Freedom in being this age

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Peggy,   Age 69

I have been reading your book and feel sad for so many that feel their life is over.  I still work 10 hour days as an OB nurse.  Yes I go home tired but so do my much younger coworkers who have children to take care of.  My boyfriend of ten years and I go country dancing every weekend and we are not the oldest by far.  Several are in their 90’s.  Do we have achey hips, knees?  Sure but we forget because we are having fun.  I go to the gym or walk 5 miles 3-5 days a week.  Do I like looking in the mirror?  It’s an adjustment that’s for sure but some women look worse and some look better.  But my friends and I laugh and joke about how are bodies have changed.  I feel a certain freedom in being my age.  I no longer care what people think.  I hope I embrace 70’s all the way to 80

Posted in 70candles, Goals ahead, Gratitude and Spirituality, HUMOR, Looking ahead, Our bodies, our health, Resilience, Share your story, Work life and retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moved to Maui

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Blog Mavens

 

 

Ronnee,  Age just 73
Although stories can start at the beginning (birth) mine will start 6 years ago when my husband got sick. No need for details but he died and I looked around and wondered why I was staying in Boston.
I had 2 great teaching jobs but really nothing else. So the year I turned 70 I took a little trip that included Hawaii.
My step son had lived there for over 15 years and he and his wife were so excited about me moving there.
So I went home with a list of what I had to do so I could move the following year.
Again I won’t bore you with the entire list but the first 4 were: job, income and money, health insurance and subletting my rental appt.
just like a pile of dominos EVERYTHING worked, health insurance did put up a few kinks.
Just Quickly: I moved and am living on maui now.
I also made a list of at least 20 things I could do when I moved (so I wouldn’t be bored). As some of your bloggers wrote I was always on the go. a strange thing has happened–I am very comfortable doing very little as long as my brain can stay active. I still feel guilty about this (Jewish Guilt)
I’ll write soon about the difficulties of finding friends.

Posted in 70candles, Family matters, Finances, Resilience, Traveling, Where to live | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Feeling sad

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Carol,  Almost 70
My name is Carol and I live in upstate New York.  I will be turning 70 June 3rd.  I am bothered by it as I know I do not have a big future anymore.  I am doing a lot of deep thinking and am fearful of all the negative things I have to face at my age.

I am the youngest of three sisters who were always very tight and when I lost my middle sister right on my birthday four years ago it was devastating to me.  My oldest sister is ailing and is 78 years old so my future is staring me in the face every day when I see her.  My husband is a smoker and he also turned 70 in April and refuses to quit.  Always saying “We all have to die of something.”  So I have a terrible fear of losing him because he has been my rock for 34 years and loves me dearly.  I only have one daughter who is turning 50 on Sunday and a mother of a six year old, who is her first and only child.  My granddaughter takes up all of my daughter’s free time so I don’t get to see her often. She had her at 43 so she is her whole life and has very little time for me.

I feel big changes in my memory, my ability to articulate, and seem to not have much motivation.  I want to do so many things but it takes a lot for me to push myself to get started.  I have many interests, hobbies friends, and have faith in God so all of that does help but my problem seems to be believing and living what I know.  In other words I don’t feel positive about much of anything .

I know I am not depressed because I don’t have many of the seven signs and I still push forward daily, take care of myself, my home, my pets, cook for hubby every night but I feel sad allot of the time.  I see the changes in my face and it bothers me as makeup doesn’t seem to do it for me anymore.  I was always told I don’t look my age but I have noticed lately I finally am looking old.  I do not want stay in this place but my sadness seems to linger on.  I am still healthy and have many blessing to be grateful for but still sad.  Alas

Posted in 70candles, About turning 70, Family matters, Our bodies, our health | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Not so uplifting or pleasant

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Anonymous,  Age 86
Are you interested in the story and comments of an 87-year-old (who retired from her job at 85)?

What if the things I told you were not as uplifting or pleasant as you would like?  For example, I might tell you about women romantic rivals who used my age against me.  Or doctors that are obviously bored with an older woman’s “trivial” symptoms.  How hard it is to make new friends or meet new lovers at 87.  What regrets I have, what I do not regret.

I am dealing quite well, I think, with things like this but would like to know how other women are sorting them out.

Posted in 70 from other perspectives: looking forward and looking back, 70candles, Ageism anecdotes, Work life and retirement | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Emerging from winter snows

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Susan,  Age 77

I enjoy everyone’s comments…they enrich my vision of myself.  I live in the Colorado mountains and we are just emerging from the winter snows.  Living in a resort is very beautiful but in the winter our lives are limited to snow related events.  I have taught myself to use every type the technology that is available.  I have iPads and iPhones and I watches and electronic books and Netflix etc. etc. etc.  I have come to love these sources of entertainment.  I also have Sirius so that I can listen to NPR and Potus and the BBC.  It’s quite a rich life though I wish I had lots of friends like when one is in college or when you have small children.

