We’ve been determined to minimize buying new and using recycled “things” as we restore and furnish our new old house. We’ve been doing a good job of it, except for one or two items. In all the new old things we’re purchasing and in our new old house, we find that evidence of attention and good care from the time things are new allows them to age so they remain beautiful and functional. While showing the marks of a long and useful life, I can now distinguish between those items that were believed to live a long time and looked after with that in mind and those whose owners were not thinking about the long term. In our house, we find quick fixes that allowed for a surface appeal but did not shore up or repair what lies below. I’m sorting through my clothes to identify those that are well made and with some mending and care in laundering can be with me a long time.
We find that unlike city living we need a car and Calvin set his mind to find us the very best of a used one and he did. Luxurious and looking brand new on the outside, the internal working parts, and the interior have been treated with care and so Calvin believes the longevity of the car working at top performance is worth our investment. He’s taken on the project of extending its life, and it’s clear in how he maintains it. These experiences make me think much more about what living a long life means. I believe that longevity is not measured in actual years but how long, with attentive servicing, something or someone can function optimally.
If I apply this thinking to myself I’ve spent a good deal of attention to the outside, these past 6 years focusing on what I wear, working at a furious pace, and putting on a good deal of mileage. Our new old car is also 6 but because of judicious use has only 16,000 miles. Unlike the used car we just bought, I’ve not paid good attention to the tune-ups I needed inside to keep my body running well and it was not until I got sick that I could understand how much I have taken this poor body for granted. To me it’s always been a reliable vehicle for transportation and now it’s time for some very focused servicing if I want it to work well for the long road trip of life I hope to take.
There’s so much we know about what things we can do throughout our now extended lifespan to age beautifully, remain functional and vibrant for a long time just like my car and the pieces that have entered my new old home. I’ve been digging into the research and identifying practices and activities that I can incorporate into daily living that will support my desire to love, work and live the fullest and best life I can as I’m heading up the hill to 70. Interestingly, these practices can and should begin while we’re young. I found that unknowingly; I implemented some in my 20s and 30s, which is probably why I’m as feisty as I am today. The best part of what I found though is that it’s never too late to start. So no matter what your age this project is for you.
For many of us, the pandemic has forced us to reckon with how we lived our lives before and how we might want to live them now. It’s been a time of real transition. Now vaccinated, I enter March, a month I consider transitional, in the space between winter and spring. So during this month, I’m going to share what I’ve learned, how I’m applying it in everyday life so I might be ready for my next “what now” even as I do not know what that may be. As I do, I invite you to share the practices, new understandings, and the outlines of your “what now” and of course what you wear as you do them.
So I’m determined to treat my “vehicle” or my new old self as Calvin is caring for our new old car so stay tuned to see what I and other followers are doing to help us love, work, and live life with vitality no matter what your age.
I just found your blog and look forward to following. I too am approaching 70. Sixty-eight at present. Starting March with a new motivation to work on aging well inside and out.
Glad to have you on the journey.
My daughter in law sent me your link. At first, I asked her why did you send this to me. I’m always a bit tentative with Candace as I don’t want to offend her.
Anyway, as an 81 year old male I found your story timely as it represents some of what I’m pondering these days.
I’m blessed with good health and continue to do the fun and fulfilling things I’ve done for years. ( motorcycle riding, bicycling, skiing etc.
Occasionally I’ll step back and ask myself how long can I continue to do these things I love?
Welcome it will be good to have your perspective. The question is a good one and I will give you one back. what can you substitute that is equally exciting, allows you to learn new things, and gives you pleasure?
Looking forward to taking part on your site. I am single, 73 years new and live in British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦
I look forward to following along with your transitional month – such an encouraging mindset.
yes and I have a feeling it will extend far beyond March!
We’re the same age & I have been exercising on & off for a long time, but this pandemic has brought me down & have not been consistent in taking care of myself. Today, March 1st is my START. I do on line videos & use dumbbells. I totally recommend resistant exercises at our young age.. I don’t need to lose weight, just firm up. I can’t wait to see what you wear! Love everything you wear! I normally wear cute leggings with tops & cute techs shoes that blend with my outfit. If you look good, you feel good about exercising.
I’ll soon be sharing about a fitness routine I started during this time too, congratulations on your good practices.
Such a relevant comparison. I just turned 66 and retired. Now, as you said, it’s time to focus more on the care and tune ups needed!
I’m a long time fan of yours and look forward to many more years of enjoying your posts and pictures!
Thank you!
My name is Debbie, too and I am 66 and just retired, too. I am looking forward to these ‘aging the best we can on the inside and outside’ conversations.
Me too! The followers on this page are very wise.
I turned 60 in January under a full wolf moon and in the Chinese New Year of my sign of the metal ox. I too am hopeful and energized and opening up as we transition into a better way of being. Happy to follow your journey and wishing you all the best.
