Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

I love getting older! How many women do you know who feel that way?

Sure, my body is changing, and my eyesight may not be as good as it used to be, but I consider that a gauntlet thrown by Mother Nature to keep me active, eating healthy and working out on a regular basis. I accept the challenge!

I believe in positive ageing: feeling good about yourself, keeping fit, active and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you grow older. You couldn’t pay me to be in my 30s again. My 50s were my favorite decade, and I expect my 60s to be even better!

What I Love About Getting Older

Age brings a growing appreciation for what is good about life and my list seems to grow longer with every passing day. For instance, I work to create deeper relationships with friends and loved ones – not because I have more time, but because I care more.

My spectrum of life widens with every passing year. I look at things more broadly and care more deeply. I worry less about how things ‘will turn out’. I pretty much know the answer at this point.

Also, I have become less emotional and more thoughtful. I think before I act more often, which has been life changing. I care less about what people think of me and more about what I think of them.

I’ve learned that worrying never stops anything from happening. I also know that I am very good in an emergency. That combination has taught me to worry less and enjoy life more.

Worrying Less About Expectations

With age, expectations seem to be lower. There is less pressure to perform (especially from myself). Overachieving has become an option, not an obsession.

I can go to bed early without having to explain why and without worrying about whether I am ‘missing out’ on something. I can flirt shamelessly and no one takes me seriously, which makes it great fun.

I am simplifying, downsizing and no longer trying to keep up with the neighbors. I have been there, done that and have many charitable donation receipts to prove it. Minimalist? Not quite, but it’s all very freeing.

Learning to Appreciate Me

As a result, I have learned to appreciate myself. I know what I like and need to be happy, and I am far less willing to compromise on any of it. I have (more) great stories to tell with every passing year, and I take the time to tell them, instead of rushing through the highlights.

Also, I fully know who I am, I like who I am, and I really don’t see myself changing much in the future. I have become much more willing to speak my mind, regardless of how unpopular my opinion may be.

I have gained the kind of confidence which comes from life experience. I know what matters and what doesn’t, and I don’t ‘sweat the small stuff’.

I am secure in my ability to provide for myself. Do I worry about the future? Of course. We all do, especially in uncertain times as these. But I do have a plan.

Most of all, I love knowing that I likely have 30 or more years still ahead of me which I can use to become even more centered, self-assured and accomplished. In our first 30 years, we typically grow up, get an education and make major life decisions.

During the next 30 years, we usually focus on family and career. It’s my third 30 years that I am most interested in. Why? Because it’s the time when I can really focus on me, my passions and my goals for a happy, healthy, independent life.

What do you love about getting older? What challenges has Mother Nature thrown your way, and how are you dealing with them? Do you think a positive attitude leads to healthy ageing? Which decade has been your favorite? Please join the discussion below!

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

For many years, I suffered pain in my joints, insomnia and bouts of gastric distress. I was overweight and stressed.

I talked to my doctor about my pain and symptoms, and her response was, “Lois, you’re getting older. It’s osteoarthritis. And people start to sleep less as they get older. Get more exercise. It might help.”

In other words, she didn’t know what was causing my problems and offered no options for curing my health issues. I began to walk daily, watched what I ate and started taking a sleep aid. I slept better, but the stress and pain remained, and I continued to gain weight.

An Important Realization Regarding Your Health After 50

Then I had a moderate heart attack. It didn’t feel so “moderate” to me – the pain was excruciating. I spent four days in the hospital, flat on my back. When they let me get up, I could barely walk to the restroom, but I worked at it, and slowly recovered.

When a holistic doctor I knew suggested that heart attacks and the other symptoms I experienced could be caused by inflammation, I began to read about it. I discovered that inflammation is often caused by an allergic response.

Although I love to cook and have always made most of my meals from scratch using whole foods, the realization that I could be causing my own pain simply by eating was eye-opening.

After reading Is This Your Child?: Discovering and Treating Unrecognized Allergies by Doris Rapp, M.D., I came to believe that it was likely I had undiagnosed food allergies. Research shows that the top allergy-causing foods are: wheat (gluten), milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish, among others.

Dr. Rapp’s single elimination diet process is to eliminate one food for four days, and then add the food back to the diet on the fifth day. I followed the book’s elimination diet, one food at a time, and kept a food journal noting what I ate, and how I felt after eating the food.

A few foods were quickly identified as allergens. For instance, soy milk surfaced as the primary cause of my hay fever allergies. The most dramatic change, however, came when I eliminated dairy products. After four days of no dairy, I realized I was pain-free for the first time in years!

Better eating and stress-reducing lifestyle changes (read: partial retirement) have dramatically changed my health and likelihood to live a good, long time.

What lessons can you learn from my journey? Take charge of your own health! And here are five ways you can be in control of your health destiny…

Know Your Body

You have lived in your body all your life. When healthy, human bodies are not supposed to have pain. If you have pain, it is a signal that something is wrong. If something changes in your body, write it down and tell your doctor. If you keep track of these changes, you may be able to correlate them to something you are doing or eating that is causing the change.

Take Responsibility for Your Health

Doctors are generally brilliant and they do the best they can, but they are not all-knowing. Webster’s dictionary defines diagnosis as “the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms.” Many diseases or health problems can present the same symptoms. Learn to ask your doctor if your diagnosis is the only possibility; ask “What else could it be?”

Do your own research. Ask questions. If you think there might be other explanations for your health problems, get a second opinion. Be your own advocate. If you don’t think you can advocate on your own behalf, ask a friend to come to your doctor’s appointments with you to question and advocate for you.

Pay Attention to What You Eat

Your gut is as important as your brain. Keep it healthy by eating the best foods you can afford. If you think a food may be causing a problem for you, keep a food journal that includes what you ate, when you ate it, and any changes in how you feel. It will help you and your doctor track symptom patterns.

Reduce Stress

Stress can exaggerate any health problems you have. Find ways to reduce your stress to improve your health. Take time for yourself. Exercise. Light a soothing candle. Take a bath. Have a cup of tea. Do what you must do to take care of yourself.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is absolutely necessary to life. Try to get seven or more hours of sleep each night. Staying on a regular schedule promotes sleep. Eliminating electronics in the bedroom can improve sleep; don’t watch TV or play on the computer right before bed. Try yoga, a bath or sex before bed instead.

What are you doing to take charge of your health? What things do you do to reduce stress? Do you pay attention to what you eat? Please join the conversation in the comments section below.

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.