My dermatologist diagnosed me with rosacea 25 years ago and urged me to avoid the sun, avoid alcohol, avoid spicy meals, and use sunscreen every day. I followed those instructions to the letter, and to my surprise, I have not aged since that day. Of course, I did a few more things that may have helped, such as limiting my intake of inflammatory items like processed meat, sugar, and fast food, which I did mostly for health reasons. I also follow a decent skincare routine, which includes utilizing BHA on a weekly basis. I appear younger in this shot (at 40) than I did at 16! Some may argue that my genes take precedence over my habits, but according to age scientists who specialize in the study of aging, genes account for only 10% of aging. There’s a lot more we can do to stop it. In addition, while my mother appears young (because of her lack of sun exposure), my father appears to be in his eighties (he has had lots of sun exposure, has the wrinkles and age spots to prove it, and refuses to wear sunscreen, and eats spicy food at every meal).
I don’t give up when things get tough. As a kid, I went to piano and violin lessons every week and worked hard until I was finished. Now, teaching music is one of my life’s main sources of income, and it pays well as well. It reinforces my drive to push harder for the shot during photoshoots when unforeseen circumstances turn for the worse. When a nursing school or clinical rotations were difficult, I simply had to keep going until I reached my goal. My job in the operating room might be difficult and demanding, but I always persevere and have a nice day. This self-discipline has never failed me.
I’ve always been a tidy freak with a lot of organization. My room was spotless when I was a kid, and my house is the same way now. I also enjoy being on time or early – I’m always the first one at the hospital. I get decent parking, avoid rush hour, have time to have breakfast and go through the day’s agenda, and have some mental preparation time. When I get up early and keep my house in order, I feel productive and at ease.
I’ve never stopped learning since I was a child. I have three degrees in music, business, and nursing, but I’m sure I’ll go back to school for more. On my drive to work, I’m always listening to audiobooks. Did you know that as a senior citizen, you can audit university courses? Being eager to learn has aided my adaptability. I’m pleased I had numerous options for staying employed during the Covid shutdown; when music lessons were canceled and photography contracts were scarce, I just picked up more shifts at the hospital. I’ve rebalanced the workload to make it more bearable now that things are starting to open up again.
I’ve rarely watched television in my life because it takes up too much of my time and productivity. However, I must admit that social media has filled that hole in terms of amusement; I spend a lot of time on Quora, Facebook, and Instagram. I also save money by not buying Starbucks or eating out for lunch; instead, I grind my own flavored coffee beans and prepare my own nutritious lunch every day. This leads me to my intuitive eating habits: I eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m satisfied, and my weight has never changed throughout my adult life. I also include nutritious, well-balanced meals that I enjoy.
Another thing I’d like to mention is that I’ve always jumped upon opportunities rather than waiting. It has proven beneficial in the vast majority of cases. It’s what I refer to as my gut instinct. Decisions must usually be taken fast, and those who aren’t scared to take a risk are more likely to succeed.
