Law of Attraction

Throughout my life, I have read many books relating to Philosophy and Metaphysics.  In most of them I found a common thread woven throughout, the concept that whatever we put out into the world is what will come back to us.  The description may vary – you reap what you sow, karma, what goes around comes around, like attracts like etc. but all have the same underlying message that is now being referred to as the Law of Attraction.  Everything about this philosophy resonated deeply with me and has taken me on the journey of a lifetime.

There is something very profound and provocative about believing that I can be, do or have anything that I want.  I am learning to follow my heart instead of my mind and trust my intuition about what feels right for me.  Really I’m just an old hippie at heart with my existential beliefs coming back to the surface at this beautiful time in my life.  I remember every day that the purpose of life is to find joy.

Over the past 10 years my interest and awareness has increased to such a level that I am inspired to do something everyday to keep the momentum going.  I love knowing that I have the ability to dictate what is happening in my life, not because I can control the actions of others but because I have control of my own.

Invictus – William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Growth - Expansion

Many years ago I heard Abraham-Hicks say "you can never be less than what you have become".  It resonated deeply with me when I heard it, but I did not fully realize what it meant until I tried to do something that was no longer right for me.

I have been very fortunate to have had a wonderful career, something I just happened upon and it evolved into what I would do for the next 20 years.  I have been toying with the idea of retirement and recently moved to Florida to explore the possibilities and really fell in love with it. 

Enjoying those peaceful mornings having coffee on my lanai, watching the gorgeous sunsets or walking to the farmer's market in town have been more than enough to keep me occupied these past few months.  I often wondered when did I have time for a full-time job? 

I'm still not sure what my motivation was but when I was offered a new contract assignment I accepted the job.  Not only did I have to go back to work, but I had to fly 2,000 miles away to do it.  Living in hotels, spending endless hours at airports and on crowded planes is no way to live. 

I suppose I thought that if I was happy where I was living and just worked on a short-term basis I would be ok until I fully retired - I was wrong.  In a very short amount of time it became clear to me that I could no longer do this.  I was not eating or sleeping properly and my health was already beginning to suffer. 

What I've learned from this experience is that you can not go back.  As your life changes and grows you must keep moving forward.  Always on to the next thing, expanding and increasing in order to be who you are meant to become.

My Magic Wand

Years ago, when I was working and encountered any sort of problem or difficulty I would tell my team that I would just bring in my magic wand and that everything would work out.  I actually had one that I purchased from a local Renaissance Festival - it was beautiful twisted metal wand with a gorgeous crystal attached, but that is not what held the magic.  It was attitude about the situation.


Somehow, I always knew that something good would happen and it would always work out for the best.  Call it serendipity, happenstance or just plain luck, whatever it was I understood that the more positive expectation I had, the faster it would come.  This was a belief I held in all areas of my life.  It seemed like as soon as I joked about it and let go of any attachment then - poof, it would appear!


Yesterday, was just that kind of day.  It began simply enough, I was traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers, Florida and had scheduled a shuttle from the airport to take me on the short 2 hour trip.  It seemed like a great option I love land journeys, they are very relaxing and you get to see areas that you miss by flying.


As always, I arrived extra early because I don't like to rush if I don't have to.  That is another bonus of being retired, I can take my time and set my own schedule.  So, as I'm patiently waiting at the airport, I felt very fortunate to not be getting on a plane, I had fun just wandering around and visiting with some of the nice people there.   

As the pick-up time approached, I went to the designated area and waited there.  When the shuttle did not arrive on time I rang the office to check on the schedule and they said they were running a few minutes late.  No worries, I was fine standing in the fresh air just watching the people go by. 


While I was waiting I met a lovely young couple from Australia who were traveling to visit family in the area.  I love meeting new people wherever I go so it was very nice to chat to them while we waited for the shuttle.  I am a very patient traveler and know that delays happen so I was not concerned until over an hour passed and still no sign of the shuttle.  The office was no longer answering our calls and my phone had completely died. 


After almost 2 hours we began to get a little anxious that they may not be coming at all and we needed to think of other options.  We all needed to be on the other side of the state that evening or we would have to make plans to stay where we were for the night and go tomorrow.  I don't like feeling trapped, I'm sure no one does, but my response is to find out what options are available. 


