For some of us, turning 80 is right around the corner; for others, 80 might seem a lifetime away. No matter your age, listening to the stories of older women and the wisdom they’ve earned can be instructive and uplifting.

I don’t know about you, but every time I read about someone who has lived beyond the current life expectancy averages of 79.3 years for women and 73.5 years for men, I give a fist pump and feel even more optimistic about my chances of spending more time creating a legacy and enjoying life.

Katharine Esty will celebrate her ninetieth birthday later this year. For her, being in your 80s hasn't meant focusing on survival. "It is," she says, “a time to enjoy a full life with people we love. Relationships are what matter most in life."

Living as an eightyomething today is much different from how it used to be. There are more people in their 80s than ever before. People are healthier and unexpectedly happy. "The stereotypes of people in their eighties as frail, uninvolved, lonely are so untrue," says Katharine. "The vast majority are doing all kinds of interesting "stuff," living independently, and enjoying the gift of longevity.


But what about all the loss that eightysomethings will suffer? How can you be happy with so much heartbreak and with the end zone in view? How can you make new, younger friends? What about this business of being grateful? Is it a bunch of psycho-babble?

Katharine Etsy takes us on a journey of eightysomethings and introduces us to a group of older women and men who are happier now than ever. She shares their secrets and her own. You don't hear many people say, "Oh, I'm so excited! I turn 80 in two weeks!"

After listening to this conversation, you might change your mind.

www.KatharineEsty.com

https://www.amazon.com/Eightysomethings-audiobook/dp/B07QG435WJ/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W7QCvKnVBepwHGKDFaKA614cBJ6KZvLDor1aceAgkEv3NDx3skgAQVM4AXDOyNZ_ZT8h48PCmnwLIBgIAcKjtw.KjAJ-Wb9kHSts5mgdju0TNZoe3lOby4bBB6ZxCInKFI&dib_tag=se&qid=1713821841&refinements=p_27%3AKatharine+Esty&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Katharine+Esty

I believe in the power of stories, and Yvonne Marchese's story is a doozy. She is what she calls a "serial pivotal," person, a person who has changed course many times in her life. For many years, she was filled with frustration, anger, and even depression. The future held little promise. But when she was in her late 40s, she had what she calls a "Mid-Life Awakening," not a Mid-Life Crisis.

Yvonne began to understand why she'd never been comfortable with the uncomfortable and the steps that lead to emotional and physical health. Three years ago, she launched her podcast, "Late Bloomer Living" and has not looked back. She takes listeners on a journey as she and her guests talk about what it means to try new things in mid-life and beyond. "It is not about changing yourself," she says, "but about changing how you think about yourself.

"You are not too late. It is never too late."

Today, Yvonne is not only the host of her podcast but a photographer, speaker, mother, and wife. She is smart, involved, and funny.

On a personal note, it is exciting to hear from women a few decades younger than I am (Yikes!) who are getting their acts together and discovering how to age with zest and enthusiasm. There is no dread here, only excitement about the here and now and the future.

https://www.latebloomerliving.com/
https://www.latebloomerliving.com/community
https://www.latebloomerliving.com/community

In the late 70s, Jan Yager was single and convinced she'd never find a life partner. So, she turned her attention, research, and writing to the importance of friendships and the many ways friends impact our lives. Studies show that a network of good friends makes our lives more satisfying and that, as we age, it is important to replenish our circle of friends.

Yager divides friends into three categories: best, close, and casual. Although there are no hard and fast numbers, she suggests we need one to two best friends, four to six close friends, and, for better or worse, a slew of casual friends like those we meet through social media.

But what happens when a best or close friend betrays, abandons, or wounds us? How do we decide if the friendship is salvageable? How can we try to fix things? Or what can we do if the friendship is no longer worth maintaining? Breaking up with a dear friend can be as traumatic as breaking up with a partner, a family member, or a professional mentor.

With decades of experience as a sociologist, friendship coach, author, and speaker, Jan is the go-to expert. You may be surprised at some of what she has to say and appreciate the concrete tools she provides.

www. Drjanyager.com

When Friendship Hurts: How to Deal with Friends Who Betray, Abandon, or Wound You

Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives

Friendgevity: Making and Keeping the Friends Who Enhance and Even ExtendYour Life

For a selection of other books by Jan Yager, go to
http://www.Drjanyager.com