I’m astonished to discover I’m seventy.
It feels surreal,
as if it doesn’t belong to me,
as if I’m wearing another person’s birth year
and it doesn’t fit properly. Or at all.
I told Don I wanted a flower crown for my birthday.
I feel more like a queen these days.
Or Peter Pan.
When I was young my gran was seventy.
She was old and wrinkled, blue-haired and soft-bodied.
She was much loved
but not much respected.
Like Pooh she was a bear of very little brain,
Slow of thought and body
Lovely and loving, but not much respected.
This is how my youthful mind absorbed
what it means to be seventy.
Old. Wrinkled. Blue of hair. Slow. And just a little dim witted.
Over the years things changed
and I learned that when I got old I could wear purple!
This was apparently the ultimate act of rebellion.
From my gran and our society at large I learned
that it’s better not to be old.
Especially if you’re a woman.
If you’re old you don’t count.
At best loved but still with a veil of condescension.
Tolerated.
Opinions no longer really respected or relevant.
Not really of much use any more.
Certainly not nearly as useful, or relevant, as those roaring twenty and thirty-year-olds.
OK Boomer.
So here I am. Seventy years old by the count of the days, wearing an age that doesn’t fit
still wondering what I want to be when I grow up, if anything at all.
Apart from myself that is.
I will not be relegated to irrelevancy.
I’m still booming!
And blooming.
Heck I feel as if I’ve just begun to flower.
And I know a lot more now (she says slyly).
With age comes a true confidence
that I didn’t have when I was younger.
Oh I was good at faking it.
Not faking anymore.
Don’t mess with me.
Age brings a fierceness that I’m no longer apologetic about.
*********************
Life has given me two great gifts. The first, through my relationship with Don, has been the opportunity to learn how to love and be loved. I’m the youngest of four. As a child due to my extreme lack of confidence or belief in myself I assumed that my father loved my mother and my three sisters, but that he was just being nice to me. That’s how I parsed my relationship with him. As a result I had several relationships over the years where I was my boyfriend’s second choice; a friend-with-benefits while knowing he really wanted to be with someone else. With Don, right from the beginning I made a decision – not with Don, but with myself – that Don would be the man who would love me above all others. It was not something I could command of Don, nor ask of him, but rather it had to do with my own belief system. If I believed he would love me above all others then I made space for that to happen. And so it is. And in allowing myself to be loved there was more and more room for me to love without neediness, to find a true depth of love that I had not previously experienced.
If I achieve nothing else in this life, learning how to love and be loved will be enough.
The second great gift Life has given me is an inner drive to heal myself, to sift through the swamp of pain and painful beliefs festering in the murky depths of my psyche, to bring it all to the surface where in the light it could be seen and healed.
Recently the thought arose that none of my thoughts are chosen. Not by me anyway. Not consciously. I realised that the only time I actively choose my thoughts is when I’m chanting a mantra, or learning by rote. Otherwise thoughts arise full-blown without my consent. All thoughts. The good ones, and the ones where I want to strangle someone, or myself, or put people straight because I’m right and they’re wrong, all the thoughts that churn around and around, or the quiet barely-heard ones in the background while I’m doing something else, no matter how joyous or benign or destructive they are, none of them are deliberately chosen. They are just there, arising out of nothing and then falling away.
What followed quickly was the thought that neither did I choose my life. Not consciously anyway. Body, mind, thoughts, feelings, personality, the whole package. I had no choice in any of it. It just arose, and continues to arise, from nothing, from a great mystery. None of it is my choice. And as well as no choice there is also no control. Have you ever tried to control your thoughts? Good luck with that. It is all simply as it is. There is no shame, no blame, no judgement, no need to change anything, no possibility to change anything.
I cannot even begin to express how freeing this is. I have more compassion for myself, which was sorely needed, and consequently more for others. Finally I get it. It’s not my fault. Having spent a lifetime believing that everything bad that happened to me or to those I was close to was somehow my fault I am now free. Nothing is my fault, nor is it anyone else’s fault. It is all just what is.
