Category Archives: Inspiration

Sep6

Accepting Ones Self!

Posted on by
Image

This isn’t an easy subject!!! I sure have struggled with it, and I’m sure all of you have struggled with it at times also.

It truly hurts to realize we are never going to be what we use to be. On the bright side I tell myself “I’m not what I use to be, I’m better!” That’s how I handle that subject.

Do I believe it? Sometimes yes, and sometimes NO! But I can’t do anything about it, so the only thing I have control over is telling myself, “I wanted to grow old gracefully, so do it!”

Most of us don’t dress like we did, or even like we would like to in our minds. I’m super casual these days, and I don’t see anything wrong with that. I can also kick it up a notch if I need to. (I just can’t remember when the last time I needed to kick it up a notch, and we went somewhere we needed to get dressed up for.)

So my version of dressing up is putting on a pair of my best earrings, and using my most seductive perfume. I even hot iron my hair. Does it work? Well, it makes me feel better, and my husband always compliments me on my clothes, my hair, and anything else that he knows helps me to feel appreciated, and beautiful.

Incase you haven’t figured it out, I have a perfect husband!

What do you do to feel pretty, and desirable? Don’t tell me you have no-one to get dressed up for. Because I think we do this for ourselves as much as for others. If I feel good, I hold myself better, greet others better, and my entire day does better.

Yes, sometimes it’s difficult to greet others with a happy, energetic face, but when we do, it really does make us feel better.

So next time you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, get that cup of coffee, and tell yourself. “I can do this!” Put your best foot forward, with a nice shower, some nice perfume, and something comfy. Maybe kick it up with brushing your hair, and a little lipstick. You can keep going if you feel good enough, but this is a start.

Remember, we are in this together, and we have to stand together!

Thank you for stopping to read my blog, I’ll be back soon. Karen

Aug2

Afraid to Age?

Posted on by
Image

Why are we afraid to age? Is it the perceived lack of mobility, or having our drivers license taken away, the fear of being sent off to “Shady Pines,” or fear of the unknown?

For me, I’m not afraid of the unknown, but I don’t want to be sent off to Shady Pines either. My license, well I’m sure I won’t like not being independent any more than anyone else, but I certainly don’t want to run my car into the side of a building like you hear on the news that some geezer did either. So, I’ve told all my kids (all means 3) that if they see me do anything that is dangerous, please tell me. They all watch me like a hawk!

But I think the worst thing is that we can worry so much about getting old, and how much time we might or might not have left, that we miss the sweet moments we need to pay attention to. Yes there are moments, but we need to look for them, and appreciate the small little things that are all around us. Sure it’s easy to focus on the negative, but what about the positive? That’s what we need to pay attention to.

Life isn’t always kind, and many of us have had very real disappointments, and losses, that won’t ever change. Life can be cruel, but we don’t have to let the cruelty take over our lives. Loss is real, and heartbreaking, but we are still here and alive. Not one of the loved ones we have lost would want us to grieve, and suffer forever.

I have learned not to look back, unless the tales of the past will help someone. Do not worry about the future, because inevitably it will change, and you will have given all your energy to something that won’t ever happen. Live life in the moment, enjoy what you have and not what you have not!

Life will be so much sweeter that way. That doesn’t mean you forget the past, you have just chosen to not let it define you. That doesn’t mean you aren’t aware of the future either, it just means you are aware that all things can change, and it isn’t worth wasting time and energy on things that change, and you don’t have control of.

You are all part of my tribe, and I wish for all of you a healthy, happy, and fulfilled life. Thank you for taking time to read my blog. Remember we need to stick together for the love we share, and the support we can give one another. Until next time, Karen

Jun13

Just what is OLD?

Posted on by
Image

I ran across this short video on You Tube, and thought it was interesting. It brings up so many thoughts. So I thought I’d ask all of you a few questions related to perception, reality, thoughts, and ideas.

