#43 My Body My Story 45 Over 45 - Belinda

In this episode, you will learn 10 FACTS about Belinda and what she thinks about perfect body image, positive changes and challenges of 45+ women, what is it for her to feel good and look beautiful, and what advice she would give younger women and 30-year-old self!

 

10 Facts About Belinda

(at the time of the project)

1. 48 years old.
2. Belinda is the proud mother of two beautiful teenage boys, who are a big inspiration to her, they teach her every day.
3. She is the youngest in her family, she’s got an older brother and sister.
4. Belinda was born in South Africa. Belinda lived on four continents and had to start all over again three times! She thinks that when you are in the unknown, it's where life can be really exciting.
5. She left South Africa in her early 20s and went to live in London for 12 years, where she gained a lot of independence.
6. After living in London, Belinda came to Australia and thinks she is very blessed to be able to live and be a citizen of such a beautiful country.
7. Belinda also lived in America for five years.
8. Belinda is a passionate equestrian. She has always been involved with horse riding throughout her life, and she even has a horse at the moment, who lives in the countryside stables. Belinda rides three or four times a week.
9. The biggest challenge at this age – “I think the biggest challenge now is really embracing who you are now.”
10. Positive change with age – “It is finally fitting into who you are, and not into what the World wants you to be.”

 

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (auto-generated)

 

Hi, you're listening to the MY BODY MY STORY podcast.

 

You've become so many things, and your life has become a rich tapestry. And as I think keeping your identity is so important, who are you know,

 

This is the 45 or 45 chapter where we celebrate rule breakers and role models, the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show that sensuality, beauty, soul and true essence. Here we talk about what it's like to be 45 Plus, adjusting to the changes that come with time, and will listen to the stories of our participants. If you have an interesting story to share, we would love you to participate, you can email us on info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com

 

Hi, Belinda, welcome to our studio and welcome to our project. And while you're sitting in the makeup chair, and Citra is doing makeup for you, I will ask you a few questions. Questions. Tell us a bit about yourself.

 

Morning. I'm 48. I am the proud mother of two beautiful teenage boys, who are a big inspiration to me, they teach me every day. And always grateful for having them in my life. I am the youngest. In my family, I've got an older brother and sister, who are also wonderful beings in my life. I was born in South Africa, and I left in my early 20s. And I went to live in London for 12 years, which was wonderful. I gained a lot of independence. And then very fortunate to come into in Australia. I'm a citizen here. And I'm very blessed to be able to live in such a beautiful country. I received gone to live in America for five years, which was another huge chapter in my life and taught me so many lessons. But I'm back here now. And this is just a wonderful time in my life being in late 40s. It's, you know, time when I think you can really connect with who you are, and really start to shine and on your truth.

 

So you said Do you have the different lessons from living in the US?

 

You know, it's culturally very different. And you know, I think you grow as a person, having experienced being out of your comfort zone you challenged and if you can embrace those challenges to, to really grow and become more resilient. I think that's where the that's where the gift is.

 

And it's interesting that you change countries three times.

 

Yes, it's four continents. Yeah. And, you know, I've been blessed to have that it's been challenging. I've had to start over again, and, you know, reconnect and make new friends and but it's been my journey, and I wouldn't be here today. Who I am if I hadn't been shorter that so yeah.

 

What was the hardest move out of these three?

 

They've all had their own challenges. But they've all been exciting, because I think there is an element of adventure to it, where you do know, there's the unknown. And I always think when you are in the unknown, it's, it's where life can be really exciting. I would say coming back here to Australia, my you know, my boys were a little bit older. And, you know, I really wanted to make sure that they had a good transition. And I think being a mother, you. You really are holding the torch. Yeah, so that was challenging. But you know, I think it's definitely given me a lot of strength. So that's yeah, that's the gift.

 

Are they are enjoying, your boys, living in Australia?

 

Yes. I mean, they were born here. So they're Australian, but I'm incredibly proud of them. They are very resilient. And they've adapted and adjusted and I think, yeah, I'm very blessed.

 

Would you move one more time again?

 

Maybe for a while. I feel like I need to settle down. Yeah, I need you stay rooted for a while and be I think, you know, having a home here. I'd be very, very happy and you never know what the future holds

 

And what are you most passionate about?

 

I'm a creative person. I love design. I love art, anything creative? In whatever form it is photography. Just creative thinking. I'm also passionate about self discovery and self awareness. And I think I love the outdoors nature. I love animals. I go to dogs, and I have a horse. I'm a passionate equestrian. I've always been involved with horse riding in my life, which is, I think horses are beautiful animals. They hold a lot of sovereignty. And I've been very lucky. I have a horse at the moment. And he is Yeah. Wonderful.

 

Oh, well, I cannot imagine. So is it he or she?