Glad for the company
I turn 70 this year. I’m attracted to your vibrant, silver mane of hair whether long or short; even more so than for your outfits. I must ponytail mine. With Fibromyalgia fatigue, I ride a 3 wheeler electric bike first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot in Orlando, Fl. I’m toast the rest of the day anyway, but a little less so. Every day is a decision for transformation to begin; for a new outlook and new beginning for a new day and be glad in it. I love that your posts reflect this philosophy.
Thank you, every day indeed we have a multitude of choices.
my next “what now” is publishing the book I wrote during my first lockdown. It’s about how I woke up and what I thought. I love your blog…… and missed it when you retreated for a while. Thank you!!!
Please share it when it’s published, congratulations
I do agree with you. Having worked at a furious pace in real estate for 40 years I have decided it’s time to heal my soul with painting, dance, and care for my own “new old”body. It’s a strange feeling but one I hope I can grow into. Onward with living a full and abundant life!!
Congratulations on your new practice.
Thank you for this lovely message on the first day of March. One more vaccine until I can say “fully vaccinated” during this transition time and I can honestly say I am struggling to find my path and purpose. A wife, mother, mimi and semi-retired, I am plodding along in my AZ winter home, needing to push reset. After nearly 12 months of living in a dream-like state, the time is now, to move forward with a plan. I am very anxious to join in your journey.
Glad to have you!
I have exercised daily for years. My mail goal was to improve my posture. Long periods of working on a laptop and grading papers had given me forward head posture. After two plus years of massage and pilates I now have beautiful posture. It gives me so much confidence.
Now I have started daily strength training. I am amazed at how well my saggy lower body is responding. Firmer core and leg muscles motivate me to continue. At age 78 I love to exercise.
Your awareness around posture – how I love this – so often overlooked, so layered in its values and vitality for health, morale, self-respect, dignity, strength. Approaching my seventy-fifth bd, and though my face is beautifully etched with the life of a desert woman, and though my frame is slight, and though the battery needs regular recharging with brief resting, the spine is straight and strong, as is my spirit!
In addition, I discovered that in moments of forgetfulness, as when driving, straightening my spine makes all the inner organs rejoice.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for the emphasis on keeping our spines straight and ways to do it.
Good for the body and we now know prevents dementia as well.
The pandemic forced me to stay home and allowed me to spend quality time each week with my aging parents (86 and 88) who are now experiencing serious health issues. I’ve explored outdoor activities closer to home. I purchased my first home as a single homeowner and have enjoyed making it true to me by displaying photos from my travels. During my annual Jan skin check my dermatologist discovered a 1/4” malignant melanoma that resulted in a 4” incision in order to remove it totally and be cancer free. Please add sunscreen and annual whole body skin checks to your self maintenance.
Already do but thanks for emphasizing the importance of this especially for those of us who used sun reflectors and baby oil in the 60’s and early 70’s
Looking forward to what people post on this vibrant topic. For myself I rely on eating whole organic foods as much as possible. I feel that the wellbeing of my body is my responsibility. I stay informed about the importance of vitamin D, C and quit eating meat quite a while ago. I walk, garden or do yoga daily. Traveling has had a profound influence on my life and it balances my perspective to spend a quarter of the year living more simply. This year by default I came to Mexico and enjoyed my time living in close proximity to the Mayan community. Attending to body, heart and mind consciously seems critical at this time.
Multiple pearls of wisdom here.
With you all the way…. didn’t have the wisdom in earlier years but have discovered self-care to be of optimal importance if I’m to function well, with energy and contribute something worth-while to the significant others that share this life with me. Meditation every morning, a testing yoga practice follows, sometimes cold showers, sound, interesting nutrition and an interest in everything. No boundaries, no limits either self-imposed or otherwise and definitely no embarressment. So much happier, contented and luxuriating in life.
Never too late to start a new practice.
I love the concept of caring and tending for ourselves, our homes, our cars, our clothes with the objective being longevity.
This is something that has been on my mind during the pandemic, making things last, in particular my clothing. I’ve been researching how to repair clothing and I even got an old darning egg that belonged to my grandmother. I want to learn the lost arts of maintenance and repair of the material things, but also the newer discoveries about how to keep our bodies in good working condition.
You have me thinking… I can’t wait to read more from you on this topic.
Can’t wait to hear more from you too!
I would describe myself as someone who does take care of my body – exercise, good diet, mindful of monitoring stress levels but when I turned 65 in 2019 I ramped up my daily routine on a number of fronts which have rewarded me in so many ways it would take volumes to list them all. IF, daily AM And PM stretch/strengthening exercise, skin care routines and daily meditation practice have all been well worth the time and effort invested. I’m brighter, more flexible and suffer far less inflammation than I had 10 years ago. I’m looking forward to reading what you and others are doing as well to live an even richer life than ever into their ’60’s and ’70’s! Always love your posts thank you for taking the time to write them and include pics 🙂
Please work on a self care regimen. I have been doing so most of my life but still have health problems. Namely my back and just as covid hit I incurred the worst case Of sciatica I ever had and it took months to recover enough to start exercising again. I hate to think of the state I’d be in if I didn’t take of myself all those decades. I’m not 100% but working on it. Be religious about self care. Your body will thank you.
