You probably know a grumpy old person. They aren’t fun to be around, and if you let them, they can suck all of the energy out of a room. It is difficult to be in the company of a grumpy old person – male or female – and when we must, we often do it out of obligation.

There are many reasons why someone may become a grumpy old person. Perhaps they are experiencing chronic pain, which can leave them exhausted and frustrated. Perhaps they are lonely. Perhaps they are angry at a particular person, or even at the world which they perceive has not been kind to them.

The Example of My Aunt

I recently had a conversation with my aunt about grumpy old people. We were looking at photos of our ancestors, and she remarked that her great-grandmother was a grumpy old lady. “I don’t know why she was so grumpy, but I never liked going to her house,” she said. “There was never any joy in those visits.”

My good-natured, kind aunt is the antithesis of a grumpy old lady. Clearly, somewhere along the way, she decided that she would not be that kind of person and did things that would prevent her from becoming irritable and cantankerous.

Memories of Past Senior Neighbors

I distinctly remember two different elderly neighbors from my childhood. One was an old man who lived next door. He told us stories and let us watch him skin the catfish he caught during one of his many fishing trips.

He let us play hide and seek and run freely between his yard and ours. He had had an ancient, working water pump in his yard, which delighted us. He would let us push down on the handle and fill buckets with water just for fun. We pretended we were pioneers.

An elderly lady lived across the street from us. I don’t know her name and don’t know very much about her because she did not try to know us or engage with us in a positive way.

She wore dark clothing and old-fashioned buttoned shoes with pointed toes. We thought she might be a witch, and we were afraid of her. She kept her shades pulled down during the day.

If she saw us outside, she would yell at us, telling us not to pick her flowers or run on her lawn, even though we never even went near her house. No one ever went into her house and she seldom left it. Even as a child I knew she was not a happy person.

Does anyone ever decide that they want to be a grumpy old person or does it just happen to them because of the choices they make? If your choices can make you cross and irritable, then your choices can also make you pleasant and cheerful.

I don’t want to be a grumpy old woman.

With that in mind, I came up with a list of things that made someone a grumpy old person and vowed not to do those things. I took a look at the optimistic, vibrant people I know and made a list of the positive attributes they demonstrate.

Grumpiness is not an automatic condition of aging. You can determine the kind of person you want to be by the actions that you take.

Here is my list of actions you can take so that you do not become a grumpy old woman:

Be Patient with Children

Yes, children are loud and messy, but they are also energetic, creative, and loving. Think about yourself as a child. Do you remember adults who treated you well? How did that make you feel? Do that for other children.

Don’t Fear Teenagers

You may not understand the way teenagers dress or the video games or music they listen to – and you don’t have to. Just remember that their hip-hop is your rock and roll, which was equally scandalous at one point in time.

Teenagers are searching to find their identity. It is their job to break away from their parents and forge new paths just as you did.

Be Open to Technology

Technology has many benefits for aging adults and we have all seen them during the past couple of years. Cell phones, tablets, and computers have brought us closer to far-flung family members. Let the young people in your life teach you to use FaceTime or Skype, if you haven’t already. Facebook, Dropbox, or Google Drive can allow you to see family photos.

Home security systems and personal monitoring devices can enhance your safety. Remember that your grandparents may have been fearful of automobiles, planes, or even telephones!

Let Go of Grudges

Understandable, someone has probably harmed you in some way. Holding on to that anger does not harm them back though, it harms you.

Letting go of an old grudge doesn’t make what the other person did right, but it does free you from the burden of carrying that anger inside of you. Anger affects you in negative ways. It is difficult to be positive or optimistic when you are angry.

Be Generous

When you think about it, generosity is not as much about the other person as it is about you. Give your time, or your baked goods, or your tulips. Sharing what we have helps us to realize that we have enough. Living from a place of gratitude enhances our well-being.

Live in the Light

Get outside and enjoy the natural light. Open up your shades and let the sun shine in. Lighten those around you with a smile. Go ahead and wear bright colors if they make you happy and enhance your mood.

Engage in Activities That You Enjoy

Our hobbies often make us happy. This is the time of life when we can embrace our interests. Throw yourself into your activities. Learn new techniques, try new things. You have earned the right to enjoy yourself. If not now, when?

Stop Complaining About Your Health

Aging comes with physical struggles. Body parts don’t work like they used to. It happens to all of us. It can be helpful to occasionally discuss your medical conditions with others and get their advice or opinions.

Be that as it may, if you constantly share all the details of your medical condition with everyone or it is always your main topic of conversation, find something else to talk about.

Be Social

You don’t have to be an extrovert, but you do need people in your life. Connect with friends and family members. Go online and talk to people with the same interest you have.

