As I sit nestled in my recliner in the warmth of my rented cottage on a cold winter afternoon in Mena Arkansas, thoughts of what I should blog about this week run through my mind.
Alas, I think to myself, it’s easy, I should write about living life to the fullest. This past week I (a young doctor in my 40’s) had a few conversations with my older friends in their 60’s and 70’s. We talked about what life means to us, we discussed the quality of the life we live, and then we discussed our futures.
In this blog post, I will go over the stories of 3 remarkable women in my life. (To protect the privacy of these remarkable women, their names and personal identifiers have been changed).
Lisa’s story
Lisa my good friend is in her 60’s. She is a successful lawyer who unfortunately is still stuck in living in her mind with the idea of her old boyfriend from many years ago. Even though she has everything one could want materially, she is not truly happy because of the hold this old relationship has on her emotionally. Lisa has let go of so much in her life to make room for this man that she can’t seem to shake loose. She has stopped playing music at concerts with other professionals like herself, something she once enjoyed immensely.
Instead of living in the present and enjoying all that life has to offer, Lisa wastes time connecting with her old boyfriend instead of pursuing her passions. She is stuck in the past with her old relationship and does not allow herself to fully experience life as it happens now, today.
Peggy’s story
My friend Peggy is a very active and vibrant 70-year-old woman. She owns and runs several successful hotels. Peggy is a smart and beautiful woman with the energy of three ten-year-olds! She has not taken a vacation in several years because her businesses held her down. Although she would love to have a different life for herself and travel more, her businesses are still very important to her.
Peggy is afraid time will pass by and she will still be running her businesses and working just as hard into her 80’s. Peggy is a great example of someone who has let go of some things in life to focus on what is important, herself. However, because of the importance, these businesses have for Peggy, she does not get to enjoy some aspects of life that are available to her.
Mary’s story
My friend Mary is a remarkable woman in her 60’s. She is a retired schoolteacher who has traveled to several countries and been on so many adventurous trips. Mary has led an amazing and full life.
Even though she has done so many things, there are still many things she would love to still do. She would love to spend a few years living in Asia teaching kids English while working on her passion -painting. When conversing with Mary, one gets the feeling that she is still in search of something but doesn’t know what it is or how to find it.
Mary’s story shows us that although we have lived a full and interesting life, there may be some places we have yet to go inside our souls.
So, what can we learn from these women? What is their secret to living a life of purpose and fulfillment?
With my 3 beautiful friends, we talked about the different ways we can improve the quality of our lives. Here are the top tips from these inspiring ladies on how you can start living your best life now:
Tip #01: Don’t wait for tomorrow, stop procrastinating and start today. The key to happiness is not waiting around for the perfect moment, it’s starting now and making the most of every day.
Tip #02: Follow your heart. Don’t let other people control your life or tell you what you should do. Listen to your inner voice and follow your dreams.
Tip #03: Embrace change. The only thing constant in life is change. Embrace it, look forward to the exciting things that await you.
Tip #04: Live in the moment and enjoy what you have now. Don’t wait for your life to be perfect before you start living it and enjoying it fully. Live in the present moment and appreciate what you have today.
Tip #05: Give more. The more you give, the more you get in return. Volunteer your time, donate to charity, help others whenever you can – it will make you feel good and fulfilled.
Tip #06: Travel more. Explore new places, learn about other cultures, see the world’s beauty firsthand. It will expand your horizons, your mind, and enrich your soul.
Tip #07: Learn more. Never stop learning new things to help you grow in life and live a richer fuller life. Take an online course, read books, watch educational videos – there are many ways to learn something new every day!
Tip #08: Surround yourself with positive people. Positive energy is infectious, so be around happy and positive people who are passionate about life and can teach you something new every day.
Tip #09: Create a bucket list of things to do before you die. Start ticking off your items on the bucket list now! It will make sure that even if your time here on Earth is limited, you’ll be able to look back at your life and smile knowing that you’ve done all the things that matter most.
Tip #010: Most importantly, love with all your heart. Love yourself, love others, spread kindness and live a life of meaning by helping others and making a difference in their lives.
Don’t Wait: Start Living Your Best Life Now!
For more information, reserve a consultation with a medical expert at Voyage MedSpa and Wellness on 1920 4th St N, St. Petersburg, Florida. Contact – Voyage Medspa & Wellness (voyagemedspaandwellness.com)
-By Dr. Suzanne Ben-Kane
