Thanks for curating this list. I've just turned 50 and aging, death and menopause are my current obsessions! I look forward to diving into some of these pieces 😃
I had to stifle a loud laugh when I read this, Dr. C, not at you, but at the idea of how when we turn fifty (and I most assuredly did this) we suddenly acknowledge our imminent demise (even if it is fifty years away) our imminent loss of vitality (as though Count Dracula drained us overnight) and the genuinely irritating menopause that ultimately frees us from All That Shit- but also marks the beginning of another pile of shit about our value, which is what we get to shovel ourselves out of as women in Western Society. It is quite the journey. My life didn't even begin to take off until I was 58. After that, look the hell out. I believe this is available for so many of us when we release the stranglehold on the need to look a certain way. Even if we do look a certain way, we do not get from life what we think is our due for our looks. Menopause is such a gift. As a therapist you can most assuredly read these pieces through the scholar lens, and as someone who is entering this phase, how much more power and empathy you get to bring to your clients.
That's inspiring to hear your life took off at 58. I hope to follow suit. Certainly my writing career is just beginning in my 50s and I'm excited to see where that might lead 😃 On the other hand, a friend has recently been diagnosed with incurable cancer at 58, so who knows what the great mystery has in store....
For me there was definitely something about turning 50 that made me realize that it was time to get busy working on my “someday” list. No one can make it happen except for me. And tomorrow is never guaranteed. For me that perspective often motivates me to do what I’m resisting because I know I will regret it if I don’t make an effort.
It's way too easy to push things off to Someday. And boy it can never ever show up, or our bodies end up not being able to give us that Someday. So yes to NOW!
Like waves, Kate. I just came out of three extremely difficult, painful years of multiple surgeries, recoveries, constant PT, trying to reboot over and over. Not fun. But it's part of life. I'm now on the upswing again. It's. Just. Life. As you say, and the key word is "necessary," fallow years. We aren't often wise enough to understand the necessity of the shit sandwich, the down moments, the losses and little deaths. But they make us ever so much more powerful if we allow them.
Great read Julia! At almost 80 I’ve lots of lived experiences... I do not moan or whine but embrace and encourage all that growing along means. As for sec after sixty.... let me tell you it’s just as good at 80! There is no downside as older women ... except the end- in-sight as you suggest! It’s positivity and physical, mental, purpose filled living that keeps us young ...inside and out! Thanks for these links/quotes on research from the professionals... finally I’m on trend after years of being “so yesterday!” LOL
I applaud your posts and outlook on aging; well done! 😄
Many warm thanks Joan. Part of me can't wait to get there, part of me wants time to slow a bit. Either way, I am so damned grateful to be alive. You are most welcome for the links. Too much just inside Substack can get a little incestuous at times.
Love your 'tell it like it is' writing. My husband and I have never bought into the aging narrative. We are just focused on today and filling it with good stuff. You are inspiring me to write as I see it and live it rather than take a more bland path. My friend Dr Stephanie Burns recently published 'The Dangerous Cultural Messages about Getting Older: Self-fulfilling Prophecies. Great read!
Ain’t we lucky, those of us who reach their seventies - like me - and realise it’s all still there to win? Granted I have my health (hallelujah, but I contribute to that) nor do I live mainstream and have to suffer society’s opinions, but I’m a better, more accepting, useful person than I was
Sorry for the delay. Reply wasn't working for a while. I agree completely. It's amazing how useful and agreeable we are to ourselves and others when we STOP suffering society's unsolicited opinions.
Another dose of Julia's flat out honest, no nonsense quality writing. Love it! Life is way too short and if you forget Julia will be there to remind you with her straight talk:
We are all living with a death sentence, like it or not.
The real question is how we live in the meantime, and how much permission we give to others and our society to shame us for the one path we must all walk if we are lucky: aging.
I want to go to Bhutan, where a friend of mine spent a few weeks a while back. Their attitude about death and dying is immensely appealing- they accept it, and in doing so, live much more in the moment.
Love this. I’m a huge fan of anti-aging and a lot of my life-hacking is centered around longevity. You’re right, the very foundation begins with mindset and belief. The work of Bruce Lipton (Biology of Belief) and Joe Dispenza (You are the Placebo) reveals some powerful truths about of how thoughts and beliefs impact our biological and epigenetic systems. We DO have the power to heal and de-age; but first we need to unwind the belief systems that trap us into thinking this is an inevitable condition. It’s simply not true.