Invite someone over for coffee or dinner. Go to events when you are invited. Isolation has negative impact on your health, especially your state of mind.

There you have it, my list to a happy adulthood.

What would you add to this list? What are the traits you see in people who are aging positively? How do you keep from being grumpy? I would love to hear your anti-grumpiness ideas in the conversation below.

I have to let you in on a little secret – I couldn’t wait to be 60! Whilst others around me were bemoaning the advancing of their years and telling stories that it was all downhill from here, I was quietly rejoicing becoming 60.

There were many reasons for this. The first is that it is such a privilege to get older. Some people never achieve it. Indeed, my own father died at only 35 years old, so 60 was a milestone I shall always remember and cherish with gratitude.

The second reason is that, at 60, I have an inner confidence in who I am, and I truly love the woman that I see reflected back in the mirror at me.

It wasn’t always this way.

My early life was a struggle to like and accept who I was. I never really felt good enough and this manifested itself in a myriad of eating disorders and I was always striving for some sort of imagined “perfection.”

The Gift of Ageing

Age brings us such glorious gifts, if only we can look for them. We are constantly being told how getting older is rife with problems, loss of energy and vitality and how we become invisible after a certain age.

And whilst we may struggle with illness or limited mobility, it’s what we do with this that matters. Having had Arthritis since the age of 40, I understand this only too well. However, today, at 62, I am grateful for every step I take and every moment of joy that I am blessed to experience.

The key to ageing joyfully and confidently is to create a mindset which allows you to flourish with every year. It is always how you think and what you believe about who you are (and who you are becoming) that will determine your feelings about yourself, your body and your life at any given point.

Our Experience of Life Is Fluid and Forever Changing

Everything is always in a state of ebb and flow. Nothing stays the same. We are always in perpetual motion. Life is our greatest teacher. From the moment we were born to the day that we will eventually leave this beautiful earth, we are continually shaping and reshaping our experience of what it means to be alive, what we desire and who we are.

When we embrace our life journey with a sense of eagerness and looking forward to the next chapter, we instill within us a confidence that is unstoppable and unshakeable. We know that we are more than our age, how we look, our dress size, income, relationship or anything else.

We have battled the storms, climbed many mountains, lost those we love and risen to greet another day. We are both messy and magnificent and this knowing alone calls us to move forward with confidence and a deep appreciation of who we are.

Enjoy these five self-love tips to appreciate yourself more and age with confidence.

The Most Important Relationship You Will Ever Have in Your Entire Life Is the One with YOU!

The relationship that you have with yourself is the number one factor in ageing with confidence and loving you MORE with every year. Spend time every day really tuning in to how you feel and what you desire.

Begin to really connect with you again. Every morning before you get out of bed say “hello” to yourself, wiggle your toes and wish yourself a lovely day.” (The wiggling of your toes helps you to connect with your body.)

Choose to Smile at Yourself Every Time You Look in the Mirror

Smiling is a fast track to releasing stress and helping you move into the parasympathetic nervous system (which is the branch of the nervous system that is responsible for relaxation and wellbeing). When you smile, your body reads this as a message that you are okay and that all is well.

Smile first thing in the morning; smile at yourself in the mirror; smile at all of the wonders that the day brings you. Smile because you are here and you get to experience the gift of another day in your life.

Write a Self-Appreciation Journal

It’s so easy to minimise what we do or play down our gifts and talents. The secret to having more confidence is in building on what you have already experienced in your life. Own your journey, celebrate each step you have taken and keep it alive within you every single day.

A lovely exercise is to write three to five things that you appreciate about yourself every day. This simple exercise can be a game changer!

Body Confidence Changes

As we grow older it can sometimes be a challenge to accept certain changes in our body or how we look. Although, on the other hand, growing older can also bring with it a feeling of freedom that we didn’t have in our 20s.

Wherever you are in your life, choose to accept all of who you are. Acceptance brings peace. Body confidence isn’t about having it all “done and dusted” and never feeling unconfident about your body. It’s about being able to recognise those moments when you feel triggered into feeling bad about your body and being able to navigate them with compassion.

If you think back to this morning when you first awoke and then consider where you are right now, you may be aware of how your body has changed just in this short space of time. You may have started the day feeling tired but have gained more energy through the day. You may be feeling hungry, thirsty, excited, tired, full or empty.

Your body may feel quite different from earlier on in the day. If we can learn to read our body’s subtle messages, we can develop a loving and caring relationship with our body which will make us feel more confident that we can feel nourished and loved no matter what!

Be Kind to Yourself!

