Aging Honestly

Penelope Lane

Aging Honestly: Real Talk on Ageing for Women Over 60 If you've found this podcast, you're navigating what doesn't get talked about honestly: what it actually feels like to get older when you're independent, curious, and exhausted by the noise. The anti-ageing industry screams "fight it!" and leaves us feeling inadequate. The "age gracefully" messages tell us to embrace our wrinkles and stay positive, denying how hard this actually is. Both are lies. And you're tired of both. I'm Penelope Lane—Clinical Psychologist, Fitness Trainer, Mindfulness Teacher, and Brain Health Specialist. Last year, a disc bulge forced me to face something uncomfortable: being fit hadn't protected me. And it wasn't going to get me through this either. I needed mental practices to deal with the catastrophising. Emotional tools to be kind to myself. Soul work to answer: who am I if I'm not the capable one? That's when I realised: we've been sold a one-legged table.  When your body fails—and it will—you need all four legs: body, mind, heart, soul. That's Whole Strength. What I have come to understand for myself: You can hate getting older AND love who you're becoming. Both are true. Both are allowed. This podcast is for women who've had a wake-up call and want honest talk about holding both the difficulty AND the possibility.  No bandaid positivity. No anti-ageing propaganda.  Just real conversations about building strength that actually lasts. Not staying alive. Feeling alive. Welcome to Aging Honestly.

  1. 28 JAN

    Women After 60: Tired of Fighting Ageing? Why Resistance Keeps You Stuck -And What Works Instead

    Holistic, independent women: resistance to what’s happening creates chronic stress that accelerates aging. Buddhist teachings that help you accept ageing without giving up after 60 change everything. The shocking truth: The harder you fight against getting older, the faster you age.  Your resistance is literally accelerating your decline. The Two Arrows (Practical Buddhist Teaching): First Arrow: Ageing itself—your body changing, things getting harder. This hurts. It's real. Second Arrow: YOUR resistance to ageing. "This shouldn't be happening." "I hate this." "Why me?" This is the suffering you ADD on top of ageing. Here's the insight that changes everything: You can't control the first arrow. But the second arrow? That's entirely in your hands. What Your Resistance Actually Does: - Creates chronic stress that shrinks your hippocampus (brain's memory centre), accelerates cellular ageing, increases inflammation, disrupts sleep. - Makes you rigid when you need to be flexible and resilient - Exhausts you—stealing energy you could use to build strength. The Paradox: When you STOP fighting reality, you have MORE power to work with it.  Acceptance frees you to find creative solutions, adapt, and build real strength. Acceptance isn't giving up. It's seeing what's true without adding suffering on top: "My body is changing. This is hard. I hate it sometimes. And that's what's happening." In the video, I share a practical strategy to help you navigate the truth: You can hate getting older AND accept it's happening AND love who you're becoming. Stop shooting yourself with that second arrow. Your resistance is ageing you faster. Acceptance is what slows decline. Support the show

    22 min
  2. 17 JAN

    Does Memory Loss terrify You?

    Memory Loss Terrifies You? Honest Talk on Normal Ageing vs. Dementia and What Actually Helps Every forgotten word feels like evidence you're losing your mind. You introduce someone you've known for years and blank on their name. Walk into a room with purpose and stand there thinking, 'Why am I here?' And in the back of your mind: 'Is this normal or is this dementia?' If you've ever googled "early Alzheimer's symptoms" at 3 am, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll discover: The terrifying moment I blanked on a client's name I'd known for 10 yearsNormal age-related changes vs. warning signs that need medical attentionWhy anxiety about memory loss actually makes you forget MORE (the anxiety-memory loop)The monitoring trap: how constantly testing yourself creates performance anxietyWhy hiding your memory lapses accelerates cognitive declineThe hidden factors affecting your memory: sleep, hormones, stress, grief, and purposeWhat whole strength for your brain actually means: Body + Mind + Heart + SoulThe Mindful Memory Walk practice you can start todayThis isn't about pretending memory changes don't happen or Band-Aid positivity about ageing. It's about understanding what's actually happening, calming the panic that makes it worse, and building genuine brain health through your whole system. If you're terrified every memory slip is the beginning of dementia, or if you have a family history that makes every forgotten word feel like a warning sign - this episode offers practical wisdom without the panic. For women over 60 navigating memory fears with honesty, not hype. Subscribe to Ageing Honestly for real talk about building whole strength: body, mind, heart, and soul. Support the show

    32 min
  3. 25/07/2024

    Avoiding Falls with the Power of Mindfulness

    Have you ever tripped or fallen and injured yourself? Or maybe you’ve had a close call where you almost did. These experiences can be especially frightening as we age. In this episode, join me, Penelope, as we explore the powerful role mindfulness can play in preventing falls and accidents. Maintaining balance and avoiding falls becomes increasingly important as we grow older. Falls are a leading cause of serious injuries and hospitalisations among older adults. However, the good news is that there are many strategies we can employ to reduce our risk. Among these, mindfulness stands out as a particularly effective tool. Mindfulness is about being present and fully aware of our bodies and surroundings. By practising mindfulness, we can enhance our body awareness, identifying potential issues before they lead to accidents. For example, noticing tightness or discomfort in our joints can prompt us to address these issues proactively, improving our balance and stability. Additionally, being mindful of our environment helps us identify and mitigate hazards like clutter or poor lighting. In this episode, we’ll delve into practical exercises that incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, such as the "Heel, Ball, Toe" exercise. This simple yet powerful practice can significantly improve your balance and coordination.  Tune in to learn how integrating mindfulness into your life can help you stay steady, safe, and fabulous as you age. Stay mindful, stay safe, and stay fabulous! Support the show

    21 min

About

Aging Honestly: Real Talk on Ageing for Women Over 60 If you've found this podcast, you're navigating what doesn't get talked about honestly: what it actually feels like to get older when you're independent, curious, and exhausted by the noise. The anti-ageing industry screams "fight it!" and leaves us feeling inadequate. The "age gracefully" messages tell us to embrace our wrinkles and stay positive, denying how hard this actually is. Both are lies. And you're tired of both. I'm Penelope Lane—Clinical Psychologist, Fitness Trainer, Mindfulness Teacher, and Brain Health Specialist. Last year, a disc bulge forced me to face something uncomfortable: being fit hadn't protected me. And it wasn't going to get me through this either. I needed mental practices to deal with the catastrophising. Emotional tools to be kind to myself. Soul work to answer: who am I if I'm not the capable one? That's when I realised: we've been sold a one-legged table.  When your body fails—and it will—you need all four legs: body, mind, heart, soul. That's Whole Strength. What I have come to understand for myself: You can hate getting older AND love who you're becoming. Both are true. Both are allowed. This podcast is for women who've had a wake-up call and want honest talk about holding both the difficulty AND the possibility.  No bandaid positivity. No anti-ageing propaganda.  Just real conversations about building strength that actually lasts. Not staying alive. Feeling alive. Welcome to Aging Honestly.