Guest Post by Gail Gensler

In a recent conversation with my friend Gail, I mentioned that I’d be going out of town for a week on a girl’s vacation to celebrate our 60th milestone birthday’s. I commented that I probably wouldn’t be posting a blog that week and taking a social media break. Gail very graciously offered to allow me to post one of her amazing blogs so you wouldn’t be bummed that you missed a week. I know you’ll enjoy reading Gail’s post. You probably recall my Feature a Friend post on Gail. To read that post, click HERE.

We can’t take anything with us when we leave this world. We can leave plenty behind, though.
That’s our legacy, and it’s an important thing to think about as we go through our lives, doing the
best we can every day. Here’s the legacy I want to leave behind.

The Problem

We live in an age of inclusivity. Everywhere you look in movies, TV, advertisements, etc., you
are seeing more and more diversity, giving people from all walks of life a chance to be
represented. The LGBTQ community is establishing a firmer footing. Plus-sized models are
becoming more popular in the fashion industry. Minority and female film directors have done
better during awards season than they ever have. The list goes on. Inclusivity plays a huge
societal role in 2021.

And yet, ageism still exists.
There simply aren’t enough men and women my age on billboards or in magazines, particularly
when it comes to fashion. When’s the last time you saw a woman over 60 modeling a workout
brand? Mind you, there are plenty of women my age who kick butt in the gym and love to look
good while doing it. Why aren’t we marketed towards? Shouldn’t today’s “diversity” cover
people of all ages as well? I guess not. Inclusivity has done wonders for people of different races,
genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc., but it seems to miss out on the age part.
Apart from the moral issue of it all, leaving out the older demographic is also just a bad business
decision. People my age are homeowners. We have jobs. The older generation is the one that
tends to have the most disposable income, since we’ve been working the longest. There is plenty
of untapped potential in this demographic, yet advertisers seem to overlook us in their marketing
efforts. Why not try to get us to buy your products by showcasing older models who embrace a
fun, fit, active lifestyle? Makes sense to me. This rarely happens, however, which led me to my
ultimate goal.

My Current Mission

My name is Gail Gensler, I am 60 years old (young), and I am a pro-aging fitness enthusiast and
lifestyle influencer. This is something I’ve pursued for a few years now, though I haven’t lost
even one bit of steam; my motivation has only gotten stronger.
I got into this space because I simply couldn’t stand by anymore and let men and women my age
be influenced into dressing, exercising, and living a certain way. I couldn’t continue seeing
people avoid doing something they love because society deemed it inappropriate for someone
their age. No more ageism. I’m a 60-year-old who enjoys getting after it in the gym and in her
social life, even though I’m not particularly gifted or talented in any one area. I know there are others out there who would love to do what I do, but aren’t willing to because of a misplaced
need to fit into a ridiculous mold.
I’m out to fix that. I want to inspire younger generations to not “fear the years” or take their
wellness for granted. If you’re someone who thinks this mentality could help them, I’d love to
connect with you!

My Legacy

This mission of mine is what I want to shape my legacy. I hope I’m remembered as a woman
who changed how people thought about aging, specifically as it relates to fitness and social
settings. I don’t know how many people I’ll reach. Maybe 1,000. Maybe 100,000. But if I’m able
to positively influence people, particularly my daughter, staff, and clients, to dress, exercise, and
live the way they want no matter what year they were born, I’ve done my job. I want to change
the narrative about aging as it relates to fitness and beauty.
Avicii’s song “The Nights” has a lyric that goes “One day you’ll leave this world behind, so live a
life you will remember.” I am a sucker for a good quote, and this one in particular strikes a
powerful chord with me. I hope I’ve accomplished that by the time I leave this world behind.
Being a pro-aging fitness enthusiast and lifestyle influencer is my ticket to doing just that.

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Aren’t you just so inspired and motivated by Gail’s story and her message? Everything she says resonates with me; and I know you feel the same! What type of legacy would you like to leave behind? Leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you.

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