Many people say that once you hit a certain age, life slows down and the best years are behind you. But actress Brooke Shields believes this couldn’t be farther from the truth—and she’s committed to changing the narrative. Shields recently partnered with Clos du Bois’ for their campaign, Long Live, directed by Courtney Cox, which is all about flipping the script on ageism in advertising and thriving as you age. She chatted with Parade.com about this very concept—and her voice and point of view may be exactly what we need to change the narrative around aging.
‘There’s this idea that you’re in your 20s or you’re geriatric’
When it comes to marketing, Shields says there are two extremes, and we need to close the gap in order to shed light on the vitality of the older generation. “There’s this idea that you’re either in your 20s or you’re geriatric, but there’s this huge, beautiful group in this bracket who have vitality,” Shields explains. “The information that Courtney made come to life is really indicative of that. You see people over a certain age truly engaged and enjoying their lives, being active and doing physical activities that keep their bodies healthy and make them happy.”
Shields’ top tip for thriving as you age
The way Shields sees it, feeling good, feeling energized and feeling strong starts from within. “I believe that it does start inside and it starts with health, which includes mental, physical, and spiritual health,” Shields states. “It’s these things that we tend to compartmentalize and often put aside, but the truth is the better you feel, the more you’re going to enjoy life.” Shields says that if you start improving yourself physically, it will have a positive ripple effect on all aspects of your life. “It’s amazing what it does to your mind and it can be five minutes a day,” Shields explains. “It doesn’t have to be going from one class to the next. It can be something as simple as dancing in your kitchen.” The bottom line: Movement is the key to thriving as you age. “Movement is an important part of how we go forward in our day and how we go forward in our life,” says Shields. “And you can start very small.”
How Shields hopes older generations will think about aging
You can still feel vibrant and excited during this stage of your life. “Every moment of the day, every minute, every second is a chance to begin again,” Shields explains. “You’ve done it every time you’ve gone through something, every time you’ve shifted in your life up until now and every time you’ve fallen or made a mistake or failed, you pick yourself up and move forward and begin again. And that really is the message. There is confidence, vitality and fullness in this stage of our lives. And we are all ready and ripe to enjoy it. Whether it’s exercise, a new skill, or a new job, you can begin again.” Next up: What Jennifer Lopez Said About Aging Deserves a Round of Applause—Here’s Why