I understand the paradox here. There is no “I” who can claim any of this. It is all grace. I didn’t do anything. It’s simply what arose here, and yet the person that I appear to be is deeply grateful for this gift of seeing that I am not to blame, not liable. It has given me a confidence I would not previously have thought possible. I no longer feel that I have to apologise for being the way I am. Or for being.
See what living this long does for you? You learn a thing or two. You discover self-assurance and belief in yourself. You stop dealing with bullshit, both your own and others. You discover free-floating joy, and an ability to let others be as they are since no one else gets to choose either. I feel unstoppable in a way I never have before.
*******************
I know I said that I know a lot more now I’m older.
In some ways that’s true.
But what I most know is that I don’t really know anything at all.
Unlike in my youth when I thought I knew everything.
Now I’m less concerned with being somebody,
more concerned with being presence.
Life is infused with death.
Nothing is permanent; everything dies.
Death informs Life and Life is defined by death.
It’s simply impossible to have one without the other.
This recognition sits a little deeper that previously,
and so life becomes more precious
and being real becomes more urgent
and trusting myself becomes easier.
I wouldn’t trade being seventy,
I’ll just “cancel” all the ways in which it doesn’t fit.
I finally understand that it doesn’t matter
what others think.
So I’ll make a tuck here, lift a hemline there;
let the whole thing out a little so it’s not so darn defining and confining.
And keep on dancing.
Photo credits: 1, 2, and 3 by Don Read. Final photo by L. Bassingthwaight
All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2020.
I’ve wanted to say this before, but now seems appropriate. You are such an inspiration to people of any age to just get out there and live life to the fullest.
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Thank you so much for your kind words David. I know I’ve not lived a conventional life and yet along with the difficulties it has been rich and rewarding and full of joy.
Alison
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Happy birthday! You look amazingly joyful and beautiful.
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Thank you so much!
Alison
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Love the flower crown. It suits you!
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Thanks Fiona. I couldn’t just throw it away so it’s now tied around a lampshade.
Alison
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Happy birthday!
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Thank you so much.
Alison
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The wisdom that sprinkles your words lights up my soul.
Happy birthday beautiful Alison 💕
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Thanks dear Anyes. I’m glad you like it. I really feel as if I’ve arrived at some new place, as if I’ve shed an old skin that doesn’t fit anymore.
Alison
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Wishing you a Happy Birthday! You are amazing! 🌸
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Thanks so much for your lovely words Ka.
Alison xo
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Happiest Birthday dear friend! Wishing years more of wonder and grace. I have loved traveling the world with you my dear and hope we have many more years of traveling together.
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Thanks so much Cindy. I have loved your glorious photo essays, and I too hope we have many more years of travelling together!
Alison ❤
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Woot woot dance dance dear Alison what a joyful and fun narrative 🤓☺️ beautiful Y💚U! Many hugs and love your way happy 70th ~ hugs hedy ☺️🤗😘
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Thanks Hedy. You made me smile! Hugs and love back to you.
Alison ❤
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💃❣️💃you go! Hugs and love back!
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Happy happy birthday, Alison! Wonderful!!!
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Thank you so much Carsten.
Alison
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It is as if wisdom and joy are exuding from your pores! You have never looked better than in these pictures. Thank you for putting a happy face on aging and being proud to show your exuberance. You are a poster child for the saying “it gets greater later”. Happiest of birthdays and many more.
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Thank you so much Brenda. Honestly I’ve never felt better. And yes, it *does* get greater later! I feel so incredibly blessed.
Alison
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Happy, happy birthday, Alison! You are an inspiration to so many people – your readers, certainly, and I am sure in real life, too. You bring so much thoughtfulness and joy to your life and others’, and although you acknowledge that some of it comes unbidden, I believe there is a purposefulness and consciousness that infuses your life with a special depth. Here’s to many more flower crowns!
