Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

Originally posted at: Melissa Gorga’s Brown Leather Woven Skirt

Click Here to Shop Additional Stock

Photos: @rhonjobsessed

Originally posted at: Dolores Catania’s Black Sheer Lace Dress

Real Housewives of New Jersey Last Supper Looks…And What to Wear When You’re Meeting with Your Enemy

The fate of Real Housewives of New Jersey is unknown, but it sounds like tonight’s finale is the last supper for this group that we’ve grown to know over the past few years. And maybe for some faces we’ve known for the past 13 to 14 years! So here’s a tribute to their look, along with a guide to wear if you’re going to meet your enemy, in honor of the way glam and drama are done in the Garden State.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Dolores’s Dress // Melissa’s Skirt // Jenn’s Suit // Margaret’s Necklace + Top (unconfirmed) // Jennifer’s Dress // Rachel’s Jumpsuit (similar) // Teresa’s Look (similar – we couldn’t find an actual Chanel match) // Danielle’s Look // Jackie’s Look (not found)

Originally posted at: Real Housewives of New Jersey Last Supper Looks

As a life coach, I often guide women through various life transitions and challenges, from career shifts to personal losses. Recently, I experienced a situation that illuminated a particularly poignant form of loss: being ghosted. This experience, though not unique, can be especially jarring when you’re in your 60s and beyond. It highlights how important it is to address and process these emotional upheavals.

The Ghosting Experience

Ghosting, the act of abruptly cutting off communication without explanation, is a phenomenon often associated with younger generations. However, it’s an experience that can deeply impact individuals of all ages. Recently, I found myself on the receiving end of ghosting. A close friend, someone I had shared numerous conversations and meaningful moments with, suddenly vanished from my life without any word or warning. I reached out several times out of concern and seeking an explanation, but crickets!

The sudden silence was jarring. The friendship had been an essential part of my life, a source of companionship and support. When the ghosting happened, I was left dealing with a mix of emotions: confusion, sadness, and a sense of betrayal. It felt like an unceremonious end to something that had been valuable and cherished.

Emotional Impact and Processing

Being ghosted at any age can be a difficult experience, but for women in their 60s and beyond, it can carry additional layers of complexity. At this stage of life, many of us are already dealing with significant transitions, such as retirement, shifts in family dynamics, or the loss of loved ones. The abrupt end of a meaningful friendship can feel like an additional, unexpected blow.

The lack of closure can be especially painful. It leaves us with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of unresolved feelings. As a life coach, I frequently work with women facing various forms of loss – whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a career, or the dissolution of a long-standing relationship. However, loss without explanation can be particularly challenging. It often leads to a more profound sense of confusion and self-doubt.

Finding Closure and Moving Forward

One of the most important aspects of dealing with ghosting is finding a way to process and eventually find closure. Here are a few strategies that can be helpful:

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Allow yourself to feel and express your emotions. It’s natural to experience a range of feelings, from hurt to anger. Recognize these emotions as valid and give yourself permission to grieve the loss.

Reflect on the Relationship

Take time to reflect on the positive aspects of the relationship and what it meant to you. This can help in accepting the loss and finding a sense of peace.

Seek Support

Don’t hesitate to reach out to trusted friends, family, or a professional therapist. Sharing your experience and feelings can provide comfort and perspective.

Focus on Self-Care

Engage in activities that nourish and uplift you. Prioritize your well-being and engage in practices that bring you joy and relaxation.

Embrace New Connections

While it’s essential to process the loss, it’s equally important to remain open to new relationships and experiences. Life is full of opportunities for new connections and growth.

The Role of a Life Coach

My role is to support women in navigating these kinds of emotional challenges and transitions. The experience of being ghosted can serve as a valuable learning opportunity. It can highlight areas where we need to strengthen our self-worth and resilience. By working through these experiences, women can emerge stronger and more self-aware.

Ghosting, while painful, can also be an opportunity for growth. It can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself, and one’s needs in relationships. It can also serve as a reminder of the importance of clear communication and mutual respect in all connections.

Being ghosted in later life can be a particularly tough experience, amplifying feelings of loss and confusion. However, by acknowledging and processing these emotions, seeking support, and focusing on self-care, it is possible to find healing and growth. As a life coach, I am committed to helping women navigate these complex emotional landscapes, turning challenges into opportunities for personal development and resilience.

How I Dealt with Being Ghosted

Dealing with the loss of my friendship has been a deeply reflective journey for me. Initially, the sudden silence left me with a whirlwind of emotions, from confusion to sorrow. However, I’ve been working through these feelings by allowing myself to fully acknowledge and process the pain.

Engaging in self-care and leaning on my support network of friends has been crucial. I’ve also found solace in reflecting on the positive aspects of our relationship, which has helped me find some semblance of closure. This experience, while painful, has reinforced my commitment to resilience and growth, and has deepened my empathy for others navigating similar losses. I have decided to let go of the past and realize that some friendships naturally have expiration dates, but the experience is never a loss.

Remember, every ending can pave the way for new beginnings. The key is to approach these experiences with compassion for yourself and an openness to the possibilities that lie ahead.

Also read, Embracing Life’s Lessons as I Grow Older.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you been on the receiving end of ghosting? Have you ghosted somebody? Did you ever learn what happened? Have you found the courage to reach out to the other person and explain why you cut them off?

