For me, each year, the period between December 31st, which is the birthday date of my late husband, Russell, and the date of his death, February 7th, is a weird liminal space in which I feel suspended in time.
Every year, it feels like forever and only yesterday since he’s been gone, and it’s especially so this year because it’s a significant number: fifteen.
Read MoreDuring the recent period between Christmas and New Year, I’ve been thinking about liminal spaces, those areas of transition and flux.
I’ve always enjoyed this time because it feels like a resting place between the year I will leave behind and the anticipation of the one to come.
Read MoreI’ve had words with myself recently. They have been stern, with an attempted edge of kindness, because I understand why I’ve been feeling overly emotional. I sit in the peace and comfort of my home in Western Australia, experiencing a sense of helplessness and if I’m honest, a touch of guilt at my good fortune as I hear news of terrorist attacks in the Middle East and the continuing war in Ukraine.
Read MoreTime, and ageing, cross all cultures and societies. They are universal. Similarly, both time and growing older take on new meaning when we are involved in activities that fill us up. Have you noticed how time drags when you are drowning in drudgery, yet it flies past when you are immersed in something purposeful?
Read MoreHave you noticed how much easier it is to connect with someone who is genuine? These people have a knack of making us feel valued in their company. They don’t put on a façade or pretend to be someone they’re not. They are comfortable in their own skin and grateful for the various aspects of their life, both smooth and challenging. Whether they realize it or not, these people have embraced vulnerability …
Read MoreAs June draws to a close, I believe it is safe to say that the first six months of 2020 have not been as any of us imagined. Thinking about this recently, it occurred to me that a wisdom we can all salvage from this time is to release expectations.
Read MoreSelf-care has never been more important than now because what we do individually impacts us all collectively. Let’s be kind to each other and ourselves; be grateful for all small mercies and grace. Allow ourselves to feel somber without falling victim to anxiety’s stranglehold.
Read MoreI have recently been forced to surrender three days of my life to illness. What a waste of time! Or is it? Certainly, during the actually event of being violently sick and feeling too wasted to fight the inevitable inertia, it feels like a complete waste of time. However, in the aftermath of recuperation, I find myself experiencing a sense of renewal and relief. The deepest sensation though is gratitude.
Read MoreI woke up tired this morning. It happens sometimes. What I dislike about this, more than the lethargy, is how vulnerable it makes me feel. Tiredness has the tendency to throw me off-balance and leave me open to an attack of nostalgia.
Read MoreIn her book How To Age, Ann Karpf points out that during the 1940s and 50s, younger people wanted to look older. Vogue magazine even represented the older generation with a model named Mrs Exeter, a woman ‘unashamedly old’.
Read MoreThere are an unlimited number of benefits to those who gain a truly grateful heart, regardless of age. I am briefly listing five that have been conclusively proven. By bringing these to the spotlight I hope to encourage you to consider how you view ageing and perhaps to adapt a new way of thinking.
Read MoreWe begin ageing the moment we leave our mother’s womb and take our first breath. As children we looked to our older siblings and peers, longing to be an age that allowed us to be more ‘grown up’.
Read MoreHello, thank you for visiting! I’m Sally, a 57-year-old working, single mum with two young adult children and Founder of Ageing Gratefully.
Read More
