Despite her most recent alcohol marketing faux pas, there’s still a lot to be gleaned.
“I am youthful and timeless. I tell myself that every day, a few times a day … Age is all in your mind.” — Jennifer Lopez
There are a small group of people who have crossed over to that “one-name” status.
Beyonce. Sting. McLovin.
And while the single moniker “Jennifer” could bring to mind a number of famous female stars, from Jennifer Aniston to Jennifer Gardner.
No one can deny the name J.Lo only brings to mind one iconic superstar.
Also known as Jenny from the Block for all the hip-hop fans out there.
While J.Lo’s music may not be for everyone, no one can deny her tenacity, drive, and ability to think and plan for the future.
She always seems to be thinking 2–3 steps ahead as it relates to her career and life in general and has reaped the benefits of her decision-making by having a career that has spanned over two decades.
And even though her most recent business move into the alcohol industry has not been as smooth as her silky skin, the reason for this relates to the purpose of the article.
The reason for the backlash is because Jlo is somewhat for being a non-drinker. She’s lived a life of alcohol-consciousness before I even coined the term.
She doesn’t drink because she’s had a problem with it but because she recognizes the tremendous negative impact it can have on one’s life short and long term.
And even though she’s working to get out of this marketing conundrum to repair her reputation a bit, there are still a few things that we can learn from the girl from the Bronx that greatly relate to the alcohol-conscious movement and why giving up alcohol need not have anything to do with the fear of addiction.
There’s no room for it in her life
J.Lo’s career has been pretty expansive, as she has had success in everything from acting to music to her own beauty line — that was a no-brainer, right?
She is always on the go and consistently pushes herself to put her best foot forward and not allow anything to stand in her way.
Alcohol would definitely be something that would make this much harder to accomplish.
As someone who exercises every single day for at least an hour, she says the importance of working out keeps her physically and mentally strong.
“Sometimes, I work too late the night before, and I’m like, ‘Ugh, I can’t do this.’ But I tell myself, ‘Just do it. It’s only an hour.’ It’s just talking yourself off the ledge of being a lazy bum.”
If she did party and stay up to all hours of the night, there’s very little chance she would have the focus to be able to wake up every morning and get it done.
Without alcohol to distract her, she’s able to maintain her regimen and stay consistent in her effort to be the very best version of herself.
Her health is more important than the “fun” of drinking
Related to the concept of being able to stay focused, not drinking allows her just to have great health overall.
As someone who has been a great performer for some time and who still tours to this day, the importance of her physical fitness has been something Jennifer has focused on for some time.
To be able to endure the grueling schedule that comes with touring and still give the quality of performance that she desires, being alcohol conscious is a big part of that.
It also helps with making her feel great every day and is a part of a lifestyle that is geared completely towards doing things that maximize this aspect of her life.
“I love the way working out makes me feel, so I try to keep my body hydrated and well rested after every workout…I fuel my body with healthy foods and I make it a priority to get eight hours’ sleep a night.”
For her, maintaining her physical health is an important aspect of her everyday life to ensure she is getting the most out of herself, and she refuses to allow others to affect this commitment, a fact that is evident from an Instagram post she shared of her sister trying to convince her otherwise.
Aging gracefully and drinking just don’t mix
While her health is important and the demand of her extremely busy lifestyle doesn’t really allow for it, the number one reason that Jennifer Lopez has always abstained from drinking relates to….you guessed it.
Her beauty and desire to maintain it for as long as possible.
WHhile working out and getting great sleep are all elements of what one must do to maintain a healthy physical and mental balance, J.Lo will admit that the true impetus for her living such a “pure” lifestyle is more related to how she looks than anything else.
“I don’t drink or smoke or have caffeine…That really wrecks your skin as you get older.”
She’s trying to keep that beauty line selling for as long as possible, right?
For Jennifer, understanding the importance of her maintaining her youthful look was paramount in her decision not to drink at a young age, and it has paid off quite nicely (looks wise and financially) with the results she is currently enjoying.
“I’ve taken care of myself, and now it shows,” she told InStyle magazine in 2020.
And while I don’t think most of us can expect to look as amazing as J.Lo does at 53, there’s no reason we can’t be inspired by Jenny from the Block and damn well try.