Blue, thanks so much for this post. Reading the pieces you featured confirmed I’m right on time!
I gratefully turned 65 last week and one of many ways I’m celebrating was publishing my first article yesterday honoring my mom who made her transition 49 years ago, when I was 16 and she was only 57. One of the delicious responses to my post was another woman sharing her mom also left her body when she was young and the daughter is now living for both of them.
About three weeks ago I also dove all the way in, publishing on TikTok, instagram and Threads. To date I have over 450K combined followers and nearly 20 videos with over a million views each.
The best parts, so far, of joining Substack and cracking the code on short form video content is I’m having a LOT of fun, meeting the BEST people ever, finally doing something I’ve loved my whole life. Plus, I’m proving that folks our age have a place in publishing and there’s a huge audience waiting for us to show up and share. 💜🥰
I left a corporate MBA career to became a professional chef, working on the saute line of my own restaurant, at 40. I'm now 73 and embracing my passion for writing and merging it with my experience with food with a distinctive spiritual edge. I write about this on Substack, "Worth Chewing On". I think we are just beginning to discover the extent and depth of possibility.
I think it all boils down to the fact that we suffer because we are always telling ourselves a self concocted story about ourselves, our situation, our predicaments. Ye olde ego can whip up torturous interpretations of reality. We can make real headway when we realize we have the ability to shushhh that ego while we get on with our life.
I recently found your Substack and love its message. At 57, with my oldest just finishing her fist year of college, I'm just getting started. Love all these role models including you.
These life stories are do inspirational for me- thank you Blue and everyone! Here are just a few of my own milestones-
-I met the love of my life at 40 and married at 42 - a friend said I was "too old" to change my last name- so I did
-I became a mom at age 47
-Moved to Barcelona with my family at age 55
-I was nominated for a Grammy award at age 58
-My name appeared in the credits of a major motion picture for the first time when I was 60
-Wrote a script for the first time (a paying job) at age 60 for the first podcast I worked on and had my first Story Producer credit.
-Last year, at 63, I started my Substack.
-This year, I'm taking more dance classes than ever.
My goal for age 65 (next year) is to finish my book, Cuba on Record - you can read chapters here on My Substack! And I'd like to go to Dakar.
There are so many other wonderful things - and of course between the lines is so much hard work, and also there have been disappoinments and insecurity and times feeling hopeless and alone, and frustration of being passed over because of my age, because I am "overqualified" or just too old, or whatever. I am sure many of you have been there. I am trying to figure out and proudly accept who I am now. I have learned so much from my current perspective, and I just keep going.
Wow, Judy, what a fascinating life you have and are leading. You landed on something you loved and made it a big part of your life--Latin music. Then you've used that as an anchor and segued all around it, pivoting with writing, film, and even dance. I so admire you. What a role model you are for others. Keep on keeping on. Blue 💙
Appreciate you sharing the reality of the ups *and* downs. Too often people share “overnight success stories” that don’t really help or encourage as they seem beyond reach. ❤️ 🇨🇺
Thanks so much Jelena. I think for all of us who grew up at a time when we looked up to and learned from people with more experience and life knowledge, getting here ourselves and not finding that appreciation - because of the way society, spurred by business, has changed -has been disorienting and dangerous for our mental health..
The good thing is - as these comments show, we are taking back our lives.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Judy. I’m sure it will give readers here motivation and inspiration. Isn’t it lovely—this life of ours? Blue💙
These stories are truly inspirational. I am 55 and have been in process of reinventing myself and my career for a couple of years. I was doing it half heartedly till now. I always fely I am too late to change careers, start fresh. I can not achieve anything great at this age. But these are really eye openers for me.
Thanks Blue for sharing your story as well as others.
