"I’ve begun to become aware of myself as an elder and am slowly embracing all that goes with that: mentorship, responsibility, life experience I can pass on and share."
I learned a new word! Lacunae! It's a great day when I learn a new word. And I love Dani Shapiro. i couldn't put Signal Fires down. I took it with me a few weeks ago when I visited Iceland - I actually carried a hardback on the plane! Being in Iceland and watching the sky for northern lights related beautifully to the book. Dani, the skill in which you combined the intertwining stories and timelines just blew me away. Thank you so much. I'll be 60 in May!
Honest and inspiring! I love the idea of becoming more of a sensualist as we age. Also I will NEVER stop wearing jeans and boots, and might, y'know, die in them one day!
Yes, the Helen Mirren comment! I love your questions, Sari. They really let us get into the person, and it's warming to my heart to know that we Oldsters are so at one with each other while still being our unique selves.
Adore her. She combines bracing clarity with a gentleness of vision that gets me every time.
(And ditto to feelings about having written/said stuff like "I'm about to turn an age I don't want to look." It's hard not to look back at that obliquely commoditized/objectified "cute girl" and not feel such tenderness.)
I love this. I'm staring 60 in the face, and I feel like I've known (about) Dani Shapiro all my professional life. Reading her stuff in the late, great women's magazines, her columns, her books. I've also got a 23-year-old at home and a 27-year-old out in the world. Also dealing with this strange new body that isn't as bendy and 20 pounds heavier. Also trying to lean into just being the elder, and not caring much at all what people think of me. If they're thinking of me at all, which most aren't, I know this now. I've let my hair go white and I've stopped wearing contacts. I'm manifesting the crone I've always wanted to be. And what really helps? Being among sister crones going through the same transition. So thanks for this.
I’m 61.5, my body most days tells me I’m 75, but my mind always tells me I’m 35. I catch myself dumbfounded when I look in the mirror sometimes! I also wrestle with the “what should my wardrobe look like” conundrum. I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t give a damn, I’m just going to wear what I love and feel most comfortable in (which really doesn’t include anything too wild)! Thank you for this article-fascinating!
Love these stories. So inspiring. I am 67 and have measured my Heart Rate Variability every morning for 5 years. It still matches the 30-39-year-old demographic as I set myself up for the Centenarian Olympics. But the 102-year-old woman I saw the other day still leading fitness classes blows me away. She said she'd retire when she gets old! I'll have what she's having! #AgewithAttitude
Agreed about Helen Mirren! Would that we could all have what she's having.
What a tender, wise, kind, lovely human!! I feel so lucky Dani is amongst us. And I second her thoughts on Helen Mirren!
I learned a new word! Lacunae! It's a great day when I learn a new word. And I love Dani Shapiro. i couldn't put Signal Fires down. I took it with me a few weeks ago when I visited Iceland - I actually carried a hardback on the plane! Being in Iceland and watching the sky for northern lights related beautifully to the book. Dani, the skill in which you combined the intertwining stories and timelines just blew me away. Thank you so much. I'll be 60 in May!
My body tells me that I am 64, but my mind tells me I'm 20 or more years younger.
Honest and inspiring! I love the idea of becoming more of a sensualist as we age. Also I will NEVER stop wearing jeans and boots, and might, y'know, die in them one day!
60 is the new 35 🙌
A role model for writing ... and now aging. ☘️❤️
Loved this. Love Dani.
Yes, the Helen Mirren comment! I love your questions, Sari. They really let us get into the person, and it's warming to my heart to know that we Oldsters are so at one with each other while still being our unique selves.
Adore her. She combines bracing clarity with a gentleness of vision that gets me every time.
(And ditto to feelings about having written/said stuff like "I'm about to turn an age I don't want to look." It's hard not to look back at that obliquely commoditized/objectified "cute girl" and not feel such tenderness.)
Happy to see this one. Always love reading Dani’s words.
Enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing!
I love this. I'm staring 60 in the face, and I feel like I've known (about) Dani Shapiro all my professional life. Reading her stuff in the late, great women's magazines, her columns, her books. I've also got a 23-year-old at home and a 27-year-old out in the world. Also dealing with this strange new body that isn't as bendy and 20 pounds heavier. Also trying to lean into just being the elder, and not caring much at all what people think of me. If they're thinking of me at all, which most aren't, I know this now. I've let my hair go white and I've stopped wearing contacts. I'm manifesting the crone I've always wanted to be. And what really helps? Being among sister crones going through the same transition. So thanks for this.
I’m 61.5, my body most days tells me I’m 75, but my mind always tells me I’m 35. I catch myself dumbfounded when I look in the mirror sometimes! I also wrestle with the “what should my wardrobe look like” conundrum. I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t give a damn, I’m just going to wear what I love and feel most comfortable in (which really doesn’t include anything too wild)! Thank you for this article-fascinating!
Love these stories. So inspiring. I am 67 and have measured my Heart Rate Variability every morning for 5 years. It still matches the 30-39-year-old demographic as I set myself up for the Centenarian Olympics. But the 102-year-old woman I saw the other day still leading fitness classes blows me away. She said she'd retire when she gets old! I'll have what she's having! #AgewithAttitude