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Thank you so much Lexie. If anything I hope I can inspire people to live their truth, whatever that looks like in any given moment. We’re all on a hard journey and must keep putting one foot in front of the other. I feel that I’ve been graced, my whole life, though it is only now after all these years that I begin to understand that. A lucky life, though there were many years that I would not have thought so. Now I do feel the purposefulness though I cannot claim it. It comes unbidden and I’ll do my best to honour it. Thank you for your kind words.
Alison ❤
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wow…beautiful you and your words and an inspiration for me. Happy Seventies and more joy to you.
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Thank you so much. I am happy my words resonated and inspired you. Lots of life and joy left in both of us I suspect!
Alison xo
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Yesssssss
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You are beautiful! Happy Birthday Allison 🙂
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Thank you so much.
Alison
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Fabulous you! Many happy returns, Alison, and thank you for all those wise words.
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Thanks so much Tish. Glad you liked my musings.
Alison
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I did! And those lovely views of you.
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xox
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I couldn’t love this any more than I do, Alison! I’ll be joining you in the 70 club next year, and while each birthday that ends in zero is a bit more scary than the one before, this one terrifies me! My energy is waning, my hearing is shot, and my hip hurts. I have not quite a year to stem the tide, but can I? Rejoin the gym? Hip replacement? Got the hearing aids last year. Glad I’m not going into 70 alone! I have my trusty trailblazer Alison leading the way! As always you make it an interesting and inspiring journey! Hugs and happy birthday!!!
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Thank you so much Kaye! I definitely found that exercise had been a HUGE help, even before I had my hip replacement. I don’t mean just walking but a daily core-strengthening workout. So yes, join a gym, and do some Pilates, and definitely get the hip replacement. It made all the difference for me. But I reiterate – I had an easy time with the surgery and recovery because I was very fit going into it. It takes some discipline but I promise you you won’t be sorry. Also getting really fit will help your energy levels. I was lucky enough to be part of a study called “Exercise is Medicine” and it really is. A daily work out (Mostly focussed on core strength) changed everything for me. So. You’ve got the hearing aids (Don has them too – they’re pretty hi-tech these days!) Serious fitness and hip replacement surgery will take care of all the other things you mentioned. Onward and upward. You can do this!
Oh yeah forgot to mention – exercise through the pain. It gets easier. As long as the pain settles within a few hours of exercising you’re good to keep going. If the pain persists still the next day then take time off until it settles and start again but not quite so hard. There’s no need to stop just because it hurts. It’s a common excuse to give up. Just find your level at which you can push through it and have it settle within a few hours. Hope this helps.
Hugs right back
Alison xoxo
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Congratulations Happy Birthday to You and I wish you many Happy returns of the Day in Jesus Name
thomas ajao
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Thank you so much Thomas.
Alison
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You keep on dancing, girl! Your musings are, as usual, thoughtful and inspirational and eloquent. “If I achieve nothing else in this life, learning how to love and be loved will be enough.” The world would be a better place if we could all achieve this. Happy Birthday Alison! Your joy shines through in these lovely photos.
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Thanks so much Caroline. I feel really blessed, kind of as if I won the life lottery without any idea at all why I should. I just got lucky so have to spread the joy, and the love, around if I can.
Alison xox
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“If I achieve nothing else in this life, learning how to love and be loved will be enough.” Beautiful! Congratulations on 70 rich and colorful years, and on a life well-lived. Thanks for sharing parts of it through your beautiful blog. You’ve taken me places I would never otherwise go.
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Thank you so much Donna. And thank you for your kind words about the blog. It has enriched my life in ways I couldn’t even imagine in the beginning so any time I hear that it has enriched the life of another is a big win for me.