I’m 72 and have settled for a bit. I have a gently growing Substack, recently self published my memoir, am embarking on another, plus writing a book with my daughter (as a way of really staying connected with her as I live in London and she lives in British Columbia). I am passionate about my garden and mitigate the self indulgence by opening it to the public to raise money for charity. I’m part of my local climate change activism group. Despite loving my life, I often feel I am merely marking time before my next big adventure. I’m just waiting to find out what it will be. Have a very strong feeling that I’m not done yet - and reading these other women’s stories make me realise I’m not that weird!
I left the non-profit I was devoted to at 51. Moved to Santa Fe. I’ve enjoyed many art classes, experimented with various art forms. Lived in New Zealand for 3 months and Oregon for two years. At 69 I met a great guy and we happily moved in together. At 76 I’m moving forward with my writing on Substack. My life is never boring.
I love reading these stories! I left a 40-year abusive relationship when I was in my late-50s and the abuse did not end straight away. With low confidence and a great deal of self-doubt, having been out of the paid workforce for 20 years, I decided to back myself. Now aged 60, I have published a book, started a Substack and have a sense that I am just getting started. It's great to hear about all these other experiences and to see that life is full of possibility.
I’m so glad for you, Louise. Whoohoo! Published book and now Substack. Yes, once we give ourselves permission, our lives become filled with possibility. Blue💙
My mother was my inspiration. She raised two.daughters nesrly.to adulthood, and while.we were in high school, went to college, got her degree, divorced, and started a new life. Though divorce was never something I aspired to, her determination to keep going and doing better was. Our lives have distinct parallels that I am sure she noticed. But because of her indomitable example, I press onward and upward, after raising 4 children to adulthood and two divorces. You might ask what's wrong with me because I couldn't stay married: the answer is the overcaring, oversharing, rescue-you mentality I developed along the way to prove my worth. Praise God that has been refined out of me. I will help, console, but I will not marry a rescue ever again. Ha.
So onward and upward. One year free now, and looking forward to this chapter.
Thanks for sharing your story, Laura. I’m sure other readers will resonate with it. A good friend of mine once blamed herself for having three failed marriages. I knew her well and she was a very good person. One day I just said, Betsy, the problem as I see it is “You are just not a good picker of men.” Blue💙
I can relate to that! I also have 5 rescue cats and a rescue dog. I rescue. Rescuing men didn't work out so well. I went in with my heart wide open but did not prequalify. Never again.
Some of us more than others! Stubborn is one of my superpowers. Under most circumstances, the synonym "tenacious" is a positive application. "Loyal", "determined", and "steadfast" are also good descriptors. Under other circumstances, though, it means I have to fall down a few times before I learn to do things better.
I so enjoyed reading all of these do-overs! It gives me great hope. I just turned 60 but 5 years ago experienced a near death experience that I should not have walked away from. I had a bunch of TIAs and a spontaneous bilateral carotid artery dissection and it took me a while to heal. I just started a coaching business this year but I've wanted to have a farm, mostly a flower farm, since I was 25. My narcissistic ex shot that idea down, yet the dream is still alive in my heart! Lately I've been looking for an old farmhouse on some land and I plan to restore the farmhouse and build my little flower farm and make it destination for women who need a bit of restoration. I have been single a long time so I need to develop yet another stream of income to support myself as I age in place. Thank you all for adding fuel to this fire within me!
That's such a wonderful dream, L, and I'm so happy you're going after it. Not only will you have your beautiful flowers, but you'll be building a community and helping other women as well. I'm sure the universe will accompany you on this precious journey. Blue💙
Blue, thanks so much for this post. Reading the pieces you featured confirmed I’m right on time!
I gratefully turned 65 last week and one of many ways I’m celebrating was publishing my first article yesterday honoring my mom who made her transition 49 years ago, when I was 16 and she was only 57. One of the delicious responses to my post was another woman sharing her mom also left her body when she was young and the daughter is now living for both of them.
About three weeks ago I also dove all the way in, publishing on TikTok, instagram and Threads. To date I have over 450K combined followers and nearly 20 videos with over a million views each.
