When life throws you lemons, you can suck ‘em, get heartburn, and run around burping. Or you can make the proverbial lemonade with just enough sugar so you enjoy your beverage. Not too much, though, ‘cause you don’t wanna gain weight.
In fact, I’ve been making lemonade from lemons my whole life. Which I proudly define as a complex amalgam of unusual twists and turns, including ongoing mental health issues and a particularly rough late-in-life crisis. So fun! Yay! “But what did you I learn while riding the roller coaster of life?” Well, I learned that hope is the driving force of survival and personal growth. And that healthy aging means never stop dreaming.
Recently my life’s story was the subject of an interview on Own the Grey, a podcast hosted and produced by Debra Jones, a healer and therapist based in Ottawa. Own the Grey is a special place for men and women over 50 who don’t fit into the traditional “aging person” image. And are still cool. Like me. And you – I mean if you’re over 50. If not, don’t worry. You’ll get there. I just know it. If you’re ready now to listen to my story, please click here. Or read on for a bit if you’d like.
Soooo, the story I told Debra and her listeners is informed by a lifetime of dreaming. Coupled with the fact that I’ve always lived to work. I think that, even when I was quite young, I understood that earning my own money, doing work I loved, led to independence — from parents, future spouses, social conventions, becoming a bag lady, etcetera, etcetera. Indeed, as I reached my late 50’s, I literally couldn’t tolerate the “R” word – retirement. If someone asked me, “Hey, Amy, when are you retiring?” I would immediately run from the room screaming, “freeeeedommmm.”
MY HEALTHY AGING STARTED EARLY!
Here’s a bit of backstory: as a young girl, I engaged in pretend play in my bedroom, door shut, no interruptions from my parents, where I was a teacher with a real blackboard, chalk, and an eraser. My students — dolls and stuffed animals – used my old workbooks to take notes. I also created a grocery store with a cash register, play money, and products to sell my customers – my dolls and stuffed animals who came shopping after school.
Engaging in this play made me feel powerful, that I had agency in the world. I was somebody. I was da boss. Noteworthy, I think, is that I never engaged in mom play. Never pushed my dolls in a stroller, fed them, or changed their diapers.
In my early 20’s, I earned a master’s degree in English, dreaming of teaching in college. But every New York cabbie I ever met had an English degree so I wisely scuttled that plan. Instead, I joyfully entered the world of public relations, throwing myself 150% into promoting products like Foster Grant sunglasses, French’s mustard, and Hebrew National franks.
Then, one June morning, at age 29, about to hop out of bed and go to work, BAM!!! I was hit by a mental lightning bolt. CRAAASSSSHHH!!! And, in that electrified moment, I knew, I absolutely knew, that I had to become an actress. What??? You see, my father was a playwright and theater was in my blood. Easy-peazy! Lemon-squeazy! Just put a plan together to make an acting career happen. Next stop on the dream train: Broadway!
At 30 and for nearly 10 years, I was an acting student, working actor, and acting teacher with a side gig as a public relations writer. Fabulous! Difficult! Discouraging! Empowering! And then I had an accident. Crutches! Surgery! Physical therapy! Despair! BOOM!!! I couldn’t teach, audition, or work outside my home. Next stop on the dream train: my own PR business!
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
And now, I’m going to invite you to tune in to the whole interview, titled Wisdom of the Modern Elder. And remember, healthy aging goes hand in hand with dreaming! So I suggest that no matter how old you are – or how young – you open yourself to your dreams and find a way to pursue them. For your happiness and the benefit of others. It’s never too late. To listen to my interview, please click here.
Amy,
Congratulations and well done!
This is sooooo inspirational 👍🎉👏🏻
To lifelong dreaming,
Rick
The thought of my being inspiring inspires me to do more inspiring! Thank you for listening.
Fantastic podcast. Posted on Facebook. I feel that I know you so much better now that I’ve got the backstory. As long as we keeping moving forward, life will continue to have meaning, but….you gottalaff.
Doing the podcast reminded me how lucky I’ve been to have the freedom to follow my passions. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts along with the link. Your voice comes through so strongly in your writing, it’s like I can hear your words (and laughter) in my head. And with the link, I can hear your actual voice too! 🙂
You have paid me the highest compliment. Thank you for listening and commenting!