The golden rule of traveling is to stay flexible and be open to other possibilities, you never know what may happen.  You always have a choice when problems arise and it never helps to get upset or to be rude.  Calmly assess the situation and then decide how you want to proceed.


Fortunately, we were at the airport so had many options for alternate travel.  We could rent-a-car and drive over, we could hire a taxi to take us or we could fly.  All reasonable avenues, and more if we wanted to check into coaches or the train.  Literally the moment we began to decide what option we would prefer, the shuttle pulled up.


The driver was brusk and clearly had been having a very bad day, much worse than ours.  The bus was loaded with passengers that also seemed very tired and frustrated as well but now we were on our way.  

At a short fuel break, I talked briefly to the driver and asked cautiously how he was doing.  It had been a very long day for him, he was actually the owner of the company and had a driver that didn't come in so he had been driving since 4 am and was trying to get all of his customers to their designated locations throughout the state.  He was so warm and friendly and immediately the atmosphere changed for the entire journey.


Sometimes the best things come from the strangest of circumstances.  After arriving safely, having a great dinner and good night’s sleep I thought about what a great day that it had been.  I met some wonderful people and got to see some lovely parts of the state that I'm moving to, everything worked out perfectly.


Perfect does not mean that everything goes to plan.  It means that it works out for the best, usually in a way that will surprise and delight you!


I no longer have that magic wand but its power is always with me as long as I remember to expect the very best outcome possible and know that it will happen.

Published on Sixty and Me

This is My Mindfulness

It is precious and rare that I find myself so totally immersed in the moment that I don’t even have a thought.  Looking out at the clear water, with only the gentle sound of the waves lapping at the shore, I can feel pure peace in my soul.  It’s in these moments that I am overcome with emotion to realize how wonderful my life really is. 

Everything Happens for a Reason

There are no mistakes, no missteps, no accidents ever.  Everything that has ever occurred in my life has brought me to this place.  A place more incredible than I ever could have imagined in my wildest dreams.  When I look back at the road that lead me here I see a maze of people, places and events that you would never expect to culminate in such an amazing way. 

The truly unbelievable part of all of this is that this is just the beginning.  Everything that will come from this is a new and exciting part of my journey.  Something unknown and unexpected but always wonderful beyond belief.

You Get What You Ask For

I smiled when I started writing this post today because the screen saver I have on my laptop is a picture I took while sitting at the shore of the Caribbean Sea in Mexico earlier this year.  I had the same sense of wonder and awe that day and thought how lovely it would be to live in that environment.  Now here I am, just six months later and have a stunning water view right outside my door. 

I begin each day by sitting quietly, looking out at the water and end it watching the glorious sunset into the horizon.  Sometimes it feels like a dream or a beautiful fantasy but it is real and I know that as I continue to appreciate all that there is, that there will be more. 

It Just Gets Better and Better

It makes me laugh when I see how some of the pieces came together, not usually something I would have planned but always perfect for what needed to happen to get me to the next step. 

That is something that I am learning, life doesn’t grow by leaps and bounds, it evolves one moment at a time.  If you’re not paying attention it will disappear the same way. 

Stop and Appreciate

Some people say that life is short and I suppose for some it can be.  For me, it isn’t about the length but about the amount of joy that it brings.  I have had so many different experiences in my life, some great and others truly painful but they all have given me the gift of what I needed to learn in order to grow and move on in my life and for that I am profoundly grateful.  It makes it very easy to appreciate each and every thing because I know it always brings me to a better place.

Be Where You Are Right Now

One of the best lessons I am learning is how to be in the moment.  It is hard for me not to feel like I should race on to the next thing at the speed of sound.  The minute something good comes into my life I am so excited that I’m on to the next.  What I’m beginning to realize is that if I’m going too fast I will miss the experience of having this perfect moment in time. 

Right now I will try to stay where I am, right here, right now and savor every delicious moment.

A Brand New Me

Sometimes, as we age, our true essence can begin to fade. A life that was once vibrant and grand can become subdued and pale. You continue on, day by day, with what needs to done and in many ways, you feel like you are just going through the motions. When this happens, your spirit feels diminished.

After I turned 60, I began to believe that this new state of being was a natural progression and was simply a new pace that I would become accustomed to.

Rekindling the Vitality That I Lost

There were aspects of myself that I felt must be a thing of the past, something from my youth that was not part of who I had become. I was not unhappy or unfulfilled, but, I had lost a great deal of the zest I had previously felt throughout my life.

