WHY FLAMINGOES?
Being a tall girl who has a not-so-secret love affair with the colour pink, I've always had a soft spot for flamingoes. They're tall too - and gangly, have long legs, and are my favourite colour! I also saw a great meme online recently that contained some sage wisdom associated with this magnificent creature. Today I thought I'd elaborate on that advice which comes straight from the flamingo to you - it also reflects some of the lessons I'm learning in Midlife.WADE INTO LIFE
I've been guilty of sitting back and waiting for life to happen to me. It's so easy to be complacent and think that you're doing okay and don't need to make any forward progress. I've noticed that things in my life have been a bit "same old, same old" lately and I'm planning on changing that - starting this month.There are a couple of things that I want to make a start on - one is taking up Tai Chi again, and the other is to start an online study course of some description. One is for the body, the other is for the mind - time to shake things up a little and get moving again.
STAND OUT IN A CROWD
There's a lot of emphasis placed on physical beauty and looking amazing for our age these days - that's supposed to be the way we prevent becoming invisible in Midlife, but I'd like to suggest a different way to stand out from the crowd. How about being the person who has the brightest smile, the person who always has a compliment to offer, the person who has a kind word, or who lends a hand where needed?Wouldn't it be nice to be remembered for how lovely our nature is and how generous our attitude towards others is? Who wants to be a glamazon when you could instead choose to be wise and warm, caring and compassionate? Let's stand out for the right reasons now we're in Midlife.
SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FLOCK
One of the biggest benefits of blogging has been discovering my tribe - or my "flock". Meeting so many wonderful Midlife women (and a few blokes) who are happy to be 50+ and who share their enthusiasm and positivity has been an absolute blessing. They share tips and encouragement to keep going with my writing, they are generous and they are warm and witty - what's not to like?I also have a handful of friends IRL who are my flock too - I think in Midlife your flock thins out a little and you find yourself focusing on the people who really want to be part of your life. When you find these people, take the time to meet up, to chat, to share stories, to invest in each other's lives. Nobody wants to die old and alone, we all need those friends who will be keeping us company in the old folks home!
FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE
I think "balance" is one of the most important words in my life dictionary these days - along with "authenticity" and "boundaries". If we don't have balance in our lives then we end up putting too much emphasis on one area and burning ourselves out. It's all well and good to be passionate about something but if you lose sight of the other areas of your life then you lose yourself along the way.Keeping fit is important - but not at the expense of having no time to sit and have a cuppa with a friend. Enjoying your career is great - but not if it means neglecting your family. Blogging can be wonderful - but not if it means you are online 24/7! We need to remind ourselves of the importance of each aspect of our life and keep them in balance.
BE FLEXIBLE
This works on two levels - firstly in our physical selves. I know my physical flexiblility is less than it was when I was younger. I discovered that in a painful way when I attempted a cartwheel in my 40's. Good grief - I never knew how many joints in my body could weep at the same time! I've also noticed it when I've been sitting at a keyboard all day at work or on the blog - my shoulder blades are quietly screaming for a break and some stretching.Flexibility also comes into play in how we live our lives. It's easy to get so caught up in your normal routine that you forget to allow some time for spontaneity. If someone says "let's go somewhere and do something" this weekend - seize the moment and go! Don't let the boring routine of life stop you being flexible enough to try something new when it's offered.
KEEP YOUR BEAK CLEAN
We all need this little piece of advice - don't stick your beak in where it's not wanted - this applies to giving unasked for advice to your adult children, it also applies to situations at work or with friends where you don't need to by nosy - you don't need to be in on every little saga that raises its head in the office or in your casual relationships.Also try not to lie - it's much easier to keep your story straight if you're not embroidering the details, don't get caught up in the schemes of others, stay true to your values - honesty and authenticity help you sleep well at night.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET YOUR FEET WET
Try new things - don't be stuck in the mud of never stepping out of your comfort zone. Take that course, try that new activity, go somewhere new, eat at a new cafe, visit a different holiday destination. Sometimes those unexpected adventures lead to new destinations and grow us much more than we expect them to.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Do any of these pieces of advice resonate with you? Are you a flamingo standing tall and stepping out in confidence? Or are you standing on the shore, not wanting to get your feet wet?
