19 Questions With Lorraine C. Ladish
Photo courtesy of Lorraine C. Ladish
by The Candidly Team
In case you were wondering where you can find that elusive content that celebrates women over 50, look no further than the Instagram page of Lorraine Ladish.
Lorraine is the creator of Viva Fifty, a bilingual community that explores the lives of women 50+ with incredible candor. And as you may have guessed, we kind of adore candor. Cuz. You know. Our name.
Lorraine is a yoga teacher, writer of books, entrepreneur, and an eating disorder survivor and advocate.
We like Lorraine. Let’s get into it.
The Candidly Questionnaire
1. What’s something you really like about yourself?
My resilience. I’ve overcome a lot of hurdles in life.
2. What is your biggest challenge?
Switching from one activity to another. I tend to hyper-focus.
3. What kitchen or house tool do you use daily that’s changed your life?
Two rice cookers! I use one to cook brown rice or quinoa for my husband and me, and the other for white rice for my youngest daughter, who’s 16.
4. When do you feel most confident?
Right after I’ve done something I was nervous about. Public speaking, teaching a yoga workshop online, doing a handstand, you name it.
5. Are essential oils anything?
Yes. A threat to my bank account.
6. How do you create boundaries?
I allow myself to pause before I say yes or no to something.
7. How do you dampen self-critical thoughts when they get too loud?
I acknowledge them and then remind myself I’m a way better person than I think I am.
““dancing got me through being a midlife single mom on welfare. Yoga helps me cope with life.””
8. Describe the most “you” outfit of all time.
A jumpsuit. I can lounge, work at home, or practice yoga in a jumpsuit.
9. What meal can you make the hell out of?
Tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette). My Spanish abuelita’s recipe.
10. What book has made the biggest impact on your life?
Your Erroneous Zones, by Wayne Dyer. It was his first book and I read it when I was 17. I still have it.
11. Apart from family, what woman do you deeply admire?
Diana Nyad, long distance swimmer and author of Find a Way. I used to follow her workouts when I was in my twenties. She’s in her early 70’s, and still a badass.
12. Which Insta account is creating the greatest content and why?
I love @TheBirdsPapaya. She’s normalizing normal bodies and minds. I wish I’d had someone like her as a role model when I was an eating disordered, clinically depressed young woman.
13. What quote or phrase has really stayed with you?
“I’m speaking! I’m still speaking.” — Kamala Harris.
14. What’s your most effective form of therapy?
Bodywork. I’ve been a runner and a yogi since I was a teen. Dancing got me through being a midlife single mom on welfare. Yoga helps me cope with life.
15. What’s your approach to mending conflict with people you work with?
I try to put myself in the other person’s shoes.
16. How do you feel about cilantro?
Love love love it, especially with Pozole.
17. Describe your actual bedtime routine.
I always, always wash my face, whether I wore makeup or not. I hydrate my eyes, face and neck. I brush and floss my teeth.
I take my evening supplements, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and mental health meds. I meditate for 10 minutes and sometimes do self-Reiki.
I wish I could say I turn off all electronics and go to sleep. But that would be a big fat lie. I do check my social media once I’m in bed, since that’s how I make a living. Then I read an e-book instead of a paper book because my husband can’t sleep with the light on.
Finally, I send a good night text to each of my two daughters and my sister, and sometimes also to my family chat (my dad lives in Spain).
I put my earplugs in and pop on my eye mask. I do a relaxing body scan and then chant a mantra until I fall asleep.
18. What’s the best thing you’ve ever read on the internet?
That the Affordable Care Act passed.
19. What’s your relationship with bangs?
Bangs for life here! I have a wide forehead and have always always worn bangs. I’m 57 and still going strong.
What is your single favorite:
Lip balm: It Cosmetics.
Jeans brand: Liverpool.
Mascara: Urban Decay Perversion.
Robe: A hotel robe.
Sex Product: My husband.
Last-minute gift: A gift card.
Bra: It’s a tie between Knix and Pepper.
Shampoo: Hair Biology.
Comfortable shoes: Born shoes or UGG boots.
Splurge skincare: Clarins.
Drugstore skincare: Cetaphil.
Everyday bag: The Sak hobo bag.
Guilty pleasure TV show: The House of Flowers.
Drink: Funky Buddha beer.
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