The best parts, so far, of joining Substack and cracking the code on short form video content is I’m having a LOT of fun, meeting the BEST people ever, finally doing something I’ve loved my whole life. Plus, I’m proving that folks our age have a place in publishing and there’s a huge audience waiting for us to show up and share. 💜🥰
What inspiring stories. This gives me so much hope. Thank you!! 🩷
I left a corporate MBA career to became a professional chef, working on the saute line of my own restaurant, at 40. I'm now 73 and embracing my passion for writing and merging it with my experience with food with a distinctive spiritual edge. I write about this on Substack, "Worth Chewing On". I think we are just beginning to discover the extent and depth of possibility.
Absolutely and doesn’t that make our later years so much more interesting and exciting—following our own unique path? Blue💙
Immensely!!
I think it all boils down to the fact that we suffer because we are always telling ourselves a self concocted story about ourselves, our situation, our predicaments. Ye olde ego can whip up torturous interpretations of reality. We can make real headway when we realize we have the ability to shushhh that ego while we get on with our life.
Absolutely, Shelly. Blue💙
Fabulous and so inspiring. Age is just a man made concept. Life is truly for living - your way 💕💞
Absolutely, Sarah. Perhaps one small change...Life is truly for living--our way." Blue 💙
I recently found your Substack and love its message. At 57, with my oldest just finishing her fist year of college, I'm just getting started. Love all these role models including you.
Glad you found us. Welcome. Blue💙
As for me, I’m about to graduate college at 69. I am selling my house, I am moving on. As a lifelong escapee, places unknown really get me fired up!!
And fired up is the way I believe we should all live, Lola! Blue💙
These life stories are do inspirational for me- thank you Blue and everyone! Here are just a few of my own milestones-
-I met the love of my life at 40 and married at 42 - a friend said I was "too old" to change my last name- so I did
-I became a mom at age 47
-Moved to Barcelona with my family at age 55
-I was nominated for a Grammy award at age 58
-My name appeared in the credits of a major motion picture for the first time when I was 60
-Wrote a script for the first time (a paying job) at age 60 for the first podcast I worked on and had my first Story Producer credit.
-Last year, at 63, I started my Substack.
-This year, I'm taking more dance classes than ever.
My goal for age 65 (next year) is to finish my book, Cuba on Record - you can read chapters here on My Substack! And I'd like to go to Dakar.
There are so many other wonderful things - and of course between the lines is so much hard work, and also there have been disappoinments and insecurity and times feeling hopeless and alone, and frustration of being passed over because of my age, because I am "overqualified" or just too old, or whatever. I am sure many of you have been there. I am trying to figure out and proudly accept who I am now. I have learned so much from my current perspective, and I just keep going.
Wow, Judy, what a fascinating life you have and are leading. You landed on something you loved and made it a big part of your life--Latin music. Then you've used that as an anchor and segued all around it, pivoting with writing, film, and even dance. I so admire you. What a role model you are for others. Keep on keeping on. Blue 💙
Thank you Blue - your words mean a lot!
Appreciate you sharing the reality of the ups *and* downs. Too often people share “overnight success stories” that don’t really help or encourage as they seem beyond reach. ❤️ 🇨🇺
Thanks so much Jelena. I think for all of us who grew up at a time when we looked up to and learned from people with more experience and life knowledge, getting here ourselves and not finding that appreciation - because of the way society, spurred by business, has changed -has been disorienting and dangerous for our mental health..
The good thing is - as these comments show, we are taking back our lives.
Yes, Judy, taking back our lives is so important. Blue💙
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Judy. I’m sure it will give readers here motivation and inspiration. Isn’t it lovely—this life of ours? Blue💙
These stories are truly inspirational. I am 55 and have been in process of reinventing myself and my career for a couple of years. I was doing it half heartedly till now. I always fely I am too late to change careers, start fresh. I can not achieve anything great at this age. But these are really eye openers for me.
Thanks Blue for sharing your story as well as others.
