Month: December 2023

We have been travelling the world full time since 2013, and we have found some friendly travel destinations that we have enjoyed. We think that you will enjoy them too.

The Must-Haves

But first, let’s
consider the most important features that gain our attention. Our check list
includes:

• Safe for travellers;
• Good to travel to in spring and autumn without
  breaking the bank;
• Great food choices and walking tours – our favourite things that we enjoy doing when we arrive into a new
  place;
• Reasonable accommodation in the city centre
• Safe and reliable public transportation
• Additional offerings, e.g., history, culture,
  architecture;
• The destination’s most well-known characteristics;
• Ease of getting there, e.g., international or local
  airport, train station, bus station.

Ajijic, Mexico

Mexico is one of our favourite countries,
though we do get a lot of questions about safety when travelling through its
territory. Over the years, we have spent about nine months travelling through
many areas, and safety was no issue at all. One of our favourite destinations
was Ajijic just outside Guadalajara.

We were house-sitting for a couple of weeks
and enjoyed living like the locals. Ajijic is well known for its weather and
perfect conditions all year round. The Lake is a focal point and offers a
Malecon that is well utilised throughout the day by locals and expats alike.

On Wednesdays, there is the market in town
where you can buy locally produced fruit and vegetables at very good prices.

The market also offers kitchen goods, clothes,
music, souvenirs and more. It is a great meeting place for locals and expats
who catch up for coffee at one of the many cafes around the square after their
shopping.

On Sundays, local streets that lead down to
the Lake are closed to traffic. Restaurants and bars spill out onto the roadway
and lay out their tables and chairs whilst local bands play throughout the day.

Stockholm, Sweden

Another favorite destination suitable for baby boomers is Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden.

Stockholm is expensive and we would definitely
recommend travelling in the spring and autumn seasons to help keep costs down. It
ticks all of our requirements, e.g., safety, transport, tours, history, culture
and architecture.

There are many day trips available by train to
the regions just outside Stockholm, e.g., Roslagen and Sormland. You could even
spend a night or two on one of the small islands in the Swedish Archipelago.

When in Sweden, you must enjoy ‘Fika’. Fika is
Swedish for time to catch up with friends over coffee and a bite to eat. It is
part of their daily routine, so why not make it a part of yours too!

Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor in Montenegro is another favourite boomer destination. We
recommend staying outside of the Old Town in Prcanj, a 5-minute taxi ride away.
Prcanj is a small village located on the Bay of Kotor with stunning views over
the bay to the mountains. Kotor is drop dead gorgeous.

A few minutes’ walk along the coast road from Prcanj, and you can enjoy local fish restaurants right on the beach with breathtaking views. If you dine in the Old Town, you can expect to pay higher prices.

A boat tour from the Old Town will take you to
the middle of the bay where you can visit the local Catholic Church and museum known
as the Lady of the Rocks. You will wonder how they managed to build it. It did
take 200 years. Locals would return from a sea journey and place stones to
create the foundation.

If you enjoy a walk you could hike the 1,350
steps to the Fort that overlooks Kotor; it is well worth the climb for the
view. If you visit in spring or autumn the weather is cooler for the hike, but
you will need to remember to take water and apply sunscreen.

Further read, 12 BEST EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS FOR WOMEN OVER 50.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you look
for in a travel destination? Do you have a check list? Do you have any recommendations for friendly boomer
destinations? Please share them below.

Originally posted at: Dorit Kemsley’s Houndstooth Jacket

It didn’t seem possible that, at the age of 63, I would follow my dreams and become a model. I had done some modelling much earlier in my life when I was in my 20s and early 30s. I was one of the first generation of plus size models and had such fun doing photo shoots for magazines and newspapers, showcasing the latest trends and fashions that were available for us bigger girls.

Back then, we really didn’t see too many older or larger models gracing the catwalk or being featured in magazines, and it was so exciting to be a part of this growing evolution in inclusivity and body diversity.

If Not Now, When?

I had this dream about returning to the modelling world and rekindling the joy and fun that I had experienced as a younger model. However, I kept putting the idea on the back burner. I told myself that I was too old to even think of doing this again, and anyway, who would be interested?

I was also concerned that I wouldn’t be able to do it as I have arthritis. How would I cope if I was having a bad day? However, no matter how much I tried to dissuade myself from following this dream, it just wouldn’t go away.

Year after year, the idea grew and grew until it came to a point where I thought that I would have to at least give it a try.

