In
our 60s, our lives change in many ways, as we move from old roles into new
ones. Workers may become retirees, or go from full- to part-time work, or
change careers entirely.

Parents
may become grandparents, wives and mothers may become entrepreneurs, the
homebound may become world travelers, and relentless givers may develop
stronger boundaries and find more time for self-care. Married people may become
single, and singles may begin looking for love once again.

Our
bodies change, our hormones shift, and our outlook may go through a complete
overhaul, as our perspective transforms from middle age to senior status; from
the worker bees to the elders of the tribe. The transition from who we were to
who we will become is complicated and takes some time.

Changes Are More than Superficial

While this is clearly a personal, internal transition, who we are in the world and how others see us also changes as we move through our 60s. People may start making all kinds of assumptions about who you are, how you live, what you like, want, buy, feel, think, know, and can do.

Do
you feel others assume that you are out of touch, technologically illiterate,
or sad and lonely? Do you see people your age only represented in ads for
pharmaceuticals and walk-in bathtubs?

On
the other hand, do people in your life expect you to continue on exactly as
they have come to know you, not recognizing or accepting that you are
transitioning into a new time in your life?

In
truth, we are changing, but not always in the ways other people imagine,
and that can be pretty frustrating.

Remember
Sally Field’s acceptance speech in 1985 after winning the Academy Award for
Best Actress? “You like me!” she cried. “You like me!”

She
said that she’d had an unconventional career and wanted, more than anything,
the respect of her peers in the Academy. Finally, she had the award proving
that she had earned it.

At
the time, she took a lot of ridicule for her excited cry, but it was a moment
of honesty we don’t often see. We all want to be respected, recognized,
and yes, even liked. Most importantly, we all want to be seen as we think we
are, and to have other people’s respect and affection for us to be based on
that.

The Red Zone

In
Feng Shui, there is an area of your home that corresponds to your Fame/Reputation
in the world.

Whether
or not you know where your personal brand is headed yet, or who you want to
become in this new era of your life, enhancing this area can activate the
energy needed to help others see you in the best possible light during this
transitional time.

It
can help dispel your frustration with how others see you and what they expect
from you, as well as prevent the formation of negative or inaccurate images of
you.

Begin
by thinking of your home as a nine-square grid. The bottom line of the grid is
the wall of your front door and the top line is the back of your home. The
center back square of the grid is your Reputation area.

This is the area you will work on in five easy steps. Even if your home is U- or L-shaped, and your Reputation area falls in your patio or backyard, you can still use all of these steps.

Clean and Declutter the Area

Fix,
remove, or replace anything that is broken, such as burned out light bulbs. Give
the area a good cleaning, remove anything you no longer want or need, and make
sure what remains is tidy and well-organized. Most importantly, you should love
whatever is there.

See Red

Red
is the power color of the Reputation area and includes the entire range of
reds, from burgundy to tangerine, maroon to fire engine, rose to brick, ruby to
candy apple, so you have plenty of choices.

You
can add reds to this area of your home in artwork, rugs, pillows, furniture, flowers,
or curtains, for example. (It wouldn’t hurt to wear some red, either, if you
want to.)

Use Shapes with an Upward Tip Point

Add triangles,
pyramids, or cones, the power shape for the Reputation area. You can add this
shape in fabric, furniture, or tile patterns, or in artwork and objects such as
coasters, dishes, clocks, vases, or planters.

Feel the Burn

The
power element here is Fire. If you happen to have a fireplace or stove in this
part of your home – or a
firepit or outdoor grill, if your Reputation area happens to be outdoors – that’s great. But you can also
add this element using candles (they do not have to ever be lit, and in fact,
you can choose LED flameless candles, if you wish), and lamps or light
fixtures.

Windows
or skylights that let in bright sunlight are also good, as are images in art
such as sunbursts or fire. Since water douses fire, avoid having much black or
reflective surfaces here, which symbolize the Water element.

On
the other hand, Wood fuels Fire, so a bit of green and tall, columnar shapes – symbols of the Wood element – can work well here.

Express Yourself in a Positive Way

Finally,
add positive, happy images that reflect who you are now or who you want to
become. These might be photos of yourself doing work you want to do, traveling,
or pursuing hobbies you want to take up or continue.

The
list includes anything from yoga, dancing, writing, tennis, hiking, swimming,
drawing or painting, photography, singing, wine tasting, camping, horseback
riding, learning a language, or taking a class in anything that interests you.

Add
objects that symbolize your authentic best self and any awards or recognition
you have received for accomplishments you want to focus on now and in the
coming months or years.

Stay
grounded in the present and future when choosing images and symbols for your
Reputation area, and feel free to change them as you and your life evolve.

Accept Recognition

During the transition of your 60s,
you may not know precisely who you are or who you are becoming, but that in
itself is part of your current identity. You are a person in the midst of
change, and you can be that for as long as it takes.

Having other people see you and
treat you with respect along the way can only help as you navigate this transitional
period of your life. Feng Shui your home’s Reputation area and be ready to receive
respect and recognition for who you are now and who you are in the process of
becoming.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How is your over-60 persona changing?
Do you like the changes you’re seeing? Have you tried any of the Feng Shui tips
listed here? I’d love to hear about your results! Let’s talk!