Alison
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Alison – Happiest of days to you! You have just shown how very much you do count in this mystery called life. Nicely done birthday celebration ( and by-the-way, I secretly adore the word ‘sprightly’) Much love – Susan
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Thank you so much Susan. Well I count to me anyway. And certainly to Don. What feels important is that I count to myself more than previously so I mind less about how the rest of society pigeonholes “old” people. But damn it I wish the wouldn’t lol.
I seem to have started quite the discussion about sprightly. See my reply to Kate (when I get to it).
Love
Alison
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What a great post and so inspiring to read. Age is purely a number and it’s how you feel and act that really matters rather than having to conform to societies norms. While a 70-year-old is stereotyped as a nanna sitting knitting by the fire and enjoying the odd sherry(or two) you are the epitome of an elder who is living life the way they want to and getting out there and doing things your way. I love your flower crown and I hope that when I am 70 I will be skipping through a field somewhere wearing one exactly the same!
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Ahem 😉
I’m a sprightly 71-year-old who enjoys sitting crocheting by the fire while enjoying the odd sherry (or more), and this IS living my life the way I want to and doing things my way.
[Had to tease you a little, WhereAngieWanders, because along with being content with fitting some of the stereotyped qualities of my age, I’m also a non-conformist who can sometimes be seen skipping through fields wearing whatever the heck I want to, including my birthday suit. 🙂 ]
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Good for you Kate 😘 My mum was still going to tea dances at the age of 88 and drinking way too much whisky ( and she knitted some wicked jumpers for us all ) I love that you can do exactly what you like when you want to and don’t have to conform to any ones ideals on age. Carrying on living your best life but watch out for those stinging nettles in the field 😘
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(because this site’s “like” button doesn’t work for me)
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That’s weird. I wonder why not.
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Alison, it’s the same problem I reported to you a long time ago. I’ve researched and fought with it several times, and again today. I thought it was Safari, because I found that using Chrome lets me post comments and use the bottom this-blog-post like button, so I gave up and use Chrome to read your blog. But now neither Safari or Chrome will let me “like” a reply to a comment. Also, every time I make a new comment here, WordPress is asking me to log in again (on both browsers). I’ve allowed cookies, cleared my cache, disabled my AdBlock extension; still a problem. This doesn’t happen on other WordPress blogs, so I don’t know.
Do you use the JetPack extension on this blog? I’ve read forum threads about that sometimes causing issues like this.
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Never heard of Jetpack or any other extension that I know of. Just plain old WP
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Thanks so much Angie. You and Kate seem to have quite the discussion going! So I’ll reply first just to your initial comment. Age being just a number is only true when we don’t make it mean anything. Unfortunately (or not – it’s just the way it is) society in general makes 70 mean (as you say) the old Nanna knitting by the fire, and it is precisely this stereotyping that I reject. Still, people will see me whatever way they please, according the their own conditioning. And I will keep on dancing. I love my crown too. It now sits around a lampshade. Get yourself a crown for your next birthday girl! No need to wait.
Alison xox
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70 suits you well. I enjoyed this thoroughly.
Further to our chat about our different reactions to the word sprightly, this morning I researched it a bit. I said I’ve always thought that it meant “sprite-ly” and sure enough, that’s the etymology of the word!
– “1590s, from spright, an early 16c. variant of sprite, + -ly (1). Related: Sprightliness.”
– “To be sprightly is to be full of youthful, vibrant energy. You don’t have to be young to be sprightly, though; energetic old people can be sprightly, too. Weeeeeee! The word sprightly comes from the word sprite, which is a small, elf-like fairy creature.”
Thesaurus the heck out of it and try finding anything derogatory! https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/sprightly?s=t
https://www.thesaurus.net/sprightliness
Witness the photos of you in this post. And how you feel and act, and your spirit. 🙂
And this gave me a chuckle, given that your musings on 70 are now an entry in your travel blog — a Cambridge dictionary usage example:
“The 14th century also saw the beginning of a new literature of travel in sprightly and informing travelogues.”
