Jemma's Tales
The Other Side of Fifty
April 21, 2015
Will you walk with me as the storm clouds move West, and the sweet scent
of rain caresses the rolling meadows, while cheerful Bluebonnets dance between blades of grass.
Just beyond the fence posts we hear the powerful rumble of thunder,
Mother's Nature signal that the Season's are changing, just as you and I are.
You might be twenty, forty, sixty, eighty...
However rest assured we are all aging and with grace we will all be on the other side of fifty one day.
So please stay and visit awhile, you won't be disappointed,
I dare say there is something here today for all.
We all are at varying season's of life, for some of us the walk may be slower, the eyes not as bright.
But the spirit...oh..the spirit is alive, vibrant, eager and well.
Anxious to embrace it all, run with the wind, sing in the rain and grab each moment.
Some of those precious moments slip by us, and then as age teaches us- so many life lessons,
we notice certain things and say to ourselves "oh, I really get it," why did it take me so long.
Today, Linda is sharing a few of her insights and defining moments during her fifty year journey.
As Linda and I have exchanged e-mails we did sort of a casual interview on what keeps her
focused on being a Productive, Passionate and Purposeful woman.
We just had to chuckle, because throughout the process of our correspondence we misplaced various
e-mails and blamed it on well you guessed it - Age!
I suppose in our youth, we might have become impatient with misplacing notes, lost photos,
posts that were delayed, but in our process of aging-
we have gained insight into the joy of and satisfaction of patience.
We narrowed our questions down to five and then three and here are the reply's which Linda gave.
How is Aging Changing Your Perception of Life?
Why is Aging with Style Important to You?
From One Woman to Another, what would you like your daughters to know about the journey?
After the interview Linda left me with this quote...
xoxoxo
of rain caresses the rolling meadows, while cheerful Bluebonnets dance between blades of grass.
Just beyond the fence posts we hear the powerful rumble of thunder,
Mother's Nature signal that the Season's are changing, just as you and I are.
You might be twenty, forty, sixty, eighty...
However rest assured we are all aging and with grace we will all be on the other side of fifty one day.
So please stay and visit awhile, you won't be disappointed,
I dare say there is something here today for all.
But the spirit...oh..the spirit is alive, vibrant, eager and well.
Anxious to embrace it all, run with the wind, sing in the rain and grab each moment.
Some of those precious moments slip by us, and then as age teaches us- so many life lessons,
we notice certain things and say to ourselves "oh, I really get it," why did it take me so long.
Today, Linda is sharing a few of her insights and defining moments during her fifty year journey.
As Linda and I have exchanged e-mails we did sort of a casual interview on what keeps her
focused on being a Productive, Passionate and Purposeful woman.
We just had to chuckle, because throughout the process of our correspondence we misplaced various
e-mails and blamed it on well you guessed it - Age!
I suppose in our youth, we might have become impatient with misplacing notes, lost photos,
posts that were delayed, but in our process of aging-
we have gained insight into the joy of and satisfaction of patience.
We narrowed our questions down to five and then three and here are the reply's which Linda gave.
How is Aging Changing Your Perception of Life?
On some level I have always enjoyed the “simple things’ in life but they seem to have taken on new meaning and significance during this decade of my life. (I am a fifty-somethinger.)
Do you remember that scene from the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy has been hit in the head and she is unconscious?
She sees her family members and other snippets of her life flying around her in wild chaos. Years ago when our family schedules were busy and often conflicting there were times I felt a similar sort of chaos, as though I was going through the motions, in a subconscious state of mind while all of these wonderful things were going on around me. Dorothy wasn’t kidding when she said “there is no place like home”….…….lesson learned.
Moments spent with my family, my husband, my dog, my friends, my sewing machine, hiking and enjoying the absolute beauty of nature and even literally taking time to smell the roses are a few things that I may have taken for granted over the years.
Now I see these once ordinary things and recognize them for the true gifts that they are and feel infinitely blessed.
Why is Aging with Style Important to You?
"Aging with style is important to me because I have seen both sides of the coin: those who are old and cranky, focus solely on the negative and withdraw from life and those who exude nothing but a positive can do attitude who continue to live life with gusto. Guess which ones are more pleasant to be around?
I hope to retain a positive mindset well in to my golden years, continue all of the things that I am passionate about and be willing to learn and try new things along the way.
The world can still be our oyster even as we age!
My sense is that I have a few more pearls waiting for me out there in the great big world, and I plan on hunting them down and harvesting them!"
From One Woman to Another, what would you like your daughters to know about the journey?
"One thing I would like to share with my daughters is something I learned at a very early age.When I was in Girl Scouts, our troop leader took us all on a camping trip.After we set up camp, she sat us all down and explained that there would be rules.
One of the rules was that we would be leaving the camping area in better condition than we found it. For some reason those words really resonated with me as a youngster and they still do today.
No matter what situation I am in, I always try to leave my “campground” in better condition than it was found.
My hope is that as my daughters seek and discover what it is that they are truly passionate about, they will be energized and inspired to contribute positively to something larger than themselves."
I hope they will all leave their “campgrounds” in better order than it was found.
I hope they will all leave their “campgrounds” in better order than it was found.
After the interview Linda left me with this quote...
In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the purpose of life, …….”it is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
What does your journey look like?
Thank you to all who leave a comment, I just know we are inspiration for one another.
What does your journey look like?