I have some agreements with the above and have read some of the books, Jeremy. For my part and I can only speak for myself, I do not buy into "anti-aging," for time doesn't rewind for any of us. Period. Nothing that lives, lives forever. That said, the quality of what life we do have is up to us- that is the part I absolutely believe. Age is inevitable, and thank god, for the world doesn't need sixteen or thirty two billion of us. We need to move on. We do the earth no favors by living too long. We do ourselves a favor by learning to live in the body we have, filling the time we are given with experiences, love, adventure, joy and experiences which allow us to grow. The very fact that there is a time limit is what both invites and forces growth. Take that away, well. Imagine if certain politicians lived forever. I will stop there. There is a reason for life's seasons and for death. It's a great teacher. Age and death are facts of life. I would not wish to live in a world where it wasn't true, Jeremy. But again, I can only speak for myself.
I totally hear you. Death is an essential part of life, bestowing the deepest of meaning in all we experience. Living long and youthfully up to that inevitable point is my personal goal. But I understand the journey and experience is unique to each individual, and beautiful in its own right.
I just had the most wonderful experience on the Oregon Coast and smile 😊. Keep sharing what it is to be a a glorious human, we have so much life to live and share with each other. Menopause be damned!
This post certainly fed mine! Thank you, thank you, thank you! That's all I have to say right now. I'm going to see what mischief I can get into today. Much love ❤️
Thanks for all these resources. I’m not sure what my next iteration is yet. I’m in another transitional year with my lovely daughter turning 18 and off to Uni, menopause beckoning and changes in health, in my wider family and my new beginnings here on Substack. Lots of change. I’m looking forward to the next chapter. 💛
Thanks for curating this list. I've just turned 50 and aging, death and menopause are my current obsessions! I look forward to diving into some of these pieces 😃
I had to stifle a loud laugh when I read this, Dr. C, not at you, but at the idea of how when we turn fifty (and I most assuredly did this) we suddenly acknowledge our imminent demise (even if it is fifty years away) our imminent loss of vitality (as though Count Dracula drained us overnight) and the genuinely irritating menopause that ultimately frees us from All That Shit- but also marks the beginning of another pile of shit about our value, which is what we get to shovel ourselves out of as women in Western Society. It is quite the journey. My life didn't even begin to take off until I was 58. After that, look the hell out. I believe this is available for so many of us when we release the stranglehold on the need to look a certain way. Even if we do look a certain way, we do not get from life what we think is our due for our looks. Menopause is such a gift. As a therapist you can most assuredly read these pieces through the scholar lens, and as someone who is entering this phase, how much more power and empathy you get to bring to your clients.
That's inspiring to hear your life took off at 58. I hope to follow suit. Certainly my writing career is just beginning in my 50s and I'm excited to see where that might lead 😃 On the other hand, a friend has recently been diagnosed with incurable cancer at 58, so who knows what the great mystery has in store....
I am so very sorry for your friend. That has to be hard for you to know, and to watch even from a distance.
For me there was definitely something about turning 50 that made me realize that it was time to get busy working on my “someday” list. No one can make it happen except for me. And tomorrow is never guaranteed. For me that perspective often motivates me to do what I’m resisting because I know I will regret it if I don’t make an effort.
It's way too easy to push things off to Someday. And boy it can never ever show up, or our bodies end up not being able to give us that Someday. So yes to NOW!
58? That’s so inspiring. I hold lots of hope that my life will swell again, after many necessary fallow years. 💛
Like waves, Kate. I just came out of three extremely difficult, painful years of multiple surgeries, recoveries, constant PT, trying to reboot over and over. Not fun. But it's part of life. I'm now on the upswing again. It's. Just. Life. As you say, and the key word is "necessary," fallow years. We aren't often wise enough to understand the necessity of the shit sandwich, the down moments, the losses and little deaths. But they make us ever so much more powerful if we allow them.
