the juicy years

As questions came up for me this morning,  I heard the call. It ’s been a while since I created space to write, even though in the last 12 months there’s been more time than ever!  Though it’s challenged us all in many ways,  it’s also a gift. A huge transformational time on earth that we in our 3 rd  chapter can experience. Having lived through many decades of change and/or struggle, we can be a source of calm and wisdom for others, and our loved ones.  Numerous people have written inspiring articles and engaged in philosophical conversations about this period in time. For me, I’m focusing on how to stay present, contented and healthy to ride out the next few years of uncertainty. I’m not concerned about where we’re headed as any fear is more detrimental to our health than any virus.  Don’t allow fear to call the shots! Action is also a potent antidote to fear, and here’s one step to start – a True Vitality TEST that you can complete on the Blue Zone...

Growing old gracefully ...disgracefully ... outrageously ...or whatever other term that's been used to embrace ageing in the last few years, has now been replaced with a more optimistic term "Positive Ageing" - the principles of the Positive Psychology movement. Our ability to have a more positive experience, compared with peers who are perpetuating the old paradigm (that ageing is fraught with misery), has a lot to do with our attitude, personal qualities and flexibility. Cultivating flexibility I think is a key indicator of how we reframe our lives in these years. It requires us to feel and think differently, to counter any maladaptive patterns by engaging in life-enhancing practices. Some of these are altruistic, others may be practising gratitude, and appreciating what you have to offer to the world. Go on now, write a list of your qualities, skills and resources! And think about how some of these could be used creatively to enhance your life or the li...

Recently I developed and facilitated two Writing Groups for Elders in my local community.   I believed it was important for them to  explore topics and emotions that might normally remain hidden, for healing in their 3rd Chapter. To  hear others' stories and realise that they are not alone.   beginnings . . . I set about creating a safe container for these feelings and stories to flow, in a non-judgmental way, where they could feel safe in sharing their life if they chose to.   T hey also had the opportunity to practise writing more creatively. The feedback from participants has been encouraging, and positive. And I am grateful for their trust in me, in each other, and their own process.   One said she "liked the topics and themes that you suggested for us and the quotes and poems were a bonus...I loved the warm feeling that was created in the group and I think one of the reasons for this was the way we were led into some deep little reces...

Feeling JOY, experiencing WELLNESS, and finding MEANING in your third chapter is essential if you want to live through these years with a sense of peace and purpose, and into your 80’s and beyond.   Although research has found that older people do tend to feel happier and less stressed in their retirement years than younger folk, it appears that this changes in their geriatric years when they can become very miserable.  I propose that we can greatly improve our chances of feeling HAPPIER in our later years by taking care of the transition ones in our 50’s to 70’s.  As one who knows, I offer the following tips. I BELIEVE THERE ARE FIVE KEY AREAS TO FOCUS ON   And if you feel STUCK in any area, don’t know the HOW to, or need SUPPORT to resolve the past, then please ask for help. You're never too old to hire a Coach to get some tips, or talk with an empathic Therapist if there are things from your past to let go of, like healing family wounds or unre...

art by Bouvette To come fully into our wise years we are called to balance our feminine and masculine energies, and become aware of our inherent divinity. Most spiritual traditions believe that the more we are aware of our interconnectedness with all that is, the more we will honour and become stewards of our fragile planet.   So juicy elders, I believe that we have a HUGE role to play in assisting others to NAVIGATE the challenges in the future. Our combined lived experience, our skills, our creativity (yes, did you know that our mature mind is often more creative than a youthful one), our empathy and compassion for others, and hopefully, our commitment to preserving our planet for our grandchildren - what a difference we could make with our accumulated effort and wisdom! As wisdom is not automatic because of our years, so some keys to help grow this wisdom are: *   Surrendering our ego, and confronting any death and loss   consciously. * Having th...

Have you yet felt the divine love of the juicy Goddess within you?    If not, then would you like to know how easy it is to extract her juice, and be infused with her essence?    Over the years I have noticed in my circle of friends, colleagues and clients, that many women are uncomfortable with their bodies, their sexual selves. There are many reasons why this occurs. Most of us have been  pressured to act or look a certain way, whether we have received these messages via the media, or in our upbringing. But we are all so deliciously  like Mother Earth in her shapes, colours, texture and feeling.  Over time, by opening up and energising your 3 lower chakras, it will help you to feel more comfortable with your body, more energised, grounded and optimistic to do what you have been born to do.              It can also free up your sensual self to dare to be seen and heard!    So a re you ready for th...

artist unknown I have often encouraged others to take one step at a time - and here I am taking my first step into blog 'land', without a destination. The above image of a woman describes how I feel at this moment - open and ready to embark on the journey. As I've entered my third chapter years ago (my "juicy years") and have sailed through most transitions with relative ease, I feel well equipped to share my experience and learning, and able to support many women via this online presence. What we do in this time of our lives, as women, seems to me vitally important. Questions like how have we made a difference? Have we followed our heart's calling?  Found our voice?  For me, our third chapter is also one for living juicy, for speaking our truth and from our heart - they are the "growing years" says Jean Shinoda Bolen (more on her ideas in another post).  As this blog will be public, I would ask that respondees be respectful of th...