There is another new study of women and aging which concentrates on planning for this future as reported in the New York Times., April 26, 2016, by Jane Brody, in “Planning For The Seventies and Beyond.” It is based on interviews rather than science and the subject of a new book, “70Candles! Women Thriving in their 8th Decade,” by Jane Giddan and Ellen Cole, available at taoinstitute.net/70candles.
Reading Jane Brody’s review sounded familiar. Read the entire article here. The book covers much of what this Grandma has blogged, grand mothering, exercise, travel, maintaining and developing passions and friendships, rethinking the future as to retirement and health. . . . as a Boomer grandmother. With a good dose of denial and an emphasis on staying and thinking young, I refuse to address the remaining themes of the article and book, ageism and adjusting to loss and death.
When I read about a grandmother knitting for a great grandchild not yet on the horizon and leaving a note in case she was not around at the birth, it hit a poignant note. My mother, GG (great grandmother) held her first great grandchild and then went on a knitting spree, knitting sweaters (in ivory and yellow) and many throws in pink and blue and red and blue combinations for those that might come after she was gone. They were worn and still used by her three additional great grandchildren she never saw. Somehow, I know she smiled as she knitted them all and smiles still. Jane Brody wrote another article on the health benefits of knitting for The New York Times. Who knew knitting can stave off pain and a decline in brain function with age. Read that entire article here. Knitting is something I learned from GG, but this Boomer grandmother never had the time for. . . .maybe when I am in my eighties.
Meanwhile, I continue my exercise and health regime. I was happy to see the link at the bottom of the article to a 12 minute yoga routine that is recommended for those of us Boomers who care about our bone health:
“The 12 poses, by their English names, were tree, triangle, warrior II, side-angle, twisted triangle, locust, bridge, supine hand-to-foot I, supine hand-to-foot II, straight-legged twist, bent-knee twist and corpse pose. Each pose was held for 30 seconds. The daily regimen, once learned, took 12 minutes to complete.”
This Grandma, a twenty year yogi, can personally attest to the health benefits of yoga mentioned in a study in the article:
“Yoga is good for range of motion, strength, coordination and reduced anxiety,” he said, “all of which contribute to the ability to stay upright and not fall. If you don’t fall, you greatly reduce your risk of a serious fracture.”
Of course, the author is again Jane Brody. Take a look.
This Grandma, of the Boomer Generation, is a working grandmother, and although the “70Candles!” book review and article cleverly mention “re-tiring,” “like putting new tires on a car,” this Grandma focuses on using the wisdom one has attained in a new way. Most importantly, I try to involve my grandchildren in the process.
This grandchildren visit to Florida, I took my two older grandchildren to watch me work, take photos of me, co-workers, and them at my workplace, and had them take photos of my diplomas, certificates, plaques and awards that I have accumulated over a long work history. I am going to create a Shutterfly photograph book of my work and theirs. A work friend and colleague suggested a photo book instead of keeping all the memorabilia in a box probably never to be opened again, so I cannot take credit for the idea. However, surprising to me, the grandchildren want me to still box the memorabilia when I retire! I think involving them in this project made my life’s work more real to them. They want my “stuff” and I now know my personally rewarding career is part of their memory bank of my life. A win-win!
Yes, Grandpa and I have almost completed traveling to all of the wonders of the world, on every various wonders list, but we still have hundreds of World Heritage sites to check off, and the locations are remote and challenging. We cannot wait for the time to travel for a month at a time rather than fit travel into two week work vacation blocks.
Will I read this book as I enter my eighth decade? I hate that the article and book say only “a quarter of American women age 65 [are] expected to live into their 90s,” but love that “there could be quite a few years to think about.” This Grandma perceives, or at least wants to perceive, that the seventies are just the beginning of young-old, as GG ( my mother-in-law) coined. Yes, I and each of my friends now discuss aches and pains and ailments as never before, but we do not accept any limitations that may come upon us. The book and article talk about planning and coping for a possibly, and more probably, different and limited future.
No, I will not read the book. . . .in this next decade, but remember it exists in this blog post. Forever young is this Grandma’s mantra! Denial spurns activity, action, and youthfulness. Denial is
Joy,
Mema
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