I created Advanced Style to start a dialogue about aging and to show a
positive and uplifting image of getting older. It’s equally important
to show how older people confront the struggles and difficulties that
accompany the aging process. Artist, Ilona Royce Smithkin lifts the
spirits of everyone around her. She was kind enough to  share some
incredible insight into how she deals with physical pain. We can all
learn from her inspiring words below:

Everyday
something unexpected happens to our bodies. I fight everyday to get up
and out of bed.When I feel a pain somewhere I tell my body, “I’m so nice
to you, what do you want from me?” And I tell myself a little story or
joke and remind myself of the times when I was in worse pain, and how
lucky I am today, and the pain begins to go away. I tell myself that
this isn’t the first time, or the last time that I will feel pain and begin to occupy my mind with other things. You must get involved in things
outside of the pain, things that give you interest. All these things
are a part of life. We all feel pain and unpleasantness. As long as I
can seduce myself to enjoy all kinds of things, like in the morning
enjoying the first cup of coffee, or piece of chocolate the pain begins
to diminish. I give myself nice things to look forward to, throughout
the day. The moment you give in and let yourself get dragged down by
misery you are closer to death.