Valerie:

You.

Valerie:

: Hello, beautiful ladies.

Valerie:

Welcome back to another episode of five to

Valerie:

thrive.

Valerie:

I'm your host, Valerie Hatcher.

Valerie:

Our mission is to provide empowering tips.

Valerie:

: For women over 50 to help us.

Valerie:

: Navigate this vibrant stage of life with grace, style, and a whole lot of fun.

Valerie:

Each week, I bring you five practical and engaging tips on a specific topic.

Valerie:

I hope you find them relevant and relatable, and we'll come back for more.

Valerie:

Ready for today's episode? Then let's go.

Valerie:

: Hey, girl.

Valerie:

Welcome back to aging with Grayson style.

Valerie:

Today, we're starting our special February series, loving yourself.

Valerie:

In this first week, we're diving into reframing your relationship with your body and

Valerie:

embracing it at every stage.

Valerie:

We're not just celebrating bodies.

Valerie:

We're owning our radiance at every stage.

Valerie:

Let's face it, the world loves to throw shade

Valerie:

on aging and beauty standards.

Valerie:

But here's the secret.

Valerie:

Those standards are designed to sell products, not to empower us.

Valerie:

Today, we rewrite the narrative and reclaim our right to feel beautiful, powerful, and

Valerie:

comfortable in our own skin.

Valerie:

Age lines and all.

Valerie:

Remember hitting 50 and feeling like every magazine cover screamed antiaging while

Valerie:

fitness trends focused on shrinking and sculpting?

Valerie:

Girl, we don't need that.

Valerie:

Our bodies tell stories, and those stories are

Valerie:

epic.

Valerie:

The laugh lines around our eyes hold chapters

Valerie:

of shared joy.

Valerie:

The silver streaks in our hair whisper tales

Valerie:

of wisdom gain.

Valerie:

And those curves?

Valerie:

They're a testament to your strength and resilience as women, our relationship with our

Valerie:

bodies can be complex.

Valerie:

But here's the thing.

Valerie:

Learning to love and embrace our bodies as they are is a powerful act of self love.

Valerie:

So let's talk about how we can reframe our perspective and truly celebrate our bodies.

Valerie:

So how do we move from my body to heck? Yeah, this body is amazing.

Valerie:

Buckle up, because we're diving into some real sister to sister body positivity hacks.

Valerie:

Number one, ditch the inner critic.

Valerie:

Let's talk about that voice in your head, the

Valerie:

one that whispers doubts and negativity, the one that loves to point out flaws and

Valerie:

insecurities.

Valerie:

That voice is lying.

Valerie:

What's funny is we never criticize a friend the way we criticize ourselves.

Valerie:

Right? So talk to yourself like you talk to your bfF.

Valerie:

Ditch the negative self talk and replace it with positive affirmations.

Valerie:

Start your day with, my body is strong and capable, or I am worthy of love and respect.

Valerie:

And every stage of my life has been beautiful.

Valerie:

Words have power.

Valerie:

So use them to build yourself up, not tear yourself down.

Valerie:

Now, I'm sometimes bad about this.

Valerie:

I'll look in the mirror and see these lines

Valerie:

around my eyes.

Valerie:

Or see that my skin is sagging and I think,

Valerie:

jeez, I look old or, I need to do something about this.

Valerie:

Now, I don't know what that something is, but it needs to be something.

Valerie:

Remember, your body has carried you through life's incredible journey.

Valerie:

It deserves your kindness.

Valerie:

Now, here's a bonus tip.

Valerie:

If you're struggling with negative self talk, try writing down critical thoughts and then

Valerie:

challenge them.

Valerie:

Ask yourself, is this thought kind?

Valerie:

Is it helpful? Is it true?

Valerie:

You'll be surprised how often those negative voices are just trying to hold you back.

Valerie:

Replace them with affirmations, and watch your confidence soar.

Valerie:

Number two, celebrate what your quote unquote badass body can do, not what it can't do.

Valerie:

Forget the number on the scale.

Valerie:

I'll be the first to admit that this is so

Valerie:

much easier said than done.

Valerie:

But instead, focus on what your body allows

Valerie:

you to experience.

Valerie:

Can you hike that mountain you've been

Valerie:

dreaming of? Can you dance like nobody's watching?

Valerie:

Or can you swim laps with the grandkids? Celebrate your strength, your flexibility,

Valerie:

your endurance, every movement, every accomplishment, big or small.

Valerie:

Your body is magnificent.

Valerie:

So cherish its capabilities.

Valerie:

Focus not on the number on the scale, but how your body feels and how it moves.

Valerie:

Now, for me, when the number on the scale goes up, my body doesn't move like it used to.

Valerie:

I start to have aches and pains.

Valerie:

I tend to slow down.

Valerie:

So I'm not at all discounting being at a healthy weight because it can make a

Valerie:

difference in how we move.

Valerie:

It's not just about appearance.

Valerie:

It's about your ability.

Valerie:

Your body is a vessel for adventure,

Valerie:

connection, and joy.

