50 Lessons I've Learned in 50 Years (Birthday Celebration Episode!)

Today is a very special episode: I'm walking you down memory lane and sharing standout lessons I've learned during the last 50 years. Note, this list of 50 things shared in this solo episode aren't all encompassing. Most of the items I've included are from the last decade.

Reflecting on these lessons has been such a good reminder that life truly will always be a classroom and that it's never too late to learn really important things!

What to expect in today's episode:

1. A list of 50 things I've learned about God, health, rest, food and so.much.more.
2. Voice memos from our community, sharing things they wished they would have learned before hitting the big 5-0 and also some messages from the younger listeners, sharing their bucket list items to reach before turning 50.
3. Information about a fun challenge!

Celebrate with me!

Listen to the mini episodes over the next few days and participate with me by doing the small challenges I share about in each mini episode. Take a pic and tag me @gracedhealth and use the hashtag #5DaysTo50 so I can follow along as you do the challenges. Thank you for celebrating with me!

Thank you for giving me the space to share this milestone birthday. And a special thank you to those of you who answered the call to leave voice mails.

Transcript

50 Lessons Learned in 50 Years - A Birthday Celebration Episode

Chances are when you hit play on this podcast, you are looking to learn something. To learn something. Or be enriched as I like to say about your physical health, maybe about your mental health or your spiritual health, because we cover all three here. And if you do that, then I'm just going to apologize a bit on the front end and I hope you will indulge me. I am taking this episode to celebrate, to celebrate my 50th birthday. 

That is coming up. On November 17th. 

This is going live on November 12th. So in just a few days, I am hitting that half a hundred milestone. 

In this episode, I am doing two primary things. One is I have been taking notes and reflecting over the last several weeks on 50 lessons. 

I've learned. In 50 years. So I am going to share those with you here in a bit. And then at the end, I have a way that you can celebrate with me. So I will be sharing that with you. But first, I want to share why I am doing this episode in the first place.

/ First, we need to rewind 10 years.

As I was turning 40, I had not yet started grace health though. I had received some seeds from God through other people to write and to communicate about this concept of balanced, healthy living, where it's not just so rigid. So black and white. But I knew that I wanted to celebrate what my body could do. 

I was feeling strong.

At that time, I had completed several half marathons. I've never done a full, but, and I don't really remember how many at that point, but I had done enough that I was just feeling great with what my body was able to do. And I wanted to celebrate that. What I did is I spent about two hours and planned out. What I called 40, 40, 40. 

So I took the 40 days prior to my 40th birthday and I did some sort of movement. In division or multiples of 40. 

I went on a walk with a friend for 40 minutes. I did 40 minutes of yoga. We did 40 squats. I was teaching a lot of different group fitness. Classes at the time. And in fact, I was just laughing about this time with a friend of mine. Cause she was like, Amy, you had us doing like 40 all kinds of different 40 things. 

Because I knew also that my body couldn't handle like going to class, participating in class with my participants and then going home and doing something else. And so I incorporated them into the classes when I could, but my, uh, my students did a lot with me. And then as a little side note, Shout out to those of you who were with me, because I know some of you still are.

 they surprised me on my 40th birthday with, um, the hit decorated the room and did streamers. And it was like one of the very few times in my life that I've been surprised and it was so fun and so meaningful. But I did this. And so I sent out a signup genius, and I invited all of my friends. At the end. 

What I did was I had 40 different things that I did with people who were meaningful to me. I got my parents involved. I got my sister. Evolve. My mother-in-law participated with me. Um, my sister-in-law did something like it was so fun and I was exhausted by the time I turned 40. And I remember thinking at that time, You cannot do 50, 50, 50. This is just, it is too much. 

It is too much. I did want to do something though, and I wanted to celebrate. Just aware. I am. I'm so proud of that 40, 40, 40, and particularly the intention behind it. I loved that. I got to do things with the people I care about. I can't replicate that though. Now. I mean, maybe I could do most of the things, but it's just not where I am. 

This is not the season that I am in as well. Since then I started blogging and then I started podcasting in 2019. For those of you who have been with me, you have been with me on my journey. And evolving this concept of. Previously health was what I eat and how I move period, the end to. Oh, no, this is so much more than that. 

This is about connection. This is about having peace in my mental health. This is about making sure I'm getting enough sleep. All of these things that we talk about here. That is something that I have learned in the last 10 years. 

For this milestone birthday I wanted to celebrate with you. You have been with me on this journey, whether you are a relatively new listener, or if you go back with me all the way to the blogging days, you have been a part of this. That's why, if you have listened to any of my episodes in the last few weeks, you heard a call for, Hey, I want to hear what you've learned. 

And so I invited people to leave a voicemail of lessons they have learned if they are over 50 and if they are not. Yet 50. I said, Hey, what's something on your bucket list. And then I just said, Hey, if you, if neither one of those apply, if you don't know, if you're stuck, just leave a happy birthday. 

