Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up a daily dose of care designed to support you, cheer you on and remind you, always, just how wonderful you already are.

In Today’s Edition:

You are a walking miracle in human form.
The world is lucky to have you!

Many of us were taught, directly or indirectly, that being “good,” “successful,” or “worthy” meant being polished, productive, and put-together. Over time, perfection can start to feel like a requirement for belonging.

But perfection isn’t connection. And it isn’t freedom. It’s a cage we put around our authentic selves, locking back our truth for how we think the world wants us to show up. It can leave you feeling disconnected, burnt out, and even removed from passionate living.

Being real, showing up honest, messy, unsure, is often what allows you to breathe, connect, and feel at ease in your own skin. If you’ve been masking with perfection, it’ll feel strange to step outside of it at first. But the more you gently explore your authenticity, the more you allow yourself to find your spark again. 

Ways perfectionism often sneaks in and how to soften it:

•🧠 Feeling pressure to have it all figured out: Practice saying, “I’m allowed to be learning as I go.”

•🎭 Hiding parts of yourself to seem “together.” Try sharing one honest truth with a safe person this week.

•📋 Over-preparing, over-editing, or overthinking: Ask: “What would ‘good enough’ look like here?”

•💬 Harsh self-talk when you make a mistake: Replace judgment with curiosity: “What was I needing in that moment?” Or, “Everyone makes mistakes, it’s okay. How do I wish it went instead?”

•😮‍💨 Exhaustion from trying to maintain an image: Let yourself be a human, not a performance.

You don’t need to be perfect to be lovable, respected, or enough. You’re allowed to be real.

✅ Action step: Today, choose one place where you let yourself be honest instead of impressive.

^{Love, Lola Graham}

An incredible study out of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden followed 427 people for 47 years, from 16 years old to 63 years old, to track how fitness, strength, and muscle endurance change over time.

The researchers found that physical performance typically began to decline around age 35, with gradual acceleration as people got older. 

But here’s the hopeful part: even if participants started exercising later in life, it still led to meaningful gains. Adults who became active improved their physical capacity by 5–10%, even after the natural decline had begun.

Unlike most research that compares different age groups at a single moment, this long-term study tracked the same individuals, making it one of the most reliable looks agings impact on physical capacity.

The takeaway is that while you can’t stop aging, doing regular movement can slow decline, preserve independence, and extend functional healthspan.

Strength and fitness are, in fact, trainable at any age, so no, it is never too late to get stronger!

✅ Action step: If you haven’t been active, now is a great time to start. Some bodyweight strength exercises or some brisk walks can begin rebuilding capacity, no matter your age.

Source: PMID: 41243424

^{By: Joshua Graham}

^{A gentle prompt to help you create small feel good moments of beauty, appreciation, and delight.}

Pay attention to something that feels pleasantly familiar, a routine, a song, a ritual. Let it remind you of stability and comfort.

Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!

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With love and care,

Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team

^{Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.}

^{Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).}