Just Right
Cozy December Greetings ~
On a recent and unexpected visit to the mall, I found myself wondering where I fit in as a consumer in my mid-50s. The thoughts in my head sounded like, “Am I too old to be shopping in this store?” “Am I too young to wear this style of clothing?”
For the first quarter century of life, milestones of aging are mostly anticipated with excitement. I recall feeling so ‘big’ when I became a sixth grader (elementary school was K-6) — I’d made it to the top! I counted down the days (on my Ziggy wall calendar where I x-ed out the daily boxes each month) until I turned 16 and could obtain my driver’s license. Age 21 marked the legal rite of passage to ‘adulthood.’ My age had important meaning!
Retail experience aside, my sense of being too old in one store and too young in another store had me thinking: what age is just right?
In my profession, people often say to me, “I would never move to a senior community; those people are all OLD.” In many of these conversations, the person speaking is the same age or older than those in the very community they feel they don’t belong.
We live within paradigms of what getting older is ‘supposed to look like,’ and society’s tendency to pathologize signs of aging reinforces these narratives. When our internal sense of who we are doesn’t match our chronological age, the result can be exhausting cognitive dissonance.
I am here to offer perspective and opportunities that create more ease in embracing who we are at every stage of life. Through camaraderie and fellowship, we find comfort in knowing that, whatever age or phase of life, we are exactly where we are supposed to be.
I am continually reminded of this through the various voices I am so fortunate to call friends and colleagues. Each of these women uplift others through their skills and creative expression. Take some time to get to know them and their unique offerings, and by all means, share with others!
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In January, I am hosting two online forums: Friday Fusion and When Caregiving Calls. Consider these as invitations to boost your spirit and expand your knowledge.
As always, please allow the resources provided here to support you in finding calm amidst the chaos, wherever you are.
Journeying with you,
