Living Our Best Lives

By Katherine Lawson−

The good life, the best life, is very different for us all. Visions of Tuscany, beaches in the Hawaiian islands, or cafes in Paris come to mind. Interestingly, when we ponder our dream lives, geographic destinations feature high; however, the best life hinges on life at home: in our minds and bodies.. For all ages and stages, mindset and consideration of factors such as nurturing friendships, gratitude, fun, fulfillment, health and fitness are the foundations upon which the best life is built.

“The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you” Bette Midler. Often times, in our quest to be our best selves, we find that not everyone is on board with our transformations. Our success can be a visible reminder of others’ failure. It is important to surround ourselves with people who encourage us and to reconsider friendships that are not serving us. Good friends lift us up, make us laugh, are there when we need them and celebrate our successes as if they were their own.

“Gratitude is the attitude.” Let’s take two women, Jane and Joan. Jane is having a terrible day. She got stuck in traffic, was late for work, her boss was upset with her, and so on went the day..from bad to worse. Joan, coincidentally, was stuck in the same traffic , was also late for work and had in fact the same boss. She, however, admired the sunrise whilst in traffic, used the time to listen to an audio on positive mindset and was able to assuage her boss’s panic with her calm and positive attitude. It is astounding how looking at the glass half full completely rewires us! Our entire day brightens just by focusing on the positives that most of us enjoy: vision, sound, shelter, a fridge, children, nourishment, health, financial stability, democracy and so on.

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, fun and fulfillment would be considered luxury items; but our best life needs to include them! Fun can be found anywhere. It really is a matter of scheduling and making it happen! Likewise, having a purpose keeps us alive, keeps us moving forward. The empty nest can be challenging for many. At this time in our lives, we have a wonderful opportunity to engage in activities that truly fulfill us. Perhaps it is going back to work; or donating time to a charity; helping at the church; starting our own businesses. Whatever it is, let’s give this some careful thought as we visualize, in vibrant color, our best life.

“It’s never to late to become what you might have been.” George Eliot. Lastly, but hardly least, is our physical fitness. So many people I have met in my fitness classes will hit a milestone and suddenly reduce their expectations of their bodies: “I am 50 now..” they will say. Dr. Micheal Colgan, well into his 70’s, who can still perform over 100 pushups says “Age is just a number.” What the mind wants, the body will follow, within reason of course. Including a fun, regular, and challenging exercise program will stimulate both body and brain and ensure an active and functional life as we age. Additionally, supporting that exercise schedule with the very best nutrition and supplementation will feed the body what it needs to maximize its potential. Unbeknownst to many, nutrition accounts for 80% of the success of a fitness program. Ensuring that our meals include the very best proteins, minerals and vitamins, and that the latter are from reputable and preferably third party tested sources, will support our best efforts to be our best selves.

“Who am I to be great?” we may ask. “Who are we not to be?”

Katherine Lawson
Healthypreneur
BA Hons, BCRPA Fitness instructor and personal trainer
Co Founder of Team-CreateKatherine has been passionate about showing others how to live healthy, fit and fulfilling lives for over thirty years. Now 50 and still an avid runner, she firmly believes that age is just a number, and with the right mindset, we can all achieve anything we put our minds to.