Sage advice.
Thank you, we indeed have a wealth of knowledge and inspiration in this community.
In bed for several months with just a little physical therapy for exercise after a major operation and trying to find something “different” to read outside of the usual closet pulling reflections. This was great. 66 and still finding out who I am at this stage of life
as I imagine we all are…and things have certainly changed everywhere during the pandemic. Priorities. Needs. The attitudes with which we adjust to change as we grow hopefully wiser. And beautifully older. Good writing…I’m so tired of so much fluff out there that this was a refreshing change. Just found blog, will follow.
Thank you and welcome Janice, I think this is a pretty realistic place to ask questions about how to be old.
Hello,
I am curious to know if you read Andre Leon Talley’s recent memoir “In the Chiffon Trenches” , and what you thought of it. I just finished reading it and was initially attracted to it because, being 71, I remember all the designers and the articles in Vogue which I read every month. I’ll never forget walking into a dinner party in Paris in 1975/6? And being greeted by the hostess who was dressed head to toe in St. Laurent’s rich Russian peasant ensemble! Fashion was so much more exciting then, not to mention better constructed. And , remember Ohrbach’s? I loved popping in there.
Enjoy the arrival of Spring. The Hudson Valley is warming up!
Regards,
Louise Baudoin
The book is on my reading list but have not got to it yet. It seems the poor man is being evicted from his home right now.
Lovely! I feel like I am at a similar point in my life and found this essay very inspirational. Thank you
Glad it was.
Great thinking I’ve been buying used my whole life. I either make it, buy used,or do without.
A good rule to live by.
I often think of the old saying, “If I’d known I would live to be this old, I would’ve taken better care of myself.” And this is a saying I’ve come up with myself: “I wasn’t always OLD, FAT AND UGLY,” to which, of course, you hope the other person pipes in and says, “You’re not fat or ugly.” (I’m 80.)
That’s such an important comment. Because of stereotypes about age that are no longer relevant we scare young people away from thinking about it when we now know that preparing for healthy aging should begin at a very young age. We also know it’s never too late to start new and healthful proactices.
LOVE this idea! Look forward to more …
Stay tuned!
With the recent loss of our dad at age 85 it surely gives me pause at age 66. I have considered his age to be young, and am hit with the realization that it is and I’m not ready. It merely means I need to keep up my pace and not get slack. Staying mobile and living each day to the fullest will give me confidence to know I gave it my all in hopes it won’t be cut short. We are not promised the next 20 years, much less the next 20 min. Keep on keeping on …
So true we can only try to be the best we can be for as long as we can.
Well said. Now would you please convince my 25-year-old daughter that having a dentist, a doctor, and an optometrist is a great way of caring for herself? I can’t push too hard because she is a lot like her mother.
My heart always does a quick cartwheel when I see a post from you in my inbox! Thank you for your thoughtful reflections and perspectives, AND for sharing them!
Thank you!
This is an absolutely fabulous post.
Thank you!
Isaiah 40:30-31
New International Version
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men(A) stumble and fall;(B)
31 but those who hope(C) in the Lord
will renew their strength.(D)
They will soar on wings like eagles;(E)
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Amen !!!
Powerful verses, helped me a lot to go through a burn-out!
Perfect, thank you.
good read .. thanks! i always thought most people take better care of their cars than their bodies — refusing periodic medical check-ups and such, but never miss an oil change.
i’m pushing my old heap uphill at 66. my mother passed at 66 so i find it challenging in a variety of ways. i find myself more aware of self-care and tell myself i must do it in honor of mom …. her love for me.
thanks AC!
My father had a stroke at age 56 and when I turned that age I was terrified. But his experience made me implement major lifestyle changes since then and I have a belief (based on research) that genetics is a factor but one that with the right practices can be mitigated.
Here in South Africa, being sustainable is new to my family, but when both my sons turned vegan about 3 years ago, I started looking at things differently! Still struggling but also trying very hard to not buy new clothes and when I do stick to my rule of only buying quality!
I look at food differently and lock down made me realize we have to look at the world completely different.
So I re-use, add new buttons and do the trifting thing…At the end of March me and my friends will have a thrift swop teaparty! Looking forward to that…old does not necessarily be bad! Enjoy your new/old house and car! Luv what you are doing and you always look so stylish! Xx
I love that! A thrift swap tea party!