 

Yes. Yes. In stables. He's out in the countryside and stables. But he's, yeah, they're just beautiful animals.

 

So how often do you have to visit him?

 

I ride generally three or four times a week. It is the commitment.

 

So everyone knows that with age we change. But what positive changes have you experienced so far?

 

I think as you've grown up and travelled through life, you've learned belonging to self. I feel that's been something I've had to discover. Like, what fitting in, is it you fitting into what the world wants you to be or other people want you to be? Or you finally fitting into who you are. And I think getting there is finding home. And it's taken me many life experiences to get to the place where I feel that I belong. And I belong in me not to, you know what other people want me to be?

 

So what was the trigger for that? Like, I always wonder how we have to go through so many years, and then suddenly, it's for me, it's always suddenly you just realise it.

 

Yeah, suddenly, you know, I just think you get to the point where you you have to just, you know, really dig deep and go right? Who am I? And am I being my truth? Am I being authentic? Am honoring who I am? Am I living my life in? In, you know, in my truth. And I think, you know, when you begin to go on that journey, you really start to shine. I think we all are born beautiful, like beautiful gemstones. And I think it's discovering that gem is, is the journey that we're on. And I feel, you know, all the years we've lived, and we've had all these experiences, we're uncovering that and it's only it's for me it's only been we will have our own journey. For me it's only been in my late 40s that I've actually really big began to connect with who I am. And it's beautiful to know you are honoring your soul.

 

Do you think that the trigger for that is that suddenly we realise that our time is finished? And we don't have so much time left?

 

Yeah, I heard a beautiful phrase on the weekend it was it went along the lines of make the eight year old and the eight year old. You proud and I think you then realise you, you once were eight and you are going to be at and you're on this journey. And it's just, you know, it is it's, it is not forever, but you can embrace every day in every moment and wake up and look at life with fresh eyes. Not you know, because there's so much magic within you and all around you and if you can tap into that your life does just become very, very, very exciting.

 

And you know, you start living the way you want it.

 

Yes and you begin to you know the powers within you not you know you stop seeking approval from other people and validation and stop trying to You know, live according to other people's values, and it's, it's really coming home to yourself. And you know, you, you can really feel the connection and your life becomes you become free. You just do become free.

 

Yeah, just suddenly relax and just yeah, whatever.

 

Yeah, whatever comes my way I accept it, you can accept it. And, you know, it's, it's very liberating to, to get to that place.

 

So what is the biggest challenge you're experiencing at this age?

 

I think, at this point in my life, I'm a mother, I'm a friend, I'm a daughter, I'm a sister. I'm, you know, designer, I'm a student, you've become, you've become so many things, and your life has become a rich tapestry. And as and I think keeping your identity is so important. You know, who are you now, you've travelled, you've lived in many places. But I think the biggest challenge now is really embracing who you are now, and I think it is, it is the most incredible time of your life. And I think it is being incredibly brave and courageous, and a knowing that all the wisdom that you have, as a 48-year-old, or however old you are. That's beautiful. And I think, for me, the challenge is, you know, discarding all the negativity that around you, and just knowing that what you brought to the table at this point in your life is, is, is incredible. And you should be proud of that.

 

Always remember, though, I remember that. So good one. So what do you think is your greatest accomplishment so far?

 

I believe that my greatest accomplishment is having the courage to do things, even when I'm scared. And being brave enough to go into the unknown, and being in the unknown. And trusting, because it takes a lot of courage to do that. And because you're on your own, then all you have is yourself. I've done that in my life. And I, you know, I feel it's taken a lot of courage and a lot of strength. So that to me is, is one of the biggest accomplishments on a personal level, on a deep personal level, connecting with, with myself.

 

If you could go back in time and meet your 30 year old self. And what advice would you give her well, or what would you tell her?

 

Don’t fear the unknown, because it holds you back. Because, as I said, the unknown is where the magic happens. You know, you have to trust, just trust yourself, and trust the universe, whatever, whatever that is to you. I mean, whether you believe in something or not. And let the hardships and the struggles inspire you because they're not there to pull you down or make things difficult for you. They're there to challenge you. So you can be stronger, and you can be better. And you can be brighter. So take the difficult times and know on a deep level. They're going to get you stronger, way stronger. Because you when I was younger, you know when you don't sometimes you don't know. You can look back and you can go Wow, all the challenges did really make me who I am. And I'm so glad that happened. But at the time, you don't know. So I would make sure I would tell myself that. Also, don't underestimate yourself because I think we don't realise how strong how strong we are and, and how much resolution you do have. And your intuition is a superpower. Learn to trust it. Yeah, that's a big one. You and yeah, you are way more than you think. You dream. So that would be my message.

