I once had the pleasure to help celebrate a woman’s 100^th birthday – on a cruise vacation no less. She clapped with such joy when the entire dining room chorused Happy Birthday. She blew out her candles with the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old.

This is what a long, happy life looks like, I thought to myself as I posed for a snapshot with her. This is how I want to be when I’m old. I told her about my 100^th Year Project and asked for a bit of wisdom.

“I have wonderful people who care for me,” she said, glancing around at the dozen family members who’d joined her on the cruise. It was obvious she is much loved, and her family gives her plenty of reason to enjoy life.

Not everyone who reaches old age is so lucky. Even if they don’t live alone, too many are emotionally alone. Some don’t live near family or may not have family of their own. For others, it’s just a matter of circumstance.

A Reciprocal Relationship

I have a good friend in her 80s who moved to Florida years ago because her son lived here. Then, because of his work, he moved across the country. While they are still very close and talk regularly, he can’t be there for her everyday needs.

As our friendship deepened, we’ve adopted each other. She’s like an aunt I visit every week, filling her in on what’s happening in my life. I’m the niece she can call for any reason: when she needs help with her car or she’s traveling and wants a trustworthy cat sitter or she’d just like to chat.

If my mom lived nearer, I’d spend this time with her. But she lives across the country, too. My 80-something girlfriend is terrific at offering a more experienced perspective to problems I face. I don’t think any of us are ever too old for a little motherly advice.

As a bonus, I’m a cat lover too, and my friend gets a kick out of hearing my kitten’s latest adventures. It’s symbiosis at its best.

Painting a Brighter Population Picture

The ‘oldest old’ – the 85 and up – are the fastest growing group in America. We’ve been warned for a long time about how our world is changing. Remember the 1977 Newsweek cover “The Graying of America?” Well, we’re there. We’re gray.

Now let’s add a little color to the picture. The Milken Institute’s 2016 Purposeful Aging Summit pulled together thought leaders from around the world. The concluding report offers a challenge for us.

“With the opportunities of extended longevity ahead, baby boomers must step up and join in efforts to redefine this stage of life rather than accepting yesterday’s norms. Summoning their sizable reserves of confidence and creativity, they can establish a new era of aging as a multifaceted, productive experience.”

For all of us in our 60s or 70s, there’s something we can do right now to improve the future of aging. We can befriend one person who is a generation older than us.

Embracing the Older Generation with a Purpose

In his book Drive, Daniel Pink talks about what happens to some people when they hit the bit 6-0. “Sixty, they think, is old. They tally their regrets and confront the reality that Mick Jagger and crew were right, that they didn’t always get what they want.”

But the 80 million of us crossing the 60 line each year aren’t even ‘youngest old’ yet. There have never been so many talented, creative people with so much time left after what have traditionally been the wage-earning years.

Pink says, “When the cold front of demographics meets the warm front of unrealized dreams, the result will be a thunderstorm of purpose the likes of which the world has never seen.”

If every one of us took just a smidge of that purpose and put it into genuinely caring about one person 10 or 20 years older than us, we could put a bit of sparkle on a lot of people’s days.

Some of the oldest old prefer to be alone. As Einstein said, “I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.” Still, just knowing someone cares is a longevity builder, as is the caring in itself.

Aging Responsibility for the Younger Generation

Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies projects that people over 75 who live alone will nearly double to over 13 million by 2035. That’s us, my friends.

The economic impact of caring for the world’s largest, longest living population will be enormous. The better we care for ourselves, the smaller the economic imprint we’ll make.

It is a big responsibility, but the payoff is living independently and full of purpose for decades to come. And the generation behind us will thank us.

19 years from now, when I reach the big 8-0, I sure hope I have younger friends who care about me and enjoy spending time with me. I plan to stay young enough to hop in my driverless car and meet them at the latest cool spot for lunch.

Then I’ll check in with my dear 100-something girlfriend and see if she feels up to company. Maybe I’ll bring half of my sandwich, and we’ll play a game of rummy. One thing I know for sure: we won’t run out of things to talk about.

What are your experiences with an older friend? Or a younger friend? Is there an older person you can reach out to, just to brighten their day?