Thank you for your gentle reminder about life, our relation to it, and our responsibility for how we age, hopefully, gracefully yet with vitality. I notice that as I age I cannot skip stretching my body if I want to avoid pain (I am 76). If I want to be centered and be more responsive rather than reactive, I need to do my spiritual practice, have compassion and love for myself, and of course have a sense of humor. I do miss “dressing up” during this time of quarantine, but I also have had my vaccines, and hopefully we can begin to gather a little more if we follow the guidelines. Gratefully, I still work part-time as a psychotherapist so I am connected to a wider community and get to serve in that way. Remembering to have gratitude for the special moments and just allowing awe to be part of life is a grace I hope for everyone.
So many elements of a good older life contained in your post, thank you.
I totally agree with you on purchases. I have always supported long-term purchases, sustainability in other words and that is now paying off, quality has always been one of my greatest requirements for both furniture and clothing and that makes it exciting to connect the old with the new and there indicate a personal touch then you are unique !!!
Actually finding and purchasing becomes a richer experience as well as how you feel when you look at them in your home, they are special.
I am finding more and more of my friends in our demographic have these same beliefs. We age better with a better health and well-being maintenance plan. Some have done too much damage themselves and some have the unfortunate inherited gene which causes them health problems. HOWEVER, we persevere on to get ourselves in better shape and keep these bodies ticking as long as possible.
As for reduce, reuse, recycle – we are all doing our part to reduce that carbon footprint and make the world a better place for future generations.
THANKS for this uplifting and inspiring piece.
Thank you. I think the women in our generation are actually shattering the stereotypes that aging automatically means you will be frail and dependent, useless, unfashionable, lose your mind and be alone. Unfortunately, we need to let designers and mainstream media in on the secret.
I just devoured the book Longevity by Cameron Diaz it is well researched, thoughtful, helpful-at 5 years old, a good new old book about women’s health and aging It was a loaner, but I immediately bought used copies for $8 each on eBay for all my gal friends. I’m 68, but feeling 48 and vital
Thanks, for the recommendation I’ll have to order it.
Oh, I hardly can wait what will be the shared wisdom for the “old vehicle” . I have been calling myself a old car as well. Luckily, the good lifestyle I had led for many years had not required many new parts or major “reconstruction”: except a metal piece in a broken arm (oh Mexican sidewalks with a forgotten metal screw surprising you with a fall …), and some crowns in my teeth . I love your word calling yourself feisty. You do look like a 20 years old girl!
We have a whole community of wise and diverse women here so the advice will be forthcoming from many diretions.
The analogy of the “well cared for car” and your own aging process was perfect. And, oh so true. But, more important was your decision to change! Change is always the catalyst for new in our lives. You have evaluated your surroundings, your interior landscape, and your possessions and are moving forward in positive directions is inspiring for all of us….Gracias xok
I have always been committed to learning new things and changing which actually supports brain health and had led to me being as feisty as I am right now!
You are bringing some good points to light. As they say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, and if anything the pandemic is teaching us this lesson. Let’s hope we glean a bit of knowledge from it. I have in the last 10 years or so, as a lot of the planet has taken on more awareness, tried to pay more attention to how I move in the world, what kind of footprint I am leaving and trying to match my actions to those concerns. So yeah use and care of items that we are entrusted with I think it’s a good place to start. Use what you have and don’t need too much but take care of what you do have. Hopefully that will make life a little easier for all of us on the planet. Interested to hear your discoveries along the way.
And to me these finds are also so much more unique and special.
At 70, and as a relative latecomer to the party, I have embraced yoga, pilates and the 5 tibetan postures. I do a combination of these and a weight bearing workout every morning during the week, allowing myself the lazy luxury of the weekend off. Combined with a largely meat free diet, I can say that I’ve never felt fitter or stronger. I have 2 hip replacements and a metal plate in my ankle and toe, but none of these are a reason not to work out.
I so agree and my new mantra is never too early and never too late to commit to an aspirational plan for how you want to age.
love this article…so important to address…..so smart
Thanks!
Very pleased to have you back!
I’m looking forward to hearing any thoughts about moving in the the next phase of life experiencing health, love, and beauty.
That’s all on the agenda for March and beyond.
I appreciate you and your voice. Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words.
Spot on. Consumerism is exhausting & meant to keep you hooked on buying ‘stuff’to look current (?)
often to your financial detriment.
The share about taking car analogy
hit home as I too ran me into the ground but maintained outward appearances. Not worth it…just bought a used run around used vehicle, already 70, want more mileage from it & me, mom. Thanks for the reflections & opportunities
I agree, now consumerism seems to be roaring back and many of the promises made, at least in fashion at the beginning of the pandemic are being broken. But there are still many of us who just can’t go back to the way it was.
March is the perfect month for looking forward while keeping what you have learned during the winter months. I imagine the earth around me opening up, thawing, and bringing with it a brand new landscape; a feast for our eyes and hearts. I long to see the crocus’ bloom, yet delight in their slow rise from slumber.
Comfortable. comforted. peaceful. delightful.
Lovely words.
What an inspiration you are and have been.
