Above: Tori and Rachel, two leaders from our Plaza El Segundo store.

It’s surreal to be sitting here writing about what it means to be 50. I can tell you that I don’t really feel any different. I’m still the same me.

I have been dancing and moving since the age of 4, so I grew up with a keen awareness of my body, and what it felt like to move through space. I had a short professional dancing career in my mid 20s to early 30s, and also taught group exercise throughout my whole adult life. So, arriving at 50 was simply a graceful transition.

In the past few years, lululemon has become a big part of my life, and I have worn our products almost daily. I was hired as a store educator over two years ago, and have continued to make living a healthy balanced life a priority. I get to work and work out with some amazing people that help to keep me young at heart.

I was married and had both my kids in my 20s. Danced professionally and taught aerobics through my 20s, 30s and continue to teach today. I am currently teaching a Barre Workout at Barre Physique in Manhattan Beach, California. I feel healthy and fit, and know that living an active lifestyle has helped me to reach this age and know that I have so much still to do! I’ve been married for over 27 years and my husband Jim and I enjoy a wonderful marriage. With our children grown, we are having the time of our lives.

I have to be honest though, and mention that I did have moments of panic at the idea of being 50. Then a thought came to me, which continues to inspire me to seize this moment. There will come a time when I only wish I was 50 again. So I am embracing this moment and celebrating the life I have lived so far, and know that I will continue to inspire and encourage those around me to live each day with gratitude and praise.

I know it’s kind of a cliché, but like a fine wine, I only get better with age. Cheers!

Above: Elise Riddall, our People Resources Manager, with her little one.

I was reading a fiction novel the other day, and in it a wise old Irishman said: "It's not that youth is wasted on the young, but that the young waste youth!" That got me thinking. Is this true? I'm sure that no one sets out to deliberately waste their youth, but somehow all of us find ourselves getting old and wondering where our youth went.

So how do you make sure that at the end of the day, you can look back and say you lived life to its fullest potential?

One way is to make today count for something. This is a quote someone recently shared with me: "This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it…let it be something good". – Unknown

Do something today that scares you. Do something today worth remembering tomorrow. It doesn't have to be big.

Another way is to just slow down a bit. We seem to always be rushing onto the next phase of life, and we miss what's going on in the moment. Once it's gone, it's gone, so don't miss it! Learn to be present in the moment. Otherwise, you may find yourself wishing you hadn't wasted your youth. (Youth is relative, by the way.)

Country Western music artist Trace Adkins has a song out right now that says it pretty simply: "You're Gonna Miss this". Check out his video at: http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/TraceAdkins/Youre-Gonna-Miss-This--58666527

I heard those words the other day from one of my students at a barre workout studio where I teach. I hear it all the time, and it's part of lululemon's manifesto, but this time, those three words pierced me deeply.

After class I learned that my student was getting ready to travel to Italy. Her sister surprised her with the trip and she was taking her children as well. "Wow!", I told her. "I have been dreaming of going for so long."

My husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary a few years ago, and I was hoping that we could celebrate in Italy. I made it one of my goals for the year, and we even made plans to go with another couple. But as the date approached, it didn't seem likely to happen. Life took over, and there were so many other things that zapped our savings. My husband was on disability for over two years, and it really affected our finances. Our anniversary came and went. The couple we were going to go with went without us. "Oh well", I thought. "Maybe once we get back on our feet we'll go."

It's been 2 years, and Italy has turned into a "someday" goal once again. Until that day in class, that is.

You see, after I told my student how much my husband and I wanted to go, she said "Do it now"! She and her husband always said they'd go someday too, but then he passed away before they ever got the chance, which is why her sister is taking her and her children. I realized I had to just find a way and go!

What might you be putting off for someday? "Do it now", before you miss the opportunity. I've already begun checking out airfare and dates, and I just signed up to take Italian for travel. I'm so excited!

Buon viaggio!