And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. ― Meister Eckhart

I believe there are many women out there that may believe once they have turned 60 there is no need to continue to preserve their health or keep up with personal care.

Many of the people I talk to get to a point where so much has changed in their lives that taking care of themselves seems to become less important. We aren’t striving as hard to keep our best interest.

It’s also easy to let go of many of the daily routines we once had. Suddenly, you have let too many things go, and you find yourself needing to get back into a healthy state.

Knowing you need to do something and taking the required steps don’t always go in the same direction. You may talk and dream about the results, or perhaps someone has made suggestions, but you still don’t act.

Perhaps you need more reasons to change direction or feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.

Bottom line is, it must start with you. No one can make you do something you don’t want for yourself. Wanting something, seeing the future, planning and then committing are stages to get you to the results you desire. Sometimes it means making change slowly to build habits.

You don’t have to make a sudden big change all at once, though you can if you want to. Usually, we try to make small changes that lead to a big change.

For example, if you are looking to move towards a healthier lifestyle, you can start with baby steps. So many people I talk to believe they need to make massive changes to their life to be healthy. Some need more than others but we all must start somewhere so here are tips to begin those baby steps to better health after 60.

Get a Check-Up

If you haven’t had a visit for a wellness check with your physician, or you have health issues, I recommend you see your doctor before starting any program that will change your lifestyle.

Drink Water

Water is one of the most important elements to help you become healthier. Over the last several years, there have been reports that Americans may suffer from chronic dehydration. Some studies showed up to 75 percent of Americans may be functioning in a chronic state of dehydration.

Although opinions vary on the recommended amount of fluid intake per day, health authorities commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses.

So, what are the benefits of drinking water?

Increasing your water consumption can help you focus and have more energy. It reduces hunger if consumed prior to meals. Water will also help get rid of toxins.

If you are looking to help your skin, water is a natural anti-aging treatment. So, the next time you must choose your drink, choose water!

Eat Real Food

Nourish your body with real foods. Choose unprocessed, whole foods. When you eat, do you think about what you are consuming? Do you enjoy the food by tasting and appreciating what you are eating? Are you making healthy choices?

Take time out without distractions when having your meals. Learn to focus on the food, taste without rushing. No computer, phone or television. You may find you enjoy the meals more and you will fill up faster by slowing your rate of intake and paying attention to the cues of being full.

Get Outside

It may be as little as a 10-minute walk, but getting outdoors for fresh air and a mental break can add a world of good to re-energize your spirit. Want to lift your mood? Take a quick walk around the block.

Get Enough Rest

Sleep can be your best friend, while not getting enough sleep can throw your body and mind out of whack. If you have trouble sleeping, find ways to control your environment to help get enough rest.

Look for relaxation techniques before bed. Get into a routine to regulate your body. If you need a specific sound, buy a white-noise machine. Keep your phone, TV and other distractions out of the bedroom. Providing your body with enough rest can help with decision making, willpower and energy.

Use Your Muscles

Strength is important for us all as we age. My sister had a goal to stay strong enough to get herself off the floor without help.

Building your strength can help reduce depression and all sorts of chronic diseases. It can improve flexibility, increase bone mass and lower body fat. Plus, you can do it without going to a gym. Look for body weight exercises you can do almost anywhere.

As you incorporate these small changes, you will see lifelong habits develop. Get excited. Remember you are working on having the best quality life possible as you age.

What steps are you taking to live a healthy and happy life in your 60s? Please join the conversation below and share your tips with the community!

When I taught third grade, I asked my students to explain the meaning of the phrase, “Signs of spring are all around.” One English learner thought it meant there were little wooden signs that said, “Spring is here.”

The Meaning of the Spring Heralds

I found myself thinking that we often wander around oblivious of the many signs of spring. This year, in the wake of the pandemic, an unprecedented moment that is touching the lives of everyone on our planet, the signs of spring take on a new meaning.

Here, I turn to poets from many times in history and from many backgrounds. Each one inspires us to open our doors, notice and welcome the many beautiful signs of spring.