At the very moment that I needed it most, I met someone kind and gentle who helped to coax me back to my true self. With a little tender persuasion, I quickly responded to all of the life I still had before me and realized how good it felt just to be alive.

There is a Spanish word that describes this reawakening perfectly – “reverdecer” – to make green again, to revive.

Now it feels as if my spirit has been renewed and I have a sense of hopefulness that I have not felt in a very long time. All of the sudden, everything feels possible again.

It Happens So Gradually

We don’t plan on letting ourselves slip away, but, it is so subtle that we may not even notice. Time passes and, slowly, we lose some of the drive that we once had.

It’s not until something dramatic occurs that we remember how we once felt. Then we rediscover all of the enthusiasm that we still have in our hearts.

Just like a daffodil that lay dormant during the winter, in the spring it sprouts and comes to life again. It even bursts out of the snow with a beautiful, irrepressible life-force that cannot be denied.

Reconnect With What Makes You Happy

Do whatever you can to restore and maintain your vitality. It doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t matter how big or how small it is – if it brings you joy, you owe it to yourself to do it.

If you can’t do some of the things you used to do, then it is time to find something new. It is never too late to create the life you want for yourself.

Anything that makes your heart smile will breathe new energy into your life.

There are so many wonderful ways to continue to nurture and feed our spirit and all of them make life worth living.

How have you changed since getting older? What are the things you do now to keep joy alive in your life? Join in the conversation and share your stories!

Published on Sixty and Me

My Downsizing Adventure

I’ve been considering moving for several years now. I have wanted to downsize and move somewhere warm and be close to the water.

I’ve grown weary of the cold winter weather in Colorado and no longer need to live in such a big house. I thought a small condo in Florida would be perfect, so I began my scouting mission.

After visiting a few different cities, I settled on Fort Myers in the Southwest part of the state. It’s much smaller than Denver and seems like a very nice area. I really appreciate that the population is much closer to my own age and there are a lot of activities geared toward older adults.

Little did I know that this move would come with plenty of surprises!

A New Lifestyle

Living in that environment would be a dramatic lifestyle change for me. I would no longer be dependent on a vehicle as many areas are within walking distance.

There is also a vibrant downtown area with many year-round activities that I would really enjoy and it would also give me the opportunity to meet more people and be a part of the community.

The Time is Right

As I began sorting through my things, I wondered how many emotional landmines I would hit that might make me reconsider my decision. Surprisingly, there were very few and I knew that I was ready for this change in my life.

I saved the most precious of my belongings and mementos and let the rest go. It was time to make some new memories.

My New Home

I found just the right place, a lovely, secure condo, overlooking the river with everything I wanted right outside my front door. This was so exciting, now all I had to do is put whatever I’m keeping into storage, rent my house and move into my new home.

It’s amazing how much energy you have when you are preparing for something new!

Plans Change

Just a couple of weeks away from the move and I got a call from my realtor. The owners had decided not to sell the condo and were taking it off the market.

I was actually out with my family when I got the call. I thought I would be more upset by the news, but that was not the emotion that surfaced. Somehow, I felt that it was all for the best and for some reason this was not what was supposed to happen.

So now, with no home to go to and no idea of what I was going to do next, I thought seriously about just staying where I am, at least for the time being. That didn’t feel right either, so with no plan – I’ve decided to go anyway.

Opportunities Are Endless

In the past, when I’ve dared to take a big risk, I always asked myself “what is the worst that can happen?” The answer has never been anything that I couldn’t deal with or accept so it made it a lot less scary to go ahead with it.

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Now, after a few of those things turning out better than I could have ever imagined I have learned to ask myself “what is the best that can happen?” The answer to that is why I am going.

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I believe that everything works out exactly as it needs to and that there are so many wonderful possibilities that I must be meant to discover. So, I will take this grand opportunity and see what develops.

The Adventure Begins

So, now that my journey has changed from a relatively safe and easy relocation to an uncharted expedition, I feel nervous and more than a little anxious. Fortunately, I also feel very free and unencumbered. I will pack my one carry-on bag and just see what lies ahead.

The very best that can happen is that I have a fantastic adventure and have many new stories to tell in my next article!


Wishing you all safe and happy travels!

What major life changes have you made since turning 60? Have you downsized or moved to a completely new area? What motivated you to make such a big change in your life? Share you stories and join the conversation!