Appreciation can be as simple as saying, “Well done, I’m so proud of you,” to taking yourself on a magical holiday just because you deserve it! Kindness is love in action and whenever we truly love and appreciate ourselves, we become the fullest and most radiant expression of who we authentically are!

Ultimately, ageing with confidence and self-appreciation is something that we actively do. Ageing is a verb – it is not something that simply happens to us. Growing older is inevitable; however, we get a choice in how we will age and what the different stages in our life mean for us.

If we simply grow old passively, we may not be able to truly benefit from all of the experiences that age can offer. Our challenge is to be there fully for our own ageing process rather than fighting it. Everything changes and so too, will we. The key is to allow yourself to become more YOU with every year that passes, so that you can find passion, purpose and presence in every stage of your life.

For daily inspiration please join me on Instagram. It would be lovely to have your company!

Has your own confidence grown with age? What is your own experience of appreciating yourself more after 60?

Alexia Echevarria’s White Sunglasses on Her Instastories

Real Housewives of Miami 2022 Instagram Fashion

You can’t go wrong with a classic pair of white sunglasses like Alexia Echevarria’s. They would match just about anything you could think of wearing, not that they need any further justification besides being chic af. So I suppose the only way you could go wrong is by not ordering a pair from below.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Dior Sunglasses

Photo Credit: @alexiae_says

Originally posted at: Alexia Echevarria’s White Sunlasses

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Everyone’s talking about newlyweds Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, but it’s about d*mn time we hand over the spotlight to Jennifer Garner. She’s everyone’s favorite actress, co-founder, mom, brand ambassador and Instagram chef—she’s a true Renaissance woman! Another thing we can’t forget to highlight is her makeup. How does she look so stunning and natural around the clock?

The correct answer: Stila’s Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream. She previously told TODAY, “I’ve used the Stila cream blushes for about ever, especially in Peony,” which would explain how her cheeks always look gently flushed, giving her that bright, cheery look for which she’s known for.

This creamy formula is blush perfection because it’s not greasy, creates a sheer tint, blends easily and doubles as a lip color.

To apply, simply tap the product onto your cheeks or press it onto your lips. It requires minimal time and effort, so if you’re in a rush, opt for this super easy-to-use cream that blends out in seconds. You should keep this multitasking formula in your makeup cabinet and even your purse for on-the-go touch-ups.

Blush is the one beauty product that can really liven up your look and give your cheeks some dimension. It’s also super on-trend right now, with plenty of celebs, influencers and makeup gurus following the “faux sunburn” look, which can easily be achieved with the use of this versatile formula.

With a 4.6-star overall rating on Amazon, plenty of shoppers are backing Jen’s top blush pick. “Love this product because it leaves skin soft and dewy looking. Instead of the dry caked on powder blush. Color is also spot on to the pictures online,” one wrote.

With reviews like that, it’s no wonder why the Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream has become one of Stila’s cult classics. Shop it for $25 on Amazon and get tapping!

RELATED: Everyone on TikTok Is Low Key Using the Same Under-$20 Blush Stick & I Need It

Photo: Stila.

Many are turning to cream blushes over powder formulas because they give you a more natural-looking, sun-kissed glow. They’re also lightweight rather than cakey, and easy to control and build, especially if you’re after a more intense blush look. This Stila blush is made from a soothing and nourishing wax base that is great for applying before or after your base makeup. You’ll have dewy, rosy cheeks in a snap.

“I am over 70 with dry skin. This product is wonderful,” wrote one shopper. “It goes on like silk and is very natural looking. I wish I had found it years ago.”

Besides Jen’s fave shade, Peony, there are six other shades that are equally as pretty on the cheeks and lips. Shop Gerbera for a rosy peachy pink, Camellia for a peachy brown or Lillium for a nude pink. 

“Love the color, goes on smooth, looks great and natural. Will [definitely] buy again, my new favorite blush!” wrote another five-star reviewer.

This cream blush is about to give your current powder blush a run for its money. Since Jen seems to always know best, take it from her and get your Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream for $25 on Amazon.

Kenya Moore’s Pink Frayed Zip Up Hoodie

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 14 Episode 13 Fashion

Do you ever have an item of clothing you love so much you get it in multiple colors? Kenya Moore can relate. Last night on the Real Housewives of Atlanta she wore a super cute, pink frayed hooded zip up sweat shirt that we’ve also seen her rocking in grey. And if you like it as much as Kenya you’re in luck because you have 5 more colors to choose from.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Also Seen on Kenya in Grey

Click Here to Shop her Bandier x Sincerely Jules Hoodie in Many Colors

Originally posted at: Kenya Moore’s Pink Frayed Zip Up Hoodie