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Hari OM
ReplyDeleteI's-a swishing my beak in all that pinky goodness!!! &*> The one thing I do lament a bit is the loss of physical flexibility which hit very suddenly with the meno; even through years of arthritis, dancing and gymnastics and yoga all helped to keep me supple. Now trimming toenails is a nightmare. I swear the ground is being lowered beneath my feet..... I love your concept of being remembered for who we are and not how we look. Work in progress. YAM xx
I feel a bit the same way Yam - I get out of bed in the morning and feel all the little creaks and stiffness in my joints. Went for a ride on the back of my husband's motorbike yesterday and felt it afterwards too!
DeleteWisdom, Fun, Balance and Pink...What's not to love?
ReplyDeleteFrom one tall girl to another!
My doctor once described me as "long and lean" Donna - now I just have to work a bit harder on the "lean" part of the description!
DeleteLove this! There's an ad on the back of a bus for one of the retirement homes up here that says "I'm more flamingo than bingo"...I love that too. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that Jo - I'm going to add it to my favourite sayings for when I'm in the old folks home giving the nurses a hard time :)
DeleteAnother great post Leanne. All excellent advice, particularly the bit about trying not to give my adult children advice. It is hard to remember that you are adults in your own right and not just my kids anymore. We all have to learn from our own mistakes, often later than sooner. Mum. xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt flows on down through the generations Mum - I have to remind myself of it regularly - fortunately ours are doing so well that they don't need any advice from me - so I can sit back and enjoy the ride. It's nice having responsible adults for my children :)
DeleteI try to keep balance by tracking the important activities. Especially now that we've moved and I'm essentially jobless, I have to work to create that routine of touching all corners of my life.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on standing out - choose how you want to stand out. What do I want to be known for, in the end? Food for thought.
I think way too much emphasis is placed on physical appearance these days Red - trying to be gorgeous on the outside and maybe if we put as much effort into being gorgeous on the inside then the world would be a nicer place.
DeleteHi Leanne! Firstly, I love flamingoes they are so bright and colourful and I love everything you have written. I especially like the part about keeping your beak clean - I wish some people I know would take that advice. Good for you in trying some new things for the body and the mind. Do you know what course you will take? I also agree that we don't have to be 'models' to stand out. A woman with a smile and self-confidence wins out all the time in my book.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of clean beaks these days Sue - if someone wants to get down and dirty that's their business, but I don't want to be a part of it. I'm a big fan of peace and quiet and staying out of things. And yes, give me a smile and and some warmth any day - 100% preferable to a cool, self-absorbed person!
DeleteHi Leanne, another great start to #MLSTL! I'm sharing your post on social media. x
DeleteSo I'm not tall (5'1") and pink is my least favourite colour (sorry, Leanne), but everything else fits like a glove! I especially like the idea of standing out in a crowd through ways others than physical glamour. For me, I would like it to be for my smile and strong sense of vitality - the last, something I've been working to recover ever since the burnout and I think it's finally, finally coming back.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of extricating myself from some extended family nonsense that will help me to keep my beak clean going forward - can't wait! Then I'll be able to return to the new experiences you talked about, including the dozen courses I've got in my Udemy account and the handful of ones I'm signed up for in Coursera.
Enjoy your changes this month, Leanne. Looking forward to hearing what you end up doing.
Wow! You have a dozen courses in the pipeline! I finally found one to get started with and that is about all I can handle atm. I'm so glad you're finding your mojo again and extricating yourself from the messy family stuff at the same time. I thought you were pretty fabulous already - I am going to be completely bedazzled when you get all your vim and vitality back!