So often, it’s easier not to take action on our dreams because then we can tell ourselves that we never failed. But then we never really went after them, did we? However, it got to a stage where I knew that even if it didn’t work out, I could at least tell myself that I had tried, and this felt good to me.

For me, I realized that it was more than just about modelling again. It was about being visible in my own life. It was about having the courage to say I still have dreams; I still want to experience new things and I still want to show up in new and wonderful ways in my life. I am also passionate about the pro age movement which is all about celebrating our age and not allowing negative stereotypes of ageing to hold us back.

Your Dreams Are There to Call You Forward

What are your dreams? Have you considered what you are passionate about? What fills you up, delights you or makes you feel alive? These are your clues to something that is just waiting to be seen, heard or born within you.

Do you follow these whispers of your inner wisdom, or do you allow them to fall by the wayside? Neither way is right or wrong. All that matters is what brings you a sense of fulfilment, joy, peace and that you have honoured yourself.

I met the most fabulous lady in one of my body confidence and age empowerment workshops. She shared that she had a secret dream of writing a book. It had been with her for 40 years. The timing had never been right for her to do it. First it was her family that took priority and then it was a project at work and after that she spent much of her time caring for her elderly parents.

As she spoke in the workshop, her voice trembled with emotion as she wondered if she would ever finally write her book. It transpired that she had lost confidence in herself and her ability to write. I asked her if the dream was still there. She nodded, yes.

I wondered who would write the book if she didn’t. She shrugged her shoulders and said that no one could because no one knew her story. I asked her if this was okay with her. That her story would never get told. She shook her head and said that it wasn’t.

At this point, her energy changed and she seemed to sit a little taller in her chair. She said, “But how do I do it? How do I start this journey? It feels overwhelming and maybe I’ve left it too late.”

The first thing to remember is that it’s never too late. There is always a way, even though that way may be completely different from how you imagined it to be.

As the workshop continued, I shared some of the most powerful tools and deeply helpful attitudes that we can have for manifesting our deepest desires. I share five of these tips here with you today and hope that they help you to take action on your own dreams and wishes. I am so happy to say that the lady from the workshop is currently pursuing a book deal with a fabulous agency.

Five Steps to Fulfilment!

Never Ever Give Up

Many people quit their dreams just before they were about to manifest themselves in their life. When what we desire doesn’t happen immediately, it can feel challenging to keep going. We may get tired or despair of anything ever changing.

We may have faced rejection after rejection and in the end, we stop trying. However, if it matters to you, it matters that you find a way to bring your passion to life. So often, we may look at people who seem to have succeeded in making their dreams happen as if they have been an overnight success.

However, as many of these folks will tell you, the “overnight success” has been 20 or more years in the making!

Own Who You Are and Use Where You Are!

At 63, I am not the young, dreamy woman I once was. I have gone through my own life challenges, and I know more about what I want now and why I desire it. For me, becoming a model was all about promoting the message of positive ageing. That even in our 60s, 70s, 80s or beyond we are still visible and have a passion for life.

Take stock of where you are and think about how you can use where you are right now in the most positive ways. Everything you have been through is valuable and when you create something from this perspective, you are creating authentically.

Take Inspired Action

This is a huge one. It is no good just talking about what you desire to have happen in your life – you need to take little steps of inspired action every day. Inspired action is about following up on your innermost knowing.

Look for the things that make you feel alive or whisper to your heart. Begin to notice where and what you feel drawn to and be open to taking opportunities that come your way which feel in alignment with your dreams.

Act as If What You Desire Has Already Happened

I love this one because it puts you into the space of already having achieved your dreams and goals. In order to manifest anything new in our lives, we need to live from the perspective that we are already there. Practically, this means feeling the joy that you would feel if you had already achieved your goals.

It means embodying a sense of excitement and happiness that you have already achieved what you desire. Children do this automatically. If they want to be a queen, they walk around the house like a queen and wear dress-up clothes that make them feel as if they are a queen.

As adults, we need to rekindle some of the joy that we once had as children and enter a world of make believe. This way we begin to “prime” the mind and body for what is to come as we mentally rehearse and play with our visions.

See the Bigger Picture

Our dreams are there to call us forward. Perhaps we seek to create something new in our life or we may have dreams of starting a business, going back to college to study, writing a book, becoming an artist or song writer or simply, we desire to live in surroundings that support us and make us feel connected to the earth.

