My journey of aging with confidence

ByPamela Lutrell Hours Categories Lifestyle
Comments 58 Comments

aging with confidence

Happy July 1!  Welcome to my discussion covering my journey of aging with confidence.

Today is a milestone in that journey…I will explain in a moment.

But, it comes at a perfect time because we have been discussing aging and the phrases aging naturally and aging gracefully.

I choose to for me to be aging with confidence and today will explain what that means to me.

This audience has played a key role in my journey and I am so happy to be here with you.

So, let’s get started on the day that kicks off one of my favorite months of the year.

MY JOURNEY OF AGING WITH CONFIDENCE: THE MILESTONE

aging with confidence

Today, I have officially been blogging for women for 15 years!  It has been a joy and sheer delight.

Briefly, when I turned 50, I had a wake up moment where I realized that I had put me at the bottom of my priority list as a busy mom and teacher.

Over the next five years, I began my journey of aging with confidence as I worked on my outsides and my health.

I am a journalist…journalism degree…writer since 11…and journalism teacher for 18 years…so I research EVERYTHING.  

The more I learned, I began to share with friends and to help them on their own confident journeys over 50.

One of my dearest friends said…“YOU NEED TO START A BLOG!”  I did not really know what I was doing, but followed her advice and began this blog.

I am often asked, why have I not changed the name of the blog as I go forward to age with confidence.

The honest answer has to do with marketing and branding…I have promoted and seared in the minds of my audience that I am over 50 feeling 40…that is my identity.

And really…I will ALWAYS be over 50..just farther away than some of you are.  The phrase “feeling 40” is my way of saying that I work to feel my absolute best.

So, this blog is for all women over 50, over 60, over 70, over 80, over 90….who want to look and feel their best every single day of life on this earth we have been blessed with.

NOTE ON THE PICTURE:  I am back on my healthy eating plan and did not want to purchase a cupcake for these candles.  I bought one of these microwave KETO cakes for the picture.

But, I did taste it….and it is a product you will want to avoid for many reasons…reason number one is bad taste!  I should have just bought a cupcake and given it to Mr. B.

MY JOURNEY OF AGING WITH CONFIDENCE:  WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

aging with confidence

We each have unique and individual journeys through this life.  

I am not here to have you look like me, or follow every single piece of information I post.  I am here to encourage you to be your absolute best and UNIQUELY YOU.

We are all different sizes, shapes, color palettes, lifestyles, ages….and all I want is to encourage you to age with confidence and experience Joy in the Journey.

aging with confidence

For me, that means:

  1. I accept that I am aging and I honestly have enjoyed it so far.  I don’t feel my age (70) and rarely think about it.
  2. When I look in the mirror, I am not assessing “what is wrong or different,” rather, I am asking, how do I want to look for what lies ahead in my day.  (More about style adjectives tomorrow)
  3. I do not focus on age spots, wrinkles, sagging, etc.  Sometimes, I thank God in the mirror for the gifts he gave to me…big eyes, hazel eyes, thick hair, a reason to get up and occasionally a good night’s sleep.
  4. I live one day at a time…what will I do with the gift of life that day?
  5. I do fix my face and dress nice for the day…no matter what it holds.  Even if just running errands, I want to be my confident best and smile when I go out.  I am more likely to enjoy the people I see along the way.
  6. When I am confident in who I am and how I look, then I do not shrink back and even think about invisibility.  I enter each room with a smile and my head held high.
  7.  It also means that I do what I can to stay healthy.  My recent surgeries which brought back weight gain that has concerned me is more about what it does to my health than anything.  But, I am back on it …..again.
  8.  Aging with confidence for me means that I make beauty decisions that increase my confidence.  I love to smile, so I have rejected fillers that might freeze that smile.  I love my hair color and believe it still looks natural, so I have chosen to keep coloring it.  Should I ever look in the mirror and believe I look like I am trying too hard, then that will change.  These are decisions that are right for me.  Your individual aging with confidence decisions need to be your own…and stand by them.
  9.  Aging with confidence for me means that I am here for my family and for YOU…I plan to keep blogging for as long as I can….the world of technology is more of a factor than anything else.
  10. When I look in the mirror and see a strong, joyful woman, then I know that I am aging with confidence.

I am standing in front of this old fence because, I love this fence.  I tend to love vintage decor, and country designs over the modern…it is in my unique eye to see beauty in it.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we should see the beauty inside of us as we age.