I’m glad you enjoyed the others’ stories. Blue💙
I’m 72 and have settled for a bit. I have a gently growing Substack, recently self published my memoir, am embarking on another, plus writing a book with my daughter (as a way of really staying connected with her as I live in London and she lives in British Columbia). I am passionate about my garden and mitigate the self indulgence by opening it to the public to raise money for charity. I’m part of my local climate change activism group. Despite loving my life, I often feel I am merely marking time before my next big adventure. I’m just waiting to find out what it will be. Have a very strong feeling that I’m not done yet - and reading these other women’s stories make me realise I’m not that weird!
Do me a favor, Jennifer. Change that word “weird” for “alive.” Blue💙
I left the non-profit I was devoted to at 51. Moved to Santa Fe. I’ve enjoyed many art classes, experimented with various art forms. Lived in New Zealand for 3 months and Oregon for two years. At 69 I met a great guy and we happily moved in together. At 76 I’m moving forward with my writing on Substack. My life is never boring.
And not boring is the LEAST I hope for all our readers. Blue💙
That’s an interesting thing to say!
I love reading these stories! I left a 40-year abusive relationship when I was in my late-50s and the abuse did not end straight away. With low confidence and a great deal of self-doubt, having been out of the paid workforce for 20 years, I decided to back myself. Now aged 60, I have published a book, started a Substack and have a sense that I am just getting started. It's great to hear about all these other experiences and to see that life is full of possibility.
I’m so glad for you, Louise. Whoohoo! Published book and now Substack. Yes, once we give ourselves permission, our lives become filled with possibility. Blue💙
So inspiring. A beautiful reminder that it’s never too late.
So many beautiful humans taking the leap of faith and reinventing themselves, thank you for sharing, Blue 💙
My mother was my inspiration. She raised two.daughters nesrly.to adulthood, and while.we were in high school, went to college, got her degree, divorced, and started a new life. Though divorce was never something I aspired to, her determination to keep going and doing better was. Our lives have distinct parallels that I am sure she noticed. But because of her indomitable example, I press onward and upward, after raising 4 children to adulthood and two divorces. You might ask what's wrong with me because I couldn't stay married: the answer is the overcaring, oversharing, rescue-you mentality I developed along the way to prove my worth. Praise God that has been refined out of me. I will help, console, but I will not marry a rescue ever again. Ha.
So onward and upward. One year free now, and looking forward to this chapter.
Thanks for sharing your story, Laura. I’m sure other readers will resonate with it. A good friend of mine once blamed herself for having three failed marriages. I knew her well and she was a very good person. One day I just said, Betsy, the problem as I see it is “You are just not a good picker of men.” Blue💙
I can relate to that! I also have 5 rescue cats and a rescue dog. I rescue. Rescuing men didn't work out so well. I went in with my heart wide open but did not prequalify. Never again.
LOL. The only way we get smarter, IMHO, is through making mistakes! Blue💙
Some of us more than others! Stubborn is one of my superpowers. Under most circumstances, the synonym "tenacious" is a positive application. "Loyal", "determined", and "steadfast" are also good descriptors. Under other circumstances, though, it means I have to fall down a few times before I learn to do things better.
Some of my most important lessons came while “falling down.” Blue💙
I so enjoyed reading all of these do-overs! It gives me great hope. I just turned 60 but 5 years ago experienced a near death experience that I should not have walked away from. I had a bunch of TIAs and a spontaneous bilateral carotid artery dissection and it took me a while to heal. I just started a coaching business this year but I've wanted to have a farm, mostly a flower farm, since I was 25. My narcissistic ex shot that idea down, yet the dream is still alive in my heart! Lately I've been looking for an old farmhouse on some land and I plan to restore the farmhouse and build my little flower farm and make it destination for women who need a bit of restoration. I have been single a long time so I need to develop yet another stream of income to support myself as I age in place. Thank you all for adding fuel to this fire within me!
That's such a wonderful dream, L, and I'm so happy you're going after it. Not only will you have your beautiful flowers, but you'll be building a community and helping other women as well. I'm sure the universe will accompany you on this precious journey. Blue💙