Category Archives: aging with grace

There’s no age-limit on dreaming

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While strolling along the river’s still-frozen shoreline with Sir Beaumont the Sheepadoodle, a thought struck me with the suddenness of the squirrel that had crash-landed on our deck this morning, scrambling for an escape. This thought – “Why are you so concerned about aging, Louise?” – whirled through my mind, refusing to settle despite my efforts to focus on the present.

It was relentless. As if possessed a life of its own, operating independently from my conscious self. Ever experience that? When your mind feels detached, a whirlwind of thoughts you can’t seem to control?

Right. And there I am wandering off topic. Back to the present…

The crux of my concern isn’t so much the personal fear of aging. It’s about our societal attitudes towards aging and how these collective perceptions shape not only our individual beliefs but our experiences as we age. They influence how we see ourselves, our abilities to contribute and find meaning, and our place within families, communities, and society at large.

Society’s view on aging deeply affects our personal viewpoints, beliefs and actions.

But there’s more to it than societal perceptions. The frequency and tone of portrayals of aging in advertising, movies, social media, and other media forms often diminishes as we grow older, making us feel invisible or irrelevant. This invisibility, this sense of being wrong for aging, is deeply concerning.

In my time working in the homeless-serving sector, I strived to change narratives individuals experiencing homelessness, our perceptions of homelessness and how we support those living it. I made an impact.

Now, as an older adult, I’m dedicated to altering perceptions around aging. My mission is to rekindle a sense of wonder and power in living and aging, encouraging individuals to embrace this journey fuelled by the knowledge they are not irrelevant or without agency. Our wisdom, experience, contributions make a difference.

So yes, I do ponder on aging a lot. Not out of fear, but out of love.

Aging comes with its set of unknowns and changes. However, I’d rather meet these changes head-on, actively participating in my own aging process, than hide away, passively awaiting the end.

I aspire to live each day fully, infusing every moment with wonder, awe, and curiosity. To keep unfolding my dream of a world where every life has value, no matter their age, origin or fairth. Let my every breath be a testament to a life lived beyond the confines of complacency, striving always to create better.

Let my every act inspire others to take action to engage with their aging in love with their dreams unfolding and their life well-lived.

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If you are interested in learning more about how to age with passion, purpose and pizzazz, join me on April 12 at 9am MT, for my 90 minute free masterclass, Radiant Bold Aging. (Click on image below to register)

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“Joy transcends age; it’s not confined to youth. It’s a universal treasure that spans all ages, reminding us that to experience joy we must embrace the journey of life with love, laughter, gratitude and compassion every day.” Louise Gallagher

As I sit before my computer navigating various sites to launch thep of unveiling another chapter of the Radiant Bold Aging Masterclass, and transforming my two-month ReEnvision Your Journey program into a six-month quest to champion women in crafting the life of their dreams, age notwithstanding, my journal pages have blossomed with musings on JOY.

What essence it holds, whence it springs. What, if anything, fills its void when it gently slips away? In its absence, where do I seek refuge? And why, oh why, does joy hold such paramount importance?

These existential ponderings, to me, are not just intriguing—they are essential quests for understanding.

Today, merrily working in my studio, with the melody of birdsong heralding spring to the barren branches of the trees that line the riverbank, and sunlight dancing on the snow-blanketed earth of our backyard, I found myself cradled in the sheer joy of the present.

Joy—like an ocean wave—envelops me, washing away the remnants of turmoil. It saturates my being when I cease to engage with joy’s thieves: resentment, regret, anger, sorrow, and the mundane grievances against the world’s bad drivers and the monotony of customer service scripts. Ah, those familiar foes.

I’ve come to realize that irrespective of age, emotions crash upon the shores of my consciousness, uninvited. To truly know Joy, I must allow these feelings to be swallowed by the temporal tides, and in their stead, embrace love, self-compassion, mindfulness, and the endless possibilities each moment holds.

In such moments, my heart feels lighter, my thoughts as clear as the rainbow stretching across the sky after a storm, and I am embraced once more with Joy.

Such a profound, exquisite blessing.

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Click image to register

What is this Aging Thing Anyway?

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Breaking News! Every single day, we’re all getting a little older.

I know, right? It’s pretty mind-blowing when you stop and think about it.

But here’s the thing: there’s this moment, this elusive line we cross, where suddenly it feels like the world is tapping us on the shoulder and saying, “Hey, guess what? You’re not just aging gracefully anymore. You’re officially ‘old’.”

