Today I was listening to a podcast with one of my favorite comedians, Amy Poehler. She said whenever she is going through a hard time, or has a decision she has to make she imagines what her 90-year old self would say. Most of the time, the answer is quite clear.
I love this for many reasons. First, I don’t know about you, but my future 90-year old self is one sassy lady. I like to think she has left no stone unturned. Because, “Why the hell not!” Secondly, it forces me to realize that many years from now this MAJOR moment will most likely be just a blip in my life, and all the importance I am adding to that decision may actually be exaggerated by my dear old friend FEAR. And finally, it reminds me that I get to decide how interesting my story is going to be. That I am an active participant in my autobiography.
Now, if the idea of channeling your older self doesn’t resonate, perhaps think about folks who inspire you that can ACT as your muse. For instance, let’s look at Iris Apfel. If you haven’t heard of her, or seen her wonderful documentary called IRIS on Netflix, give it a shot. She’s totally inspiring, and at 95 years old, she continues to wow the world with her tenacity, wit, and creativity. However she also cultivated being her unapologetically unique self for decades.
I see myself as the world’s oldest living teenager, because I have such a good time, and I because I try to get as much of a kick out of things as possible. -Iris Apfel
Be like Iris. Be like your 90-year old future self.
Take care of YOU.