My challenge for you at 70: Maybe now is a good time, a good age, to let go of that “old tape” about the word…?
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Um, I know what a sprite is. I also know the word comes from that. And I know I can at times look like a sprite. When I’m not being a queen lol.
I find the term as it is applied to old people both patronizing and ageist. In this thread you’ll find about 50/50 for and against:
https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1572175-AIBU-to-think-being-called-a-sprightly-xxage-is-patronising-and-ageist
So I guess we have to agree to disagree.
Alison xo
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Love the flower crown, Alison. It suits you so well. And the smile is convincing. May you enjoy every last second 🙂 🙂
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Thanks Jo. I love my crown too. The smile is real 🙂 and life feels pretty good.
Alison ❤
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Dear Alison and Don: I’ve read your blog for quite a few months. I have really enjoyed your realness, your sense of humor, your openness. I’ve learned a lot about different new ways to think about life. I’ve learned a lot about travel. More than once I’ve come away from reading something you wrote and wished that you lived next door to me and that I could just talk to you about things. I aspire to be as healthy, fit, joyful and mentally healthy as you are when I’m your age. I wish you and Don many more years of joy, happiness, well being, travel, deep conversations, Love and friendship. Very Happy Birthday. God bless you!
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Thank you so much Charlie. I feel both delighted and humbled by your comment. It is always rewarding to hear that someone has taken away good things from the blog. I do strive to be real, and to share the ups and downs of travel, and of life! Thank you for your kind thoughts.
Alison
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Happy Birthday, Alison! These photos! You are RADIANT! Your joy shines through and touches us all. And if we could all live by your thoughts about acceptance and love, the world would be a happy place. Congratulations on all you’ve learned and discovered on your way to the number 70! Looking forward to the next 70 with your zest for life. XO, K.
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Thanks Kelly. I must admit I was feeling pretty radiant when these pics were taken – at my birthday dinner with friends, and three days later at our full moon drumming circle. Definitely feeling pretty joyful. Thanks for your lovely words. Here’s to the next 70! Oh god no please not that many, but I’m probably good for another 20.
Alison xo
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Wishing you 30 and centenarian status! 🙂
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Hi, Alison and Don:
I believe that your gran did not travel that much and did not have a blog like this when she was seventy years old. I have read your blog for a long time and always feel that you are so joyful and know how to enjoy your life.
Happy birthday from Kenny and Anna. Hope to see you soon in the future.
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You’re right Kenny, my gran didn’t travel at all, nor barely had an education. Both, I think, make a huge difference. Thank you so much for reading the blog all these years. And thank you both for your birthday wishes. Taiwan is pretty much at the top of the list these days – so see you there when we can travel again!
Alison
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Well heck yeah! You are the youngest seventy year old ever. I love this so much I’m sharing it all over the place. Thanks for your musings and your positive outlook…it’s exactly what the world needs right now.
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Thank you so much Laureen. And thank you for all the shares! I agree the world needs more focus on positive energy, because we’re so swamped with the bad news. I think it’s ok to be joyful and happy and positive even while being aware that a lot about our world needs to change.
Alison
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Dearest Alison, my other sister, this is quite simply the most wonderful post I have ever read. Your beauty is almost blinding. I wish you joy for many, many more birthdays xxxxxx
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Thank you so much Bev. Such lovely words you say to me ❤
Alison xo
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Happy Birthday and congratulations!! Life is what you make it and you´ve made it fabulous and will continue to do so. I love all the pictures, the flower crown, and the wonderful smile. You make turning 70 look so easy. 🎈🎉💝
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Thanks so much Darlene. I’m a bit astonished as I look back over my life. Despite many times of hardship and weeping it really feels as if I’ve been blessed with a lucky life, for no apparent reason. It was sooo much fun having a flower crown!
