We are all role models

I had the most incredible honour in July. I had an opportunity to speak with an inspiration of mine, Ann Rohmer.

A television personality, with a career and accolades one can only dream of.

I have said many times,

“What you are looking for, is looking for you!”

I had dinner with someone, who knew someone and a connection was made. I had an interview scheduled the next day.

“There are no accidents, only accidents on purpose.”

My conversation with Ann Rohmer had purpose.

Coincidence? I think not.

All of life’s experiences are stepping stones to the present.

What was I going to talk about? What would be the purpose of this interview?

What is the reason for the blogs, the Instagram posts and Facebook?

I believe this is the start of a movement I am committed to.

I shared with Ann my experience 15 years ago. I was 45 and at a crossroad in my life.

I knew I was entering a new phase, a next chapter in my life. My parents had passed, my

career was intact but I was still searching for purpose and deeper meaning.

Was I alone? I was seeking a glimpse of what the future might look like as a maturing

woman. This is where I ran into the fork in the road.

I could not find any role models that gave me a glimmer of hope to what may lie ahead.

I had Oprah Winfrey, who is my hero, but images of strong, independent confident women, living full lives who were comfortable in their skin were few.

I was and still am, looking for role models to kickstart the movement of embracing life at any stage.

Something to help encourage me to live big dreams fearlessly.

Like minds to embrace our differences and rally together to celebrate our age, our wisdom, our positive thoughts and explore what is ahead without fear.

So, my quest began and it continues.

It was then, that I was given a Zoomer magazine with an image of Maye Musk.

I believe she was 57. She was vibrant and strong with gorgeous silver hair. From what I saw, not a filler or plumper to be seen. A powerful mature woman who would, in that moment, become my role model.

Maye made a statement and cracked the mold.

The impact Maye had on my psyche was incredible. She removed any fear or question I had about maturing. I saw what I could be, and more importantly, what I wanted to be moving forward.

Capable, independent and able to live a full life.

So, if one image could change my life, assuring me life can get better with each year, and what we gain with wisdom and knowledge more than makes up for a line or two.

It’s all how we look at it.

How we see ourselves and others is powerful.

I want to be a role model, but more so, I want to get the word out that WE ARE ALL ROLE MODELS to each other.

It is our privilege to share with each other our stories and our thoughts about how to make major life events easier for those who follow.

When we learn to accept our bodies (not the photoshopped version) and carry ourselves with pride and confidence it creates a model for others to follow.

When we show each other how to love ourselves first we pass the importance of self-love to generations to come.

We pay it forward.

We are each others’ role models.

When I saw Maye Musk’s image 15 years ago it was my new beginning.

I want that for all of us.

Love and gratitude

Xo

Vita

Anti-aging stops here. Words are powerful.

I need your help and it has to do with the power of words.

We need to use and choose them wisely.

I am creating a culture shift in our workplace to abolish the negative words that have been common place until now.

Anti-aging, growing old, getting old.

It is actually coming from you, my friends. You are telling me and guiding me to the conclusion that we need to stop complaining about the “getting older issue.”

Count your blessings that we are here, in this moment right here, right now.

Welcome each day we are given.

We have to change the culture and marketing of growing old. Perhaps just growing.

We can change the dialogue and I am starting right now with baby steps. I think it will have a profound effect on the people we work with and our customers.

I want to change the conversation in our workplace.

Four years ago, we had a lipliner called Indian Red.

Today I cringe that it was ever considered politically correct, but the world has thankfully changed to encourage us to look through a wider lens.

This lipliner is now called Flame.

All our product names are being revisited to make sure the words used will represent the positive images we wish to encourage and portray.

Our images on our campaigns have always been inclusive, all ages, genders and skin tones. We have been doing this since we began in 1987 and we will continue to expand and explore new territory.

Here is where you come in.

I have this skin care moisturizer.

It needs a new name.

Currently it’s called “Anti-aging” moisturizer.

It suggests you can stop the aging process if you use this cream.

That’s not true.

Yes, it’s a gorgeous cream that contains ingredients that will do your skin good but I want to change the conversation.

Please send me some names you want us to consider for the moisturizer formerly known as: Anti-aging. If we pick your name, I will send you some product for your effort.

Now to the bigger picture.

I want to encourage only positive images of every day.

We are not old or aging.

We are nurturing and whole.

We are stepping into our power.

We are following our internal North Star.

I was reading something this morning that really speaks to me.

"What you see every day becomes your reality.”

If we are constantly seeing images of strong, vibrant, powerful women than that's who and what we aspire to become.

The flip side is if all we see and hear is mature, frail, women presented in a diminished capacity and that growing up is not to be embraced and something we are excited about,

then that is also what we become.

Let us say what we mean.

Use our words to encourage powerful strong images to propel us forward.

Love and gratitude

Xo

Vita