A mature woman's sudden realization that she is free to choose her own values.

"We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be?" - Marianne Williamson.

When I was young, my self-worth was based on how I thought others perceived me. Depending on the day, Madame Critic was sitting in her mighty tower, passing judgment on me, mostly negatively.

But no more.

The beauty of growing old is learning to connect the dots. After surviving 65+ years, we have proven ourselves to be

• Resilient,

• survived heartbreaks

• raised families

• Worked exhausting jobs

• cared for aging parents

• Endured illness

• carried grief and survived

• Reinvented ourselves, many times over

• Kept going when nobody applauded us.

Nobody gave us wisdom. We earned it.

We endured the crises, learned the lessons, and became wiser. Everything was earned. Yet we often forget who we are. THAT is a crime that we impose on ourselves. We have come so far.

As baby boomers, or someone from the silent generation, who are we?

We are the girls who played in the streets without pavements and helicopter parents. We ate what was served for dinner and listened to vinyl records by the Beatles, Elvis, and Chubby Checker. We came of age during the Vietnam War, we were part of the civil rights movement, and we called our friends on the black, classic telephone, dialing the numbers.

We survived the death of John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, and the assassination of Martin Luther King. We got married, mothers went into the labor force, and we had the highest divorce rate in history.

What human standing will tell us that we are not worthy of our own validation? Women over 65 need no validation from anyone. Our greatness is well earned; we are survivors. Deep in our hearts, we know this to be true.

" Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson.

Rest on your laurels, dear boomer girls and our older sisters. We do not need outside validation; we are inherently valuable just the way we are.

Do you feel flat, girlfriend?

Do you feel lost in a forest without knowing where to turn?

Are you unsure of how to move forward in your aging body?

Today, I am here to tell you: let that shit go".

Decide what you want from these last decades of life.

Then go for it.

No excuses, no apologies, no permission needed from anybody.

You go, girl. We at Northbound Spry have your back.

Here is my message to all women over 65. Become clear about what you want the next year to look like. Then move in that direction.

When you feel flat and forget your own greatness, this poem will remind you. With a dream in your heart, repeat it as often as needed.

I have what it takes

By Annelie ❤️

" Quick as a whip and sharp as a tack.

I have what it takes, and I am right on track.

I know what I want, and I know what to do,-

When I forget, I return to what's true.

***

I pause, I breathe, I steady my mind,

I follow my compass- my true north, I find.

With body and spirit, with purpose and grace,

I step back into my powerful place.

***

I don't rush or worry, I don't fall apart.

I listen for wisdom that lives in my heart.

And even on days when the path feels unclear,

I trust in myself - I've made it this far, I'm here.

My dear age mates, let's stay northbound and support each other on our last journey.

Drop me a note, let me know if this post was helpful.

With love and best wishes,

Annelie ❤️

Write me at info@northboundspry.com

Sign up at northboundspry.com

to become one of our boomer girls and receive free information to help you during our aging journey. Together we stand, divided we fall.