Alison
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Happy Birthday 🥳!!!!!! Loved this post and thank you so much for sharing this. You are a beautiful soul .
“I no longer feel that I have to apologise for being the way I am. Or for being.” It so resonates with me, hope I can hold on to that and be as sprightly as you are when I am seventy. Keep smiling and keep spreading the joy with your words and sprightly smiles
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Oh Usha you are teasing me! Chuckle. Thank you so much for your birthday wishes and kind words. I’m glad what I wrote has resonated.
Wishing you lots of smiles and joy too.
Alison
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What a fabulous 70!
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Thank you so much!
Alison
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This is beautiful, Alison ~ such a lyrical and optimistic view of aging. I think it is the unwavering right to rebel with the confidence to be able to do it all: “Age brings a fierceness that I’m no longer apologetic about…” Amen to this ~ the wisdom that comes from a life extremely well lived, and extremely well loved. You are unstoppable!
Thank you for this uplifting and positive read ~ wishing you another great 70 years…
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Thank you so much Randall. I’ve lived pretty much all my adult life outside of the box so I guess I’m not about to stop now. This is maybe why I push back against the box that old people are slotted into, and it’s so freeing to not feel anymore as if I need to apologize. Life becomes fun in a way I never imagined it could be. I’m glad you enjoyed my musings. But please not another 70! Quite likely twenty. Possibly even thirty but more than that feels a bit excessive 🙂
Alison
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Happy Birthday to inspirational you! Life really is a journey and for those of us well into the second half, the opportunity to understand and see ourselves more fully. Wishing you many, many years of adventure and exploration ahead!
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Thanks so much Sue. It is a journey, and it seems to get more interesting and manageable and fun with age. I love that about it. Wishing you and Dave also many years of adventure and exploration ahead!
Alison
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Poignant and powerful at the same time. Yes, it IS all about love. Your post made me think about how much the elders are respected and valued in Asia because of Confucian history. So different to the culture of not seeing not valuing elders in so many Western societies.
You look joyous and positively gleeful in your photos. Love all the colors and the positive energy exuding. Happiest of birthdays Alison ❤️
Peta
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Thank you so much Peta. Love is everything indeed. ❤
I do find it sad, and at times frustrating, the way most western societies "throw away" their elderly. The intense focus on youth means not only are elders not much respected, but young people also miss out a lot on what the older people have to offer, and community is so important, for everyone. In a way I'm guilty too because I've not had children that would keep me better connected with younger people. For this reason I miss my nieces and nephews who are now scattered all over the world. I'd love to be able to spend more time with them and their children, and with Don's son and family, but it's not to be. At least not at the moment.
I am feeling pretty joyous these days. I feel as if I have a lucky life.
Thanks for your kind wishes.
Alison xo
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Wow. What a wonderful post, Alison. I turned 60 last year — you have given me a roadmap for my next decade and how to approach the next milestone with wisdom, grace, and humor. Thank you for this!
Your “virtual” friend,
Susan
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Thank you so much Susan. I’m glad you enjoyed my musings. Seventy feels so weird and yet here I am. May your coming years be filled with much wisdom, grace, and humour!
Alison ❤ xo
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Alison, I absolutely LOVE this post. Beautiful! Yes, it is shocking at so many times how quickly life passes by. I always remember my dad saying and he still does that age is just a number. You have proven that 70 is grand! Happy happy birthday my beautiful friend!
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Thank you so much Nicole. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Life is so amazing and I think we tend to forget that when we’re caught up in the nitty gritty of it. And yes, it goes by quickly! Your dad sounds pretty smart. As long as we don’t make it mean anything, age *is* just a number. It’s true, whatever the number, life does feel pretty grand at the moment.
