I am often asked how I maintain a positive attitude. The truth is it isn’t something I consciously decided one day. It is something that seems to have unfolded over time until I realized I had adopted a simple philosophy: Embrace and Release. But what does that really mean?
To me, it means fully embracing the moment I am in, whether it is joyful, difficult, exciting, or uncertain—and then, just as importantly, allowing myself to release it and move forward. That may sound simple, but it is not always easy. All of us will experience difficult times. That is part of being human. We can try to avoid them, distract ourselves, or pretend they are not happening, but that never works! So instead, I have learned to do something different.
When challenging moments arise, I ask myself: What is this here to teach me? What can I learn? How can I grow? I allow myself to feel the disappointment, the sadness, even fear because those feelings are valid.
But here is the important part: I do not stay there. Once I have taken what I can from the experience, I give myself permission to release it. I refuse to let difficult moments define who I am. They are chapters in my life, they are not the entire story.
And interestingly, this same philosophy applies to the good times as well. When something wonderful happens, a success, a celebration, a moment of joy, I embrace it fully. I allow myself to feel proud, grateful, and happy. I don’t rush past those moments or minimize them. They deserve to be experienced completely. But I also remind myself not to hold on too tightly.
We have all seen what happens when someone clings to a moment that has passed. The athlete who lives only in their glory days. The successful professional who struggles to find purpose after retirement. The mother or grandmother whose joy turns to sadness as children grow and lives evolve. When we hold on too tightly to even the most beautiful moments, they can begin to weigh us down instead of lifting us up.
Because here is the truth: Aging is Changing. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are always evolving. Every season of life asks something new of us and offers something new in return. When we resist that change, we feel stuck. When we accept it, we begin to move with life instead of against it.
Life is meant to move. Each stage brings new opportunities, new perspectives, and new ways of finding joy and meaning. When we embrace and release, we make space for what is next.
This way of living allows us to keep growing. It allows us to collect memories not as anchors that hold us back, but as treasures we carry lightly, lessons we learn from and moments we cherish. Embrace the moment you are in. Learn from it, feel it and then release it.
Because moving forward is not about forgetting, it is about allowing yourself to continue becoming who you are meant to be. And that is what it truly means to live fully, at any age.
Aging is Changing.
Candice Cima
I am a seventy-six year old Business Woman, Artist and Former Model residing in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate NY. I have maintained a daily Yoga and Exercise practice for over 35 years. When I am not working in my office or my gym you will find me in my art studio. It is my goal to inspire women of all ages to continue to feel confident, relevant and enthusiastic about life. I truly believe that aging is changing.
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