I will share more of those at the end of this episode. 

But I wanted to start with 50 of the lessons I have learned in 50 years. 

I will say there are certainly more, but these are the ones I have. Recorded and written down over the last few weeks as I have been thinking of them. Now, the other fun thing for me was I went down this total rabbit trail. Of documentation over my last 10 years, I skimmed through some old blog posts, which were kind of interesting. 

If you know where you are looking on the website, you can find them, but they are not readily available. I went through my pictures. Uh, that's enough to waste a whole lot of time. But I did try and I tried to keep focused on it. It's not, I was not perfect at it, but this is not all encompassing. 

Most of these are lessons I've learned in the last 10 years. Uh, but it's also a good reminder to me that there's always time to learn. I felt pretty good about 40. I have felt a lot of things about 50 and I'm landing on contentedness. This is where I am. And as I have taken the time to think about the things that I have learned in the last 10 years, I realize that this is not going to end. 

I am not stopping learning at 50. There's so much more. And for, especially for those of you who have cold in who are over 50 and you have shared what you have learned, or you wish you would have known. this is proof. But we're always growing. We always have something there, but today on November 12th, 2024, these are 50 of the lessons I have learned in 50 years. 

And I do need to say upfront that I have not included a lot of personal lessons on parenting and marriage. I have off the grid, people. And the biggest gift I can give them is to not mention them. So I do not talk about marriage and parenting very much in these. It is not because they are not primary focuses in my life. 

It is because. Because they are primary focuses in my life. I'm not talking about them because I know what's important to them. Okay, 

 Here are my 50 lessons learned in 50 years without too much commentary. Number one. In the quietest moments, God shows up the loudest. Number two. Never take your vitamins with hot tea. Number three, even though you're most comfortable places home, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is put on some lipstick and go out to dinner with friends. Number four. Being vulnerable with my children brings us closer together. Number five. 

Sometimes the only thing my children need is my presence. Not my vulnerabilities. Number six, nourish yourself. Number seven. Nourishing takes on different ways. It may be food, or it may be an experience. Both are equally important. Number eight, a warm I compression helps dry and leaky mourning eyes. Number nine. 

I never regret sacrificing time, money and family for a girl's trip. 

Number 10, give your dog her heartworm meds on time. Every month, it's not worth it. Not to. Number 11. Whatever health journey you were on all roads lead back to eating a wide variety of gods plants. Number 12. Glute bridges are the most under utilized movement for women over 40. 

Number 13 sunlight. First thing in the morning helps you sleep at night. Number 14, working out barefoot is great for my balance as well as my nervous system. Number 15 mindful breathing, relaxes my chest more than anything else. Number 16 empty nesting. Is fun. Number 17, our children pay more attention to what we say about ourselves and others than what we say about them. I use kind words about yourself and your child will use kind words about themselves. Number 18. Hemp hearts are great sources of protein and full of omega threes. Number 19. Every year, I need to stretch more. 20. Relationship Becket's need to be filled. 

You can do this with a fire hose, like a big trip or with a medicine dropper. Like a text. 21 strength training. Doesn't have to be complicated. Incorporate the six basic functional movements. Push pull squat hinge, single leg and carry. And you're set. 22. Writing books is hard. Yet simple. Sometimes the hardest part is getting your thoughts in an organized manner down on the page. 23. Everything is figureoutable. 

And I have to give credit to Marie Forleo for that term. 24. Be kind to your future self. 

Number 25. God has unique races for each of us. Run your own race. We see this in Philippians three 14, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. Heavenward in Christ. Jesus. 26, being a fitness professional does not make you immune to challenges in your body and health. 27. I do not trust yourself when evaluating pictures of yourself. Chances are when you look back on those pictures and a few years, you'll think why was I so hard on myself? 28. 

My body size changes do not change. God's left for me. 29 aches and pains do not last forever. 

30. Physical therapists along with exercise, therapist and physiologists are worth every bit of time and many. 

31, my body and brain work together. Nothing works independently as God created everything to work as one.

I love first Corinthians 12 verses 18 through 20 that says, but in fact, God has placed the parts in the body. Every one of them. Just as he wanted them to be, if they were all one part. Where would the body be as it is? There are many parts, but one body.

32. Sitting in silence with God offers more reward than any checklist. 33. Where proper shoes while walking and running. Buy new ones when they lose their tread. 34. If you have a high amp season, you better schedule some rest to balance that out when it's done. 

35. I never regret having a salad. 36 French fries are not as good as I think they are. 

37 God gave me the innate wisdom to know when to eat. When to stop and how much to have trust my body.

38. It's hard to eat mindfully when you're standing in the pantry, hiding what you're eating. 39. If an idea comes to mind. Write it down. Number 40. Schedule rest time. It will never happen organically. 41 ignoring God's calling doesn't mean he will go away. It just means he will get louder and louder until I listen. 

