Category: Not Growing Older

WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

I Hope you had a wonderful beginning of 2019 and to help you start it off in the right direction here is an excerpt of my new book GETTING OVER GROWING OLDER .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you speak about yourself, you always say, “In my life.” But do you really have only one life? I don’t think so. Looking back, I see that I went through many different phases, which all had a distinct beginning and end like chapters in a book. this phase of your life is a new chapter. Will it be a happy one filled with challenges, new experiences, joy, and laughter?

That depends on you. You are the Author of this new chapter in your life, and you will write the story’s happy ending. Yes, there will be difficulties, and your will have to deal with them, but the story will be happier and easier to write if you stay optimistic, positive, and refuse to let old age creep in between the lines.

The only thing constant is change. How you deal with change determines your future — and if you never give up – the future will be brighter

And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

Sixty and Beyond: 5 women who prove your best years are yet to come!

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

Most people think that life is long over for sixty-year-old women, but nothing is farther than the truth. The older we get, the wiser and more dynamic we become. We waste less time on trivialities and we spend more time on the things that matter.

If you’re heading toward the sixties and beyond, don’t sell yourself short. The best years of your life are ahead of you. Just look at the accomplishments of these five women.

Svetlana Alexievich

Noble Prize Winner Literature 2015
(awarded at the age of 67)

 

Helen Mirren

Oscar Winner Best Actress 2007
(awarded at the age 61)

 

Linda Buck

Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine 2004.
Also, awarded honorary doctorate by Harvard University
and elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society
(at the age of 68)

 

Angela Merkel

Chancellor of Germany
(at the age of 62)

 

Meryl Streep

3-time Oscar winner.
Also, reached the most Oscar nominations of a single person
(at the age of 67)

 

So don’t let the amount of candles on your birthday cake dictate how you will live the rest of your life. It’s your time to shine!

Do you know of any inspiring women over sixty? Please share below.

Photo credits

Svetlana Alexievich

Helen Mirren

Linda Buck

Angela Merkel

Meryl Streep

And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

7 Books that Will Keep You Younger

7 Books that Will Keep You Younger

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

Are you ready to live longer? It’s never too late to start enjoying a healthier, more fulfilling life. Learn brain exercises, financial wisdom, and lifestyles that will reset your genes with these seven books on aging from the bestsellers list on Amazon.

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1. The Blue Zones, Second Edition: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest

Region by region, Buettner reveals the “secrets” of longevity through stories of his travels and interviews with some of the most remarkable–and happily long-living people on the planet. It’s not coincidence that the way they eat, interact with each other, shed stress, heal themselves, avoid disease, and view their world yield them more good years of life. Buettner’s easy to follow “best practices” and list of healthy lifestyle choices from the Blue Zones will empower readers to live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives.

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2. 399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges Specially Designed to Keep Your Brain Young.

Based on the science that shows that people middle-aged or older who solve word games and brainteasers have a significant cognitive advantage over those who do not, 399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges is the illustrated game book specifically created to cross-train the brain. Here are 399 games to stretch, challenge, and push the reader, all of which stimulate the formation of neurons—literally, regrowing the brain.

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3. Aging Backwards: Reverse the Aging Process and Look 10 Years Younger in 30 Minutes a Day

The body is programmed to self-destruct as we age, but the speed at which it self-destructs is up to us. Recent scientific studies have proven this fact! In Aging Backwards, Miranda Esmonde-White offers a groundbreaking guide on how to maintain and repair our cells, through scientifically designed workouts.

Healthy cells prevent joint pain, muscle loss and weak bones—helping to control weight, increase energy, and improve strength and mobility. Miranda offers readers of all ages the tools they need to look and feel young. Complete with tips, tools, and her Eight Basic Age-Reversing Workouts accompanied by instructional photos and web clips, Aging Backwards will help you grow younger, not older!

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4. Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy – Until You’re 80 and Beyond

Both men and women can become functionally younger every year for the next five to ten years, then continue to live with newfound vitality and pleasure deep into our 80s and beyond.