Published on Sixty and Me

Everything I Was Told About Getting Older Was Wrong

Getting older was something that I always heard the women in my family talk about. They discussed how awful the “change” was and said that life would never be the same again. It was always a very sad and disappointing topic.

As I got older, I began to dread what would occur when I reached that stage in my life. I wondered how I would even know when it happened to me.

Appreciating the Journey

Through the years, I have always looked forward to getting older because it meant that I would no longer be the youngest woman in my family. I might even be taken more seriously.

As I watched my friends and family struggle with turning 30, 40, 50 and 60, I realized that I wasn’t feeling any of the angst that they were experiencing.

I was grateful to be healthy and alive. I appreciated reaching all those milestones that many in my family had not. As each decade passed, I found myself happier and more in tune with myself than I had ever been.

Finding Self-Acceptance

I was beginning to discover things about myself that I had never known – things that were a part of me but had never been allowed to develop.

Slowly, I was beginning to understand that it was important for me to accept and appreciate my own true nature. I began to realize that it was more important to be true to myself than to try to please others.

Time Flies

The years pass so quickly. When you are working and raising a family, you hardly know where the time goes.

I barely remember turning 30 or 40. Turning 50 was different, but not for the reasons that you might expect. I had a serious medical condition that forced me to stop and reassess my direction.

It was about that time that I began to remember all of the stories about how the change would be the beginning of the end. Somehow, this concept just didn’t feel right and I wasn’t going to give up that easily.

A Holiday Changed My Life

I was fortunate to have a very insightful doctor at this time in my life. She said she would not let me return to work until I had taken a proper vacation – out of the country. She knew that, if I were anywhere near my place of business, I would keep working. She was right.

I didn’t even realize how bad things had become until I had to pull off of a country road in Europe because I was crying so hard.

That trip changed my life forever. I suddenly realized that I was now the oldest woman still alive in my family. I also realized that if I kept going the way that I was, I wouldn’t be the oldest for much longer.

Time to Take Care of Me

It was time to finally put myself first and, once I began to treat myself with love and kindness, I very quickly became spoiled.

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All of a sudden, I had no tolerance for being unhappy or unfulfilled. I sought out every possible resource to learn how to navigate this new path.

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I took strength and encouragement from other women. It didn’t seem like a lot to ask. I just wanted to be happy.

The Change Begins

During my 50s, something profound shifted inside of me. I was suddenly so grateful for all that I had in my life and truly appreciated everything. I finally realized how wonderful my life was.

Ironically, it was at this point of acceptance that my life started to change in ways that I could not possibly have imagined.

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It seemed like the more grateful I was, the more I had to be grateful for. My life just got better and better.

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Along the way, I discovered other women who were experiencing this same metamorphosis. It was fantastic to realize that this was not just a random event – this was my new life!

Now, just after turning 60, I am excited to see what this new change will bring. No matter what, I know that the best years are yet to come!


What messages did you receive from your family members about getting older? Did you have an experience that changed your perspective on the aging process? Please join the conversation and share your story.

Published on Sixty and Me

International Women's Day

It was very interesting to be a young girl growing up in the 50s and 60s in America.  The attitude and expectation prevailed that if you were female you were subordinate to men and should only aspire to be a housewife and mother.  If for any reason you did not have a husband and had children at home, you were an outcast in most communities.  It was simply not acceptable to be a single mother in society at that time.  I remember my own mother's struggles as she worked for less than half of a man's salary for the same work and could barely make ends meet. 

A Changing World

When the Women's Liberation Movement began, it sparked a desire in me that would change the course of my life forever.  An entire world of opportunity seemed to be developing right before my eyes and I was enthralled.  I was too young to grasp the full gravity of the change that was occurring but I knew it felt like freedom to me.  It meant that I had choices that I never thought I would have.

With the Civil Rights Movement and the Sexual Revolution happening at the same time, it felt like the culture of discrimination and repression were being toppled.  Suddenly, everything seemed possible in a world that had felt so closed and restricted.

We’ve Come a Long Way

Fast forward 50 years and I look around me at all of the incredible achievements by women during that time.  I am thrilled to see how far we have come but know that there is still so much work that needs to done to provide a better future for all women. 

What were your experiences growing up as a female in your society?  What changes were the most significant in your life?  Join the discussion.