Especially in our western society, where youth is worshipped and older folks often get sidelined, ignored in mainstream media, and sort of pushed to the sidelines of our conversations.

This past weekend, Third Action Film Festival held their 2024 Film Festival — a festival focused on shifting the narrative around aging to more age postive through sharing film and programs that tell the stories of older adults and the remarkable, everyday lives they lead. For a film or documentary to be eligible for the festival, the leading character must be over 65.

Those types of films and stories are hard to find, not because there aren’t a lot of older actors and people capable of starring in the films and documentaries. Nope. It’s because of a thing called ‘symbolic annihilation’. That’s where a certain group or cohort (like older people) are under-represented or simply not portrayed in mass media, including film, advertising and the internet.

As humans, when we don’t see ourselves represented in the media we consume, we begin to feel invisible, like our stories don’t matter, like we don’t matter. It can lead to feelings of isolation, aloneness, confusion and despair. Who am I if no one else sees me and I can’t see myself in what everyone else is seeing? Do I matter?

As an age and aging activist, I believe we all matter. We all make a difference, and as Mother Theresa suggests, this ocean of life in which we are all collectively swimming would be so much less without each of our drops.

Fact is, one day, each of our drops will evaporate from this ocean of life. It is part of the circle of life. Let’s not fade any drops out before their time. Let’s hold each drop as precious, every life as important to the whole of life.

So instead of fading into old age, let’s fade out that invisible line between getting older, and being ‘old’. Let’s start celebrating older age as a gift, a privilege, an amazing state of being present in this world.

‘Cause, the fact is, regardless of how old I am, my life will never be old to me.

What about you? What do you do to keep your life from becomng old news? Are you aging with passion, purpose, pizzazz?

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If you’re craving some tips on how to age with passion, purpose, and pizzazz, I’ve got a few spots left for my Radiant Bold Aging masterclass tomorrow. Check it out and join the party! Find out more HERE

Oh, and full disclosure: I didn’t make it to the festival this year. Life got busy, and I needed to hit the pause button for some much-needed self-care. But from what I’ve heard, it was one heck of an event. And you know what? I’m not even feeling the FOMO, because I had the most wonderful, rejuvenating weekend which culminated with dinner with friends and family. Sometimes, that’s just what the soul needs.

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As I journey through the inevitable process of aging, I’ve come to realize it’s high time I extend an apology to my body and seek its forgiveness.

Growing up with a blend of East Indian and Catholic influences, I’ve absorbed various cultural perspectives, but am, by and far, a product of western culture. In our Western-centric world, I’ve often treated my body like an Uber for my brain – a mere vehicle for my thoughts and ambitions, sometimes paying it with rich nourishment, sometimes with trash-talk and trash TV.

But here’s the challenge: although I might treat ‘my body’ as simple the arms and legs to move my head around, there’s no body-mind separation. I am my body – my body is me; it’s not just a sidekick I occasionally acknowledge like a distant cousin at a family reunion. My body isn’t just a vessel; it’s me, through and through.

And here’s the kicker: my mind has this annoying habit of trash-talking my body, especially those parts that are showing the wear and tear of time or my own neglect. Which, to be clear, given that there is no part of me that isn’t all of me and my body, when I call my right knee which is currently in one of its depressive states, stupid, I am calling all of me, stupid.

What’s even more amusing – or perhaps alarming – is how I feed my mind with garbage and then blame it for feeling sluggish. Hello, pot, meet kettle! Pouring junk into my “mind” is akin to dumping it directly into my body. Remember, there’s no compartmentalization here.

So, it’s time for a heartfelt apology to my body – and that includes my mind, my whole being. I’ve realized I’ve been verbally and at times physically, abusing myself in a way I wouldn’t dream of with my closest friend.

Mind, body, et mois are inseparable. We are one.

Forgiving myself is a crucial step in aging gracefully without lugging around the baggage of self-condemnation. It’s about letting go of the unkind words I’ve whispered to myself and the neglect I’ve inflicted on my body by treating it like a second class citizen in the world I inhabit.

Ultimately, forgiveness isn’t just a ticket to peace; it’s the path to gratitude. This morning, as I listen to the geese honking and watch them strut and fluff their wings on the ice bar where they are gathered, the sun is gracefully painting the sky in hues of rose and gold.

