Aging Gracefully & Coping With The Loss of a Parent
- “Ghost Whisperer” actress Jennifer Love Hewitt has just turned 46 and is looking incredible. She recently shared a social media post showing off her face with no makeup and reminiscing about her mom, who passed away of complications due to cancer in 2012.
- Healthy aging isn’t just about accomplishing medical check-ups or managing illnesses. It’s also about maintaining a high quality of life as you age, keeping your body and mind as robust as possible, and living life to the fullest. SurvivorNet has put together some tips that can help you age healthily, which include: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Social Engagement, Mental Stimulation, Regular Check-ups, and Sleep.
- Remember, consistency is the key. Building these habits and making them part of your daily routine can potentially slow down the aging process and improve your overall well-being.
- Even small steps can have a significant impact, so it’s never too late to start. After all, aging is just another word for living. And our aim should not be to just live longer, but to live healthier and happier.
- Dealing with the loss of a loved one to cancer is incredibly challenging, but moving forward with the lessons your loved one shared and remembering you don’t have to forget them can be a great place to start.
- Grief is an unavoidable and important part of healing following the loss of a loved one to cancer, and talk therapy can be a useful tool to cope.
Hewitt, whose mom Patricia passed away of complications due to cancer in 2012, took to social media this week to share a no filter selfie and some heartfelt words praising people who have supported her through the years.
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Hewitt, known for her roles in the movies “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Heartbreakers,” continued, “I have all the things I really need and long truly for nothing other than joyful moments, continuing in the career I love, more time with friends, delicious food and to feel a shift to this year that brings clarity and hopefully the return of a little magic.
‘I have experienced and seen how the world can be cruel to women as they age and yet seen the women I admire become happier, sexier and more powerful with every added number.”
She concluded, “I am so deeply grateful for this life. I love all who choose to do it by my side and I am ready to give love today to the younger me and the older me because they are my ride or die’s. Sending love to all and cheers to 46!”
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Hewitt On Losing Her Mom
Hewitt lost her mom on July 12, 2012, and in a tribute post to her mom a few years back, she mourned the loss of her “best friend.”
She wrote, “Someone told me after losing my mom that the first year would feel impossible, the years after would build strength in me and then the 10 year mark would be an open wound all over again. Because it would feel insane to have been without her that long. They were right. Today feels very raw. I will never forget not making it to say goodbye.
“I will never forget walking into her house that day and hoping somehow she would come around the corner, waking up the day after praying it was all a bad dream. The countless times I called her by accident when something good or bad happened because I forgot she couldn’t pick up. I am proud of the way I’ve handled grief. But I wish it wasn’t so painful.”
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Hewitt continued, “Today I will celebrate her because I know she helped me build my family. My incredible children and a wonderful man who helps me everyday create our little unit. She knew it’s all I ever wanted. And I know she is with us everyday.
“I will eat and drink her favorite things today. The kids and I will look at pics of Mimi and all her adventures and I will feel so grateful that she was mine if only for awhile. I love you mama. Always and forever.”
According to People, an exclusive excerpt from Hewitt’s recently published memoir, reads, “In June 2012 I was asked to attend a TV festival in Monaco.
“My mom had been diagnosed with cancer in February; she’d had surgery, started chemotherapy and was feeling hopeful. My mom and I had been to Monaco together before, and had an amazing time.”
Hewitt recalled her mom’s love for travel and how she planned a “cancer-free” party for her mom before she took a trip without her, but saying goodbye to her mom before her vacation was the last time she spoke with her.
Her memoir continues, “After landing in Monaco, I turned on my phone and saw three missed calls from a phone number I didn’t recognize. There was a message from my mom’s friend: ‘She had a rough night and got very sick. She’s in the hospital.’ I knew deep down that I shouldn’t have left her, and that I would never forgive myself.
“As I tried to get more information, the hours passed. My brother was on his way to Los Angeles, but I couldn’t get a flight out until the next morning. My mother was in a coma and doctors were giving her a 20 percent chance to make it. It felt like a nightmare, and I was begging to wake up. My mom and I were planning our biggest party yet. This couldn’t be happening. I was able to get the next flight out and made it home, but never got the chance to say goodbye. I’d walked out of her front door hopeful and laughing, and now I could barely walk in because she was gone. My whole life changed. I changed.”
She continued, “Later, in processing my grief, I began to feel very deeply that my mom and I weren’t supposed to say goodbye. We were supposed to be laughing, planning a party and excited for the joy it would bring us and others.
“That’s what we loved to do, and in our last moment together that’s what we did. We planned one hell of a party. I found myself through grief — as a wife, mommy, magic-maker and Holiday Junkie.”
Coping After Losing A Parent To Cancer
Going through stages of grief is something everyone deals with after a friend or loved one passes away from cancer. When you lose a parent to cancer, especially if it happens at a younger age, that feeling of loss and sadness can really linger.
But that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.
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In the case of Camila Legaspi, who lost her mom to breast cancer when she was in high school, she previously told SurvivorNet that the tragedy of losing a parent as a teenager kind of defined her high school experience.
After going off to college, she was able to turn that huge sense of loss that she felt into inspiration for creating.
“I actually took this sadness and let it motivate me,” Legaspi told SurvivorNet.
“I learned that it’s OK to be sad sometimes. It’s OK to carry sadness with you. It’s not always a bad thing. It makes you who you are and it gives you a story to tell and it helps you teach other people to cope with their sadness.”
Legaspi, who is one of four siblings, described her mom as a very creative person. She said she turned to writing as an outlet and used her mother’s creativity as a motivator.
Legaspi went to Princeton University and got involved with the school’s magazine. She explained that instead of thinking of the loss of her mother as something terrible that happened to her family, she has let it serve as inspiration for poetry, fiction, or whatever else she may be inspired to write.
“I’ve learned to have it impact me in a positive way, and have it not just be a sad story, instead, I’m using it for a better purpose,” Legaspi said.
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Caleb Farley opened up to us about his mother’s battle with breast cancer.
His mother fought two battles with cancer and he watched as she went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy while still working and taking care of their family.
Having lost his mom to breast cancer in 2018, he knew he wanted to be extra careful during the pandemic. When he had the chance to play as a cornerback for the Virginia Tech Hokies football team, he backed out due to COVID-19 concerns.
Farley announced the news of his decision not to play with Virginia Tech in an Instagram video saying, in part, “I cannot afford to lose another parent or loved one. Though the competitor in me badly wants to play this season, I cannot ignore what’s going on in my heart, and I must make the decision that brings me the most peace.”
(Farley trained for the NFL Draft instead of playing for Virginia Tech, and his efforts paid off. In the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Farley as the number 22 overall pick.)
Today, Farley is taking the many life lessons he learned from her and applying them to whatever challenges he faces in life.
Understanding Aging
Although Jennifer Love Hewitt is only 46, it’s understandable that aging can feel like a mystery at times, and it’s great to see her taking the journey positive attitude, especially as she’s been in the public eye since she rose to fame as a child actress and singer in the late 1980s, early 1990s. After all, we’ve all heard phrases like “Age is just a number,” but what does that mean? And how does it impact our health and well-being?
From the day we are born, our bodies and minds start to change and grow. This continuous process is, fundamentally, what we call ‘aging.’ Life is a journey filled with countless changes, and aging is an integral part of that journey. Quite often, when we talk about aging, we focus on the physical changes, but it’s also about the evolution of our mental and emotional states.
SurvivorNet has provided an overview of aging to guide you through this universal process.
Some key points to remember about aging:
- Aging is a natural biological process that affects everyone.
- The experience of aging can vary greatly among individuals.
- While aging comes with some inevitable changes, many aspects of aging are influenced by lifestyle choices and attitudes.
- Aging isn’t something to fear or shy away from—it’s a phase of life that we all share.
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Practicing Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance
If you struggle with self-perception and body image, you should try to look at yourself in a positive light despite how difficult it may be. By practicing body positivity, you can boost your emotional well-being.
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, also has some helpful advice. She encourages people that spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.
Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with,” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self-esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.
Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.
“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and how you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”
It’s important to remember there is no one definition of beauty, and following a health crisis, patients must learn to be proud of who they are and how far they’ve come inside and out.
Healthy Aging Tips
We love how Jennifer Love Hewitt is looking better than ever as she ages, and her persistent beauty is a reminder that healthy aging isn’t just about accomplishing medical check-ups or managing illnesses. It’s also about maintaining a high quality of life as you age, keeping your body and mind as robust as possible, and living life to the fullest. SurvivorNet has put together some tips that can help you age healthily:
Physical Activity: Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine. This could be walking, cycling, swimming—any physical activity you enjoy!
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Nutrition: Eat a balanced diet heavy on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Limiting processed foods, sugars and unhealthy fats can make a big difference in your overall health.
Social Engagement: Stay socially active. Whether it’s attending family gatherings, participating in group hobbies, volunteering, or just catching up with friends, maintaining social connections can significantly enhance your emotional health and well-being.
Mental Stimulation: Engage in activities that stimulate your mind. This could include reading, doing puzzles, learning a new skill or language, or even playing memory-boosting games.
Regular Check-ups: Don’t forget about your regular medical, dental, and eye check-ups. Prevention is always better than cure!
Sleep: Good sleep is vital for your overall health. Practice good sleep hygiene – keep a regular sleep schedule, make your sleeping environment comfortable and quiet, and try to avoid screens before bed.
Remember, consistency is the key. Building these habits and making them part of your daily routine can potentially slow down the aging process and improve your overall well-being.
Even small steps can have a significant impact, so it’s never too late to start. After all, aging is just another word for living. And our aim should not be to just live longer, but to live healthier and happier.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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