I’ve never paid too much attention to age. Although part of this was, no doubt, because I grew up as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who didn’t celebrate birthdays. I believe it is primarily because of how I’m wired. Since childhood, I’ve always had lots of energy, a positive attitude, a playful spirit, and a zest for living. I always feel the same age inside.

Even when I look in the mirror and blow my latest wrinkle a kiss or rise from sitting and hear a new pop or crack and say “I love you my lower back pain,” I still sense that same youthful delight inside. Yes, Gladys (my body’s name) is aging, but I’m as spirited, spunky, and eager to take on each new day as ever.

I play a little game with myself (because one of my guiding principles in life is to infuse fun into everything) where I add the numbers of my chronological age together each year. This way, my age never exceeds the teens; even if I live to be a centenarian or beyond (which is my big goal, BTW).

Which is why I was caught by surprise when I found myself experiencing a midlife awakening (nope, not a crisis), an unfamiliar awareness of my mortality for the first time. It solemnly waved at me during Covid. I never experienced Covid myself, but a realization of how this virus was impacting people’s lives around the globe was especially sobering, similar to what it was probably like for the majority of the world (isn’t that mind-boggling to know that it impacted everyone around the world?).

For me, though, something more was bubbling underneath the surface beyond the pandemic. That summer, I released everything I was participating in (lots of volunteer gigs and personal projects) with the exception of my work coaching teens and young adults experiencing foster care and homelessness, which shifted from in person to virtual. I felt directionless. For the first time in my life, I was standing, no, sitting on the edge of a precipice with no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. I was clear about me, who I was/am, I just didn’t know how to answer, ‘what next?’.

I’m not sure how, but the book Hidden Blessings: Midlife Crisis as a Spiritual Awakening wandered onto my radar in November of that year (when the student is ready, the teacher appears). That content, along with the online companion course figuratively grabbed my soul, challenged my life story at that time, and helped me understand the need for a purposeful shift.

In the summer of 2022, I even decided to resign from that coaching role. I no longer had the energy to provide meaningful support to this special population, and it was evident that the organization’s and my values were slowly diverging. It simply wasn’t fair to them or to me to continue. As providence would have it, about two months before this release, another coaching opportunity with more flexibility, autonomy and a new start was presented to me; the right fit at the right time.

Here I am, now, in 2024, two years later, still unfolding into my purpose in my second act. I’ve learned SO much over the last few years that I’d love to chronicle, and in the process provide some support, provoke a little thought, sprinkle some encouragement here and there, suggest a few proven approaches, and more.

Which brings me to Aging Holistically, a name I chose as a reminder to myself to fully embrace aging from a place of wholeness, grace, love, joy, playfulness, and curiosity. And, to ignore any cultural norms and narratives that suggest otherwise.

Aging Holistically is a curated resource for 50+ go-getters, sprinkled with original reflections, to inspire vibrant and intentional aging in our second act. As a holistic vitality coach, I combine my unique coaching style (triple-certified: life, career and holistic health) and 15+ years of experience to support your journey to wholeness, purpose, and completion.

Expect an exploration of nutrition; movement; self-healing; energy balancing; mental, emotional and spiritual well-being; social connections; our relationship with nature, how to create a satisfying and meaningful work life, and more.

Together, let’s challenge conventional aging narratives, embrace self-acceptance, and cultivate a life that reflects our inner vitality!

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