It is true, it is never too late to do better in taking care of our selves and hopefully be giving back to our world longer.
Never too early and never too late to have an aspirational view of how you wish to age.
I always enjoy your take on the issue of aging/living. I am 82 and enjoying good health and a nice lifestyle. During the pandemic I moved into an acquaintance’s guest house (my Enchanted Cottage), liquidated my lifetime possessions (including more sterling silver picture frames and dining pieces than one person should acquire), put my self designed home of 43 years on the market, and learned how liberating it is to live a simpler life. I have enjoyed a “situational relationship” with my landlord that has made living through a pandemic palatable. My bubble has included those people meaningful to him and to me. I’ve reintroduced tennis in my life. Minimally! I rally with friends but won’t be a tournament player. But it feels exhilarating on the court. I walk minimally 2-1/2 miles a day but, most often between 4 and 5 miles a day. Again, exhilarating. I feel like Barbie cooking for us on my hot plate or in my “easy bake oven” (toaster oven). It’s become fun. Ultimately, my life is on an upward trajectory. A widow for the past 11 years, my life has been good but recently I feel I’ve entered a new phase and one that makes me feel I have been given a second chance at living my 17th summer! Life is good.
Your post gave me huge amounts of joy. I am so happy for you.
I will be 80 in 3 days and I always expected a grand celebration. Instead I came down with a rare illness needing Prednisone in high doses to save my eyesight and have developed Cushing syndrome with all the accompanying weight gain. The past 5 months have been hell on my body and I am looking forward to the day when I can once again be my old self, although in a new form. I want to be slim again and wear real clothes that make me feel good. I look forward to your blogs. In the meantime I wear my husband’s old shirts and cover my face with a mask and am grateful for the Covid isolation since a bad body can be really embarrassing to one who had maintained a good one for 79 years. I have so much more empathy now for sick people. 70 is soooo young to me. It was a decade ago.
Sounds like you have the will to recover and a vision of what that can look like. Cheering for you.
I turned 80 during the pandemic and this time of staying inhas given me time to reflect on this stage of life recognizing what is important and how to maximize those things. I am finding joy in the simplicity of being home with my husband of 57 years and engaging with friends via zoom and even doing virtual volunteer work (mentoring). Taking care of myself is a key part of this.
I’m glad you mentioned volunteering as that is also something that emerges in the literature around longevity. I’m going to explore that topic soon.
Yes, taking care of ourselves is important too! Like your longer hair.
Thank I find the longer hair suiting my current mood quite well.
Excellent article full of insight, wisdom and self awareness. I am going to adjust my thinking about aging and embrace my “new old” as an adventure and a new freedom.
Thank you, I’m taking on the topic as my next big adventure!
I’ve been thinking of you and wondering how you are. For body care investigate gut bacteria. Resistant starches. Amazing. This could be the start of eating, dining, medicating and farming differently.
So glad to hear from you.
Since having c-diff I have been obsessed with gut bacteria, changed my entire way of eating, and benefits in multiple areas have rained down.
Beautifully said. There are times we have to let go of things that no longer serve us. (items, ideas, etc) If we have loved something that served us well but it no longer brings us joy, send it off to the next person to get as much enjoyment as we have.
Same goes with an old routine – if it’s no longer working – reimagine it and execute. You can’t get it wrong – life is all about the journey the mini destinations and lessons along the way. Cheers!
Beautifully stated.
Hi!!! I am so happy to hear from you,! for a while, I thought you’d given up on us. I can imagine how you must be adjusting to a new life and lifestyle, also taking into consideration how your fashion ‘style’
will fit into all of these
new changes. Yes, My Dear, there have been a lot of adjustments due to this pandemic, some (believe it or not) good, some well….
Keep up the good writing! I look forward to reading your wonderful, inspiring articles. You have fashion and living the good life for us ‘babes’ down patent! There are too few uplifting characters like you around these days!
I’m blushing right now but thank you and I’ll keep on trying to inspire!
I love your thoughts and observations on keeping older items in good working order so they can continue in use throwaway culture is so wasteful and it is heartening to see change happening in the way people are acting and thinking about stuff and realising how little they
Actually need once they have life’s essentials for
Day to day living I love your analogy with the upkeep if the body to prolong its use with an item such as a new to you older car
Thank you. So much of living is good for you if you keep thing about people, the planet, and the community. These actions result in benefits for us at the same time.
Your blog is always so inspirational and I love your honesty. I’m a few years into my early 70s, but reading your wisdom makes me feel hopeful that aging can still be done gracefully and healthy. Thank you. As a fellow writer, I count your blog as one worth reading.
Thank you for that compliment, made my day. I found in the research it’s never too early or too late to start thinking about planning an aspirational aging experience.
Congratulations for thinking about new vs old…. it’s very liberating!!
Indeed it is!
What a beautiful journey….
Glad to have you be part of it.
