You’ll see I’m aiming high from the start. There’s no time to waste at my age.
This exciting venture has unlimited potential, in theory anyway, given there are 7.7 billion of us alive and ageing. However, although hard to accept, I recognise not every member of the global population may be interested in how to make the most of our increased longevity and my personal musings on life before, during, and after Covid19 (assuming the blog – and I – last that long!). Time will tell whether anyone, apart from loyal friends and family, reads it. But, before passing final judgement, do consider giving a novice blogger a chance. Perhaps three blogs, before I’m out?
Let me introduce myself and this blog…
What will it be about?
Age proud, not anti-ageing: more Zumba than zimmers! It will focus on ageing better, living well and adding life to our years, as well as years to our life. Plus it will probably include some random thoughts and subjective views.
What are the goals for this blog?
- Entertain (life is often amusing)
- Inform, and hopefully help readers live and age better in mind and body
- Share some aspects of the day-to-day life of a 69 year old who’s very much up for all life has to offer (although life doesn’t always reciprocate)
- Connect with, and learn from, readers (if any); and
- Have fun!
What’s my dream?
- Become a blogging ‘voice’ for ‘Perennials’ (a far nicer name for older people than ‘seniors’, ‘the elderly’, ‘wrinklies’….)
- Help replace the negative narrative of ageing with a realistic, more positive portrayal, publicise and celebrate what older people can and do achieve, and promote what needs to be done so we can all live our best life
- Invite role models and experts to be guest bloggers to share their wisdom and experience on ageing well. Any offers or suggestions?
- Perhaps join the growing number of older YouTube stars with millions of fans; and, as a result…
- Become a “Proselytising Perennial for Proud, Positive and Purposeful Ageing” ( a #PPPPPA!), and make a difference to the lives of older people.
With luck, and by actually walking the talk, I should have a few decades to accomplish all this.
And, visualisation being a powerful tool, I’ll keep dreaming…..
As Walt Disney said: ‘If you can visualise it, if you can dream it, there’s some way to do it.’
And he won 22 Oscars. Just saying.
Why bother?
The older I get, the more convinced I become of two things.
- We should do what makes us happy, so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. I believe this blog is worth doing and having a purpose makes me happy. Also, I love writing.
- Wonderful things can happen if you’re Passionate, Positive and Persistent. Like becoming a published author with my first book ‘How to Age Joyfully; Eight Steps to a Happier, Fuller Life’ at the age of 68!
But in the unlikely event that, despite my three ‘Ps’, nothing takes off, at least I’ll have tried something I’ve wanted to do. It will be disappointing and frustrating but OK.
Dame Judi Dench, the 85 year old actress, so inspires me with her attitude to life:
‘I don’t want to be told I’m too old to try something… Let me have a go. Let us all have a go’
I’m truly honoured she’s written the Foreword to my book.
Why me?
Next birthday, I’ll celebrate embarking on my 70s and my eighth decade.
Having …
worked for 37 years in the public service ✔
volunteered in prisons ✔
been married for over 40 years ✔
brought up two children ✔
had periods of ill health and retired early ✔
became addicted to Twitter ✔
learned tango and ballet in my 60s ✔
became involved with various charities ✔
suffered the loss of parents and close friends ✔
researched and written a pretty successful book ✔and more…
……I believe I’ve accumulated sufficient lived experience and knowledge (from experts in health and ageing) to be able to blog with some credibility about the vicissitudes of life, both my own and more generally.
So, I hope you’ll join me…
….as I look at life and ageing through optimistically tinted, but hopefully realistic, lenses, and share what I’ve discovered makes for a joyful life. Believe me, it’s not rocket science!
Thanks for reading this, if you have, and look out for Blog no.2, entitled “Happiness in the Time of Covid”.
Stay safe; stay strong; stay smiling!
Joyfully, Maggy.
