Let’s face it, as midlifers, we’re the target of anything with an anti-aging theme. I’m used to it, and for the most part, ignore it. I push aside “anti-aging” for a variety of reasons, and instead focus on proaging and what I can do to be the best me possible.

I get that we still have a long way to go to move towards a more positive message about the aging process, especially as women. But even I had to laugh when I was online searching the other day.

If you’re familiar with the way Google works, when you type in a subject matter, a short way down the page, it will give you a box of other questions people ask.

At what age should you start anti-aging? Um, never?! Doesn’t that kinda sorta make you dead?

Here’s what I believe.

ProAging – Pro-Aging – no matter how you write it, it’s a way of life.

It’s about the attitude you have from the moment you rise until you crawl into bed each night.

It’s about embracing every moment you have, enjoying who you are, and not defining your character based on something you once had.

The world has gone crazy over the top with the “anti-aging” message.

I say: Why?!

Here’s what I know for sure.

Anti – anti means being opposed to or against something.

Are you really against the aging process? The alternative isn’t so good. I’ve enjoyed every single age I’ve been, and I want to keep experiencing every age in my future.

Fight it, they say. Don’t look your age. I ask: Why the hell not?

Pro – pro means in favor of.

Yep, I’m a big fan of aging. I can’t wait to experience today, tomorrow, and every day for the rest of my life.

My father passed away from a heart attack at the age of 54. That number has been a big part of my life since I was in my twenties. Every year, I’d watch 54 creep up closer. I’m conscious of age. I know how short life truly is.

I’m in favor of aging. I can’t wait to see who I am, what I can do, and who I become at every age!

You too?

Why not create a proaging lifestyle plan along with me?

ProAging is a lifestyle

Remember the movie The Matrix? This iconic (or maybe cult classic) film opened my eyes to the concept of red pill, blue pill.

In the film, the character had the choice of taking one of two pills.

The red pill would offer a chance at revealing life-changing truth – you can’t escape what you’ve found to be true. It’s there, glaring, blinking at you, allowing you to live in this new reality.

The blue pill takes it all away. It allows you to continue to live in blissful ignorance. It enables you to go back to the way things used to be.

So the question becomes, is it better to know the truth, or live in blissful ignorance? Is it better to free your mind, or continue living with everything the way it was?

What’s this got to do with proaging? I feel proaging is a way to push beyond the norm. As a society, we’ve always been on a quest for youth, for finding a way to remain forever 21.

Our minds have built this up as perfection. A time when our bodies are the perfection of who we will ever be.

Or is it?

Is perfection more about becoming the best at everything that makes you, you?

This is our ignorance.

Anti-aging makes it seem like there’s one perfect age. You either are, or you’re not. So you’re always striving to get something that took place “all at once,” and can never be again.

ProAging pushes you to be your best each day, no matter what your age. It pushes you to strive to learn more, do more, become more.

So you can focus on all that will make you better, both inside and outside.

ProAging on the Inside

When you start to develop a proaging attitude, you’ll quickly find yourself focusing on a variety of things. This isn’t about getting rid of the wrinkles around your eyes and calling it a day. Instead, you start to realize that proaging is about putting your entire body – inside and outside – in the best condition possible.

You make choices based on living your best life. You build conscious effort into your day, knowing that what you do today will continue to impact you every single day for the rest of your life.

You embrace everything you are at every age.

• It’s about better sleep.
• It’s about better nutrition.
• It’s about making better choices.
• It’s about creating a better life.
• It’s about better relationships.

It’s about striving to perfect your choices – every single one of them, and how it influences your days and nights from this point forward.

ProAging on the Outside

You can’t have a better outside if it doesn’t start on the inside.

Once your mindset changes, there is nothing anyone can do to you that will allow you to stray from your beliefs.

You feel comfortable in your own skin.

You say yes to what feeds you, no to what doesn’t.

You choose the correct people to stand close to you, while pulling away from those who don’t.

You design your life from the inside out. Because inside, you know exactly who you are. And that can’t be changed. Not at your core.

ProAging Affirmations

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that I journal every day.

One of my favorite things to do each morning is to write down things I’m grateful for. Affirmations are often a part of my routine, creating a journal entry that helps me focus on what I truly desire.

Too often, we get mixed up in thinking about the demands of the day. Politics. Pandemics. Everything that weighs us down. The critical self-talk we tell ourselves can be overwhelming at best.

I started the practice of writing affirmations instead, and allowing myself to feel myself in a positive way. It’s a great way to affirm my goal of ProAging in a healthy way.

So I write things like:

I did a beautiful thing today …

Or

My life is better because I’ve reached an age where I …

Or

Today was a gift because …

See how that works?

I put my focus on things that will make me believe in my day.

I believe ProAging is the way of the future. It’s what I’m striving for.

Because telling myself I can be my best today allows me to get more done.

Instead of worrying about my age, the wrinkles by my eye, or the things society tells me I no longer can do.

I’m here. I’m the best me I can be.

And that’s an excellent place to be.