Have you ever hit a milestone that made you stop and think,

wow, look at how far I've come? For

me, that milestone is just a few days away, my

62nd birthday. And let me tell you,

each year comes with a whole lot of lessons, surprises,

and style upgrades. But it's more than just another

number. It's about celebrating who we are,

where we've been, and what's what's still ahead.

So are you ready to reflect on your own milestones

and embrace every year with grace, gratitude, and a

little bit of fabulousness? Then let's dive

in. Hey, friend. Ever

feel like those old fashioned ideas about aging just

don't fit you? If you're ready to own this incredible chapter

with grace, style, and a touch of sass, this is your

space. Welcome to the aging with grace and style podcast.

I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here with empowering tips,

inspiring stories, and a whole lot of fun just for

us, women over 50. So grab your favorite beverage,

turn up the volume, and let's get started.

Today's episode is extra special because it's

all about celebrating milestones. Why?

Because in just a few days, I'll be celebrating my 62nd

birthday. Birthdays are such a great time

to reflect, to look forward, and celebrate all the

things that make life beautiful. You know, there's

something special about birthdays that end in even numbers.

They feel like those checkpoints on this grand

adventure that we're on. And as I stand here,

or shall I say sit here, on the cusp of

62, I can't help but marvel at the journey

that's brought me here. I want you to take a

moment and and think about your last birthday. How

did you feel? What did it mean to you?

Now hold on to that thought because today, we're

diving into how these milestones are more

than just another candle on the cake.

They're opportunities to reflect on where we've

been, to celebrate who we are now, and

to set intentions for the future.

So let's start with the big question. What does

turning 62 mean to me? Well, honestly,

it seems like I blinked, and I was here. But it

feels like I've reached the summit of a mountain that I've been

climbing for years. And the view up here, it's

pretty breathtaking. I can look back and and

see the path that I've taken, all the twists, the turns,

the steep climbs, and even the moments when I thought

that I might stumble. And you know what?

I really wouldn't change a single step. Okay. Well, I

maybe wouldn't change many steps. When I think

about each decade of my life, I realize

how much every phase has shaped me. My twenties,

for example, those were the finding myself

years. I was fresh out of college, moving into my own

apartment, trying to figure out what direction to take my

career. And, of course, I didn't

solve many issues, but at least I was on a

path. Then came my thirties

and my forties. Those, I'll call the the

balancing years. During my thirties and my forties, I

made 3 moves all the way from my family in San

Antonio, got married, bought 2 houses,

had a baby, and finished a master's program.

Looking back, it was a lot. Between

family, career, and personal growth, I felt like I

had to be everything to everyone.

That's when I started to really understand the power of

saying no and how essential it is to create

space for what matters most. And

then my fifties. Well, that was a game changer.

In my fifties, I began to focus more on me.

It wasn't about what others expected.

It was about what made me feel fulfilled. I

started to embrace who I was, flaws and all,

and and let go of trying to meet everyone else's

standards. That shift has been so freeing.

Now in my sixties, I feel like I'm standing

on solid ground. All those lessons that I've learned

from each decade have brought me to a place

of peace and excitement for what's next. It's

not just about getting older. It's about growing

wiser, more confident, and more intentional

with my life. As you reflect on your

own milestones, take a moment to write

down a lesson from each decade of your life

or each significant phase. Honestly,

it's been pretty interesting and eye opening

for me to sit back and think about it. Whether

you're in your twenties, your forties, or beyond,

what have you learned that has shaped who you are today?

Consider how these lessons can guide you as you look ahead

to the next chapter. Now, speaking of being intentional,

one thing I've embraced over the years is my personal style. You

know, I love talking about style. And here's the

thing. There's no age limit on feeling fabulous.

In fact, I feel like my style has only

gotten better with age, but it wasn't always

that way. When I was younger, I worried about what was

considered, quote, unquote, appropriate in the corporate well

world. I felt like I had to fit a

certain mole. Now at almost 60,

I say almost because, hey, I still have a few days, I've

thrown those rules out the window. I wear what

makes me feel confident. It could be long or

short, black or bold, fitted or

loose, but it's always tasteful. I

remember a conversation recently about how

I wouldn't fit in with a certain group of people because

my dresses were too short. While, yes, my

dresses are typically above the knee, they aren't untastefully

short. Hey. I have long legs. But, really,

must we conform to what makes others feel

better or what makes them feel secure? I'm not

playing it safe to please others. Yes. There

are times when the situation, the location,

or the event calls for a certain style,

and I totally get it and respect that.

