Contents - 3 minute read

• Inform - Swimming against the tide - Lead life the way you design it, tips to encourage your individuality

• Motivate - Meet who do it their own way

• Educate - Introducing Boxing and the benefits for you

The world wants you to be vanilla!

Now there is nothing wrong with vanilla ice cream - in fact, it is my favourite flavour but I do have an issue with living a vanilla life. We live in a world of societal norms, get a good education, get a steady job, buy a house and car, upgrade the house and car throughout life, retire and slow down. It is all too easy to get on with the routine of living and fit yourself into the boxes as society expects. We celebrate those who live their own unique life, who risk it all to start their own business, who throw caution to the wind and sell the house and go off in a yacht to discover pastures new, who put on their best glittery dress and go out dancing just for the pleasure of it. When was the last time you took an inventory of your life? How can you add a little flavour and show the world your individuality? Let’s have a look at some tips to start cultivating and celebrating individuality

• How's the environment? - Choosing the background to your life is the first element. Let me share a story to illustrate. A father gifts his daughter a car on her 21st birthday. He bought it 21 years ago and has kept it in the garage since. It is dusty and dirty, he encourages her to try to sell it to determine it's value. First she advertises it in the local paper, the only response she gets is from a scrap metal dealer who offers her pennies. Secondly she takes it to a used car seller down the street, he shows little interest as it needs repairs and parts will be hard to come by. The father suggests she visits the next classic car show. The pictures of the car are met with great excitement and immediate offers of thousands of pounds for such a rare and unique find. The father sits the daughter down to illustrate his point. In this life, if your crowd does not value your worth then go and seek another crowd until you find surround yourself with people who appreciate you and value your worth. Who's in your crowd? Are you valued and appreciated? If not, start to put out the feelers to introduce yourself to a new bunch of people and see where that takes you!

• What are you reading? - What material are you stimulating your mind with? If you only watch or read the daily news then likely you are fed a diet of negativity and bad news. Switch up from vanilla. Head down to the local library pick up a biography of someone you admire. What habits did they cultivate? What did the daily routine look like for them? Take their tips and suggestions and implement them into your own life. Much can be learnt from historical figures, history books detailing leaders such as Julius Caesar or Napoleon can lead you to a life less ordinary. If books aren't your thing - try a podcast , just try !!!

• Don't wait for anyone else - lead the way - If your spouse doesn't want to leave the comfort of the sofa, don't get disheartened. You can go to that new social club alone, just get out and try a thing. There is nothing wrong with dipping your toe into new waters. If it is not for you, then look at the next option. You never know you might inspire your spouse to join you in a month or two. Role model the way. If they aren't persuaded, at least you will have a new topic of conversation when you get back.

• Mix regularly with those younger than yourself - The younger generation moves fast but this is the melting pot of new ideas that simply weren't available before. Mixing regularly outside of your age group can give a new perspective and energy to your life. In return you can provide a stability and balance that they can benefit from. The key is to go to listen and learn, this is how you grow and project tutti fruiti ice cream is all about you!

The list is endless but take time today over your morning coffee. What do you want to do? What does a blissful afternoon look like? How can you take steps to stand up and be counted?

Wednesday's exercises focus on balance reactions. Shifting your weight onto one leg and reducing your base of support is good training for balance and fall prevention - Give these a go.

We all need some inspiration to keep us motivated. I wanted to share with you two examples of ladies going against the grain and thriving in their own interests. Iris Apfel is well known in the fashion world and now at 101 still leads the way in fashion. Also introducing Erika Rischko who is a self-confessed fitness junkie at aged 83 and couldn't do it without the help of her husband

Boxing is a fun way to get fit and might not be the first on the list for the older generation. It is a weight bearing exercise so good for the bones and it can improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance and co ordination. It has all the elements for an excellent hobby. Boxing is also increasingly used as an activity of choice for those with Parkinson's disease as it can give the co ordination drills that the body needs to keep movement optimum. Definitely an out of the box choice, see if there is a class near you

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