There are seasons when simply getting out of bed requires my strength and courage. For me, this season includes caring for my beloved husband through illness, learning to master situations my husband handled, and continuing to live with the ache of estrangement from one of my daughters. On the flip side, I find joy in each day. I’ve learned that movement, of the body and  the mind is a positive medicine and staying active is my passion.

When life feels heavy, I lace up my walking shoes, unroll my yoga mat,  drive to my pilate’s class, or put on my pink boxing gloves. These practices don’t erase my situations; they carry me through it. Today, I’m sharing how movement, physical and emotional, helps me stay strong and grounded in every passage of my life.

When Life Demands Strength You Don’t Feel You Have

There are days my body feels heavy and my spirit tired. And yet, I’ve learned that movement (gentle, intentional, soulful movement) is one of my most powerful forms of survival.

Walking with my pooch America or alone, stretching, journaling, Pilates, or simply breathing deeply reminds me that even when life brings loss, my body and mind is still here to carry me forward. It’s not about youth or perfection anymore. It’s about staying alive in my own story. And, though I have my trials, like you, I continue to love life!

I think the reason I continue to love life is because I confront my problems and I am disciplined – I don’t waddle in stuff. I try, try, try and eventually find a solution or resolution. Exercising allows me to rid my body of tension and  journaling allows me to get in touch with my feelings.

Why Staying Active Matters After 50

Physical movement is medicine for the mind. It boosts our mood, strengthens memory, and releases endorphins that soften life’s sharper edges. More than that, it becomes a symbol of resilience.

In caregiving seasons, grief, or loneliness, the body often holds what the heart cannot express. Movement lets those emotions breathe. So, darling, take a walk. Stretch. Sit quietly with your breath. Each act of self care, no matter how small, is a declaration of your strength.

Healing By Staying Active

Each of these rituals, whether a morning stretch, a mindful walk,  a Pilate class, or quiet meditation, has helped me stay grounded while navigating life’s most difficult passages. They remind me that strength can coexist with sorrow, and that healing often begins with the smallest, most intentional movements of love toward ourselves.

Below are the ways I keep my spirit steady and my body well:

Meditation

 I often light a candle and sit in quiet stillness. Meditation teaches me to hone in on my emotions instead of drowning in them. I breathe through my fears. And then, I feel peace return.

If you’ve never meditated before, don’t be intimidated. The good meditator, as Allan Lokos says, is simply the one who meditates. Try a five-minute guided meditation on YouTube. Close your eyes, place a hand on your heart, and repeat softly: “I am safe. I am loved. I am healing. I am strong. I am love” You’ll be amazed how something so small can shift your entire day.

Walking

When my heart is heavy, I walk. Sometimes it’s around my Chicago block, sometimes along Lake Michigan, and sometimes on my treadmill.  Walking is my moving meditation. With every step, I feel my spirit uncoil, my mind un-clutter, my body relax, and my faith in life and how I handle each situation return.

During my walks, I often whisper quiet gratitudes like the breeze on my face, the memories I carry, and the fact that I am still that fierce woman, still standing, still growing.

Darling, walking doesn’t require fancy equipment or the perfect weather. It simply requires you. Step outside and let nature remind you that forward motion, no matter how slow, is healing.

Stretching

I’ll be honest, there are mornings I don’t feel like stretching at all. But then I remind myself that flexibility is freedom. After 50, we can lose nearly half of our flexibility if we don’t nurture it. That thought alone gets me up off the chair!

Stretching isn’t only about the body, it’s about creating space for peace. I put on soft music, breathe deeply, and feel the tension slowly release from my shoulders and hips. It’s a moment to say: I’m still connected to my body, to the present, to life itself.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is often called meditation in motion, and rightly so! The slow, graceful movements are a dance between strength and surrender. When life feels unsteady, Tai Chi teaches us how to move with grace through discomfort.

In the early mornings, I’ve joined small classes in the park, watching women my age flow like water. Their quiet energy reminds me that we can age beautifully, with balance and intention.

If you can’t find a class nearby, there are gentle online tutorials designed for beginners.
Let your body sway. Let your mind rest. Let your heart catch up to your breath.

Yoga

Yoga has been my lifelong companion through joy, grief, and renewal. It invites me to meet myself exactly where I am: no judgment, just awareness.

Some mornings, I use yoga to awaken my muscles. Other evenings, I use it to quiet my mind before bed. Beyond flexibility and balance, yoga brings emotional stillness. It helps lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety, and ease chronic pain. But for me, the real gift is the pause, those few minutes where I feel fully at peace, connected to something greater than myself.

If you’re just beginning, try restorative or chair yoga. Remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about presence.

Journaling

I have been journaling for over ten years and it has become a lifeline. Writing helps me sort through the swirl of emotions that come with caregiving, loss, and rediscovery. It’s where I pour my my sorrow, and my hope. Hope always wins! I swear.

Some mornings, I write pages; other days, just a single word, like… accept.

There is magic in putting pen to paper. It clears your mind, releases emotions and answers you didn’t know you were holding, and reminds you of your inner wisdom.

If you don’t know where to start, try writing three things you’re grateful for. Or simply finish this sentence: Today, I choose…

Do you understand the importance of the word ‘accept?’ I have come to understand that accepting is a form of positive mental exercise. When you accept  what you cannot change, your body relaxes and your mind clears.

Accepting is a great resolution. When you learn, that it is not worth your time and energy to hang on to anything ‘that you cannot change’ you have become a fierce woman. Moving on takes courage. Say to yourself, “I am fierce because I accept what I cannot change.’

Keep Moving, My Darling

Movement, for me, has become more than exercise. It’s a daily act. Each act of movement whispers the same message:

You are  fierce. You embellish joy.

To every woman reading this who carries her own heartbreak, whether it’s estrangement, caregiving, loss of direction, loneliness or the feeling of invisibility after the age of 50, know this: your body is not your burden. It is your bridge to healing.

Keep moving, physically and mentally,  darling. One breath, step, and positive thought at a time.  Amen.