But changing who we are to please others,

that shouldn't have to be the case. Not at this point

in life. That, even includes

how I wear my hair. And we've talked about the braids in another

episode and how I'm truly embracing them, but it's taken a while

to get there. It's freeing to embrace your style

without worrying about what anyone else thinks,

whether it could be bright red lipstick for you or a

leather jacket. But whatever it is, I've

learned that personal style is about how you

show up in the world. It's about owning who you

are. Now take a look at your wardrobe

or the way you express yourself. Is there something

that you've been wanting to try, but you held back because you

didn't think it was appropriate for your age or your stage of

life? This week, give yourself permission to

wear something that's bold or or or try a new look that reflects

who you truly are, not who you think you should be.

Your style should make you feel confident and

fabulous at any age. Now another big

lesson that I've learned, especially as I've gotten older,

is the power of gratitude as and I mean,

truly practicing gratitude, not just thinking

about it here and there. For me, gratitude has been a game

changer. It shifts my focus from where I

might be missing from what I'm sorry, from what I might be

missing to to what I already have.

One of the ways that I've incorporated gratitude into my

daily life is by keeping a gratitude journal.

I know I mentioned journaling often, but

it really is one of the tools that keeps me

sane and grounded. Most nights, now my

goal is every night, but that's sometimes not

realistic. I write down 3 things that I'm grateful

for. Some days, it could be something as simple as

having a peaceful morning with my coffee. Other days,

it could be something a little deeper, like the support of my family

or a meaningful conversation that I have.

Gratitude helps me remember that even on tough days,

there's always something to be thankful for.

There there was one particular rough day that I

remember when it seemed like nothing was working out for me

or nothing was working out the way I planned. But I sat down

that night, and I wrote about the small things that I

appreciated, and it completely changed my perspective.

Gratitude doesn't erase the challenges, but it

does help you to see the light in the dark. I

wanna challenge you to start a gratitude practice if you don't

already have one. Take just 5 minutes each day and

write down 3 things that you're grateful for. It doesn't have

to be big. Small things matter too. You'll

be amazed at how this simple habit can shift your

focus and lift your spirits, especially on tough days.

And that brings me to something that I love about birthdays.

They're not just about looking back. They're

about looking ahead and setting new intentions for the

future. I think of birthdays as, like, my

personal New Year's, except the resolutions are more

about who I want to be and less about checking

boxes. As I step into 62,

I've been thinking about what I want to focus on this year.

One of my big intentions is to embrace more joy

and to be more present. I wanna stop rushing through

life and really savor the little moments, the

laughter with friends, the quiet moments with family,

the the beauty of everyday life. I also

want to continue prioritizing my health,

making sure that I'm taking care of myself mentally, emotionally,

and it intentions

don't have to be big or overwhelming. They're

just guiding principles for how we want to

live. For example, instead of saying, I'm a

workout every single day because lord knows,

I know that that's highly unlikely. I'll set the

intention to feel strong and energized, and then

I'll make choices that align with that. It's

less pressure and more about creating a life that feels

good. As you approach your own milestone,

whether it's a birthday, a career shift, or a

personal transition, take time to set an intention.

Ask yourself, what do I wanna feel or experience

this year? It doesn't have to be a big goal,

just a meaningful intention that will guide you toward

living with more purpose and more joy.

So before we wrap up today, you know, I always wanna hear from

you. How do you celebrate your milestones?

What lessons have you learned along the way? Do as

you always do. Drop me a voice message at pod.agingwithgraceandstyle.com.

As we close, I wanna leave you with a

thought. Every year is a gift. Whether

you're 22 or 82, you have

something unique to offer the world. So celebrate your

milestones, big and small, and embrace them with

gratitude and style. Life isn't about reaching

a destination. It's about enjoying the

journey. Now as a reminder, here are a few takeaways.

Number 1, reflect on your journey. Take a

moment to write down a lesson from each decade or

life phase. How can these lessons guide you

forward? Number 2, embrace your style.

Try something bold or new this week. Let your

style reflect you, not what's considered, quote,

unquote, appropriate for your age. Number 3,

start a gratitude practice. Spend 5 minutes each

day writing down 3 things that you're grateful

for. It's a small habit that can make a big difference.

And number 4, set a meaningful

intention. As you approach your next milestone,

think about what you want to feel or to experience

and set an intention that's gonna guide your year.

As always, thank you for joining me. I hope that

these takeaways inspire you to embrace your

own milestones with gratitude, style, and purpose.

Until next time. This is Valerie reminding you to

celebrate every year of your beautiful, one of a

kind life. Stay fabulous and keep shining, my

friend.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling

inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I love

sharing this space with you. And if you love today's episode,

do me a favor, share it with a friend who could use some

extra inspiration. A quick rating and review

really helps too. Don't forget to subscribe so

you never miss an episode. Let's keep this conversation

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Until next time, keep shining with grace,

style, and a whole lot of sass.