Sherry Miller
So many people were motivated by Iris Anderson in my last post. You remember that she is 80 and still avidly pursuing and accomplishing her dreams. Sherry Miller wrote after seeing my post on the Facebook page of The Boomer Broads, and she is so inspiring I want to share her 61-years-young energy and enthusiasm with you:
Lynne, I started a Bucket list after the movie by that name came out and I read a great book The Sunday List of Dreams” by Kris Radish. I have been a business professional for 34 years. Sometime in the next 2 to 5 years I will retire from the corporate life. I have been working on a plan that will leave me financially comfortable enough that I can choose to do something that benefits people rather than corporations. I also want to choose a healthy lifestyle in weight management and exercise so I will have the well being to enjoy this next stage of life. Let’s face it, ill health is more expensive than prevention.
I will be downsizing and reducing my material footprint. This is to leave me free to allow other things into my life. I want to be more involved in church missions, available to family (grandchildren), to travel, more time to read, spend quality time with my network of women friends (I have 12 friends from HS who email daily even tho we may only see each other every 5 -10 years).
I love to work but not at the time-commitment level that my profession as a Financial Project Manager requires. So I am still seeking my next passion. Lately I have been looking into Aging Gracefully (aka In Place) and the support services Seniors need to help them plan and stay in their homes. I am also looking to my spiritual life and what God would have me do with this next chapter.
I don’t think I am much different from my peers. My 12 friends who are my age are all relatively healthy with different economic means but we all want to be engaged with our families, communities and each other. That engagement is the biggest contributor to successful aging per the Blue Zones study. So I think we are on the right track.
I would add looking at your current posting that I would also like to continue education as I am a lifelong learner. Universities offering senior discounts are much appreciated.
I also will stick with my husband. This is my 2nd marriage and his first. After more than 30 years of being together it would take a break in trust (aka Maria and Arnold) to change my commitment. My husband is 10 years older with health issues so more than likely I will out live him by at least a decade. We accept that possibility and enjoy our companionship now.
Lynne here: One of the gifts I received in maturity was realizing that I wanted to surround myself with positive people, and Sherry is one of those people. I feel energized just reading her post, and I hope you do, too.
Kindle readers can comment by emailing me at Lmspreen@yahoo.com.
Debbie, Ally, Kathy, Friko, Sherry, I am so blessed to be able to talk about these thoughts with you. Thank you all.
Loved these inspiring posts. As a soon to be 59 year old who knows she’ll have to work another 7-8 years, I still hope to achieve some of the “mini bucket list” items before retirement. There is so much to see and experience and so many fascinating people to meet! I have two sisters who are two years apart in age – one is “old” in every way – physically, mentally, educationally, and the other sister, while only two years younger,is vibrant, vital, and one of the most interesting people I know. Our outlook on life and our curiosity to know more and do more can certainly affect our “age”, even if it’s not our biological age. Thanks for sharing these great stories!
Corinne, thanks for sharing your energy with us. You really make the point that so much about aging is subjective. I get that our bodies are mortal, but we don’t have to lay down and die prematurely! You and I are about the same age. Take care of yourself, stay healthy, and keep that great positive attitude. Hope you’ll visit often at Any Shiny Thing.
Friko, I had not realized how I had put my plans to Lynne into the future tense until I reread it on the blog. You are correct there is no time like the present. Unfortunately there are only so many hours in the day.
I am healthy – Sleep is one of those healthy habits I am endeavoring (present tense) to keep. I am supporting a healthy lifestyle as a Lifetime member of Weight Watchers (track those health habits, ladies) and exercise.
I am faithful – As a prayer partner in my faith community which is an activity that can fit in any day and place, like sand around the boulders and rocks of my day’s schedule.
I am a caregiver – As a member of the sandwich generation with aging parents and a boomerang twenty-something child, their worries are my concern too. Sometimes their urgent needs take priority.
Just having a bucket list makes a difference in striving to the next goal of doing a 5k, holding a jewelry party* for friends to get together, or reading the next book on my list. (The jewelry party is a 2 for 1 as it helps my daughter with her new business)
Thank you for your thoughts – what are your I AMs?
So nice to read an uplifting, realistic letter/post. No bitterness, no whining, no judging. I need to remember Sherry’s attitude whenever I get worn out by daily life. She’s an inspiration.
Lynne, thanks for introducing us to Sherry — just one more example of someone with energy and desire to leave the world a better place than she found it. Best of luck to her!
Lynne ,Thanks for having Sherrie and Sherrie you have summarized my exact feelings and thoughts about moving on to the next chapter of living life on your own terms. I love your statement about transitioning from contributing to people vs corporations,focusing on your health,family and your passions. I am very grateful that I will be able to do that in August. It took years of planning for the right time,as you are doing now. I found it to be a bit bittersweet because I love what I do (nurse practitioner), like I was saying goodbye to my best friend. But slowly the desire to move on was greater than the desire to hang on.You will know when the time is right. Wishing you much peace and happiness in your “bittersweet transition” Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Highly commendable. these are all worthy plans and I hope that Sherry will successfully implement them.
Just one observation: What’s wrong with starting on them now? Nobody knows what the future may hold. This is a plan which foresees that nothing will change for Sherry. Sickness can hit at any time, grandchildren want attention now, there are many people who could do with a helping hand now. Etc. etc.
Don’t wait for tomorrow what you can do today. Tomorrow may never come. And no, I am NOT of a negative disposition.
Hi Friko, no, you’re not negative, you’re realistic. Sherry is too, though, so I would bet she is already making headway towards her dreams and passions. Your comment is very much in line with Tim Ferriss’ guidance in “The Four-Hour Workweek” in which he advocates the very same thing. Good to hear from you.