MY JOURNEY OF AGING WITH CONFIDENCE: LOOKING OUR BEST

age with confidence

This is me just last year in a similar outfit.  I was quite a bit smaller than I am now.

As I advance in this journey of aging with confidence, I look at setbacks as a way to grow and to keep going forward.  

My smile is the same and my enthusiasm for life is the same. 

And my deep gratitude for all of you is the same.  Those who have been here for 15 years…thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Those who are new, thank you for joining one of the best blog communities around.  You will quickly learn that the women who read and comment here are amazing!

I am so honored that you join me here most every day. Tomorrow I will need your opinions on something coming up!

SIDE NOTE:  I am a fan of the NO IRON SHIRTS by Chico’s…that is what I am wearing and you can see that it still looks new after a year.

One more thing….

MY JOURNEY OF AGING WITH CONFIDENCE: MY SKINCARE

 

aging with confidence

Aging with confidence for me does include skincare which promotes a healthy glow and for me to look my absolute confident best at age 70.

Since I began using BY BRIAN SKINCARE , I have seen a noticeable improvement in my skin and receive more compliments on it.

This is the second week for BRIAN to offer us a summer special on my favorite products.

Today, you can save 25% on the RE-CREATION SKIN FIRMING SERUM BY BRIAN.  I use this daily around my eyes, on my eyelids, and throughout the rest of my face.

According to BRIAN, Recreation Skin Firming Serum contains a scientific and natural plant-based blend of ingredients. Research shows that Matrixyl Peptides out-performs Vitamin C & Retinol to smooth wrinkles as much as 68% in 2-6 months. Coneflower (Echinacea Angustifolia) studies have shown improves the skin firmness up to 21% in four weeks. Chlorella Vulgaris Extract supports the production of collagen and increases the cellular energy. Grape leaf, Black Currant, Passionflower are shown to protects from loss of firmness, maintaining skin’s elasticity. And algae peptides helps increase skin’s firmness up to 20%, reduces appearance of lines & wrinkles by 27%. For added under eye firmness use Re-Creation Skin Firming Serum under Illuminate & Contour Eye Treatment.

So, from July 1 through July 7, you can save 25% on this product with the code:weeklyspecial25

I highly recommend his ONE-ON-ONE IN-PERSON MASTER WORKSHOP.  It is a great way to know exactly what skincare products to use at your particular stage of life. 

Thanks to Brian for all he does to help us with our aging with confidence journeys.

Now,  it is your turn…are you aging with confidence like I am…aging gracefully…aging naturally…what fits your unique journey best?

I hope to see you tomorrow…until then….

STAY STRONG & KEEP SMILING!

By Pamela Lutrell

Remember to shop with my SHOPPING LINKS in order to support this blog and keep me around!  Thanks to all who do this.

aging with confidence

58 Comments

  1. Congratulations! On 15 years of positive blogging for women over 50!
    May you have many more years doing what you ❤️.

  2. Good morning Pam and Happy 15th blog Anniversary. I’ve only been following for about 3 years but always look forward to your smiling face, upbeat attitude and lovely fashion ideas. Thanks for an awesome blog. Oh I was wondering if your pants with the embellished hem in the first picture are Chico’s? I really like the color and style and I’m just wondering what brand they are.

  3. Pam, thank you for the message. You had me at “strong and joyful.” Congratulations on 15 years. What an accomplishment!! Putting the candles in a colorful bowl of fresh fruit would be nice. And…you look fabulous in green. You inspire us every day.

  5. Thank you, Valerie! They are Chicos but from the past. I love the beachy style to them.

  6. Yes to the fruit bowl! I always think candles with cake!! Thank you so much, Marcia. Glad you are here.

  7. Pam – Loved your post today and congratulations on “15” years of sharing and providing such profound knowledge and support to all your followers. I loved your quote above “when I am confident in who I am and how I look, then I do not shrink back and even think about invisibility. I enter each room with a smile and my head held high.”

    Thank you for your recent sharing of “By Brian” cosmetics. I was hesitant to schedule a One-On-One with Brian with his years of experience in working with and inspiring celebrities for their “red-carpet” moments. I, like many of your followers, have left corporate America, and do not have “red-carpet” events. What I learned in spending time with Brian is that he graciously collaborates with all women to look and feel good and confident in their lives.