Valerie:

So celebrate it.

Valerie:

Number three, embrace the natural flow.

Valerie:

Our bodies change, and that's a fact.

Valerie:

They evolve and tell a different story at different stages.

Valerie:

But instead of fearing those changes, let's understand and embrace them.

Valerie:

Maybe your metabolism isn't the same as it was at 20.

Valerie:

It slowed down a bit.

Valerie:

Or if you're like me, it pretty much retired.

Valerie:

Or maybe your figure has shifted.

Valerie:

But that's okay.

Valerie:

It's a sign of life, of growth, of the journey that we're on.

Valerie:

Learn to appreciate your body at every stage.

Valerie:

Focus on nourishing your body with healthy

Valerie:

foods and finding movement that you enjoy, not chasing some unrealistic ideal of you.

Valerie:

Number four, dress for confidence, not the label.

Valerie:

Who cares what the size tag says? This is another hard one.

Valerie:

Of course we care what the size tag says, but we don't need to obsess over it.

Valerie:

I remember a time where if I had to buy a larger size than an eight, I wasn't buying it.

Valerie:

But in reality, size could differ due to cut fabric designer, et cetera.

Valerie:

So my size eight logic was short lived.

Valerie:

Now, of course, we all use size as a gauge,

Valerie:

but an eight in one brand could be a ten in another.

Valerie:

European styles are cut differently.

Valerie:

There are so many variables.

Valerie:

At the end of the day, wear clothes that make you feel beautiful, comfortable, and radiant

Valerie:

and confident.

Valerie:

Rock that bold color.

Valerie:

Embrace your curves and let your personal style shine.

Valerie:

Remember, fashion is about expressing yourself, not conforming to someone else's

Valerie:

narrow definition of beauty.

Valerie:

Find styles that make you feel good and

Valerie:

reflect your personal taste.

Valerie:

Fashion is a great way to express self love

Valerie:

and boost your confidence.

Valerie:

Remember, the most beautiful garment is one

Valerie:

that makes you feel like the queen you are.

Valerie:

Here's a bonus tip if you're feeling lost in

Valerie:

the clothing aisle.

Valerie:

Remember, fit is key.

Valerie:

Don't squeeze into something uncomfortable just because the label says it's a certain

Valerie:

size.

Valerie:

Find clothes that drape nicely.

Valerie:

Accentuate your curves in a way that makes you feel amazing.

Valerie:

And remember, confidence is the ultimate accessory.

Valerie:

And lastly, number five, surround yourself with positivity.

Valerie:

We are who we surround ourselves with.

Valerie:

The people you spend time with have a huge

Valerie:

impact on your mindset.

Valerie:

Ditch the negativity, the gossip and the

Valerie:

comparison traps.

Valerie:

Surround yourself with women who uplift,

Valerie:

celebrate, and empower each other.

Valerie:

Those who celebrate your unique beauty inside

Valerie:

and out.

Valerie:

Find a supportive community online or in

Valerie:

person.

Valerie:

One like here, our circle of fabulousness,

Valerie:

where you can share your experiences and feel loved and accepted for exactly who you are.

Valerie:

Remember, this is a journey, not a destination.

Valerie:

Be patient with yourself.

Valerie:

Celebrate your progress, and most importantly,

Valerie:

know that you are beautiful, worthy and deserving of love at every stage.

Valerie:

Here are some questions for you to think about and to ask yourself.

Valerie:

What one thing do you love about your body right now?

Valerie:

What helped you shift your perspective on your body image?

Valerie:

And then, perhaps on social media this week, share a tip for other women who may be

Valerie:

struggling with self love.

Valerie:

Remember, you're not alone.

Valerie:

We're a community of strong, beautiful women supporting each other.

Valerie:

Let's rewrite the narrative, celebrate our journeys, and rock this beautiful life

Valerie:

together.

Valerie:

Subscribe to our weekly circle of fabulousness

Valerie:

newsletter so we can continue our conversations.

Valerie:

As I close today, I want to leave you with a weekly affirmation.

Valerie:

It's I am grateful for my body and all it allows me to experience.

Valerie:

I choose to speak to myself with love and kindness.

Valerie:

Now I'll include this in the show notes so you can copy it, repeat it this week, and notice

Valerie:

how it shifts your perspective.

Valerie:

Join me next week as we continue our journey

Valerie:

of self love.

Valerie:

And remember, you are beautiful just as you

Valerie:

are.

Valerie:

Thank you for listening.

Valerie:

And don't forget to love and celebrate yourself every day.

Valerie:

Thank you so much for joining me for five to thrive Tuesday.

Valerie:

If you haven't already done so, please subscribe so that you don't miss an episode.

Valerie:

If you enjoyed the segment, please rate.

Valerie:

: Review and share it with a friend.

Valerie:

Let's stay connected on Instagram, Facebook and or threads at I am Dollar Hatcher

Valerie:

or email at hello@agingwithgracestyle.com until next time.

Valerie:

: Let'S continue to age with grace style.

Valerie:

And attach it fast.

Valerie:

Close.