This is my world and all of me is welcome, no scratch that, needed in my world. In this place where I sit, one with the world within and around me, all of me gives thanks for this miraculous, mystical, and yes, occasionally creaky, vessel that houses the entirety of who I am.

Saturday Morning Haiku – Homage to Omar Khayyam

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I still possess The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam I gifted my father in October, 1972. I know the date as I wrote it on the inside cover when I gave it to him. A voracious reader, my father had a remarkable knack for recalling passages from beloved texts, often prompting me with, “What does that mean to you, Little One?”

I loved it when he called me by my nickname, a name only he used. It brought me closer to the enigma I always saw him as.

A not very patient man himself, whenever I displayed hints of my own impatience, he loved to quote from The Rubaiyat. “The Bird of Time has but a little way To fly — and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.” I’d sigh and say, “Slow down. Enjoy the moment.”

He never just skimmed the surface of words; he delved deeper, seeking their core meaning. He also never gave me the deeper meaning, asking always to probe, to think about it, to consider the possibilities.

It is this legacy of questionning and probing I cherish most. His reverence for the written word gave me glimpses into worlds I never could have imagined. Books were sacred in our home, so sacred, he never marred their pages, except to inscribe a note inside the cover when gifting one.

In contrast, as the youngest of four, often feeling overshadowed by my only brother, the son upon whom the sun rose and set, or so I thought, my small acts of rebellion included annotating my books. This habit, perhaps a way to feel connected to my father, persists despite his admonitions I not do it.

This morning, as a flock of geese echoed over the river, my mind wandered to my father, his adoration for words, and the Rubaiyat. Inspired by Val Boyko’s inquiry on her blog, Find Your Middle Ground, “What brings a spring in your step these days?” I went in search of my father’s copy of The Rubaiyat and crafted this haiku.

Spring is on the wing,
Geese sing nature’s symphony—
In rest, time flows on.

Opening the book, I discovered my youthful dedication: signed, “The Brat.” This nickname, bestowed by my mother, was one she urged me to outgrow as I neared the end of my teenage years. “You’re not a child anymore,” she remarked once, with a wistful sigh, “though sometimes I wonder.”

That period marked a significant year—I had presented my father with The Rubaiyat and embarked on a bold attempt to attend university in Moscow. This move drew the attention of the Canadian security service, sparking a series of interrogations fueled by concerns over potential communist ties. Immersed in the world of my father’s spy novels, I found the situation amusing rather than alarming, cheekily inquiring, “Do you think I’m a spy? How thrilling!”

Thankfully, my father was acquainted with the interrogators and eased their concerns. “She’s merely pushing boundaries,” he assured them. “It’s just her way.”

Now at 70, it remains my way: to constantly challenge myself, to push boundaries, and to explore how high I can soar without wings.

This morning, geese rest upon the frozen river bank. And though I cannot ascertain the remaining flight left in their wings, I vow to extend my horizon until time rests.

Thanks dad.

Radiant Bold Aging – March 26, 4 – 5:30 pm MDT

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Welcome to the “Radiant Bold Aging” Masterclass

Embark on a transformative journey where aging is not just a process, but an art form. This masterclass is tailored for those who aspire to step boldly into their next chapter, cherishing each moment and living free of the past. This masterclass is your guide to thriving at any age, celebrating each moment with grace and creativity.

Join Me and Discover 3 Vital Secrets to Living with Purpose, Passion and Pizzazz.

 The “Radiant Bold Aging” masterclass invites you to redefine aging as a period of growth, creativity, and mindfulness. With a focus on embracing your beauty and truth, cultivating creative expression, and nurturing a mindful connection with yourself and the world around you, this course offers a path to a life filled with vitality, relevance, and energized enthusiasm.

Register now and celebrate the art of aging with grace, creativity, and mindfulness.

Click on photo above or CLICK HERE to register for this Free Masterclass

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A Masterpiece of Time

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Winter has returned for a visit this week. Temperatures that hovered several degrees over freezing for almost a week dove into Arctic temps over night. Back out came my long heavy down-filled coat, fur-lined boots and warmers for my mittens.

When you’re a human to a dog in northern climes, weather must be weathered, regardless of how cold the winds might blow.

This morning, as I walked along the river, immersed in a world of Mother Nature’s wintry artistry on display, my thoughts drifted back to a quote I included on the vision board I crafted at last night’s ReWrite Journey workshop. “I am going to make everything around me beautiful– and that shall be my life.”