Spring Is Coming

In this time of darkness, it is easy to forget that spring will be coming again.

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
—Hal Borland; AZQuotes

You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.
—Pablo Neruda; AZQuotes

Let spring into your life, into your heart.

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!
—Sitting Bull; AZQuotes

And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley; AZQuotes

Spring Wakes Us Up

Go out and feel the spring with every one of your senses – smell its fragrance, look around you, listen, touch it, feel it.

Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?
—Neltje Blanchan; AZQuotes

I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen.
—Anne Lamott; AZQuotes

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.
—E. E. Cummings; AZQuotes

And lest we forget the rhythms of life and the cycles.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
—Ecclesiastes

Every spring I hear the thrush singing in the glowing woods he is only passing through. His voice is deep, then he lifts it until it seems to fall from the sky. I am thrilled. I am grateful. Then, by the end of morning, he’s gone, nothing but silence out of the tree where he rested for a night. And this I find acceptable. Not enough is a poor life. But too much is, well, too much. Imagine Verdi or Mahler every day, all day. It would exhaust anyone.
—Mary Oliver; AZQuotes

I am a big bird winging over high mountains, down into serene valleys. I am ripples of waves on silver seas. I’m a spring leaf trembling in anticipation.
—Maya Angelou; AZQuotes

What signs of spring have you witnessed this year? What poems inspire you? How have they made you feel? Please add your thoughts below.

I’ve tried a lot weird things for the sake of beauty, from using a lip-vacuum device in attempt to fake a plumper pout to dousing my lackluster locks with a bottle of IPA beer to restore some shine after a bleach job gone wrong. One thing I never imagined doing, however, is spreading warm candle wax on my body with the hopes of achieving supple skin, but alas, here I am.

Before you assume that this skincare-candle hybrid is a product of kink culture or a sexy Valentine’s Day gimmick, hear me out, because apparently skincare candles are the latest thing in the beauty and wellness space. I’m guessing you’re either intrigued or horrified at this point, so I’ll go ahead and get on with my Neom Organics Skin Treatment Candle Review.

To offer some much-needed context here, I’ve been a huge fan of Neom’s luxe candle range for some quite some time now, but I have to admit — when I stumbled upon their Skin Treatment Candle, I was a little hesitant — not to mention kind of confused. But, in the name of beauty (and my job, of course) I figured I had to give it a try for myself. Spoiler alert: it’s not scary, painful, or kinky (unless you want it to be, that is) at all.

In fact, it’s the ultimate me-time selfcare product I’ve been subconsciously dreaming into existence for the past year (I mean, let’s face it: we all could use a little extra TLC after the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020.)

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Basically, you simply light the candle as you normally would, wait 10 or 15 minutes for the skincare-grade wax to soften and pool into a liquid, and then you’re ready to drizzle this yummy skin-enhancing wax-to-oil formula all over your skin — just don’t forget to blow out the flame. Clearly, Neom’s Skincare Treatment Candle isn’t formulated with any old candle wax. The soybean oil base is infused with not only twenty-four different de-stressing essential oils, but also a slew of nourishing skincare ingredients, including jojoba oil, cocoa butter, almond oil and rapeseed oil.

Courtesy of Neom Organics.

Neom Organics Intensive Skin Treatment Candle

It probably goes without saying, but this candle also happen to smell like straight-up heaven on earth — i.e. lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood.

Full disclosure: while I was ever-so-slightly concerned about getting burned, rest assured, it wasn’t an issue. In fact, this is one of the most relaxing nights to myself I’ve had in a hot (pun intended) minute. Neom recommends that you make a night of it too — draw a warm bath, pour a glass of wine, and get ready to have the literal softest skin ever after massage in the moisturizing oil and breathe in the relaxing blend of anxiety-erasing aromas.

Neom offers two versions of their Skincare Treatment Candle: the Scent to De-Stress and the Scent to Sleep. I tried the de-stress version, and as someone with an apparent inability to fully unwind, I found that it really did the trick.

Courtesy of Neom Organics.