I learned to accept it, though I do have hopes and dreams of something more one day soon! 💛
Great read Julia! At almost 80 I’ve lots of lived experiences... I do not moan or whine but embrace and encourage all that growing along means. As for sec after sixty.... let me tell you it’s just as good at 80! There is no downside as older women ... except the end- in-sight as you suggest! It’s positivity and physical, mental, purpose filled living that keeps us young ...inside and out! Thanks for these links/quotes on research from the professionals... finally I’m on trend after years of being “so yesterday!” LOL
I applaud your posts and outlook on aging; well done! 😄
Many warm thanks Joan. Part of me can't wait to get there, part of me wants time to slow a bit. Either way, I am so damned grateful to be alive. You are most welcome for the links. Too much just inside Substack can get a little incestuous at times.
Love your 'tell it like it is' writing. My husband and I have never bought into the aging narrative. We are just focused on today and filling it with good stuff. You are inspiring me to write as I see it and live it rather than take a more bland path. My friend Dr Stephanie Burns recently published 'The Dangerous Cultural Messages about Getting Older: Self-fulfilling Prophecies. Great read!
Heartfelt thanks,. Robyn. There are so very many good books out there on aging and it's hard to keep up. Appreciate the recommendation!
Ain’t we lucky, those of us who reach their seventies - like me - and realise it’s all still there to win? Granted I have my health (hallelujah, but I contribute to that) nor do I live mainstream and have to suffer society’s opinions, but I’m a better, more accepting, useful person than I was
Sorry for the delay. Reply wasn't working for a while. I agree completely. It's amazing how useful and agreeable we are to ourselves and others when we STOP suffering society's unsolicited opinions.
This made me smile with recognition and that joy that arises from the place that has no words. Thanks!
Many warm thanks. I have to admit that it's the same reactions I've had to comments that zing right to my center.
Another dose of Julia's flat out honest, no nonsense quality writing. Love it! Life is way too short and if you forget Julia will be there to remind you with her straight talk:
We are all living with a death sentence, like it or not.
The real question is how we live in the meantime, and how much permission we give to others and our society to shame us for the one path we must all walk if we are lucky: aging.
It’s so true. Knowing death beckons can spur us to live how we really want within our parameters 💛
I want to go to Bhutan, where a friend of mine spent a few weeks a while back. Their attitude about death and dying is immensely appealing- they accept it, and in doing so, live much more in the moment.
Thank you so kindly Stephanie!
Love this. I’m a huge fan of anti-aging and a lot of my life-hacking is centered around longevity. You’re right, the very foundation begins with mindset and belief. The work of Bruce Lipton (Biology of Belief) and Joe Dispenza (You are the Placebo) reveals some powerful truths about of how thoughts and beliefs impact our biological and epigenetic systems. We DO have the power to heal and de-age; but first we need to unwind the belief systems that trap us into thinking this is an inevitable condition. It’s simply not true.
I have some agreements with the above and have read some of the books, Jeremy. For my part and I can only speak for myself, I do not buy into "anti-aging," for time doesn't rewind for any of us. Period. Nothing that lives, lives forever. That said, the quality of what life we do have is up to us- that is the part I absolutely believe. Age is inevitable, and thank god, for the world doesn't need sixteen or thirty two billion of us. We need to move on. We do the earth no favors by living too long. We do ourselves a favor by learning to live in the body we have, filling the time we are given with experiences, love, adventure, joy and experiences which allow us to grow. The very fact that there is a time limit is what both invites and forces growth. Take that away, well. Imagine if certain politicians lived forever. I will stop there. There is a reason for life's seasons and for death. It's a great teacher. Age and death are facts of life. I would not wish to live in a world where it wasn't true, Jeremy. But again, I can only speak for myself.
I totally hear you. Death is an essential part of life, bestowing the deepest of meaning in all we experience. Living long and youthfully up to that inevitable point is my personal goal. But I understand the journey and experience is unique to each individual, and beautiful in its own right.
Amen Jeremy!
I just had the most wonderful experience on the Oregon Coast and smile 😊. Keep sharing what it is to be a a glorious human, we have so much life to live and share with each other. Menopause be damned!
Couldn't agree more!
This post certainly fed mine! Thank you, thank you, thank you! That's all I have to say right now. I'm going to see what mischief I can get into today. Much love ❤️
I am all in on the mischief part!
Thanks for all these resources. I’m not sure what my next iteration is yet. I’m in another transitional year with my lovely daughter turning 18 and off to Uni, menopause beckoning and changes in health, in my wider family and my new beginnings here on Substack. Lots of change. I’m looking forward to the next chapter. 💛
Yes!!!