When I was much younger, I never thought I’d reach old age, not even middle age. I didn’t think I’d leave this planet, I guess I just never thought! Now I can’t imagine not realizing old age was imminent!

What’s worse is that I didn’t even think older people had anything to share. How immature I was! I wondered how old people could even think they had anything to share. It saddens me to think how naive I was, and how much young people miss by thinking that way.

We can be fun too! Just look at us toddling around the neighborhood doing all our old people things at old people speed. Is it any wonder everyone gets upset with us for driving our cars at 15-20 miles per hour to save on gas. After all bread was .25 a loaf when we were growing up, and gas was about .50 when we started driving. No wonder we think this way.

Did we raise our kids to be part of the throw away generation? Because that’s how they turned out! Who taught them that anyway?

I love reusing things, going thrifting, and sometimes nosing around garage sales. Many years ago, and I mean many, on trash night people would put out treasures for others to find, and find we did. It was not illegal in those days, and our homes were eclectic, and fun. My kids would never do this, they are the ones throwing away stuff. Sometimes we would find really good furniture, and turn it from trash to treasure making a little money on the side.

All the affluent neighborhoods would have the best pickings, and we picked, and picked ’till our hearts desire. The thought still excites me, but laws have changed around here, and people aren’t throwing away treasures like before.

There are times when I feel like old furniture, all embellished with nicks, scars, and pale skin. Waiting to see what’s next is the interesting part. We never know, and many times aren’t ready for it. I’m never ready for it!

One thing is for sure, we can only do our best. We are all in the same boat, dealing with the same problems, but we aren’t alone, we are never alone.

And the young people, well they too will have their day. One day they will be old, and wrinkled, they’ll waddle around wondering what happened to the last 50 years.

I guess the Botton line is, you are only as old as you feel. Some days I feel 100, some days I feel 50 again. Keep moving my friends, because we don’t want to walk around like the tin man all stiff and squeaky

Thank you for taking time to stop and read my blog. I hope you have a great day without squeaks, and waddles.

Remember united we stand. Karen

May3

Travel Adventure

Posted on by
Image

I recently took a mini vacation up north to visit my daughter, and her family. They have a small ranch, and live in a very rural area. I love it up there because I can sit in the middle of nature, and talk to all the animals.

I usually fly when I’m traveling alone, as I did this time. But things are different these days. The airlines have changed policies, and it’s a bit stressful trying to figure out exactly what is required of you. After watching many Youtube videos on the airline’s “New Rules,” I still wasn’t any further along than when I started.

I just didn’t want to get to the gate, and be turned away because my case was too large, or I had something inside that was the tiniest bit larger than they required. I’ve had my luggage gone through before, had things taken out and tossed. Some of it was my fault, I should have known better. Other times they pulled something that wasn’t too large and tossed it. That one really got to me!

All in all, because it was my daughter, there were many things that I didn’t need to bring because it was already up there. Lucky for me, the cary on’s that are required are really small now, and one has to be a really efficient packer to be able to get away with a mini cary-on.

The next thing was for me to mark my luggage so it would be easily identified. After spending hours selecting a bag that was just the proper fit at TJ Max, I then had to decide what to put on the side so it could be recognized. That took another day or so. After all it had to be my signature look!

Finally, after trying many different things, this is what I decided on. It took me about three days due to drying time. I’m happy with it, and it didn’t get scrapped up even after being thrown around by the people that love throwing baggage around.

I stayed twelve days, and had a very relaxing visit. My Granddaughter turned eighteen the 4th of April, and I love seeing her on her birthday. She picked a dinner place for us all to enjoy, and just to top it off, she had a very excellent place for the three of us girls to go for lunch the following day. It’s never an inexpensive trip, but it’s always a memorable trip.

How do all of you find these little get aways, or even big vacations? Do you get stressed out, or are you a chill traveler? Is it more stressful unpacking when you get home? If you are traveling with family, do you end up being host? My husband joyfully play host, and hostess every time. After all, what is Grandpa, and Grandma for?