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5. How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won’t Get from Your Financial Advisor

World-class author and innovator Ernie J. Zelinski guides you to:

  • Gain courage to take early retirement; in fact, the earlier the better.
  • Put money in proper perspective so that you don’t need a million dollars to retire.
  • Generate purpose in your retirement life with meaningful creative pursuits.
  • Follow your dreams instead of someone else’s.
  • Take charge of your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
  • Better envision you retirement goals — including where you want to live.
  • Above all, make you retirement years the best time of your life.

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This book is written for you…
  • If you want to thrive and find spiritual strength, wellbeing, wisdom, and wonder as you grow older.
  • If you are willing to recognize that we live in a new period of history where we can live longer and with more vitality than people ever have.
  • If you are ready to embrace this new reality and live the fourth quarter of your life creatively, lovingly, and joyfully.

 

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7. Younger: A Breakthrough Program to Reset Your Genes, Reverse Aging, and Turn Back the Clock 10 Years

The scientific reality is that 90 percent of the signs of aging and disease are caused by lifestyle choices, not your genes. In other words, you have the capability to overcome and transform your genetic history and tendencies. Harvard/MIT—trained physician Sara Gottfried, M.D. has created a revolutionary 7-week program that empowers us to make the critical choices necessary to not just look young, but also feel young.

Have you read any of these books on aging?

Which one would you recommend?

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And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

AARP MAGAZINE

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

Do you get the AARP Magazine?

It has been put in my mailbox for some years, but I never read it until recently. And now turning the pages I don’t miss anything. And if you receive the magazine I would like draw your attention to an article in the June/July issue entitled Leading Ladies.

The Leading Ladies are Sharon Stone, Alfre Woodward, and Jane Fonda – as my grandmother used to say “age happens to everybody.” But without giving the story away here are some of the points they made – and I quote:

  • Sharon Stone  58- I don’t think we have to accept the assignment of aging, that all of a sudden you’re supposed to be dowdy………..
  • Alfre Woodaard 63- Age is what you decide you want it to be. I am still in motion.
  • Jane Fonda 78 – If you would have told me when I was 20 or 30 that I’d be happier at 70, I would have said to you ‘You are out of your mind.’

The encouragement of these ladies is uplifting and can inspire any woman to make the best of life’s third act.

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Do you have a story you would like to share? Would love to hear it!

And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything

DSC08016-2 (2)Brigitte

FEAR – DON’T LET IT SPOIL THE MOMENT

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

This week I attended a meeting of the TheRadicalAgeMovement held at the Ethical Culture Society of NY.

There were close to 100 men and women, anywhere from 60 to 80+++. and one of the topics was “What do you fear the most about getting old?”

The discussion went on for the next three hours, and here are some of the major concerns,

  • that I outlive my money
  • that I will be incapacitated
  • that I will be alone
  • that nobody will take care of me
  • that I am not part of the world any longer
  • that I can’t travel anymore
  • that my friends have all died
  • that I can’t take care of myself

These fears, all of them, or some of them, I think cross every older person’s mind at one time or another. But we must not allow it to take over our life. One woman said,

“I can hardly sleep when I think of my finances?”

“May I ask you if you are having financial difficulties now? I asked.

“No, my accountant says I will not outlive my money. But I can’t stop worrying because one never knows what might happen.”

No, one doesn’t. But let’s stop and think! Isn’t this is true for any situation in life, and at any age? – you never know what might happen?  And haven’t we all heard that worrying changes nothing? Realizing this we should not let an unknown future spoil our today!

I know from my experience that whatever happens in life, life goes on and solutions are found. So maybe now it’s time to smell the flowers (sorry for the cliché) instead of worrying about how they will look when they are wilted.IMG_4003 IMG_2007 IMG_3368

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And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything

Brigitte

 

 

 

Marilyn Monroe’s’ Birthday

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

It’s her birthday and if she was still alive she would be 90 years old today.