I am so very curious as to the make of the car. It is beautiful. Is it navy?
Also, I did not know you were ever ill.
I do believe illness has a way of awakening us to so many realities in our lives. I am 68, have faced a serious illness and am still alive.
My feelings about just about everything including things and people have changed so much.
I enjoy your posts.
Thank you! Our car is an Audi A4. I look forward to hearing more about the change in feelings you experienced during this time.
i love this post! firstly…i own a 1998 automobile that was purchased new, back in the day! and live in a 1938 house. for myself, my body, i just started a yoga practice/habit. i never go to bed without caring for my skin. i swear by collagen powder in my black coffee. i’m so looking forward to your continued new/old posts. thanks for all.
When do you get collagen powder? I have a muscle tone problem.
I think I want to try the collagen powder, also started a daily yoga practice, it’s amazing.
Lucky you, and I hope your husband for getting vaccinated, already. I, on the other hand, am still waiting, as we just got a Fema center opened at the local National Guard, but there’s still a large number of people from the first group in my area who have not yet gotten vaccinated. My doctor told me I can wait a bit, since I am healthy, even though I qualify by age alone to be in the first group. I have this thing about not wanting to wait in a line outside when I have an appointment. I congratulate you on realizing that taking care of your body’s needs should always be a priority over everything. Keep staying healthy
Actually, I am going to write an essay soon about how putting all people in a category solely on the basis of their chronological age is ageist and discounts the fact that many people our age are actually healthier than younger ones who may have chronic conditions or are just unhealthy in general. Only 20% of those over 25 have chronic health conditions or are in nursing homes yet all the COVID protocols impacted all 80% of us.
This is such a beautiful post and I so concur with your understanding of longevity. I want quality years, not just more years.
I am in my 70s with a full life. I find I need less and less new stuff – doesn’t always stop me wanting it, but now I tend to buy pre-loved. There’s a special quality about things that have a history and a story to tell… x
@esmeiswearingwell
I completely agree, these things do seem more special.
Another amazing post. I also believe in buying used whenever possible or even borrowing items to minimize clutter or waste. xx
It’s actually quite fun to challenge myself in this way and somehow the objects I choose have so much more meaning than something new.
Wonderful words “new old self” and “ageing and remaining beautiful and functional” – the beauty coming from the inside as our mindfulness reflects outward. The “new old self” going with the changes and not being stuck in the sameness but finding the “new” in yourself. As I reach my 77th birthday it is with surprise, as my preconceived ideas of being 77 do not relate to how I feel now. Letting the silver hair free and growing with a sense of freedom, acknowledging the face with all its crevices, gratitude for the ability to enjoy long walks, sing with others, try new areas of art, time for reflection.
Being in the Southern Hemisphere we are now enjoying the space between summer and autumn. Last week I suddenly had the urge to knit a cropped cardigan. Finding a pattern in the recycle shop for $1 I have transformed a 1980’s pattern to one that is very happy in 2021!!!
Thank you Lyn for the honesty that comes through in your writings – a real pick-me-up receiving them
,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am 67 and can see myself in you ten years on and that is really inspiring.
Great article – thank you. I’ll be 79 next month and am enjoying the heck out of life. I love this era we are going through now with having the “collected” look in our homes, pulling together fashion from things we have that work well together with the new. You are inspiring. Thank you.
Thank you, there are many good things that have come out of this time, I hope we can stick to them.
Hi Lyn,
This pandemic has been bearable for me because I have immersed myself in projects that have stimulated my mind and creativity while allowing me to be so busy that I almost never know what day it is.
I have, for the last 20 years been a ‘maker’ of jewelry. Silversmithing, beading and producing often one of a kind statement necklaces. Once the last of my retailers went under in 2008, I began to concentrate on my second love, ceramics.
With the lockdown, I could only go to my studio co-operative 1-2 times per week so that we could be there alone for obvious reasons.
But back in April 2020, I decided to start a jewelry website. I knew nothing about e-commerce. It was popular among my family & friends but I couldn’t get a handle on building an audience. It wasn’t original enough and my heart wasn’t in the designs.
So now , at the age of 72, I have designed a new collection and am in the midst of re-branding and producing product with the help of a private label company.
It will be a bold line, very architectural in look and feel. I want to bring back the statement look. I am sick of every jewelry website showing the same things. So I am taking a huge leap, and bucking the trends. I hope I make it! It’s a big investment, but I feel it’s now or never.
What an amazing and resilient reinvention story. Hope you’ll continue to share about it here so others can be inspired by your courage. Congratulations!
I can’t wait to see what’s NEXT!!!
Stay tuned!
I love this post; your write so eloquently. I have just got 60 and feel great. My new challenge is writing children’s books about my West Highland Terriers exploits.
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous insight and fashion. ????
What a wonderful project!
