Barbara Morris, 85-year-old author of the new book The Expert's Guide to Strut Your Stuff! and editor of the Put Old on Hold Journal is often asked by women,  "Barbara, how do you stay so young?"

Barbara says, "Nobody stays young and anyone who says you can is selling snake oil. However, women can stay enviably youthful. Here are my top ten tips to Put Old On Hold. They work for me and will work for you."

1. Don't retire without a plan for balanced lifelong growth and productivity.

Without a plan you will automatically become part of the traditional decline-oriented retirement lifestyle. It's a toxic culture of deterioration. Sounds harsh but it's true. Having a plan and following through with it can be the start of something grand or just plain fun.

2. No disparaging name calling, please.

Calling yourself an old fart, old bag, old broad, or other demeaning name is not cute. You are what you say you are so, go ahead and tell the truth -- you are a sexy, vibrant guy magnet.

3. Don't tell your age and don't dwell on it. Do not allow your age to determine what you should or should not do "at your age".

The more you talk about and think about your age, the more power you give it to rule or even ruin your life. Do what you want to do, and can do, age be damned!  Chronological age is a measure of how long you have lived, not an indication of how competent you are.

4. Be picky about friends.

We adopt attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of those we associate with most often, so choose as friends those who support your youthful mindset and lifestyle.

5. Avoid traditional retirement communities.

 Why? Don't get me started. I explain why in The Expert's Guide To Strut Your Stuff!

Hint: I don't want to spend the rest of my life around people whose primary interests are nonstop golf, shuffleboard and fiddling with flowers.

6. Try to avoid becoming a burden.

Friends and family love you, but  don't want to be your caretaker. Come hell or high water, exercise consistently to stay strong and look good. If you are having a love affair with x-rated food, learn to love a Mediterranean or other healthy diet instead.

7. Don't toss a lifetime of experience and education into the "retirement dumpster".

Find ways to share the expertise stored in your brain. The more you give, the more you get. Sharing what you know keeps you youthful.

8. Don't whine or expect special treatment just because you have lived so long.

Accept help when needed but don't expect others to do what you can do for yourself.  Toughen up and help others who need help more than you do.

9. If you want to "fix" your face or other body parts, ignore women friends who insist you look fine just the way you are.

Friends who say you don't need to improve your appearance don't want you to look better than they do. If your guy discourages you, he is probably insecure and afraid of losing you. (Don't ever change your appearance to please anyone but you.)

10. Read my new book, The Expert's Guide To Strut Your Stuff! Download a free copy here.  Just 60 pages of tasty "meat and potatoes" wisdom and advice -- no boring filler.  You will feel like the cat that ate the canary when your peers are in rocking chairs and you are rockin' and rollin' because you followed my unconventional advice that works for me and will work for you!

Learn more about Barbara Morris:

www.BarbaraMorris.com

www.PutOldonHold.com/journal