Encantado Magazine june export | 页面 21

45 and Alive Many people cringe at the thought of birthdays once they pass a certain age. For some it’s 30, other it can be 40 and so on. I happened to be one who cried the whole day long on the day I turned 30. I remember my mom (bless her heart, and rest her soul) telling me I was just a baby. It didn’t help. I was sad and depressed still. I’m not sure that phase ever past thereafter as each year passed and the older I became... until it hit me. The time in my life I became ill, just sick and unhealthy. I had let myself go, gained so much weight, and hid behind what became the masses of social media. MySpace, Facebook, etc. It was my mask, my release. It allowed me to hide and still be social at the same time while I was physically sick and in pain. If some of you may remember I shared with you in a prior issue of Encantado Maga- zine, of how I started my journey, what it took, and how I felt. Well, what I have learned from it was this...age is just a number, age is how you allow yourself to feel, to be. It is never too late to start and you are never too old to feel young. We all have the capabilities to feel better even if we are limited in some areas. Happiness isn’t a number. Happiness comes from within. How old do YOU feel? How old do you WANT to feel? For me 45 is fabulous. I have had a second chance with life and I am taking it, embracing it and running with it! I pledge to do everth- ing I possibly can with what time I have left, to laugh, to smile, to cry and feel emotion, to make plans, to wear cute outfits and shoes. To do my hair and makeup even if I am not going anywhere fance. I will also allow myself loung- ing time where I don’t have to do or wear any- thing but my comfy pj’s. I will allow myself to feel and be young at heart. Get into adventures. Even if they are in my mind and see them as clearly as I close my eyes. I will define who I am and never let anyone else define me! I am 45, I am alive, I am beautiful at this age, and I am fabulous! I dare you to look in the mirror and repeat those words using your own ages! Do it!!! Feel alive! Feel fabulous! Be the best version of YOU! Age is just a number and I am young at heart! Take a break every now and again from social media and just enjoy this on life we were given. Light and love... -Beverly- 21