Irina: I'll tell you right away, yes, I’ve had those moments. For me, it became crucial to embrace silence when emotions cloud logical thinking. It’s better to pause, look for explanations, find the positives, and try to see the situation from all angles. It’s essential not to get personally involved with the negatives; instead, distance yourself and weigh everything calmly. Try to act outside the box.

There are always and will always be moments like this.

We live only once, and while going through the tunnel of "everything is awful" (and the scale of "everything is awful" is different for everyone, plus it changes with age), we allow ourselves to discover another side of ourselves – whether it's a stronger version or, conversely, a weaker or more fearful one. So, "everything is awful" serves a purpose: to teach, to warn, or perhaps for something else entirely.

It’s important to understand and always keep in mind that "better" means "different"!

Irina: That happened after a spinal injury when I was 51. I wasn’t involved in sports; I was working a lot. It all happened so quickly — persistent pain, a pinched nerve in my right leg, causing my foot to lose functionality. The neurosurgeons managed to keep my vertebrae intact without replacing them with implants, but unfortunately, my foot didn’t completely recover (this story was featured on the "Rossiya 24" channel).

After the surgery – restrictions on loads and movements – at that moment, I clearly realized: I WILL NOT GIVE UP! I told the surgeon that, and in response, he said, "I already understood that!" I decided to start with my most cherished dream – to glide beautifully on the ice. I left the hospital, went to the "Figure Skater" store, bought some skates, and signed up for classes.

I gathered the courage to be clumsy, awkward, and perhaps funny in someone else's eyes, to be patient, but to achieve what I intended.

The goal was not just to learn how to skate, but to perform and to rise on the podium. Spoiler alert – I perform and I rise on the podium. Recently, I applied to participate in the "People's Ice Age" (a famous TV-show), and I took part in the second stage of the casting – I haven't advanced further yet, but I will keep working on myself and try again next time. I am proud of myself, and not only I am – all my loved ones passionately cheer for me during my performances, celebrate my victories, support me, and consider me a "fighter."

But I wasn't like this 10-20 years ago. Perhaps, the years release in us what we were meant to be.

Without a doubt, the consequences of the surgery are still felt, but it is only for US to decide whether to yield to pain, troubles, and an unwillingness to change, or to become "fighters" (smiles).

We do not know ourselves, we often do not believe in ourselves, seeking excuses in the lack of time, in circumstances, and so on. We must be honest with ourselves, admit our weaknesses and fears, and gradually, in very small steps, overcome something for ourselves and within ourselves.

Irina: We are all active within the framework of our temperament and of that behavior model which is clear and comfortable for us.

For someone, being active means getting up and walking to the fridge, while for someone else, it means riding 20 km on a bike in the morning. Believe me, both will be happy with such an actively spent time.

And this is not about age.

In my opinion, the awareness of the necessity of an active lifestyle comes to each person exactly when they are ready for it. Some start playing hockey for companionship, some get involved in the process during rehabilitation after an injury and can no longer imagine life without it. For someone, it’s a long-held dream that they could not fulfill in childhood, like in my case.

Irina: In my view, and I feel this personally, youth is energy; it makes everyone around want to 'be fed with' it. It's about ease in communication, an interest in something or someone — rather, it’s passion and enthusiasm that serve as the source of this energy.

Irina: Books represent visual silence, a chance to slow down.
Of course, figure skating brings that euphoria of pre-competition excitement; you are alone on the ice, feeling no cold, only the pounding of your heart. Time thickens, and within 90 seconds, you experience the full spectrum of emotions—from fear to exhilaration!

Interacting with young people is inspiring; I find it fascinating how they navigate the journey I’ve already traveled: how they meet new people, where they choose to study, why they pick specific places, what social media platforms are popular for them, and how they renovate their first apartment. Everything — literally everything!

We live in this world through people! Through their emotions, through their involvement in something.

All of this gives us the opportunity to understand ourselves better. It is always inspiring when someone looks at me and says, “I’m not afraid of growing old anymore!”

Irina: Youth is a temporary privilege, but the feeling of being young can last forever – it’s not about age.

In this case, age is not a limitation; one can be 20 but not feel active, desired, and sexy.

From my own experience, age just deepens feelings.

Irina: The ability to change. To build your life in a way that there’s no time to age.

Irina: We either remember or plan! (smiles)
I can see this picture of my life now – my mother is 91 years old – she is the best example. Living long is a great fortune and responsibility; looking at her, I realized that if you throw in the towel after 50, metaphorically speaking, what will you do for the next 40 years?

Talking to my mom, I don’t feel that she’s 90 – she jokes, and she has a youthful voice. For me, the voice is like our soul; we hear it through the voice, and by its tone, we can understand if the soul inside us is young. My mom has a very young soul.

Despite her limited mobility (my mom is disabled), she is sociable and gives advice: what to wear with what, what hairstyle is best!

Undoubtedly, I want to stay active, even if not physically, then mentally. I want to think clearly and have many bright memories, if, of course, such an option is available to my "processor" at 90.

Irina: Showing interest is the most important thing. Especially in areas where you still don’t know much – it’s essential to start something from scratch, to surprise yourself that you dared to take that step, and then to be proud of yourself for achieving something in that area.

The more knowledge we have, the more choices we have.

Life is all about learning. We are constantly learning: to walk, to speak, to read, to love, to be parents, to be grandparents, to endure pain, and so on.

Irina: Just hold a pause.

Irina: In my opinion, there is no such problem; we exist well alongside each other. It is important that the threads that connect us to our children do not grow into ropes.

Irina: For me, the aesthetics of age is about one's posture in life—dignity, the absence of fuss, the simplicity of one's appearance, neatness both outwardly and inwardly.

Irina: There was no need to decide. I appreciate the aesthetics of photography. This is not just a photo on a phone; it is a process, the anticipation of the result. I am amazed at how a familiar image or person in the lens becomes someone else.

I find it interesting how a completely unfamiliar professional sees me through their camera. I enjoy overcoming stiffness and discovering myself in the space presented.

I do photo sessions after significant events in my life; they remind me of how I experienced something or of the next stage within me. The camera always sees deeper than the eye.

You can wait until everything settles down. Until the children grow up, work calms down, the weather gets better, and your back stops hurting.

But from this expectation, you will only lose.
Don't wait! Start living today.