 

If only we could be that wise, a 30 year old. And what would you say to younger women who will eventually reach this age?

 

I think Your beauty is, has so many facets to it. And I think any younger woman should know that ageing is not something that they should feel worry, because with age comes wisdom. And that is such a beautiful quality in somebody. And so, even if your hair goes grey, and you get wrinkles and your body changes, there's a beauty within that's going to be there, that's going to get more and more beautiful.

 

So not to worry, to get older, know, if we would talk about body image, and you know, it's, I think, getting older, it's the same subject as well. So where do you think this idea of perfect body comes from? And what is it for you - Perfect body?

 

You know, growing up, you have your influences of media or what you deemed to be perfect or, you know, look good, or, and I think, I think it just, it is from the world around you. And it's you know, it gets imprinted on you as you go through your life. But I've certainly got to the point where I can't change who I am, and I can't change my body. You know, I, I look after myself as best as I can. But what makes us beautiful, it's just that we all are different. And you know, and I think we should change the way we see what is beautiful in a woman because if we were all the same, it's not interesting.

 

Know, and, you know, my body is, it is what it is, you know, growing up, I think when you're a teenager, you really are confronted with having to be like, a celebrity or model or, you know, and you know, it's great to want to look good, but I think it starts with accepting and honoring just the way you were made. And that is beautiful, and perfect as it is,

 

And what makes you feel the most beautiful.

 

I feel the most beautiful when I'm connected to my gifts, and my talents. And I'm embracing all all of my passion about creativity. And I think when I'm doing something I love doing when I'm with my horse or when I'm doing art, we're listening to beautiful music that makes me feel the most beautiful and the most alive.

 

You said that you were doing design or what?

 

Yes, I was study design and worked in design for 15 years. And design of interior designers and I did 3d visualisation for quite a while and illustration. And I've studied, I've studied a bit of photography and jewellery design. And I've always sort of, yeah, be really interested in art and design and architecture. So it's, it is a passion of mine. And I think if you are a creative person, it's very important to be constantly tapping into the creative world or expressing your creativity somehow. Because it's just a it's a source inside of you that you can't, you shouldn't deny should always keep repeating itself.

 

So what do you do now?

 

You know, I'm just, I'm studying now, I'm going to be starting on a new sort of new career path, which is still still formulating what I'm going to be doing. So I'm getting a few business skills under my wings. And yeah, which is very exciting. I think, you know, it's, it's nice to be able to do lots of different things in your lifetime and have lots of different facets to your career. You don't always have to do the same thing. You can do lots of different avenues. And so you start a business now No, I'm just doing some small courses in marketing and media. Oh, that's but I will. I'm looking at just pursuing is still a career in in in the creative field. But I'm just doing some research at the moment. Marketing media it's really nice. Yeah, you have to stay update every year. Well, like every half a year changes something.

 

It's good to keep learning

 

Yeah, exactly. Keeps your brain active.

 

And what does it mean to you feeling good? And looking good? What do you think comes first or what comes first for you?

 

I believe they go hand in hand. I but feeling good. Is underpins the looking good. Because if you're, if you're feeling good, you're just going to radiate. Great beauty and energy. And I think that will make you look and you know, you can see people who are just feeling good and happy, and they just do look beautiful. So I think you can look good and look after yourself. But underneath that, you've got to feel good. You've got to feel good. And feel happy. And feel love, love yourself, and love for the people around you. When you feel good. You even want to make a more effort to look good.

 

Yeah, yeah. My last questions. One of my favorite ones. What is your favorite quote about being a woman?

 

My favourite quote is Eleanor Roosevelt, which is, women are like tea bags. We don't know our true strength until we are in a hot water. Personally, rings really true for me, because I think is when I've been in the biggest challenges that I've realised how strong stronger than I ever thought I could be. My other one is from Oprah Winfrey. And she says, Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is a stepping stone to greatness. So they have a similar message, I think. And again, you see the two quotes about strong women. It's about strength in the woman. I also just love from Michelle Obama, doesn't mean it's from a wonderful, amazing woman. She said once a few. When they go low, we go high. And I think it's a beautiful phrase because you always take the high road and act with integrity. Regardless of what people are doing around you, when they go low, we go high or higher.

 

Thank you, Belinda, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and your story. And I hope you will have a lovely day, the rest of the day. Thank you. Welcome again to the project.

 

Thank you so much. Thank you.

 

If you have an interesting story to share would love for you to participate. You can email us at info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com

 

This is the 45 over 45 chapter of MY BODY MY STORY podcast, where we celebrate rule breakers and role models - the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show their SENSUALITY,  BEAUTY, SOUL, and TRUE ESSENCE.

 

For more information about the project visit:

https://www.aleksandrawalker.com/45-over-45

 

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