 

 

Posted in 70 from other perspectives: looking forward and looking back, Share your story, Technology and contemporary culture, Where to live | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reclaiming elderhood

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Lisbet,  Age 69
I’m thrilled to know about your blog!
I work in a part-time position as Development Director/Community Liaison for www.NeighborsWhoCare.net, a small nonprofit who cares for impoverished elders who still live at home but are isolated, lonely and often depressed. They have fallen through the cracks for social services. That’s how I came upon this blog.

Trained in opera, theatre and dance, I’m a performance artist, writer, teacher of sacred circle dance, practitioner of Zen Shiatsu and Heart Mind Integration Healing (ww.HMIHealing.com), Lover of Life.

Born to a family of wizards, my grandfather was an “American illustrator” who painted glorious canvasses for Saturday Evening Post, among others. My brother was a classical dancer. My dad a hardware salesman. My Mom, now 97 with early stage Alzheimer’s and a live-in caregiver, a Mom.

My son is a 27-year-old Indigo, becoming a Crystal. He has his own wisdom, but he is not yet an elder. I told him early on that he was from a family of wizards; that the muggles would not understand his passionate, outside-the-box nature. He graduates from college in 2 days. He’s jittery, excited, contemplative, wise.

It has long been my contention that we “older people” should be called “Elders,” as in “tribal” or “of the church,” people with experience, knowledge, wisdom, love and compassion to share. “If you call me elderly, I’ll take away your library card!” is my favorite line for making the point.

I feel we need to change the paradigm of eldership.
Stephen Jenkinson does too. He has written “Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul” for death-phobic North America. He runs his Orphan Wisdom School with his wife. They are Canadians.
(www.orphanwisdom.com/shop/die-wise/).

And I will be attending his upcoming 4-day workshop:
“OLD TIME: Learning Elderhood” ~ Rowe Camp & Conference Center
June 9 @ 6:00 pm – June 12 @ 12:00 pm
The Rowe Center, 22 Kings Hwy, Rowe, MA 01367 United States
“Getting older is inevitable. Getting to be an elder is not.”

It’s time we reclaimed elderhood!! Yes, I’m feeling aches and like the tin man, want some oil for my joints. Yes, I gained 8.4 pounds on a 10-day spiritual Ireland tour led by a magnificent spiritual elder who’s spry and was jumping over fences to lead us past cow pastures to sacred Druid sites.
Yes, I’m having the best physical pleasure I have ever had in my life.
Yes, yes, yes! I “flourish” and see the glass as half full. Oh yes, I am “living peace into being” as Thich Nhat Hanh, celebrity Vietnamese Buddhist monk who just suffered a brain aneurism exhorts us to do, through “engaged Buddhism.” We have so much to give and experience and live.

And as Barbara Marx Hubbard says, because of the planetary shift in 2012 we are evolving as a human race. I feel so very blessed to be alive at this moment in time!

Blessed be,
Lisbet

Posted in 70candles, About turning 70, Family matters, Goals ahead, Gratitude and Spirituality, Looking ahead, Our bodies, our health, Resilience, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A change of heart

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Anonymous,  Age 70
I am almost 71, but sadly, can’t say the number out loud. My story might seem to be a sad one, having lost my mother to cancer when she was only 45 and I was 16. My parents were divorced and my step mother wouldn’t take me in so I finished high living with a good friends family. Less than a loving real family, but I went on to college two years later. Didn’t graduate but met a lovely guy who wanted to marry me, so of course I said yes! Everything was good for long enough two have two beautiful boys, two years apart. When they were five and three I was diagnosed with MS and my world started unraveling. I was working in Human Resources for four years when I realized my marriage was not giving me enough love and affection so I fell head over heels in love with a younger co-worker. Of course with no family guidance I asked my very stable but unaffectionate husband for a divorce out of left field. With my family fractured I continued to date my young affectionate boyfriend for three fun years while sharing custody with my ex husband.

Fast forward to being married for 31 years to the younger less stable man who has had affairs, lost almost every job, but for some reason I stay with. I never thought I would live to be 70 which I think factored into all my immature decisions. Now my two sons are 43 and 41. They both became lawyers, got married to sweet southern girls and have given two grandchildren. A boy and a girl from each.

This is where my story gets so happy. I love my grandchildren beyond belief. They have brought me the family I never had and a real reason to live as long as possible. Because of my MS I do not exercise like I should and stay with a husband who really doesn’t deserve me. But yet I can honestly say I am a happier than ever, nicer to everyone than ever and wiser than ever. If I could go back 35 years to rewrite my life, I’m not sure I would. So come on 71, 72, and beyond. It’s a wonderful age!

Posted in 70 from other perspectives: looking forward and looking back, 70candles, Family matters, Looking ahead, Our bodies, our health, Share your story | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Personal growth and transformation

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Mary Lou,  Age 74

Hi Jane and Ellen,

Since I turned 70 there has been a lot of personal growth and tranformation in my life. Up until the age of 70 I was working part-time in an exciting environment as a sales associate at Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson. I had retired here from the Metropolitan area in 2006 and wanted to continue working on a part-time basis. I’ve had good health and it seemed that I had lots of good years ahead.
Just as I was about to turn 70, my youngest son invited me to spend Christmas in Arabia with his family as they had moved to the UAE with the Teach Away Program. I jumped at the chance for a trip of my lifetime. At the time I was beginning to have mobility problems caused by back pain and the orthopedist gave me a cortizone injection so I could fully enjoy the experience. It was an amazing trip!