I love nature, but I live in the city
I love silence, but I am surrounded by noise
I love to listen, but I am drowned by my own thoughts
I love play, but I am forced to work
I love giving, but I am with a taker
Why have I done this to myself?
Today, I begin.

I was tired. I, like so many of us, raised my children as a single mother. Ran a business, started a second business, ran that until both ran me. Many of you will agree that life usually doesn’t get easier as you get older; it gets harder. It’s a different type of harder though, filled with emotions and problems you would never have foreseen in your 40s and 50s. It’s a myth that one day everything will be smooth and easy, including living alone.

In early 2020, I felt nudged to move abroad. Rather than wait to find someone to move internationally with me, or continue in a life that felt old, I shrugged and resolutely packed my bags.

I bought a ticket to Ecuador.

How to Move, Solo

In 2022, after my daughters went off to college, I gave all my furniture away to my neighbors who had just bought a house. They didn’t have enough money to furnish it, so they rented a truck, pulled it up to my back door, and removed everything. This could’ve felt like a stripping down, instead I felt overwhelming relief that my belongings were gone. I felt free, unburdened. Then I boarded the plane to Ecuador and haven’t looked back.

Living solo in a foreign country is akin to the night before getting married. You are excited for the future, but also know it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Here in Cuenca, Ecuador, there are over 10,000 expats from the United States and Europe who are either retired or nearly retired, so there is a dearth of interesting people to connect with. Everyone is an outsider and eager to help, make friends, and sample the latest cake and coffee shop on the corner.

After 24 hours in Ecuador, I found a furnished loft apartment near a bird park in a quiet part of town. I live alone but can be surrounded by friendly locals or expats whenever I feel like it. If you are a social butterfly, you will feel right at home with a full social schedule! The local population doesn’t really mind that we are here and put up with our spanglish and idiosyncrasies well enough.

In Hot Water

For example, my gringo neighbors wanted hot water in the kitchen. This might seem like a necessity in the western world, but here, and in many countries, it’s not important. I lived in the UK for 4 years in the early 1990s, and we never had hot water in the kitchen. It took too long for the water heater to heat up and subsequently caused the water bill to be higher, so no one cared about hot water for dishes.

My neighbors in Cuenca, fresh from Atlanta, had a mild temper tantrum over the issue of no hot water in the kitchen and caused our mutual landlady to roll her eyes in disbelief.

Now they have hot water in the kitchen, but are moving because they want a bigger kitchen. Gringos.

Food for a Fist Pump

Perspective can be a challenge when living in a third world country. Here in Cuenca, we have farm raised fruits and vegetables at the outdoor market about two blocks down. They are so fresh, most are still laden with dirt. My total food bill for the week is around $50 USD, with no GMOs or “why does this food look fake with no flavor or nutrients” going on.

Everyone who moves here loses weight and feels better, causing many a happy fist pump! What a concept. So you have to accept the good with the maybe not so good or mildly different and you will be fine.

A common phrase is, “Roll with it.” If you can’t roll with it, don’t come.

Sex Over 60

What about relationships if you don’t want to stay solo? I have a close friend in her late 60s who says she has had more sex since moving to Cuenca than ever in her life, and she was married for 10 years. It’s a wonderful thing that most Ecuadorian men don’t give a flip how old you are; they are passionate lovers of all.

A word to the wise; don’t look for commitment (from the locals) or timeliness. Ever. Roll with it.

Don’t You Miss Your Kids?

As for myself, I like being solo. The silence is beautiful, and when I need some community, it is available with little effort. There is always a party happening someplace in this town, and if you speak Spanish, you will never be without an activity or a super cute player to flirt with. Which begs the question, are any of us lonely or missing our kids and grandkids? Most of my friends are solo, so I asked them about this.

Across the board, my peeps sometimes feel lonely, but are so engaged with life they don’t dwell on it. I’ve learned that the keyword to enjoying life abroad and staying connected with family back home is budget. You concurrently save a ton of money on nearly everything, and then spend it on international travel. That being said, everyone becomes a genius at finding cheap flights and working the system as much as possible.

Key words: “roll with it” and “work it”.

How to Travel on the Cheap

In a nutshell, some apps are better than others, and you learn to shop like an OG (Original Gangster). My favorite apps are Hopper, Google Flights, and Momondo. If you do adapt to travel, you will find visiting family to be a fun excursion from a tranquil life into the madness of western society. Yes, you will probably miss people, and then there are those friends and family members who can’t wait to visit your country of choice.

On the whole, with cheap travel, FaceTime, Zoom, and WhatsApp, you have many strategies available to avoid loneliness.

Solo Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely

Not having the constant thumping of financial stress and “what exactly am I eating” issues is liberating, but with consequences. If you don’t like international travel, swipe left. If you enjoy new experiences and can manage the emotional challenges of starting over, not being as easily available for family, and transitioning into cold water in the kitchen, swipe right. Solo doesn’t have to be lonely and there are options to living a fulfilling life with all the challenges we face as we age.

You are not old yet and still have much to offer and experience in this crazy world. Many of you aren’t interested in living in South America, and are trying to find ways to manage being solo in your current environment. No matter what, living solo is an art form. From staying inspired, healthy, and engaged, it’s the phase of life you never realized could be so difficult and liberating in the same deep, cleansing breath.

Fist pump.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you looking to become an expat? Which country would you choose? Have you done some research? What would be your greatest challenge moving abroad as a solo woman?