Alison xo ❤
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Like your friend Kaye, I couldn’t love this any more than I already do! Even though I’m not yet 70, I could relate to so many of your words and so much of your wisdom. Although I do believe our souls chose these lives in these bodies, and the fun of life is to experience and enjoy all that we’ve forgotten we planned to! =) I especially love your line about “still wondering what I want to be when I grow up, if anything at all.” Brilliant! Happiest of Birthdays to you, Alison. ❤
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Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed my musings. Well I do kinda believe that we chose it all before being born, but at the same time that’s still just an idea, not something I can prove, so then I have to admit that although that feels right I really don’t know for sure. Either way I’m sure having fun remembering what I had planned!
I don’t know what the next few years will bring but I feel incredibly optimistic and perhaps will finally discover what I want to be when I grow up lol.
Alison ❤
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Such lovely pictures of you in your floral crown. Your smile is ageless and you spread such joy through your writing! Wishing you a year filled with beauty, love and all things good!
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Thanks so much Anita. I loved having a crown! It’s now draped around a lampshade, and looks very good there. Wishing you also a year filled with beauty, love, and all things good!
Alison ❤
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Happy birthday. I turned 70 this past July and I was looking for the word to describe how it feels and yes, surreal is absolutely it. We are still so young at heart though!!! I’m still fun, funny, inquisitive and now have the time for learning. I sometimes can’t always remember but hey as you said, it just is. Thank you for such an insightful and lovely post. Enjoy your 70’s, seems like you already do!!
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Thank you so much Spryte. Like I said in my poem it feels as if this age belongs to someone else. So weird. But I just keep on dancing. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Alison
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You are one beautiful spirit, Alison! Happy Birthday. Your words truly touched me and resonate so loudly in my soul. You always inspire me … and you wear your flower crown with the playfulness we’ve all come to love. ❤ Much love and a big hug, Terri
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Thank you so much Terri. I love that this resonates! And touched that you’re inspired ❤
I loved my flower crown. It was such an affirmation for myself.
Love and hugs to you too
Alison
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Happy birthday Alison!!! I echo many in this comment section in wishing to be as awesome at 70 as you are… perhaps, considering how the retirement age keeps on rising, I’ll be celebrating finishing work!
Fabrizio
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Thank you so much Fabrizio. I still feel as if I just got lucky. It hasn’t all been easy – what life is – but I wouldn’t change anything. Especially since it keeps getting better.
I do hope you get to finish work before seventy. Retirement is so much fun!
Alison
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Okay, I won’t call you sprightly, but can I call you radiant? Absolutely gorgeous photos, Alison. LOVE the flower crown. Your post is so inspiring. You deserve all of your happiness. Working on oneself takes so much courage, but you are proof that it’s all worth it. Happy Belated 70th, beautiful one! ❤
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Thanks so much Julie – for all your lovely words. I too love the flower crown. I was very clear that for this birthday I wanted a crown! It’s now draped around a lampshade.
I still feel incredibly blessed that the urge for healing arose within me. I suppose in the beginning I just wanted to be happy, but as more and more of the baggage fell away it became so much more than that. A quest for truth and authenticity. And yes – *definitely* worth it. A lucky life.
Much love to you
Alison
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It’s funny when you read someone’s words on wordpress, or a book for example, the author is ageless (unless it’s about make-up and outfits, then the author is definitely still a newbie!). I like that about wordpress: I don’t think about age differences at all. The older the better the writing is, if anything. Anyway, 70 is young!!! It’s the new 50. Congrats! 🙂
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Thanks TSMS. I agree, I don’t think about age at all when reading, only about the quality and content of the writing. And yes – 70 is the new 50!
Alison
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I love this! It’s so inspirational & freeing to read. We all struggle with getting older & wondering when we’re going to grow up but at the end of the day who wants to? And who says we have to? You look amazing & I love that you asked for a flower crown. It looks beautiful on you. Thank you for putting a smile on my face for the day & I wish you a belated Happy Birthday!
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Thank you so much Sue for all your lovely words. I’m glad you found it inspiring. And that it put a smile on your face 🙂
It really does feel weird to have this number attached to me, but only when I think about it lol.