DeleteI do enjoy looking at real flamingos , I even like the plastic ones people put in their yards. This is a great post Leanne. Who knew Flamingos could offer so much wisdom, I am glad you culled and shared! I never can stand tall being a short woman but I always try to stand with confidence and try new things.Being this age and not competitive, I don't care about my success on new things, just the trying is the fun and the goal!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're a fellow flamingo lover Haralee - and yes, this is an age where you can have a go at something and realize it's not life or death if it isn't perfect or if you didn't nail it - such a nice time of life isn't it?
DeleteI love your whole attitude towards mid-life, Leanne. It's not about looking fabulous, it's about being fabulous.
ReplyDeleteLaurel you summed it up beautifully - in fact I might quote you in a future blog post with that last sentence!
DeleteI LOVE your analogies to the flamingo...balance, flexibility, having a caring spirit..this is what resonated for me. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks Candi - I just thought they were all fun but also had a ring of truth to them - maybe because they're areas I've been working on in my own life over the last few years.
DeleteI'm one of those people who has pink flamingo's in their yard. In Feng Shui, they can substitute for a phoenix... I read it somewhere. While I don't relate to them personally (I'm not tall, not a huge fan of pink, and Blue Heron's are actually my favorite bird) ... I do love how you've turned them into some sage advice. Wade in, get your feet wet, spend time with your flock. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI think it's amazing that you have flamingoes and that they can be equated to phoenixes - it makes me smile to think of a flamingo trying to rise from the ashes!
DeleteI don't even know where to start, I love this so much! The flamingo might have to be my new mascot! Several of these items are things I am already working on--and the others are things I am now motivated to try more of. Thank you Leanne and have a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it inspired you Christie - I like the term "mascot" too because you're not allowed to use "spirit animal" in case you offend someone. Maybe I'll make it my mascot too - standing on the crest of a hill :)
DeleteKeep your beak clean! I love that bit of advice.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame more people don't remember to put it into practice isn't it Jennifer?
DeleteYes! Especially those that are considered leaders!
DeleteWho knew a flamingo could offer such sage advice! I think my favourite bit is keeping the balance - you know why :-). You have a great knack for fleshing out principles. Xox
ReplyDeleteYep! Balance is a big one for me too - it's so easy to get carried away in one area and neglect the rest of your priorities - but it usually takes a wake up call before we notice we're sliding out of whack.
DeleteThis is a wonderful post! What great advice. I like the one about standing out in a crowd. A smile makes you radiate with sunshine and people can see it.
ReplyDeleteA smile is the Midlife woman's secret weapon isn't it Rebecca? Nobody is invisible if they are radiating sunshine.
DeleteThank you, Leanne, for your great list of advice. All your points resonate with me. I like flamingos, too.
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun writing this post Natalie because they were all points I can take home and work on.
DeleteHi Leanne! Really good and SMART advice here! I love that you point out being flexible because that is my word for the year this year. I've been trying it mentally as well as physically with lots of yoga! I agree that it adds value to ones life. But I particularly like your advice to do things that not only stimulate the body, but the mind as well. I really believe we need to stay curious and constantly learning regardless of our age and it sounds like you do too. And love the idea of being a flamingo! ~Kathy
ReplyDeleteI'm still pondering on yoga and pilates Kathy - both are so expensive to take classes in and I'm not sure I want to learn from a youtube clip. I've just taken my first Tai Chi class and I'm hoping that will be good for my flexibility and coordination (both need work!)
DeleteThanks for another great Link Up, Leanne. I've shared this on my Social Media.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated Donna - and I hope to see more posts from you once you finish lazing around with your granddog over Summer!
DeleteLove the analogy, Leanne! I thoroughly enjoyed your thought provoking post, and thank you again for being so supportive and having me join in on this linking party.
ReplyDeleteLori Jo - www.50withflair.com
Hi Lori - it's been a pleasure meeting you - and seeing how far you've come with your blog in such a short time. You certainly proved that with the right mindset you can achieve amazing results.
