This month I had the good fortune of reaching my 47th year. The past year has brought so many changes, and pleasant things. It has been an interesting year (to say the least), for which I will be forever grateful. I truly believe that it’s a precursor of the things to come. 

Less than a year ago the Beauty Disruptor was born, which placed my life on a whole other trajectory. The creation of the Beauty Disruptor has given me a platform to express my ideas and exert my place as a Gen  X woman in modern society, as well as connect with other women such as myself.

After years of working in the beauty industry, I came to the realization that women over 40 were being phased out, and increasingly marginalised. But I digress…Right before my birthday I started to think about my life as a 40+ woman, the ability to maintain my youthfulness in a society that continues to push aside older women, and navigate in a world that glorifies youth over wisdom.

I’m often asked me how I do it, and what is it exactly that keeps me so young. To be quite honest, it’s a cocktail of things that work together simultaneously like a well oiled machine.  A combination of mindset, healthy lifestyle, clean diet, and a good skincare routine. Oh yeah, and I can’t forget genetics…but that’s a whole other story.  
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I’ve learned a lot of things over the years.  Overall I’ve realised that it’s important to keep oneself happy.  Happiness is the key to prolonging longevity.  I’d like to share some of my thoughts, little rituals and behaviours that have helped me retain my youthfulness for all of these years.  

• Feel the spirit of youthfulness. Youthfulness is a feeling and an attitude. Even though I’m 47, I’ve always believed in my heart that I am 21. I often find me referring to myself as a girl, and you can’t tell me otherwise.  Youth is a feeling.  Affirm “I am youth.”
• Know no bounds. Many people believe that they are limited because of their age.  I’ve always had an "I can do anything" attitude, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, and evolving always. One’s age shouldn’t be a deterrent to trying new things.  On the contrary, wisdom and experience in life should give one courage to seize fresh opportunities.  Say to yourself, “I am limitless.” 
• Never say never. We never know what’s around corner. Sometimes limiting thoughts and beliefs hinder our own growth. Always allow yourself room to grow and evolve.
• Keep an open minded. It’s important to stay abreast of the times. Abandoning outdated thoughts and ideas will keep you young, and in synch with changing tides. 
• Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Believe it or not, I love to poke fun at myself. Life’s not that serious! Laughing and joking at one’s own expense is liberating and a definite stress reliever.  
• Dance. I love to dance! I feel happy when I dance. It releases so much pent up energy, and is a good way to get in touch with your soul. Dancing helps to unblock the sacral chakra. Feel the rhythm of the music expressed through yourself by the power of dance.
• Protect your energy. There are a lot of energy vampires out there just waiting to suck the life out you. Remember that your energy is sacred. Do not allow people to project their negativity onto you or penetrate your aura. Not everyone should have access to you. If you practice this, you’ll lead a more peace filled life with less drama and headaches.  Say to yourself, “My energy is sacred.”
• Give up the need to control. The younger version of myself always felt the need to micromanage every aspect her life.  I was always meddling with my life in the hopes of gaining more control, to make things go the way I wanted when I wanted. Thank God for the wisdom that comes with aging! I’ve now relinquished control, and now flow freely with life.  I don’t care as much about the outcome of situations, because I know that the universe will always work things out in my favour. I’ve realized that life is a journey to be enjoyed, and allow myself to be guided by the process. 
• Celebrate yourself. What a blessing it is to be alive, and have the ability to express yourself through divine feminine energy.  I love being a woman! As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to love myself more and celebrate all the qualities I’ve been blessed with. Celebrating oneself is what keeps you alive, feeling vibrant, and connected to this earth.  We each have unique qualities and abilities that deserve to be celebrated.  There are many ways to celebrate oneself.  The key is to do things that uplift you and make you feel good. 
• Allow yourself some grace. We can often be our own worst critic. As human beings, we naturally have a tendency to browbeat ourselves.  This is damaging to the human psyche, and can cause all types of emotional damage. Along my journey I’ve realised that there is no such thing as perfection, so stop seeking it.  Yes, I have goals and aspirations; But Rome wasn’t built in a day.  So I need to work consistently on my goal rather than pushing myself to reach unrealistic deadlines. The validation that we seek exists within, and it’s perfectly normal to be proud of yourself and your accomplishments regardless of how small they may be. Once I stopped beating myself up, I became happier. The imaginary weight that was on my shoulders miraculously lifted.  Giving yourself grace is an act of kindness. It’s funny because we’re often kind to others and not to ourselves. It may take some getting used to, and and a bit of reconditioning.  At first, it might seem weird. But don’t be afraid, go ahead and give yourself the grace you deserve.

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