I love going, but it’s really nice to get back to the comfort of my own home. Never do I feel unwelcome, but I am aware of the fact that my family needs to make me feel comfortable. I always feel relief when I can get on the plane, allowing my daughter and her family to take a deep breath, and get back to normal.

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share my little adventure with you. Until next time, “United we stand,” Karen

These are just a few pictures of the ranch, there are many more, and many more animals to be seen…

Mar1

Hair Color Choices for Older Adults

Posted on by
Image

As I adventured through all my years, I had so much fun with hair color. The only color I didn’t have was black, or anything dark. Being of fair skin, the darker colors washed my skin out. It just wasn’t done in the olden days. The days of Hippie Love, and sex, drugs, & rock ‘n roll. So having long hair with bleached blond was about where I belonged. I could never grow my hair very long. Maybe to my shoulders was about it. Probably because being a blond, I had fine hair, and adding it all up didn’t amount to the same thing a handful of dark hair did. The longer it grew, the more straggly it became.

Today as I’m approaching the Golden Years (ha, ha), I have let my hair go completely gray, or silver as I like to call it. Many of my friends have let their hair grow gray, and why would that be? It’s easier than taking time to color, they might be allergic to the dye, it’s very expensive in our present climate to budget that expense into our monthly obligations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to look younger with even a slightly tinted hair color. I’ve thought about it, asked about it, but I’ve not done anything about it. Several of my friends who are older than I still color their hair, and it does make them look younger. They don’t seem to mind going to a stylist for color correction, and a cute cut.

For me I think attitude has more to do with looking younger than the color of our hair. And…I’ve always said I was going to grow old gracefully. Now that I’m saying it, gracefully sounds quite boring! So I’ll rephrase that statement.

I want to skid into home plate with a “paint brush in one hand, and a glass of Champagne in the other!” The other thing is, I’m not ready to skid anywhere!

I have oh so many thoughts and ideas. Thoughts that you only have when you get “Older Than Dirt!” I share them with you because many of us seem to have the same thoughts and ideas about staying upright, and the challenges facing us as we glide through our Golden Years. Hair, and hair color and/or length is only part of the exciting process of growing old, we have to make sure we have a positive attitude even if it seems impossible.

Well, what do you think? Gray or Red?

Let me know what you think about this subject, I would love a different perspective.

Thank you for reading my blog, don’t forget to send me a quick not with your thoughts and ideas. Much love to all of you, Karen

Dec21

Fun, What’s That?

Posted on by
Image
Lady in a hat.

We all had fun years ago. Some more than others. Sure life isn’t always a bowl of chuckles, and it comes differently to each of us, but at one time or another we had real fun. I hope in our own way, we still do have fun.

Growing old isn’t always fun, and it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart! Since we can’t change any of the old age stuff, negativity is a waist of time. I’m not waisting my time being grumpy, and complaining. The flip side of that is always being positive. That isn’t always easy either. What I can tell you is that each time you have a negative thought, be it nasty or just plain down, if that thought is replaced with a positive thought it will go a long way. Of course, that’s difficult also. But, if you keep doing it, soon it will work. I’ll be the first to admit that the bad stuff doesn’t go away, but before you know it, those negative thoughts will be much less consuming.

Dr. Weil from the University of Arizona is a man I’ve listened to for years. He is progressive in the sense that he believes we can go a long way by thinking positive. He also believes in clean food, but that is an entirely different blog..

Since we are heading into the Holiday season, I’m keeping this short. As usual, these are my ideas and opinions, you don’t have to agree with me. I’m ok with that, I think we should all have our own opinions.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy Chanukah, and if you have a different holiday you celebrate, I wish for you a magical holiday. Much love.

Thank you for stopping to read my blog,

Together we Stand, Karen