Alison
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Happy Birthday, and congratulations…I love the poem, and the further musings add something important. Thank you for putting this forcefully positive picture of the eighth decade out there. Love the flower crown! 🙂
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Thank you so much Lynn. I too loved my flower crown. I thought I should have one because I felt I could finally claim some level of queenliness. I find I’m getting more positive the older I get. It is a great blessing.
Alison
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I can see that! 🙂
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Happy birthday! 70 or not, you’re the most joyous Peter Pan I’ve seen in ages. 😉 Looking forward to many more years of your wisdom and you being you.
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Aw thanks Felicity. It was an awesome birthday followed three days later by our full-moon drumming circle where I *always* have a lot of fun. Hope you’re well, and doing fine in your (relatively) new place.
Alison xo
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Happy birthday, Alison!
I love your enthusiastic and positive spirit. And your portraits exude such joy!
Your poetry and honest narrative speak volumes (or should I say decades). 😉Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your special occasion.
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Thanks so much Jane. I was having such a lovely time! Both at my birthday celebration and three days later when I celebrated again at our full moon drumming circle. I don’t usually celebrate my birthday much but thought that this one was worth making a bit of a deal out of it. I feel that I’ve had a lucky life, and am extremely grateful for that. I’m glad you enjoyed my musings.
Alison xo
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Belated birthday wishes😃
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Thank you so much.
Alison
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Age is just a state of mind, it is commonly said. And your mind seems active and full of life. What a beautifully written post.
Especially the words about one’s thoughts and whether we have a choice over them or not.
This I also loved: You discover self-assurance and belief in yourself. You stop dealing with bullshit, both your own and others.
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Thank you so much Amanda. It was quite a liberating revelation for me to realize that I have no choice over my thoughts. Suddenly I was not liable. I am definitely more self-assured now, and entirely blame it on a lifetime of focusing on inner healing. Lucky! I’m glad you enjoyed my musings.
Alison
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The issue of liability sometimes contradictory. We can use it to absolve ourselves of any guilt attached to lack of control, as guilt can be so destructive, but also in a pro-active way when taking responsibility and choosing to think a different way to that which gave us the mental anguish. Thanks for posting and making me think more about this.
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All of your posts bring joy, but this one was ‘over the top’ with smiles and feel-goodness vibes! Thank you for sharing your celebrations…
Of your recent posts, the ‘dragon’ theme is very interesting (and colorful!) and it is still on the browser… The dragon in folklore is so strong, and I keep expecting a true skeleton to one day appear.. until then, I study the images, and you provided some great ones!
May this next trip around the sun find us returning to normal!
Love
Lisa
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Thanks so much Lisa. So nice to hear I brought you some smiles. It’s an interesting milestone, but only if I dwell on it – which I don’t. 🙂
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a dragon was discovered one day – they are so much a part of world-wide mythology they must have lived somewhere sometime. The one in Japan was quite wonderful.
I too hope for a return to normal, or some kind of new normal where people care more about each other and the planet.
Stay well.
Alison xo
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A very belated happy birthday, Alison, and congratulations on reaching this milestone! The flower crown suits you so well. 🙂 I’ve loved so many of your posts but I think this has to be one of my favorites… the poetry danced as you did in your photos, and I will try to remember your lessons about self-acceptance and love and the preciousness of life itself. I was also reading your comments about the importance of exercise and staying fit… that is something I must pay more attention to, especially now that we’re spending all our time sitting at home!
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Thanks so much James. I just loved my flower crown. This was actually one of the easier posts to write. I guess I really had something to say. I’m glad you like it. As for the exercise – I know I had a hip replacement, but it was really the exercise that saved me. There’s nothing like core strength to keep the body going. And you don’t need a special place to do it – I do all my core strengthening and stretching exercises on my bedroom floor. Get off the couch lol!
Alison xo
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