The universe, it seems, is my silent accomplice, generously dusting the landscape with splendour and awe.

This morning, as Beaumont the Sheepadoodle and I meandered through the woods, I paused to marvel at the splendour of a world cloaked in winter’s magic, reminding me of another quote that appeared on my vision board last night. “Seek to see the magic in the moment.”  

Even with the mercury clinging with chilly determination to -18°C, with windchill, – 26C, magic shimmered all around me. Each breath I exhaled danced like white mist before me. And, even though the mistiness of my breath forced me to shed my sunglasses, which had steamed up above the scarf safeguarding my face against the biting cold, I couldn’t deny, the world looked even more beautiful when I saw it through clear-eyed wonder.

Beaumont bounded through the snow, sniffing and snuffling at the base of trees and fallen logs and with every step I took, my thoughts cascaded back to this morning’s meditation and its gentle reminder: “Acknowledge the beauty present in every moment.”

It was all there before me.

A symphony of light playing upon snow-draped branches, two Canada geese skimming the surface of the ice-covered river their wings swooshing in harmonious flight, a squirrel, embodying the spirit of the woods, bounding energetically across the earth before leaping up into a tree with one enthusiastic stretch of his body. And on the strip of river still joyfully flowing free of winter’s icy embrace, sunlight sparkling like the dancing fairies I used to spin stories about when my daughter’s were younger.

Enchanted magic, all of it

Eleanor Roosevelt once remarked, “Beautiful young people are merely accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.”

In the exquisite and enduring splendour of nature, which has witnessed aeons more than any of us, I breathe deeply into the truth of her words.

Our human nature is to grow older. Mother Nature, in her perpetual cycle, is a masterpiece of time. As am I. As are you.

Radiant Bold Aging

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Sir Beaumont and I were walking with a friend who shared her hesitation about taking a much-anticipated trip. Her husband’s mother is not in the best of health, sparking fears of what might happen if she becomes ill while they’re across the world. It’s a valid concern, yet it cuts both ways. What might happen if they went on the trip? And what if they didn’t?

As I’ve grown in wisdom and life, I’ve learned that dreams wither without action, and with age, the belief in our potential can dim and, even fade away.

Ultimately, facing the question, ‘What might happen if I do, or don’t’ transcends more than just the realities of our day to day living. It brings us to the portal of possibility, opening us up to all that is possible when we choose to live beyond our fears, our comfort zones, and, our limiting beliefs. Ultimately, it asks us to lean into the question – Do we let worry and fear hold us back? Or, do we seize life’s opportunities, whether that’s embarking on a journey, returning to school, or asking someone out.

For me, it’s about overcoming fear to launch the business I’ve dreamt of for so long.

Doing nothing about it was keeping me stuck in that place where my dreams were just that—dreams, withering as I grow older and feeding into the diminishment of my self-confidence and growing doubts about my abilities and capacity to stay Vital. Relevant. Energized.

As an example, last October, despite my reservations, I traveled to Ireland alone. Overcoming the “monkey mind” that wanted me to stay put, ‘be realistic’ – the timing was all wrong. Travelling alone was scary… yada. Yada. Yada. I realized that succumbing to the incessant monkey mind chatter full of fear and doubt, was keeping me mired in inaction. Not stepping out of my comfort zone to travel alone, not giving myself permission to believe in my own capacity to ‘be okay’ whatever happened, which included renting a standard, not automatic, car with the stick shift on the left hand side of the steering and navigating uber-narrow Irish roads on the right hand side, was me buying into the notion, I’m too old.

I am not too old. I’m simply the age I am – and being 70 doesn’t mean I can’t learn new things, try new ways, explore new adventures. Not doing those things because I’m afraid will only teach me how to live a life unfulfilled, draining my vitality, relevance, and sense of contribution.

Aging is an inevitable journey from birth, but how we age is a choice. Our bodies, like roads exposing potholes after winter, accumulate aches and pains. However, with regular maintenance—exercise, nutrition, rest, and check-ups—we can manage or prevent these discomforts.

Living fully means facing fears and embracing life’s opportunities. It’s about proactive maintenance of our physical and emotional well-being, ensuring our life’s roads are navigable and our journey fulfilling.

What about you? Have you faced a moment where you had to choose between safety and growth? How did you decide, and what was the outcome? I’d love it if you shared your stories below. Let’s inspire each other to fill the potholes on our paths and move forward with courage and purpose.

We’re all aging. Let’s do it with passion, purpose and pizzazz! Together.