When I returned home the pain progressed to needing back surgery. The problem wasn’t solved with just the back surgery so I had to go back for a hip replacement in early 2014.

These two surgeries served as a wake-up call that made me realize that life is short and there are no guarantees. Time to do the things I’ve always wanted to try. Another son and his wife traveled with me to Ireland for the most amazing trip back to my heritage land. I had begun art journaling while recovering from the two surgeries and created a watercolor journal of my experiences there. I learned, in my seventies, that I’m a pretty good artist! Another Grandma Moses!!

Another joy and passion I’ve had was to write. There’s was little time to fit writing in when I was raising my family and working a full-time job later in life. It was now or never so I started seriously tackling my story/memoir which I had begun back in the 90’s. I’ve also started a blog and am building a wonderful supportive blogging community (70Candles included). My blog can be reached through www.meinthemiddlewrites.com

Turning 70 has filled me with a zest for life and a desire to experience as much as I can within the ability that I’m able to. I walk a mile a day at least 3 to 4 times a week and try to stay active and connected to my community. I’m volunteering with the local board of aging doing data-entry for the insurance counseling program and also with the local hospital in the gift shop. In many ways I feel free to pursue whatever makes me happy. We’ve spent our lives doing for others and building up some stability and security in our lives. Now it’s time to coast and enjoy the view.

Thanks for this great blog as a vehicle to share a bit of our stories.

Posted in 70candles, About turning 70, Family matters, Goals ahead, Looking ahead, Our bodies, our health, Resilience, Share your story, Traveling, Work life and retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My comments about coping in the 70’s

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Rosanne,  Age 74

Although I think of myself as a positive-minded woman! I must admit, now that I am well into my 70’s (74-this past month) it’s getting much more difficult to stay positive at all times. Although I am in excellent health, walking at least 35 minutes 4-5 times per week and am told I do NOT look my age, there are tough times trying to deal with this aging process. I know younger people want to be helpful to “we the elderly” but it’s painfully difficult when we get that pathetic look from them (interpretation—you poor old lady) when reaching for something at the grocery store,etc. I have mixed emotions…thankful for the concern, but indignant because I am still capable of doing most things for myself.

I know age is all in the mind and although I think of myself as much younger than my actual/physical age, the reality is………………..once one passes that magical age of 70 it’s problematic not only for the aging person, but for the people around them who care deeply for them. Seeing us age, almost before their eyes is FULL of emotions that we rarely touch upon. I am blessed beyond words in so many ways and am much more fortunate than many people much younger than I am….however, this aging process is NOT for sissies or the faint of heart.

If I can help in anyway, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Most Sincerely,
Rosanne B. Odum

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I LOVE aging!

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Blog Mavens

Mary,  Age 70

My name is Mary, almost 71 at summer’s end and am a California (Santa Monica) transplant to Boston since 2009. I’m grateful for many, many things but one in particular is having been brought up in CA with the culture of healthy living, exercise, nutrition, self-development and all that goes with “the beautiful” people. Folks, it’s one big Hollywood but if one chooses to concentrate (as I did) on the positive of the “La-La Land” culture (while keeping your head on your shoulders and staying grounded) this mind set pays of huge DIVIDENDS – as in my case.

Like most of my sisters out there, I have had my share of challenges both professionally and personally but like a horse with blinders on, I have always had that focus and confidence that sports coupled with education gives a woman: power, strength and independence. Above all, a POSITIVE attitude about everything and SELF love that will certainly come in handy in droves during our wonderful twilight years.

I LOVE aging; love it. And, once I accepted the fact that, unlike my girlfriends in CA who can afford at our age to still look fab like Jane Fonda, I’m doing it the old fashioned way and still look damn good: youthful, thin, athletic and well groomed to the best of my ability. I work at it: I love myself.

I have found that ATTITUDE plays a major role in ageing and if we focus on the negative and challenging side of it (health issues) we’ll stay stuck. Like classic cars, our body parts have begun to wear out so we deal with them the best we can – and move on. We do our best; that’s all we can do. But what we put in our head and hearts, the influences in our lives (toxic people), what we read, watch or listen to has EVERYTHING to do with it. This is my secret:

1) Count your blessings; 2) Exercise 3) Eat healthfully or pay the consequences 4) Concentrate on the GOOD in your life; 5) Seek out people who think like you and stay away from downers 6) READ all the great stuff on ageing and spiritualism – not necessarily religion

Above all, if depression plagues you, get help. Moving your body, for starters, will get those endorphins going but if you need motivation, please seek it. It’s imperative we make the most of every moment and our attitude, focus and commitment to OURSELVES is our only solution. Above all, LOVE yourself and don’t be a victim; just do your best because that’s what you are – the BEST!

Posted in 70candles, Goals ahead, Gratitude and Spirituality, Looking ahead, Our bodies, our health, Resilience, Share your story | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment