My dog Jasmine is 12 years old this year. My mom picked her out from a rescue in 2008, when she was 2. My mom had lost her soulmate unexpectedly two years earlier, and Jasmine became the new love of her life. They were very cute together, and it was so nice for her to have this lovely new companion to share her life with. They slept together, took walks and hikes together, went camping together, she even got her picture taken with Santa Claus. My sister and I joked that she treated Jasmine better than she treated us!
After my mom passed in 2015, Jasmine went to live with my sister and her family. After almost two years, it was time for Jasmine to come live with me and my family. We had a fenced yard, no baby, and a little more time and energy to take care of Jasmine in a peaceful way. She is living out her retirement here with us and is liking it.
When we compare or see her with other dogs her age she seems a little younger. She has good energy still, she wags her tail a lot, and she loves to go on walks and even runs a little. She seems like she’s in a pretty good positive mood most of the time.
Whenever someone says something about her youthfulness to me I like to say “yep, she’s getting younger and younger every day, just like her mamma!” I know she is mortal, as am I, and things are and will continue to change. I also know that our thoughts and words are powerful. Our words are our wands, and if we want things to improve and sustain a positive flow forward we have to put that energy out into the Universe.
Have you ever seen how drastically differently the aging process impacts people? Two people (or dogs) of the same age can look and feel dramatically differently. There are so many factors involved in the aging process, nutrition, genetics, exercise, disease, social support, socioeconomic status and stress, to name a few.
Our mindset and energy also have a lot to do with the aging process. Our belief systems about what aging should look or feel like has a direct impact on how aging looks and feels to us. If we believe that people look like this at a certain age, or metabolism works like that at a certain age, or mental capacity changes at a certain age, that is most likely what will happen.
If we can uncover what these belief systems are and let them go, we can begin to flow more in the direction of eternal life. There are no rules about what aging should look or feel like. It’s not a fighting of the aging process, or desperately holding onto youth. It’s not about looks or wrinkles or age spots. It is a process of allowing. It is a process of releasing the old way and stepping into the new. It is floating and transcending instead of feeling trapped.
What if we are supposed to feel lighter and more energized the older chronologically we are? What if more and more magic keeps appearing in our lives the more experienced we are? What if the closer we grow to the time we get to cross over, the closer we grow to living and feeling like source energy? What if we just keep getting better and better?
If we all began to shift to these ways of thinking this would actually be possible for everyone. The super great news is that the belief system of the whole planet doesn’t have to change in order for you to change yours. The planet doesn’t all have to be there before you get to be, and the more you are the more that continues to help the rest of us.
Our external reality is created by what we feel and believe. The more you can believe and imagine that you can continue feeling better and better throughout your life the more you can actually manifest that in your life. How cool would it be to grow lighter and lighter as you ascend towards source energy? How amazing would it feel to be a beautiful glowing light to the world that just gets brighter and brighter and brighter the longer you are alive? You just have to believe and practice and this is possible.
I’m not sure exactly what Jasmine’s belief systems are that keep her looking and feeling so young and cute are, but maybe something like: “I want more food” or “my bed is real comfortable” or “life is pretty great, I am so loved.” Just these thoughts alone, with the absence of any stress or worry about things that don’t really matter, are part of the secret sauce of her youthfulness.
Her ability to be in the moment, not worry about the future or ruminate about the past, and have such deep appreciation for the small things in life that give her comfort are very different from most humans way of living and aging. Our thoughts are usually something more like: “my body is changing and I don’t like it” or “I wish I had made different choices” or “I wish my life was better or different.”
I think we can take some helpful ideas from Jasmine, and other beings, human and not, who are able to transcend society’s ideas about time and aging. Incorporating some or all of these every day will help you feel young on the inside, and not that it really matters on a soul level, will also translate to looking youthful and glowing on the outside. Just like Jasmine.
Jasmine’s top tips for staying young:
- Practice presence. Jasmine, and all other dogs, are always in the moment. She never thinks about growing older. She is thinking about what is happening right now, not worrying if she hurt someone’s feelings or forgot to do something. She is not thinking about regrets about her life choices, or worrying about what tomorrow is going to be like. She is just here now, at peace with what is.
- Be grateful for everything! This sweet girl gets so excited about her food every single mealtime. It’s like she’s never eaten before. She jumps and spins and makes adorable grunty noises. She loves and appreciates her food so much. She also comes up to me every time afterwards and says thank you with the sweetest little head rub on my leg.
- Be excited to see the people you love. Our loved ones and the connections we have with them have been proven to be a predictor of longevity. It’s so important to have soul connections, and we could all learn a lesson from how grateful Jasmine, and most dogs, are to see their people when they come home. She wags her tail, shakes her booty, and follows us around like we are the most amazing beings on the planet.
- Start each day with a beginners mind. Each day is a fresh adventure for Jasmine. What squirrel can she chase in the yard? What section of the carpet can she nap on today? Who will she meet? How beautiful and exciting to have a clean slate each moment! What if we could practice letting go of old ideas and beliefs and worries and remember that there is magical possibility in every moment if we allow it?
- Believe anything’s possible and things are getting better all the time. I can’t imagine Jasmine would believe anything else. There is no way she could continue to be that excited about regular things every day if she didn’t deeply know that life is always working out for her. That life is a miraculous and surprising journey. That there will always be so many things to be grateful for.
I encourage you to take these tips from lovely Jasmine and incorporate them into your life. I’d love to hear what changes occur for you on your journey to growing younger every day!
Read more about Spiritual Counseling with Shana Olmstead.
Shana Olmstead, Intuitive Consultant
I see my life purpose as helping people to awaken to the truth of their divine nature, the powerful spiritual beings that they are. I have assisted hundreds of clients in my therapy practice to wake up to the understanding that we are all made of source energy, and are here to increase our consciousness and joy to help the evolution everyone on the planet. I am so excited and inspired to continue helping people through their own awakening! Contact me to schedule an appointment in person in Kirkland, Washington or for a phone or video consultation wherever you are located.