Thank you to all who leave a comment, I just know we are inspiration for one another.
xoxoxo
Dear Jemma and Linda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! Now on the other side of fifty, myself, (when did that happen?!!), I can truly relate to your wonderful words of wisdom. Thank goodness, it didn't take me too long to realize that the simple things in life were the most precious, and I have sweet memories of my childhood, in which I can still smell the dewy peonies in my mother's garden, the fluffy lilacs on the way to school, and the weeping willow's long, swaying branches that greeted me every time I passed it, on the way home.
Thanks for sharing all your sage advice!
xoxo
Poppy
Oh Poppy,
DeleteTime has a way of flying by, thank you for sharing how your sweet memories sustain you as the years roll on.
Hello Jemma, what a great post and interview. I can say I agree with these three answers..Great questions, BTW! I am fifty something too and I try to enjoy live my life honorably and enjoy the simple things in life..Thanks for sharing, have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteEileen,
DeleteHonorable living and embracing the little things...I love this.
I'm 51, and for the first time in my life, very aware of age. I've always believed that as long as we're young at heart, we're okay, but suddenly I'm afraid of thunder (after living in Florida all my life), and mindful of knees and ankles. :) What I want my children to know about the journey is to enjoy EACH journey (life is a series of them), not just accomplished goals. To take delight in this moment, not yesterday or tomorrow ... and to laugh a lot.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your interview, Jemma.
xoxo
Marcia,
DeleteOh, what thoughtful words on embracing the journey. Thank you.
Such a wonderful post today. Good reminders on what is important as we try to age gracefully. I have to say that I love that Emerson quote.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
DeleteI love this Emerson quote as well.
What a beautiful interview my friend. Linda is an inspiration to me as well and it's so nice to read her comments about different aspects of aging. It's so important that we talk about our hopes and dreams as we age and share our experiences. Very nice idea for a post. Thanks to both of you! Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteDiane,
DeleteSharing is such a vital part of living and as we age even more so. It is comforting to know that we are all experiencing similiar feelings.
Wise and insightful woman.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Indeed, she is.
DeleteI am also a 50-something woman and enjoyed the wisdom of this post. My life now is quite different from what it used to be; my oldest son passing away 5-1/2 years ago changed all that. I am now at home FT once again (left my PT government job 2-1/2 years ago) and try to take life one day at a time. I say "no" to things more often and don't feel guilty about it and spend more time on self-reflection and care.
ReplyDeleteMelanie,
DeleteI have known you for a few years now, and you have enriched my life with your strength.
Dear Jemma, I am in my early 50's also, but never really had a problem with age at all. The true age is in our hearts, I believe, and even when our bodies are aging and we still have a child's heart, then we will remain happy all our life. I enjoyed the interview with your friend, and thank you for having a child's heart, a heart of gold.
ReplyDeletelove, ~Sheri
Sheri,
DeleteThank you for your genrous kindness-always. Kindness is a beautiful way to embark on the journey and to remain youthful at heart.
Good Evening Jemma, I am well past 50, I am 63 years, but in my heart I am still 20 years. I spoke to my mother Phyllis who is 85 years this year, and asked her what she thought about aging and she said she never thinks about her age, it is only a number. She never allows her age to hinder her.
ReplyDeleteAs the mother of two girls, I have always encouraged them to go out into the world and enjoy life and never let age be a barrier and I'm pleased to say they are both positive woman.
No matter what age, I always want to learn, I never want to stay as I am as there is so much out there to learn.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Linda's interview.
Best wishes
Daphne
Daphne,
DeleteSo very nice to meet you and thank you for sharing your journey. What tender, wise, optomistic views you have bestowed upon your daughters and have stayed true to.
What a beautiful and insightful post. You know I know so many things now I didn't know then. I can't go back and fix them now either. But I do wonder sometimes if I knew back then what I knew now if I could really change things. Just don't know.
ReplyDeleteI do have to say I am much smarter now.
Love, sandie
Oh yes Sandie, we are becoming so much wiser!
DeleteVery insightful interview with a very wise woman.
ReplyDeleteAt 61, I rarely think about age, but when I do, it's with regret that there is more of life behind me than in front of me. There's so much to see and do, and I hope my body doesn't give up before I have a chance to do at least most of what I hope for.
Thank you for your ongoing inspiration Jemma!
xxx
Hi Jemma! Well, honey, I'm really past the 50s mark - 63 to be exact! :) I did enjoy this post and I enjoy each day the Lord gives me and I'm looking toward the future. Thanks for popping in to see me.
ReplyDeletebe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
You have a heart of gold and live with such a thankful heart!
DeleteThat was a really interesting interview, and I enjoyed your questions, and her responses. Unique feature you created! xoox
ReplyDeleteI am glad you enjoyed this post:)
DeleteEven knowing Linda such a short time here via blogging, I know that she practices what she writes about here in this post--as do you, Jemma! An inspiring post from two lovely women.
ReplyDeleteDewena,
DeleteJust as your do, trying to stay steady in our beliefs and actions daily.
Loved this post!!
ReplyDeleteThis year my One Little Word is LIVE!!
I am trying to slow down and take stock of my life and enjoy the little things and what is really important to me......
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Deb
I think we are all discovering the beauty of aging and that it offers abundant joys and rewards.
DeleteThank you for sharing your word LIVE!
Dear Jemma,
ReplyDeleteThis project has been very interesting and given me much to think about. I've never really had time or made time for self discovery before so I have really appreciated this new found time in my life which affords me to do so. There are moments I wish I could have held on to a bit longer for sure, but my focus is the future and making the most of it.....enjoying the small pleasures in life! Thank you Jemma and to all the wonderful ladies participating in and commenting on this project. I appreciate it!
xo
Linda
I enjoyed this post so much! To me...it is all about the mindset of life! Thanks for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDelete