The following is attributed to Mark Twain: "Age is a state of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." At 87, 40 years on from Emily, it's true we are older than we have ever been. However we are also younger than we will ever be, the other side of that coin. I used this quote earlier this morning on another "growing older" post and it seems appropriate here too, so here it is:
Florida Scott-Maxwell, from her book, "The Measure of My Days" which she wrote in her 80's. "Age puzzles me. I thought it was a quiet time. My seventies were interesting and fairly serene, but my eighties are passionate. I grow more intense as I age....Too often our problem is the fervor of life within us. My dear fellow octogenarians, how are we to carry so much life, and what are we to do with it?"
Your interview with the wonderful Emily Raboteau, who, at 47, may seem young to some of us, accurately describes the purpose of interviewing individuals of all ages as “every contributor to this magazine is the oldest they have ever been.” Although I am two decades older than Emily, her responses to your questions were insightful and resonated in my own life. Age doesn’t guarantee wisdom, which is why I like reading these interviews of individuals who are all ages—much younger, my age, and older. My mentor is my youngest sister. She is a GenX, who experienced life differently than I, as a Baby Boomer. And as a mother of a GenZ child (yes, I had a child very late in life!) I’ve had the privilege of remaining current and learning from my daughter’s generation.
I feel honoured to be 67, still wear combat boots, let my dyed hair go grey, anger? I usually 'right' it by writing then try daily to find 10 things to be 'really feeling grateful for' or I write a blog if I feel it can help someone else - but of course we all get 'days' when we're out of sorts, we're human - tomorrow is another day, I try to stay out of the 'poor me syndrome' it puts anyone in a bad state! try to think of what I want, not what I don't haha
I absolutely love learning from the people older than me you feature and those interviews give so much comfort, but I did really enjoy that so much of this resonates with me as someone of a similar age (I’m 43). There was so much that was comforting in that in a different way.
Thank you for this piece! Emily Raboteau may be 15 years younger than I am but she seems very wise in so many ways. I will only say this: as I have gotten older, I’m now parenting adult children (a delight), saying no to more professionally and I’m past the ‘sandwich’ time when my parents were ill/dying- I feel much better physically, much less worn down, than I did 10 or 15 years ago. I’m grateful for this. (also I agree with the whole hair thing- going silver has been incredibly freeing!)
I am always more hopeful when I see those younger than me (69) focused on reversing climate problems.
Regardless of the percent, we all know it's headed in the wrong direction, which I believe is the intent of the sentence. But it doesn't have to continue.
I am not sure if we can share this here, but for some uplifting news on progress we are making with climate, I follow Jessicakleczka on Instagram. Every Sunday she posts 10 or more pieces of positive climate news that happened just this week. It's quite impressive to see the amount of change occuring worldwide in a positive way. It gives me hope. And people like Emily give me hope.
Earth Day is coming up next week. I remember going to an event for the first Earth Day in 1970. 54 years ago, people came together for the first time to state out loud that we have a problem, and we need to come together to solve it. Emily wasn't born yet. We were supposed to solve it back then for our children like Emily. Let's do so now.
"Among my peers who are parenting in nuclear families while working full-time, and also possibly in perimenopause, I’d say I’m pretty much in step. A lot of us are sick. We feel like our bodies are wearing down. Some of us are suffering migraines. One of my friends just had hip surgery. I just had a biopsy of some squamous cells in my cervix. We understand that we should be doing things like weightlifting, and meditation but can’t seem to figure out how to fit it into our schedules because of the work-grind of capitalism". Wow, I really felt this paragraph! Brilliant interview and resonated with much of what Emily said 🌻
I’m 43. I love seeing responses from a wide range of ages.
Also here to to DITTO to Emily’s comment on clothing: ‘I can’t tolerate fast fashion or synthetic fabric anymore for environmental and aesthetic reasons. I only want to wear organic, well-made, properly fitted things in wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton, that feel good on my body.’
I enjoyed this from when you were talking about your 13 year old self. My daughter, who is turning fifty, could have been your mirror image. She even shaved her head. Her uniform was the army boots and camouflage jacket. Glad to see you have both grown out of that phase. I’m sure you have many memories.
COVID not only affected people’s health but also their lives. I, luckily have never had it, but I feel like I have lost those years of my life.
My favorite is your answer to what aging has given you. “…more gratitude about being alive, and more confidence. It’s taken away many doubts and fears I carried about my own abilities.”
I totally concur. Age isn’t a number. We are all aging.
I’m sure you will get the hang of driving that Fiat.
All the best to you. Thanks for sharing with us all.
The following is attributed to Mark Twain: "Age is a state of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." At 87, 40 years on from Emily, it's true we are older than we have ever been. However we are also younger than we will ever be, the other side of that coin. I used this quote earlier this morning on another "growing older" post and it seems appropriate here too, so here it is:
Florida Scott-Maxwell, from her book, "The Measure of My Days" which she wrote in her 80's. "Age puzzles me. I thought it was a quiet time. My seventies were interesting and fairly serene, but my eighties are passionate. I grow more intense as I age....Too often our problem is the fervor of life within us. My dear fellow octogenarians, how are we to carry so much life, and what are we to do with it?"
Your interview with the wonderful Emily Raboteau, who, at 47, may seem young to some of us, accurately describes the purpose of interviewing individuals of all ages as “every contributor to this magazine is the oldest they have ever been.” Although I am two decades older than Emily, her responses to your questions were insightful and resonated in my own life. Age doesn’t guarantee wisdom, which is why I like reading these interviews of individuals who are all ages—much younger, my age, and older. My mentor is my youngest sister. She is a GenX, who experienced life differently than I, as a Baby Boomer. And as a mother of a GenZ child (yes, I had a child very late in life!) I’ve had the privilege of remaining current and learning from my daughter’s generation.
Love this Substack! Thank you, Sari!
Just for the record: the increase from 332 ppm to 421.55 ppm is not 90 percent. It’s 32.9 percent.
I feel honoured to be 67, still wear combat boots, let my dyed hair go grey, anger? I usually 'right' it by writing then try daily to find 10 things to be 'really feeling grateful for' or I write a blog if I feel it can help someone else - but of course we all get 'days' when we're out of sorts, we're human - tomorrow is another day, I try to stay out of the 'poor me syndrome' it puts anyone in a bad state! try to think of what I want, not what I don't haha
I absolutely love learning from the people older than me you feature and those interviews give so much comfort, but I did really enjoy that so much of this resonates with me as someone of a similar age (I’m 43). There was so much that was comforting in that in a different way.
Thank you for this piece! Emily Raboteau may be 15 years younger than I am but she seems very wise in so many ways. I will only say this: as I have gotten older, I’m now parenting adult children (a delight), saying no to more professionally and I’m past the ‘sandwich’ time when my parents were ill/dying- I feel much better physically, much less worn down, than I did 10 or 15 years ago. I’m grateful for this. (also I agree with the whole hair thing- going silver has been incredibly freeing!)
I am always more hopeful when I see those younger than me (69) focused on reversing climate problems.
Regardless of the percent, we all know it's headed in the wrong direction, which I believe is the intent of the sentence. But it doesn't have to continue.
I am not sure if we can share this here, but for some uplifting news on progress we are making with climate, I follow Jessicakleczka on Instagram. Every Sunday she posts 10 or more pieces of positive climate news that happened just this week. It's quite impressive to see the amount of change occuring worldwide in a positive way. It gives me hope. And people like Emily give me hope.
Earth Day is coming up next week. I remember going to an event for the first Earth Day in 1970. 54 years ago, people came together for the first time to state out loud that we have a problem, and we need to come together to solve it. Emily wasn't born yet. We were supposed to solve it back then for our children like Emily. Let's do so now.
It's hard when you grow old. I certainly related to this piece. I'm 50 and feel like I've aged 20 years in four.
What a wonderful "ambition" — for one of her books to outlive her. I like that. All of us who write would love that to happen, woudn't we?
"Among my peers who are parenting in nuclear families while working full-time, and also possibly in perimenopause, I’d say I’m pretty much in step. A lot of us are sick. We feel like our bodies are wearing down. Some of us are suffering migraines. One of my friends just had hip surgery. I just had a biopsy of some squamous cells in my cervix. We understand that we should be doing things like weightlifting, and meditation but can’t seem to figure out how to fit it into our schedules because of the work-grind of capitalism". Wow, I really felt this paragraph! Brilliant interview and resonated with much of what Emily said 🌻
I’m 43. I love seeing responses from a wide range of ages.
Also here to to DITTO to Emily’s comment on clothing: ‘I can’t tolerate fast fashion or synthetic fabric anymore for environmental and aesthetic reasons. I only want to wear organic, well-made, properly fitted things in wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton, that feel good on my body.’
I enjoyed this from when you were talking about your 13 year old self. My daughter, who is turning fifty, could have been your mirror image. She even shaved her head. Her uniform was the army boots and camouflage jacket. Glad to see you have both grown out of that phase. I’m sure you have many memories.
COVID not only affected people’s health but also their lives. I, luckily have never had it, but I feel like I have lost those years of my life.
My favorite is your answer to what aging has given you. “…more gratitude about being alive, and more confidence. It’s taken away many doubts and fears I carried about my own abilities.”
I totally concur. Age isn’t a number. We are all aging.
I’m sure you will get the hang of driving that Fiat.
All the best to you. Thanks for sharing with us all.
Well, I fell in love with someone today. Thank you for that. And learning "grouse," which I never knowingly heard or read before.
Beautiful, inspiring words.
a wonderful read
There are a few unpleasant reactions to this interview-no idea why? Was very informative and interesting