    The following quote reminds me of you today. “You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” — Diane von Furstenber

  8. Congratulations on 15 years! That really is quite an accomplishment. Thank you for bringing your readers such a positive message each day and giving us the gift of feeling we are not alone is this journey!
    Have a beautiful day!
    Linda Ann

  9. I am so glad I am on this journey with you. You have reminded me to always look for the positives, even on the worst days – and helped me look a bit more put together as well. 🙂 God blessed us with you and I am grateful! Congratulations on your 15 years of blogging! Time flies when you’re having fun! <3

  10. Thanks so much, Janet. Brian is so relatable and genuinely cares about helping women over 50. Spending time with him has helped me as well…so glad you reached out to him. And his products are exceptional.
    I appreciate your words.

  11. Thank you Linda Ann…this has grown to be such an amazing community of ladies. Love you all!

  15. Thank you for all you share here, especially your kind, encouraging and upbeat attitude. Happy Blogging Annuversary!

  17. Great post and LOVE “put a twinkle in the wrinkle”. What a perfect sound bite for self talk. And with love I can imagine lifting up with this whimsical, joyful advice. Pamala, no one rocks green like you, seriously.

  18. Wow, 15 years! In today’s media landscape, that’s quite an accomplishment, and a testament to your hard work, discipline, and professionalism. As to your fashion today, I love those Chicos no iron tops for my own weight loss journey. I first got them on the small side and wore open over a tank, then buttoned them when I lost more. I know many of your readers, like me, have fluctuating weight, and it’s a great option when you are going through clothes (and money) as your size changes.

  20. Thanks Linda…obviously the shirt has served me well as my weight has definitely fluctuated. I now believe it is all about metabolism. I was losing…feeling amazing…and then the two surgeries slammed me against a wall of anesthesia, pain medications, immobility, comfort food, break from best supplements, and thus slow metabolism. That is what I am working on now is to speed it up and get it back to where it was. And yes, during this transition, these Chico’s tops are gold.

  21. “Aging with confidence.” That is a really good statement. It is something I need to say to myself day to day. Congratulations on 15 years! I’m glad I found you. I completely understand your ups and downs of weight. I’m right there with you. You at least are very real with what you are going through in your aging process. Keep it coming!

  22. I plan to, Paula…as long as I can..and I am so glad you are here with us.

  23. Hi Pam,
    WOW 15 years of this awesome blog! Thank you. I really appreciate the time and care you put into it. Congratulations! Let’s continue the celebration!
    😊
    P.S. You look great!

  25. Happy 15th Blog-versary, Pam! 🥳🎉🪇 This month marks 5 years for me as a reader. I found you on the heels of the private school where I taught closing their doors, which came as a surprise and big disappointment. Looking for some style direction as an early retiree, I found you! The best part is that you ended up being so much more than a fashion resource, and like many ladies here, I look forward to all the facets you bring to the blog and this community. Thank you for all your kindness, creativity, and encouragement.

  27. Here’s an interesting factoid I have read about from a number of healthy eating /longevity doctors: a lower metabolism can lead to longevity. The example sometimes used is the giant tortoise who lives around 150 years. The frustrating side is that with a slower metabolism you have to eat less.

  29. As Connie expressed so well, Happy Blog Anniversary! I appreciate your work here on this blog so much. I drink my morning tea every day with you and the women who comment. We have all become distant friends. I love that we are from all over and are all mature women but of different ages and places in our lives but we form a wonderful community. You created it and you are the leader of our pack. You are so encouraging even in hard times. I love your smile and look forward to seeing it even on hard days for me. Being disabled with chronic pain and instability adds another layer to aging for me. But you and the ladies lift me up everyday. I have much gratitude for having found you a couple of years ago. Congratulations on taking that Journalism degree and running in a new direction 15 years ago today!

  30. Happy Blog-iversary, Pam! Although I’ve only been a regular reader for about five years, I have gone back through your archives and read your posts on so many different topics, from fashion to faith and everything in between. Congratulations on surviving in a “cut-throat” industry for one and a half decades, and best wishes for creating many more words of wisdom for us in the years to come! I am printing and saving this post because I believe it is a very powerful manifesto on female aging. I will turn 65 next week and needed to read these words today. As a friend recently said to me, “Wrinkles come with wisdom, so we aren’t old, we just have wise cracks.” Thank you for being such a bright light and a positive role model for women of all ages.

  31. Congratulations on 15 years of blogging! I joined about a year or so after you started as I had retired & was looking at who I wanted to be now that I wasn’t an office worker anymore. I remember in your early days you didn’t share your face with its lovely smile with us. Your blog has bolstered my courage on more than one occasion. I realized that I mattered & deserved to look nice every day. Even on those days, like today, when I am only cleaning the house or pulling weeds on the patio. Life is not always easy, but there are lessons to be learned from the hard times. Lessons that we can carry forward into each new season of life. Thank you for sharing yourself with us & continuing to inspire us.

