grace of no age menopause ageing women community sisterhood silver hair wisdom empowering natural proaging gracefully

Silver Fox. Women embracing a gray hairstyle

One outcome of aging is silver hair.
I have had my own personal dance with it for close to ten years now. As of late, I have really enjoyed seeing the recent trend of women flaunting their natural gray hair. When at the store and reading social media feeds, I see more and more women revealing their gray roots and hair. I find it empowering to witness more women embracing their age of wisdom and appreciating their gorgeous natural silver hair! I must also point out the fact that younger women who do not have natural gray hair are having their hair colored to resemble silver highlights and colors.

grace of no age menopause ageing women community sisterhood elder love respect journey friendship health road map resiliency proaging gracefully

Elder Love and Respect

I have had the opportunity to get to know elders with life stories encircling the last forty to sixty years. From the space where we first meet, to the following moments shared, we grow together. In this relationship, I also meet their spouses, children, grandchildren, friends and extended family. It is an honor to meet them all and share time with them.
Resiliency & Courage Through the Journey
A gift I receive from our elders is learning about the steps they took in navigating their lives. I am curious and inspired by our elders’ journeys. I love to learn about how they coped through life’s challenges and adventures, and how they are currently coping with present life situations. I learn about their passions, survival during war time, career choices, having children or not, world travel, health challenges and more.
Most times, I am meeting our elders at a time when they are beginning a new chapter in their lives. It may be a time when they are moving from their forever home to give community living a go. Yet, many times they decide on this chapter because of a loss of a partner or a change in health. Or because they’re plain tired of cooking for one. As this may be a hard chapter for many, everyone who is involved in the decision shares reassurances for the future ahead.
Our shared journey of aging is a powerful process. We have so much to learn from each other and much to share with each other. I am grateful to say that many of these meetings have turned into deep, meaningful, supportive friendships.
Love & Respect
One elder friend moved to the community at the age of 94 due to being legally blind. This man had much charisma and a successful career in television. He had survived World War II and shared his meeting with Bobby Kennedy while aiding in his presidential campaign and living through his assassination. I truly appreciated being in his presence and hearing about his life!
One day he asked me, “Do you live your life with a road map? A plan?” I pondered his question and concluded the first 31 years of my life I followed a road map. Then one day, I placed my road map into a box, stored it with all my physical belongings and chose a new map. This new map was chosen with my heart, my spirit. I did not know what the end result would be. It felt right at that time in my life.
I met a female elder in her 90s who shared her spirit with grace and determination with me for over three years. The love and respect we shared was genuine. At least four days a week, we would meet in the dining room or on the pathway. Our moment of engagement was looking into each other’s eyes and speaking to our loving hopes and respectful wishes for the day. We both wanted the very best for each other, in all of our days.
This is a glimpse into the relationships I have made over the last five years. The elders and their family members have brought value to my days and years. My wish for you: may you applaud your courage through aging, continue to soar with your spirit and cultivate continued respect for you and our elders.

Every Ambitious Dame Gives Boldly Everyday

When I was young, my grandparents encouraged me to take piano lessons as my grandmother always commented that my long fingers should play effortlessly across the keys. With weekly lessons and one recital later, I concluded that I was not connecting with this grand instrument and asked to end my lessons. My family did not pressure me to pursue the piano or any other musical instrument. Therefore, I chose to pursue my interests of dance, sports and French