Hi Lynn,
Such an interesting topic, close to my own heart. I coach women in their 50’s and older who are adjusting to the changes they see In themselves. Be it aches and pains, menopause, anxiety, insomnia, empty nesters, divorce, aging parents. I believe food to be our first line of defense and our medicine, along with mindfulness, fitness, and any other self care that resonates. I’ll be following your story.
I have an obsession with upstate New York. Life is so much simpler there, which makes me realize how less is more sometimes and having fewer but very special pieces is all we really need. Nature sparks my creativity as well. Stay well
Susan
I certainly hope you’ll feel free to share some pearls of wisdom too as we travel along this journey.
Dear Lyn.
beautiful picture,inspiring essay,thank you much,you are my Icon,Im 61 and ready for a new start,last year I anaylized my life(avantage of lockdown !) and wrote a diary,my focus on “what now”is physical wellbeing ( march-june),afterward ( summertime )social life refreshment and from october to the end of year changes on professional life.My conclusions from the diary (past) will guıide my future life I hope.
Wish you and me the best,canan from izmir,turkey
I love this creative use of journaling.
We certainly do want to stay as healthy as we can as we age.
Also flexibility, mobility and balance are so important to maintain as we start our 7th decade.
Yes I’ll be sharing soon about a fitness program I started that addresses these very critical componants.
I look forward to your sharing the new journey with us.
and I too hearing about yours.
Happy to say that after bit of determination I am able to swim a km at the local pool (yes, it’s summer here in the southern hemisphere). As a result, my muscles feel less tight, my sleep is easier and my breathing stronger and clearer. Hooray for keeping the old car working well.
Swimming is a really great one it’s very easy on the joints. Congratulations!
Each morning when I do my exercises, when I go on the floor, my legs go up in the air and before I do anything else, I look at my feet and admire them. They are the most beautiful feet in the Universe as they have carried me (transported me) for my entire 76 years! My pedicurist also tells me that I have wonderful feet for my age! Hate that phrase… but, it’s true! Each morning I tell them how much I love them. My car is 13 years old and because of perfect care, she’s as good as new!
Well done and good luck with all the renovation and refurbishing inside and out!
Thank you, next time I am doing yoga and my feet are in the air I’ll give them a glance. Definitely take my poor feet for granted.
How enlightening your words are to me. I, too, believe in recycling and do so whenever I can. I love shopping at consignment stores for quality clothes and reusing items around the house in different ways (flower bed ornaments, pot holders for plants, etc.). Last year when this pandemic hit, I developed severe back pain to the point I had difficulty walking. I am 70 years old and up to this point in my life, my health had always been exceptional. So this physical difficulty literally “knocked me off my feet”. I realized that I had always taken my health for granted and decided that if I was going to enjoy my next 20 years of life, that I had to make some healthy changes. I cut back on my sugar intake and immediately lost 12 pounds. I decided to eat healthier and I still have a goal of losing 20 more pounds. As soon as my back heals, I will start walking again. I can’t believe how many times I missed the opportunity to be able to “walk for health” when I had the opportunity to do so. A recent MRI revealed I had a bulging disc. No pain medications, ice and cold packs, or physical therapy has helped me so I have an appointment scheduled with a neurologist. Meanwhile, I have improved but not to the point of being able to go walking again. My health is now my priority in life. I just appreciate still being around to realize this. Thank you again for your words of wisdom. They spoke to my heart.
Sounds like you are on the road to recovery with a powerful lesson learned. You are giving us the lesson too that it is never too late to change or begin a new practice that will enhance the quality of our life.
Beautiful post with so much meaning! Thanks for reminding us about the new old things in life. My 2007 Toyota RAV 4 recently bit the dust and I had to finally admit she was ready for retirement. It was a hard goodbye. My small home on the Texas Gulf Coast was rebuilt after Hurricane Ike in 2008 and we filled it with everything from resale shops except for the appliances. I love the beauty of something with imperfections and maybe a few dings, wondering about its history and happy that I can give it a place where it will be appreciated. Now that most of us in Texas are still recovering from the grid failure that devasted our state, I will be looking for plants soon to replace all those lost to the freeze. Friends of mine who have greenhouses have offered cuttings so in a way, that is much like a new old thing. Also, thank you for this quote: “I believe that longevity is not measured in actual years but how long, with attentive servicing, something or someone can function optimally.” I so appreciate you, your blog, and your wisdom.
Thank you so much and so happy you survived what was clearly a challenging experience in Texas. The new old garden will reveal some new and different pleasures and I look forward to hearing about them.
About ten years ago I realized my memory was failing. I went to a talk on Alzheimer’s by Dr. Richard Isaacson and became one of 176 patients in his study. After following his diet for a little over a year I regained memory! He is not accepting new patients but has published a book: the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Treatment Diet. In addition to following the diet I don’t eat for 12 hours between last meal of the day and first meal of the next day.
Thanks for this recommendation. The fasting and only eating between certain hours per day is showing really good longevity resu.ts in the research. What we eat is so tied into many functions including those of our brains.