It doesn’t matter what your dream is, it matters that it holds meaning for you. It is in the pursuit of our dreams and desires that we grow and discover more about who we are. Every struggle brings an opportunity to find a solution; every knock back helps to build our resiliency. Every success can be shared with someone else and ultimately, we can pass on the knowledge that we have gained and inspire others to also follow their dreams.

As someone who has lived with Arthritis for over 20 years, this feels like an exciting and new adventure for me to be on. I hope that I can bring a positive voice to anyone who has ever felt that they are not good enough or that they don’t fit in or are struggling with their own health issues.

Go and Do It

I do hope this helps. If you have a passion to rekindle something you loved to do, go and do it! Don’t let anything stand in your way. Refuse to allow your wild and wonderful spirit to be tamed or think that you can’t do something.

There is always a way. It may mean that you have to change the way you do it or find a different route, but it can be done. You are far too precious not to follow those things which bring your soul alive and bring you fulfilment, joy and inner peace. If you would like to follow my journey and receive more tips and motivation, please follow me on Instagram @romancingyourbody.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What dreams would you love to rekindle? Have you started working on their accomplishment?

As a 60+ woman, you may ask yourself, “What am I doing with my life?” Or, maybe you’re thinking, “I want to experience purposeful living, not just fill my time.”

Perhaps your sense of purpose was all wrapped up in raising a family and/or your career, but things are changing, and you’re feeling a little lost.

We all want to feel like what we do day in and day out matters.

In fact, plenty of research has shown that identifying and pursuing a purpose improves our physical and mental wellbeing. Studies show that individuals with a sense of purpose tend to experience increased longevity, improved sleep quality, a strengthened immune system, reduced stress levels, and enhanced cognitive function.

But to reap the benefits, our purposes must be anchored to specific positive impacts and the meaning they have for us. Purpose, impact, and meaning are closely related. We need all three to fulfill our human potential and determine what our life will add up to.

Whether you’re going through a life transition, reflecting on your future, or just yearning for more depth and significance, a closer look at these three enablers of purposeful living is always a good idea.

Purpose Is What You Stand For

Purpose is your intention to make the world a better place in some way. It’s a cause (or causes) you believe in and are willing to stand up for in your daily life.

It’s about adding more love to the world.

It could be something as personal and close to home as helping a loved one deal with a long illness. One of my intentions is to support my husband through chemotherapy, ongoing treatments, and positive mindsets for his chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Maybe you feel called to help underprivileged women and children in your community.

Maybe you love and want to help preserve Mother Earth in some way. Perhaps you want to protect animals in your neighborhood or in the wild.

Like me, you may love books and reading and want to promote that in your community.

Perhaps you love art or music and want to contribute beauty to the world. My friend Ruth loves music, has been teaching piano to children for over 30 years, and can’t imagine ever wanting to retire.

To rediscover a sense of purpose, ask yourself, “Who and what do I love? What am I willing to stand for and work towards?”

Impact Is What Happens from Your Purpose

While purpose is about potential, impact is about reality – the unmistakable effect or influence you have on a person or a situation. Impact is the specific difference you make – what happens from your purpose. It’s something that can be observed and measured.

For example, my husband’s cancer keeps going into remission through the healing power of my love and positivity, plus the passion and skills of his oncology team. As we all stand for his potential wellness, our impact is seen through lower lymphocyte counts in his blood and his quality of life.

Ruth sees her impact when her piano students are excited about new learning and experience the joy of making music. It’s obvious when students are practicing and making progress.

Ask yourself what measurable positive impact you want to make in your world.

Meaning Is Derived from Your Impact

Meaning is subjective and unique to each and every one of us. It’s about why we do what we do and the feeling we get from it.

I experience tremendous significance in standing for my husband’s wellbeing. The positive impact of my support is undeniable and brings me great satisfaction.

When I ask myself why, I realize it aligns with my values of higher love, compassion, and zest for life.

Ruth derives much meaning from spreading her love of music and helping expose children to the arts. Why? Because the universal and enduring nature of music touches us all profoundly and promotes authentic self-expression.

A simple way to connect impact and meaning is to repeatedly ask yourself why and stay curious about your answers.

Your next chapter can be your most vibrant and purposeful one yet. The world is waiting to be enriched by your unique gifts – the purpose, impact, and meaning only you can bring. As author Steven Pressfield wrote in The War of Art, “Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you ever wrestled with purpose, impact, and meaning? If you’re nearing retirement, do you have a plan for feeling purposeful when the time comes? If you’re retired now, do you feel a little lost? Or maybe you did at first but found your way again?