Neom Organics Perfect Night’s Sleep Skin Treatment Candle

For all of the restless night owls out there, it’s time to give this sleepy time candle a try. Not only does it smell and feel amazing on the skin, but it also helps you wind down and prepare for some solid shut eye with the help of English lavender, calming sweet basil, and jasmine.

Buy: Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Candle $46

What did you love to do as a child? Do you remember getting happily lost for hours, so immersed in a hobby or passion that you lost all track of time? In childhood, we had the time and freedom to pursue our interests. We were open to joy and confident in our talents.

Visit a kindergarten class and children will easily tell you that they are good at art, great singers, fast runners or great builders. In childhood, we spent time doing things we loved. Whether we knew it or not, we were developing our sense of self.

As we grew into adulthood, our childish pursuits were often lost. We started to pay attention to messages from the universe that told us what we couldn’t do.

Perhaps we weren’t the fastest runner after all. We started to notice that other people were better artists. We became less confident in our talents. Eventually, work and responsibilities replaced carefree days of play.

Exploring Our Passionate Childhood Pursuits

Sadly, on the way to adulthood, many of us lose sight of some of the things we love, the things that fill our buckets and connect us to our true selves. We lose the joy that we found in our passionate childhood pursuits.

While cleaning out my parent’s home, I found some old pictures of myself. I had not seen these photos in years, if ever.

There was a picture of me with my first bicycle. I remembered that beautiful blue bike and the freedom I felt when I rode it around the block. I wanted to explore everything, and my bicycle was my ticket to adventure.

In another photo, I am sitting in front of the Christmas tree, proudly holding a typewriter. There is a small desk lamp sitting on the floor next to me. I looked at the photo with astonishment.

I don’t remember that typewriter or the desk lamp, but I know that I must have wanted those things above all else. Even as a child, I understood that Santa’s means were very limited and that I would likely get only the few things I most desired.

Children Can Sense the Needs of Your True Self

My 8-year-old self was wise to the joys and needs of my true self. I loved reading and writing. I stapled papers together into little booklets to write my own books. The library was my favorite place. I dreamed of someday having my own desk. I planned to be a writer when I grew up.

I realize now that I had a typewriter and a desk lamp before I had a desk. I am reminded of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. In the movie, the main character, a writer, leaves her home in San Francisco and buys a run down old villa in Tuscany.

Afterwards, in frustration, she declares, “I bought a house for a life I don’t even have!” Eventually, her house is filled with family and friends, and she realizes that she finally has the life she wants.

Somewhere along the way, I forgot the passions of my childhood. I gave up writing for a serious job, a real job that would pay the bills and offer a retirement plan. With a full-time job and a busy family, traveling and adventures were also put on the back burner.

Time to Be a Grown-Up Version of Your Younger Self

Now, with more time and freedom, I have discovered my childhood passions once again. I eventually left my job as an educator to became a writer. I finally have my own desk, and it is one of my favorite places to be.

I am happiest sitting quietly with my books and my writing. I still love to go on adventures, though now I am inclined to go around the world instead of around the block.

I am delighted to find that at this stage of my life, I have become the grown-up version of that little girl. My 8-year-old self, with her desire for a typewriter and a desk lamp, understood what I needed to be happy. I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realize it.

What Were Your Childhood Passions?

As a child, did you love to be outside, climbing trees and playing in the park? Were you the competitive type, playing games and trying to beat your friends?

Perhaps you were an animal lover, finding and caring for wounded and abandoned animals. Maybe you loved to make things and enjoyed sharing your crafts with others.

Our childhood passions can impact our lives in significant ways. Perhaps they played a significant role in the career you pursued. Perhaps you never left your hobbies and continued to pursue them throughout your life.

On the other hand, maybe you had favorite pastimes that have been long forgotten. If so, your childhood interests are waiting in the wings for their time on stage. Is this the time to reconsider them?

Knowing the things that bring us true happiness and pleasure and spending time with those things is bound to increase the joy we feel in our lives. Our childhood selves understood what we needed to be happy. We can access that wisdom and use it to find fulfillment and contentment as an adult.

What were your childhood passions? Do your childhood interests no longer seem relevant or important to you? Are you content in knowing that you have found a place for the things you loved as a child in your adult life? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below.