42. Just because you're a fitness professional, doesn't make you immune to peri-menopausal changes. You can now vigorously nod. When someone says my body size is changing and I haven't changed a thing. Because, you know, 43. Sometimes God gives you grace, when you don't know you need it. And yes, I'm talking about both God's grace and my dog named grace. 

44, Laura Tremaine author of the book. 

The life counsel is right. We need different types of friends and one friend will not fill all your roles. 

45, nothing beats the feeling of running. 

46. Writing helps organize thoughts in a way. Nothing else can. 47. The sooner you say what's bothering you, the sooner you'll be on your way to a resolution. 48, getting other godly voices in your children's lives, pays dividends for years to come. 

49. Never go anywhere without tissues between allergies and emotions. There's a good chance. You'll need them. 

50. Reflecting on lessons learned helps you realize that relationships and experiences drive most of your lessons say yes to relationships and experiences. 

Now I'm sure if I were to review this in two months, I will probably have some addendums. Uh, maybe I would adjust something, but this is just where I am right now. These are the 50 lessons that I have been recording over the last several weeks. No. I would love for you to celebrate with me a bit more. Starting tomorrow. 

I am doing something called five days to 15. 

Instead of 50, 50, 50, because I was kind to my future self when I turned 40 and said, no, no sister, you will not do 50, 50, 50. I am taking it down a notch. And we are focusing on all things, health, not just physical movement. Starting tomorrow for five days, I am going to release a mini episode called five days to 50. 

And I am also going to include a birthday voicemail on there. Each day, I have something simple for us to do together. And I am actually going to tell you ahead of time. And then the day of it can be a bit of a reminder. Most of this stuff, you will not need anything, but just to kind of get your head planned. If you want to write it on your planner or calendar or something like that, I would love for you to do this with me. 

And then if you are on Instagram, 

Go over to Instagram and tag me, I'm just at grace health. That's G R a C E D H E a L T H. And then use the hashtag five days to 50. So the number five. Spelled out days too. And then the number 50. Because I want to follow along. I want to see what you are doing.

So here's the snapshot of everything. So you can plan, but tune in for the next five days for these really short mini episodes where you can get this again, and you will hear a birthday voicemail. So real quickly tomorrow, we are doing five minutes of be still time. And if you're unfamiliar with that term, I will explain tomorrow what that means.

 Thursday day two, we will have five rounds of five exercises. These are body weight based and they are not super intense. I will tell you what they are on Thursday, but 

These are five simple movements and it will probably take you like 10 minutes would be my guests. I haven't tried this. I just came up with it. But schedule in about 10 minutes to do the five rounds of five exercises on day two. 

I will also post a video over in our grace health community, Facebook group. If you want to do it along with me, then you can do that. If you have not joined our Facebook community group, their link is in the show notes. 

So you can check that out. Okay, moving on. Day three, reach out to five people to connect with them. And this can be a lot of different ways. You can text. You can email phone, call, letter, voice, text, Marco polo. If you want bonus points, even though we're not really tracking points, you can go get a coffee or go on a walk and talks. 

Look at someone in the eye. That's your bonus points. If you're looking someone in the, in the eye in real life, those are bonus bonus points, but connection is the theme of day three. Day four, go on a five. Or 50 minute walk that's on Saturday. You choose. It can be five minutes or it can be 50 minutes. 

And if it's like 37 minutes, that works too. But just the point is to get out in some fresh air, hopefully some sunshine. And walk. And finally on day five, write down five things you are grateful for. And I have to give a shout out to Kathy w four. This suggestion. she had emailed about something and we got talking about it and she suggested this one to me. 

And I thought, Ooh, that is brilliant. And a perfect way of wrapping that up. So thank you, Kathy, for that suggestion. 

With that, I'm going to share some of the voicemails that you generously left. me. It was like a little early birthday present every single time. I got one. So thank you to all of you who just shared your heart and shared some wisdom or shared what your bucket list is. Um, those were so fun for me to hear, and I'm really grateful that you did. / I know a few of you tried and had some technical difficulties. So I understand that. And I'm so sorry. It didn't make it. I was really looking forward to hearing what you had to say.

And finally, before we hit the voicemails, I do have some exciting news coming up that you will hear more about. Um, starting a little bit in December, but more in January. These, this is something I have been noodling on for a few years. If you do not get my nourishing notes, biweekly email, I would love for you to sign up. 

So you can be the first to know about these exciting changes. Um, in each one of these nourishing notes, I provide you five things to help you move and feel well. So that's sometimes food or recipes or movements, or just something fun that made me laugh or. It might be a book or. a sermon. I mean, it's it, you just never know what you're going to get, but I will say it is one of my favorite things to create. 

And based off of my community feedback, it's one of your favorites as well. You can sign up over at grace health.com/monthly-updates, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 

 we will close out with those. Messages. Thank you for giving me the space to share this milestone birthday and a special thank you to those of you who answered the call to leave those voicemails. And you will also hear additional messages each day during our five days to 50. Thank you again for celebrating. And here are some of the voicemails I received.