Hi Lyn
New old is indeed thought provoking! The idea of buying something old and having it new is something to which I adhere. I was brought up to take good care of my things. It is amazing how items hold up after many years with care and loving. We have a new old car. It has all the bells and whistles. It was 4 years old when we bought it. The previous owner paid all of the depreciation on the car. We bought a fairly priced vehicle and keep it in good repair. I have kept many items such as furniture handed down from family members over the years and I treasure them and treat them kindly. If I like it, I like it, regardless of whether an item is new or old. The same goes for clothing. Old or new, if I like it, if it serves a purpose, or if it gives me joy, I will keep it, as long as I have a place for it. I like this topic because I believe in reusing, recycling, repairing. I am interested in what types of items you are using to furnish your new old home. Please share. Thanks for writing, Lyn.
Thank you for giving us some good decision making guideposts
Love your posts and the way you think. You inspire me to be a better me!
Thank you, that made my day!
I THINK YOU JUST TOLD ME TO GO GET A MANICURE AND PEDICURE TODAY!
I HAVE BEEN PUTTING IT OFF NOW FOR SOMETIME PLUS THE SHOPS WERE CLOSED!
I HAVE HAD ONE ALL YEAR AND MARCH 17th bring me to a FULL YEAR AT HOME!
Time to stretch my legs and get some sun as I walk from the car to the salon!
I have been taking care of myself for a few years now……but then again I have a couple sicknesses that require me to visit those specific specialists!
I hope you are on the mend and you are feeling as GOOD as you LOOK!
I copied your haircut and am waiting for the length to arrive like yours!
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON MY STYLISTS FACE WHEN I SHOWED HER YOUR INSTAGRAM!
XXX
Enjoy your forays out into the world. I am feeling 100% and determined to stay that way
I agree that looking after onesself in all kinds of ways is the best strategy for living gracefully and extending that graceful life as far as possible. Recently, I found the courage to finally walk way from an incredibly stressful (if not downright toxic) career that left me with serious stress-related health issues and few financial resources to tend to those; the career I fell into 45 years ago because I could not afford to finish college was one where employers were more predatory upon their relatively low-wage employees than interested in long-term commitments from those employees, and their business models seldom, if ever, afforded “retirement plans.” It fell to me to save what I could and unfortunately it simply was not very do-able. So, I decided that the best thing I could do for myself now was to pick up my education where I left off four and a half decades ago. It has made a significant change in my outlook on life including re-experiencing the excitement and expanded interests I went through when first in college so long ago – and I believe it has also improved my health.
I am so happy for you, congratulations!
Love your posts and updates!! Instead of open beams, have you considered copper ceiling tiles?? So bougie….
The pandemic brutal lockdowns in Melbourne Australia became a time to re-evaluate working life. Before I couldn’t imagine what I would do or who I would be if I didn’t work full time. I found a different life and a different pace as well as parts of my home I had never experienced at certain times of the day! I now work 2 days a week. My garden and home is cared for and colour has appeared in my wardrobe instead of the standard Melbourne black.
Lovely!
We have transitioned from bucolic borough to, blessedly, bucolic city. We found a divine space along the river, an abandoned factory opposite offering lovely privacy. A family of geese regale each morning. Our living space has been reduced by half, so I preplanned what we could bring with us and what had to go into storage. After cultivating tasteful baskets and shelving to make use of limited space, all we have is what is necessary, no waste. And I delight in my tiny galley kitchen where everything is at arm’s length. We encounter so many blessings when we truly see the beauty. Good for you for a journey to greater wellness and appreciation.
Congratulations on your move and all the many projects that are coming with you.
I find your blog very interesting. I am over 70.
Thank you!
There you are! My niece, who’s 26, recommended that I follow you. She and I love fashion yet I am in the process of self discovery and care after divorce and major health challenges.
Lyn, I look forward to following your journey!
Welcome, you’ll find lots of style and wisdom here; I have amazing readers.
This pandemic has done some of the same for me, particularly in the exercise arena. I have been working from home almost as much as working from the office – it has been all those days at home that have prompted me to get off my butt for an hour a day and MOVE. An hour. What is an hour!? My perspective certainly has shifted. When I was working 8:00 to 5:00, I came home drained and then had children to care for and there just didn’t seem to be enough time. Now one child is gone and the other almost 16 and, on my in-office days I work 7:00 to 3:00 and time just seems to have shifted meaning somehow. Of course I can devote an hour to exercise! My body has changed and I have dropped a few pounds, and I feel GREAT. I do hope, once I am back in the office full time, that the over abundance of time of the last year has changed my mindset altogether and I will press on with self care.
An aside: Oh my goodness where are those pants from!?
I really hope that the many new practices we all seemed to have developed continue. The pants are from MONSE.
You rock with your writing!! Spectacular one for sure.
Thanks!