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And… I am holding a free online masterclass to share some of the secrets of aging. It’s March 26, 4 – 5:30pm MDT — click HERE if you’d like to learn more or to sign up! There are limited spaces available and it would be lovely to see you there!

The Art of Ageless Living

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There comes a time when the silence of complacency becomes too loud, when the ordinary hues of life demand the extraordinary — a spectrum that defies age, transcends time, and shatters the monochrome barriers of convention.

This is not a whisper of hope, but a war-cry of resolve. The path ahead is not littered with question marks, beckoning uncertainties and doubt. It unfurls before me as a boundless canvas, aching for the stroke of my wild heart’s palette. It’s not the years that define the artistry of living, but the living that defines the years.

With every dawn, I stand at the threshold of the unknown, armed with the audacity to dream and the paintbrush of my soul, dipped in the vivid inks of passion, courage, and unbridled zest. I am here to declare, not just to the world but to the very essence of my being, that my journey is not a timid tread but a stride of a maverick spirit.

The future beckons with open arms and a dare — to splash, to swirl, to blend the unexpected into a masterpiece of my own making. I answer with a resolute heart and a vision unclouded by the ‘coulds’ and ‘shoulds’. My every step carves a unique path, my every breath fuels the fire of creation.

This is not just living; this is living agelessly, where every moment is a bold brushstroke on the canvas of time. Watch out world, for here I come — not as a fleeting shadow, but as an indelible mark upon the tapestry of tomorrow.

The future is mine to paint, with all the shades of audacity and the contours of a dream realized. The question mark has been erased, and in its place, a declaration — to live boldly, wildly, and utterly agelessly!

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I am in Vancouver visiting my daughter and family. I’m loving the time and also, taking time to craft my manifesto, my path forward as I carve space to welcome into being.. The me I’ve been waiting for.

I don’t have my paint supplies so have been playing with AI to generate images for my Dare Boldly: The Art of Ageless Living progam.

It’s been a fascinating exploration of AI and its capabilities to be a medium for creative expression. 

The image in both quotes – the one at the heading of this post and the one below — were both generated by AI — it took much prompting and clarifying — and while I continue to be committed to my artmaking, it sure was a lot of fun!

We Are All Woven in Time

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Morning light dances
River flows endlessly by
Love’s presence endures

Light dances upon the water’s surface, where the river, bordered by ice, flows freely. When my gaze fixates on this dance of light, the river appears deceptively still, a mirage of tranquility amidst its constant motion.

This illusion mirrors life itself. Often, it feels as if time has stalled, yet subtle markers – a passing birthday, a fading memory – remind me that life is in perpetual motion. Nothing remains static. Life, like energy, is ever-moving, evolving, and transforming.

Around this time, four years ago, our family gravitated towards a tender reality – the dimming light in our mother’s life at 97 years old. She sensed her earthly journey nearing its close. She spoke of loved ones lost and a divine presence that had been her constant companion, waiting in the wings to reunite her with them.

In her last days, each breath she took seemed to suspend time. It was as though her breaths could continue indefinitely, even as her heart quieted. After 97 years of what she often described as a life of loss and worry, my wish wasn’t for her to stay but for her to see the legacy of love she wove through life’s tapestry of hardships, sorrows, and joys.

Throughout my life, my mother’s vision was often clouded by darkness, her joy overshadowed by a lifelong battle with depression. I recall, as a child, yearning to craft a bridge of words that could lead us from her tormented moments – like those standing in the kitchen, when she held a knife to her breast and cried threats of self-harm – into a realm of unceasing light.

It took years to understand that I would never be powerful enough to build that imaginary bridge for my mother. And longer still to realize that despite my resilience, darkness touched me too. It was a therapist’s simple question many years ago about my own quiet depression that cracked open my self-awareness, challenging my perceptions and inviting introspection.

Since then, much has shifted. The icy hold on my constant smile has thawed, giving way to authentic emotions. Embracing both joy and sorrow, light and darkness, I’ve grown to love all parts of myself – and my mother. Understanding that to appreciate the light fully, we must also honour the darkness by falling in love with all of it — darkness, light and the shadows between.

Watching the light dance on the river this morning, I saw life’s constant flow – the passage of time, the interplay of light and darkness. And through it all, Love, in all its manifestations, moving unbounded, weaving through every moment, cradling me in the eternal circle of Life woven in time through my mother’s loving hands.