In this episode, George interviewing Aleksandra Walker, the creator of the My Body My Story Project.
Aleksandra talks about the Project, her current challenges and life accomplishments. Her advice to younger women - Don’t waste your time making your own mistakes. Use other women’s experiences for your benefit.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE :
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (auto-generated) :
Hi, you are listening to My Body My Story podcast,
I would say prepare yourself in advance. Don't get caught by surprise. Use other women experience for your benefit. Just don't waste your time making your mistakes. Which you can avoid by simply being informed and being proactive.
This is the 45 or 45 chapter where we celebrate rule breakers and role models, the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show that sensuality, beauty, soul and true essence. Here we talk about what it's like to be 45 Plus, adjusting to the changes that come with time, and will listen to the stories of our participants. If you have an interesting story to share, we would love you to participate, you can email us on info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com
Hi, my name is George and I'm the host for today's episode. Today we're interviewing Aleksandra, the creator of the My body, My Story project and on her birthday. All right, Alex, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Yes, hi, my name is Aleksandra Walker. And as you said, I'm the author of My body, My Story project. I'm 47 years old today. I have Son of 21 years old, which.. whom I'm very proud of. I also have business which I'm very proud of, its STORYTREND Production. It's photography and videography production company. I live in Sydney. And I moved here three years ago. Before I was living in Dubai for 13 years, when that's where I started my photography business after quitting my corporate job in marketing. Yeah.
That's, that's, that's great to hear. And quite, quite interesting. So what would you say you're most passionate about?
Oh, it's definitely photography and my business. As I said, I started my business back in 2010 in Dubai. And now it is Sydney, Australia based company. I love photography, and I was passionate about it since I was at school. And I think it just,.. I cannot even call it my work. It just my pleasure, which happily turned into my business. So that's my biggest passion.
And what would you say in particular about photography you're passionate about? Is it maybe the people you're shooting? Or?
Yeah, I think because I have my first degree, my first master's degree is in psychology. And I see a very clear connection between psychology and photography. I think that photography is a very effective psychotherapy tool, or like it gives the effect. And I love seeing how women mostly whom I photograph women, of course, I photograph men as well and families, but mainly women, how they transform, during photoshoot, and after photo shoot, and how healing sometimes can be this experience. So at least I don't regret that I didn't follow a path of becoming a psychotherapist, or stayed in psychology field, because this is a psychology. And I am amazed with the effect photography can make on somebody's self-esteem and finding or remembering the true self. So that's I think it's the biggest effect of photography. I noticed. Yeah.
That's awesome to hear, especially that you're linking your degree in psychology to what you're doing now, and it's quite interesting.
But everyone knows that with age we change but what positive changes have you experienced with age?
I would say not with age, but with experience. For me, it's knowing myself better, acknowledging and accepting all sides of me good and bad, and understanding that we are, we have many sides, and any of that side is still me. And all of them are okay. Of course, not completely, I can accept this thing. But it's, it's an ongoing process. I'm learning to accept it every day. But much more than in a young age, I think that's the biggest change, you know, with with age, or, as I said, more with experience.
Obviously, with a lot of experience, you go through quite a lot of challenges. What is the biggest challenge you're experiencing at this age now?
The biggest one is change of my health and body and adjusting to new lifestyle, like not smoking or drinking, trying to sleep well, exercise. So knowing that this is necessary measures and understanding that the body with age, it cannot take as much as in the young age. So and those changes are then unexpected, and you need time to understand them and to adjust them. And sometimes Yeah, it can be challenged like that, you just realise you cannot do things which you did before.
You could say the body's not as easily adapt, doesn't adapt to new situations, circumstances and change,
What would your greatest accomplishment be?
Oh, this, I can talk many, many things. So everything I did in my life, it was something, what I wanted, I think it's a great accomplishment - to do things which you want to do. Basically, I always did what I wanted. And if I couldn't get it immediately, I wouldn't give up, I would say not yet. And keep working towards it. So some goals took me 10 years to complete, but it was worth waiting. I've got three degrees from world's top universities and institutes, I lived in three different countries. I travelled the world, I worked in corporate. And I have my own business, which I always wanted to have. And my biggest personal accomplishment, or maybe just luck is close relationship of trust and respect with my son, whom I very proud of. So as you see, like, I can list quite a few accomplishments in my life. And I hope it's not finished yet. And so many will come ahead.
I think they show well. And I think it's awesome that you took the appropriate risks, and you know, when went after what you wanted to do, that's awesome. And you can look back fondly, and kind of at these moments of maybe how, how you were back in 10 years ago, 20 years ago, and what was yet to come in the future.
Having gone through all that, what advice would you give to your 30 year old self?
I would say don't doubt in yourself, you look perfect. Put yourself first. Tell to fuck off to those who are trying to lift themselves up by putting you down, or who is just using you. Take care of your health from the early age, exercise regularly eat healthy. Learn how to manage your money, invest. Start early.
How about what advice would you give to younger women who will eventually undergo these changes in these periods of life?
I would say prepare yourself in advance. Don't get caught by surprise and use other women experience for your benefit. Just don't waste your time making your own mistakes. Which you can avoid by simply being informed and being proactive. So prepare yourself in advance.
And we're where would you think the perfect body image comes from?
I think mainly from social circles like from people you're surrounded with. It's from those whom you are in everyday contact, like your family, your friends, your partner. They're the biggest influencers and supporters of certain views and ideas. So of course, some effects, social media add up to it, and also our own perception of ourselves. It's very personal, like everyone has their own ideas of what is perfect in them and what is not. It just with the age, you start understanding that there's no such thing as a perfect body. It's mainly when you start being concerned with your health, you just realise that if you're healthy, than you're perfect.
What does it mean to you feeling good? And looking good? What do you think comes first?
Oh, when I was younger, feeling good, depended on how I looked. But now it's opposite. If I feel good, I look good.
Yeah, I feel like a lot of younger people, they feel good only when they look good and evil. It seems that it it switches once you get older.
And what makes you feel the most beautiful?
I think it's being happy with myself and having a partner who appreciates me. If that's what makes makes me feel the most beautiful.
And what is your favourite quote about being a woman?
Oh, I love this quote. I know it from like, maybe 10 years back. And it's a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt. And she said: “A woman is like a tea bag. You can't tell how strong she's until you put her in hot water”.
It's a good one. What and Why do you like it so much?
I think it's reflects in, in some sense, my life that's been through a lot of hot waters. It made me stronger. So yeah. And we are very resilient, women are very resilient. And we are strong. And sometimes we just don't know about it until we go through some challenges. And that's how we find out our real strength.
Well, Alex, it was a lot of great things we heard and a lot of wisdom through all the experiences you've gone through. Thank you for being on the podcast and keep and continuing with this project. I think it’s quite, it's quite fun and interesting. And you know, for many more to come.
Yes, then thank you very much for interviewing me. And I would like to invite all the women who are interested in participating in in this project. We have really interesting participants and all the ladies are so great. And you can listen to the interviews on our podcast. And if you have your story, interesting story to tell, and you want to join a group of great women. Just please join us and you can find all the information on our websites and you know, the links will be wherever you listening this podcast you will find the links. So I invite you to the project and looking forward to see you in my studio.
Thanks, Alex.
Thank you.
If you have an interesting story to share would love for you to participate. You can email us on info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com
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