  32. Congratulations on 15 years of blogging. Reading your blog is part of my way of approaching each day with a positive attitude. Since my husband has become disabled my life has shrunk a bit. I still get out but less often and it requires a bit of planning. Still I want to embrace whatever the day holds. I hope your metabolism will speed up and you will share how you accomplished it. I now have a medical condition that is not life threatening but does affect my metabolism and I’d love to get back to my “fighting” weight. BTW, you look lovely in both photos. That green shirt really lights up your face. And the red accessories are such a creative touch. Happy Monday!

  36. Aw thanks, Lorri. I am full of those wise cracks mixed with actual ones!! Thanks for joining this fellow Texan each day.

  37. Thank you, Becky! I had such fun with the I Matter campaign which was a reminder to me as much as anyone. So glad you are still here.

  38. It sounds like you are facing a new role with strength and hope, Kathie. I am so glad you are here.

  39. Happy 15th blogiversary! I found you about 5 years ago (before I was 50) and knew I’d learn a lot from you. I appreciate all of the lessons and wisdom you share, all of the outfit ideas, etc. I’m especially excited now that I’ve had my colors analyzed and find I’m the same season as you so I’m keeping an extra keen eye on your shopping and wardrobe posts going forward. Thank you!

  40. Congratulations on a job that is exciting and beneficial to you as well as all of us whom you reach! You have a generous heart. I loved your 10 points. You covered a gambit of confidence builders and gratitude. I hope you know how well you are appreciated. You have given us a safe space to share our real lives in. Cheers!

  41. Thank you for being here, Karla and for the kind words. So glad to have you joining us.

  42. Deborah, I really am so thankful for all of you. Blogging has been such an enjoyable experience because of the audience interaction. When I previously wrote articles for magazines and newspapers, there was no way to know how they hit the audience. But, blogging brings the audience to life and I love it for that reason. The provisions for me and Mr. B have been a blessing as well.

  43. Congrats on a wonderful 15 years. I think I have been here for about 3 to 4 years. Love your range of topics and your upbeat attitude. Here’s to many more years of sending out such wonderful positive vibes for all of us. Thank you!

  45. I’ll try a second time…first script disappeared. Your blog is usually the first thing I read each morning after I get my first cup of coffee and pick up my iPad. Many Congratulations on 15 amazing and productive years! You make me smile, give me joy, make me appreciate the little things of life. I’ve learned much from you and your readers’ comments. You are a distant friend like some Facebook friends I have never actually met. If I’m ever in San Antonio, I feel that I could call you and we’d have a lovely time together. Thank you sincerely.

  46. Yes! You could call and I would be disappointed if you didn’t. Sorry glad to start each day with you, Celia!

  47. Congratulations on 15 years! I enjoyed reading your blog today! I look forward to reading more from your blog. Thank you!!

  49. Congratulations! I think I have been following you for at least ten years. I love that you have stayed true to being yourself and have not jumped on the Amazon/Nordstrom Anniversary Sale or other latest promotion is bandwagon. I know I can absolutely trust whatever product you endorse and that alone is golden. I do appreciate you!

  50. Thank you, Linda. Actually tomorrow I ask for your thoughts on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale…please come back and share. I want to hear from this audience on it. I appreciate you.

  51. Here’s to aging with confidence and another 15 years — and, maybe, a smidge of real cake?
    Love the blog, Maeve

  52. lol…It’s hard to turn down a Texas sheet cake. Might have to make one for Thursday! 😉

  53. Hi Pam,
    Wow, 15 years of blogging is very impressive. I know you enjoy it otherwise you would not continue at it.
    You wrote a beautiful blog. I relate to your up beat joyful attitude.

  55. Hi Pam! Congratulations on this BIG occasion. Fifteen years- wow! . I’ve been following your blog for a few of those years and I am grateful each day for your inspiring messages.
    You look great in these pictures, Pam—well on your way to pre- surgery fitness levels.
    I’ve purchased some bathing suits online ( mistake?) Only time will tell ! No other purchases planned right now but I never say never! Fingers crossed the swimsuits fit!

  56. I hope they fit as well, Paulette. Thank you for the support and joined my in the conversations.

  57. Congratulations on your blog-iversary. I love your honesty, your enthusiasm, and, yes, your beautiful smile. I come here to read about REAL fashion and life tips for vibrant aging. Thank you for all you do.

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