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19. Gina Lariccia – 65

Walking Her Shoes Off

For Gina Lariccia, walking is the best therapy.

As her work week draws to a close, the 65-year-old contacts her “girl gang” to discuss where they want to go hiking. Whether it’s at the Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles Regional Park in Sainte-Béatrix, or Mont du Calvaire in Oka, or somewhere else, she knows she’ll have fun.

“For me, it’s a way to get away. There are lots of hills, but I love it. I advise people to start off by walking just 15 minutes, and then gradually do more. Walking makes you feel so good, especially in the woods.”

Gina Lariccia and her group of friends want to go on a trip soon to a country with great hiking opportunities. Not an organized trip, she says, but a trip where they will plan their own itinerary by train and bus. Being of Italian origin, she would love to go to Sicily, but she is also interested in Greece. When she retires, she hopes to be able to travel as often as possible.

Gina Lariccia says that people often think she is about 10 years younger than her real age. She attributes her youthfulness to her mother’s genes and the fact that she was a gymnast as a child.

“People are amazed when I do somersaults. Let’s just say I don’t move like a 65 year old woman.”

Her strength comes from her ultra positive approach.

“It’s a cliché, but I believe in taking one day at a time, choosing what you want to do ahead of time and putting it into action. I make lists and then I accomplish all the tasks I’ve set myself. I am learning to excel, even at my age.

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