DeleteLoved this - keep your beak clean!
ReplyDeleteHi Erith - it's certainly one of the most important on the list for staying away from toxic people and situations!
DeleteI'd have to be a baby flamingo cos I am a shorty - just a smidge over 5ft!! lol I love all of this advice and agree wholeheartedly. I am fighting the loss of flexibility as we age by doing pilates and have just started yoga too! I will never be a glamazon! lol I hope to be known for my caring nature more than anything. I've pushed out of my comfort zone a few times over the last few years but probably have gotten a little complacent and should stretch that zone a little more soon. xo
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're a Munchkin flamingo Min (like those cute cats that have short legs?) I have been thinking about Pilates and yoga, but the classes are soooo expensive! I've just started Tai Chi so I'm going to see how that goes for my flexibility and it took me out of my comfort zone going to a class by myself and trying something new.
DeleteI've read a lot of these over the years and never fail to enjoy them. Loved your take on the tips!
ReplyDelete#MLSTL visitor (shared on SM)
I have too Donna - but this one really resonated with me - probably because flamingos always make me smile and the tips were all quite useful!
DeleteWhat wittily written sage advice. I had no idea flamingos could serve as such role models. Would love to have you join us for the Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone as you experience new activities while wading into life. You could inspire others to try Tai Chi or an online course. We post the last day of each month. Please let me know if you would like to be added to our email group for reminders!! My email is mommyhon333@hotmail.com.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley I'll definitely look at linking up with you if I manage to get my head around Tai Chi and also the online course I've started. So many things still to learn and so little time to fit them all in!
DeleteThat is so very cool. Flamingos are pretty smart birds. Loved it. Thanks for sharing this. #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteHi Patrick - thanks so much for visiting again and for joining us at #MLSTL - it's always great to have a bloke onboard.
DeleteSo much of this post resonates with me Leanne, but particularly 'balance'. This has been on my mind lately as committing to too much has put me life out of balance. This really stresses me so I'm making plans to step away from a few things to restore that balance. #MLSTL Shared on SM
ReplyDeleteBalance was a big one for me too Jennifer - and how to get the amount of time right that I invest into different areas of life. It's so easy to get consumed by one particular interest and to neglect things that are less engaging, but just as important.
DeleteI loved this. Flamingos are great!
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty fabulous aren't they Cherie? I'm thinking I should make one my mascot or buy a few for the garden (now to convince my husband!)
DeleteYour posts are always so interesting and unique Leanne, just like a flamingo �� these are top tips and you are right on the money in terms of how we should progress through our midlife years. Have shared on SM #mlstl
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - they were such good points for me and I thought others might enjoy them too - it's easy to look at something and not really take it to another level - once I started drilling down on the points they became even more relevant.
DeleteI love this post Leanne, such a great way to share your wisdom and insights (and challenges) ;-) Pinning it xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan - I have a bit of a soft spot for flamingos and these little advice snippets meshed really well with my world view.
DeleteI absolutely LOVE this post! Whimsical - fun - creative - and so thought provoking!
ReplyDeletewww.mollytotoro.com
Thanks Molly - it was a fun post to write and it's lovely to see that it's resonated with so many people x
DeleteLeanne I love this post. If I can just follow a couple of these ideas I will be happy.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it Victoria - I'm working on all the areas of flamingo recommendations - some I'm doing better at than others!
DeleteI love the analogy of life being like a flamingo- it is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI know! I loved it too Michele - it's my favourite bird from now on!
DeleteAmong all the suggestions from the flamingo, what I can relate with most, and what I try my best to follow, is "Find the Right Balance".
ReplyDeleteI would like to get my feet wet, but before that I would like to know how deep is the water!
Thanks, a lot, Leanne, for this wonderful post. :-)
(Came to this post via the #MLSTL. I have shared this post on my social media.)