May is my birth month. So naturally, I get extra reflective about life this time of year.
Society tells us that as we get older, we decline. We lose our intrinsic value, beauty, & worth along with our youth. Especially in the ballet world where so much emphasis is based on external beauty, this feeling of inevitable decline is amplified a thousand-fold.
A dancer supposedly reaches her "prime" in her mid-twenties and has nowhere left to go but down after that. She starts feeling pushed aside to make room for the young, fresh generation to take her place in her thirties...and put out to pasture by her forties.
This isn't just "them" putting these stigmas on us. We put these limitations on ourselves, too. I can't count how many friends and colleagues call themselves "old" before they even hit thirty. We allow ourselves to fall into this worth-less mindset, assuming we are washed up and less valuable than our younger peers (who have way less experience and credibility!).
How does that make sense?
It's such a shame we fall into this pattern and feel this way. Whether you are a dancer or not, your value should only increase with age. In ancient cultures and certain circles in today's society, age is respected as a valuable asset. My husband practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In that art, the older you get, the more you are revered. It's a beautiful thing. And it's so logical. The more time you have to dedicate and practice a sport/art/life, the more wisdom & understanding you gain from them. And the more skill, maturity, richness you can give back to them, as well. That deserves admiration.
With ballet being both an athletic endeavor and an art, it's understandable that certain physical elements are impacted by the natural aging process, no matter how well you take care of your body. (This is why it's vital your cross-training addresses body preservation and not just performance enhancement in order to extend your career as long as possible!)
But, from the artistic perspective, certain performance elements can only be enhanced by age... from having more time to explore ballet, your body, and life. This is when ballet becomes an art with something meaningful to communicate as opposed to just entertainment.
I'm trying to embrace all this as I age. Maybe I am a late bloomer, but there are things about my body and ballet that I am just starting to understand now in my forties that I didn't have a clue about in my "prime" younger years. Ballet carries a richness that I couldn't comprehend back then because I was too worried about pleasing others and being "good enough." If I had allowed myself to quit back when society told me it was appropriate, I wouldn't have discovered this deeper level of fulfillment and artistry.
Now, here's the thing -- just because I'm embracing my age doesn't mean I'm not actively seeking natural methods to counter aging. Aging gracefully doesn't mean giving up and giving in...it means fighting to preserve your beauty and youth while making peace with the things you can't control.
Luckily, there are lots of simple ways to naturally enhance your body & beauty as the years pass. It comes down to action... doing simple things that build confidence in your own skin & put power back in your hands. The beauty is in knowing you are actively working to respect and enhance your body instead of giving in to this inevitable decline.
I focus on these natural methods for aging gracefully in my SUMMER DETOX (starting May 27). For 14 days, we'll cover simple actions to feel beautiful & youthful, no matter your chronological age. This helps you appreciate the body you have while learning to enhance its natural beauty.
Then, my first ever Hunting Happiness Retreat (June 20-22) is all about inspiring beauty within. Women go through so many shifts physically & emotionally as we age... and it's rarely talked about. I want to build a safe space for us to have deep conversations about what we are going through, offer guidance & support, and connect through friendships with others experiencing similar chapters in life. This retreat is designed to help us remember our value, our worth, and that this life is meant to be enjoyed.
***Plus, we'll be learning au naturel "face-lift" techniques and the 4 Pillars for Optimizing Health, Body Aesthetics, & Longevity. So that can't hurt our chances for feeling beautiful in our own skin either ;)
Because if you really think about it, we should celebrate each year as a victory...not only for what we overcame in our past but for the growth we commit to in the year ahead. We can't allow ourselves to feel "less-than" just because we don't look like the youthful models on every advertisement we are bombarded with. We have to appreciate the years of experience under our belts and realize there's beauty in the battles we've fought. Let's shift our mindsets and start building beauty & aging gracefully.
Every year is a chance to become better. Let's eat life and hunt happiness together! I hope you'll join us in June! More info below. There are only a few spots left, so sign up now!
