The Inspiring Words Of Advice Tori Amos' Daughter Gave Her About Aging

How Musician Tori Amos Learned To Embrace Life After 50

Sometimes the younger generation can have wisdom beyond their years -- even when it comes to the troublesome topic of aging. For singer-songwriter Tori Amos, learning to life to the fullest after 50 wasn't easy, but her daughter helped pave the way.

In an interview with HuffPost Live’s Caitlyn Becker, Amos recounted the wise words of advice she received from her daughter as she neared her 50th birthday.

“The last year has been a very challenging time for me, going from 49 to 50, for all kinds of reasons,” Amos said. “And she was the one who said to me… ‘you have got to promise me that you’re going to get your head around this, because if you don’t get your head around this and you don’t go rock as hard as you did 20 years ago, what is your message to me, mom? You’re telling me that 50 isn’t as powerful as 30.’”

At first Amos resisted by telling her daughter Natasha that she didn’t have anything to prove. But the 13-year-old responded definitively, “Oh yeah. You do. You have to prove it to yourself."

Slowly, everything came into perspective for Amos.

“And I began to realize that she was right,” the singer-songwriter explained. “And [Natasha] said, ‘you have to go out there on your own, no orchestra, no band, do it and rock.’”

These words later became the inspiration for Amos’ song, “Promise,” which details their mother-daughter relationship.

Watch the full HuffPost Live interview with Tori Amos here.

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Before You Go

1
The Nordic Diet
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We've heard the hype about the heart-smart Mediterranean Diet and it's anti-aging benefits, but don't be surprised if you start hearing more and more about the diet of our Scandinavian counterparts -- and don't worry, it's delicious too.

Full of fish, berries, and whole grains, the diet has been shown to reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of heart disease, and some studies have suggested that the diet could be responsible for lower mortality rates.
2
A Clean Environment
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Bordered by the Baltic Sea and boasting numerous lakes, Sweden ranks second best for lowest air pollution and highest water quality, according to the OECD.

And as the saying goes, there's nothing like a little fresh air for your health. Lower air pollution can reduces your chances of death from strokes, lung cancer, and numerous respiratory problems according to the World Health Organization. Studies have shown that any reductions in air pollution can have positive effects on life expectancy.
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Independent Living
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Sweden's elder care communities offer the best of both worlds, giving seniors the care they need combined with the independence they desire. Residents can prepare their own food, take vacations, and dictate their own daytime schedules yet they have the comfort of knowing that care is nearby should they need it.
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Elder Care System
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Senior care in Sweden is delegated to individual municipalities, so they provide a wide variety of options for their citizens. In addition to their care communities, the country offers several services you might be surprised to hear. According to the government's website, the Social Services Act was revised in 2012 to allow for older people who have lived together for a long period of time to continue to live together even when one of them needs assisted living.

Many municipalities even provide meal delivery to seniors, communal meals at local centers, home-help aides, and can even apply for round-the-clock care at home in some cases.
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Fitness Culture
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A recent poll showed that Sweden is one of Europe's fittest countries, with 7 out of 10 Swedes surveyed saying they exercise weekly, and just under 10 percent saying they never exercise. According to the Swedish Sports Authority, nearly half of Swedes between ages 7 and 70 say they work out twice a week or more.

And they're not just sweating it out at the gym. Walking is a big part of Swedish culture, with many people opting to work or cycle their way around.

While weaving exercise into your routine may seem like a small change, studies have shown that even modest amounts of exercise can go a long way. A Queen's University study showed people who exercise over two and a half hours a week can live up to six years longer than their inactive counterparts!

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