Marilyn

One of my grandmother’s thoughts about age was if you don’t want to get old you have to die young.

Marilyn did — and she will forever be young and beautiful.

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And always remember  – A Smile Changes Everything

Brigitte

SENIOR MOMENT? NO INFORMATION OVERLOAD!

Published on by Brigitte Nioche6 Comments

 

scan0001-2If forgetting something is a senior moment than a lot of young people have senior moments —-  because they too forget things!

But their busy lives gives them a pass, whereas when an older person doesn’t remember it is seen as a result of being older. I think the truth, for young and old, lies somewhere in the middle. The constant bombardment of the news media, new inventions from Silicone Valley, advertisements, as well as the attachment to our new life lines like the iPhone, Smart Phone, Kindle, Podcast, Facebook, and many more I am not even aware of, are like an explosions around us. And often this new information is valid today and gone tomorrow.

A study done by Dr. Michael Remscar of the University of Tubingen in Germany reassures us, quote:

People do not decline mentally with age, it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more in information in their brains. Much like a computer struggles as the hard drive gets full, so too, do humans take longer to access information when their brains are full.

Our brains are not just full they are overloaded and attacked on a daily basis. And not being able to take it all in, not being able to process it all, makes older people feel like their brains are not function as before.

Before was different. The world has changed and as hard as we try to take it all in, there will be moments for everybody – young and old – that will seem like a senior moment but are just an overload in your mental computer.

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And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything

Brigitte

 

TRIPPING OR FALLING?

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

Good Morning Everybody!

A few days ago I ran to catch the bus, and you guessed right I lost my footing and tripped.

People helping me up asked,” What happened.”

“I fell”  I answered “trying to catch the bus.”  At that moment my friend who was with me nudged me and whispered,

“Don’t say you fell – say you tripped. If you say you fell everybody will think ‘oh, now she starts to fall.”

Best advice I had in a long time. It’s like I said in my book, don’t tell your age because people will treat you differently once they know how old you are. So let me repeat – when you tripped you didn’t fall – you tripped!

….and even when you don’t catch the bus and have a blue eye like I do

A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

 

94 YEARS OLD AND GOING ON 22

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

Good Morning Everyone!

There are moments in life which are worth sharing, and the other day there was such a moment.

Leaving the Beauty Parlor near the bus stop the lady using a walker joined the waiting crowd. After a few minutes she asked, “Do you know when the M5 is coming?”

“It should be here by now” I replied. But it wasn’t and did not come for the next 35 minutes. After some chit-chat about the inadequate public service in New York, and how good the hairdresser is she just visited (her white hair was very nicely cut and set) she said, “You know I am 94 years old and will be 95 next month.” She did not wait for an answer but put her hand in her purse and pulled out a 3″x5″  picture of a beautiful girl.

“Look this is me when I was 22 years old, I was a WAVE during the war.” A lady standing close by looked over and remarked, “You should have that enlarged and framed.”

“Oh, I have.  It is hanging in my bedroom.” and the way she looked at her picture seemed like an out-of-body experience, like the young girl in the photo was somebody else. Somebody else who she knows for a long time and who is still around.

“So when is your birthday next month?” I asked

“May 11” and after a moment she continued “I don’t know why I am still here. Maybe because I had a good husband who looked well after me. He was Egyptian but Jewish.You know each week he would go out and buy two cartons of cigarettes,  one for me and one for him……. and see I am still here.”

There was no bus in sight yet and I asked her if she didn’t want to sit down. By now I was ready to sit down, but her answer kept me standing, making me wonder why at my age I wanted to sit down.

“No, thank you I just sat an hour at the hairdresser, and I will sit again in the bus.”

When the M5 came into view, she looked at me and asked, “Do you know what a WAVE is?” When she saw that I hesitated she continued, “The Girl in the photo!”

And while watching her navigate her walker to get into the bus, I suddenly realized she was not 94 – she was still a WAVE!

(Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service during the Second World War)

Never Forget – A Smile Changes Everything

Brigitte