skin I've been given to travel this earth in.

    Love you!

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  10. Aging never bothered me. I could not wait to be a grandma. But then I looked in the mirror and saw my mother. Freaked me out. I am not vain but my gosh where did I go? I look so old. Then... I reminded myself that I loved my mother and she was (to me and my brothers) the most beautiful woman in the world. That perks a person up!

    I love your list of life! I have a list but it is more jumbled up :-) I think I could learn a lot from you :-)

    Love,
    Patty
    PS I will beat you to 60! I only have 3 years but if you are a runner? You may get there first LOL! Ready, Set, Grow!!

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    1. Patty, you have such a positive outlook and a sweet spirit. I'm so glad to have "met" you through our group!

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  11. I really do love your list of things to keep you thinking and being younger mentally, physically, emotionally and most of all spiritually. I'll be turning the big 60 this month but most of the time I don't think about my age. My body may have some issues I'm having to deal with--i.e. I really need replacement knee surgery for both my knees but I am believing God for a miracle of new knees from His warehouse in heaven. Exercising is tough to do but I've decided I'm going to take my dog for a walk each day and walk as far as I can before my knees bother me. Dropping about 30 lbs will help me a lot and my knees will definitely appreciate it. I need to write down my goals--Habbakuk 2: 1-3. Yip that's one of the keys write it all down as you did above and keep it before my eyes & DO IT!!!! Thanks! Elizabeth I needed to be reminded to do this.

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    1. Yes, I think we become paralyzed about what we can't do, when our focus needs to be on what doing what we can!

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  12. Love this! I'm in the middle of my decade, and every now and then, the passing of time hits me and I'm a bit overwhelmed by it. I want to approach the future with a confidence that God is still at work in me!

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  13. This is such an uplifting post. At 61 I have begun to think in terms of limited years left and that is no way to be. There is much to take from your post - thank you.

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