Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who are mothers, grandmothers, Godmothers, aunts, mentors, and who help younger people in multiple ways. This is your day to be celebrated for helping younger generations to become their best while sharing your age-esteem.

Bonnie Fatio

Happy Easter

May the hope and love of Easter be with you throughout the year.

Happy International Women’s Day !

On this day of celebration and hope, I look back on our grandmothers and great-grandmothers who blazed a trail for us, each in their own way.

My maternal grandmother, shown sitting in this photo, was petite, beautiful, and strong. She was a perfect wife and mother of the times, and also a sought-after speaker with inspiring messages. I can still feel her love and hear her tinkling laughter; and oh how we loved to hear the stories she created for our childhood imaginations.

She was among the women who have shaped our world.

Bonnie Fatio

My 2017 Age Esteem Wishes For You  

1. Live each day fully.
2. Stretch your body, mind and spirit.
3. Inhale happiness and love; exhale pain and fear.
4. Embrace new experiences.
5. Fill your mind with love and happy thoughts.
6. Build play into your day.
7. Share your talents with others of all ages.
8. Learn something new each day.
9. Laugh often.
10. Celebrate frequently.
11. Love yourself unconditionally.
12. Seek the positive in each person and experience.
13. Give thanks for the blessings of your life.
14. Meet new challenges with a sense of adventure.
15. Greet each new day with anticipation and zest.
16. Reach out to others in need.
17. Become a living model of Age Esteem for those who meet you!

 With love and gratitude for all you have done, the person you are, and all that you are becoming,

Bonnie Fatio

Four of the women who have influenced my life.

A Time To Remember

“We stand on the shoulders of those who go before us.” Kenyan Proverb

In many parts of the world a day set aside each year to remember those who have died, those who have gone before us. All Saints Day, following Halloween is one such a day. It is a time to remember those who have positively influenced our lives, whether or not they were people we knew personally.

Each person leaves a legacy. And no matter how great or small their imprint may seem to the masses, to a chosen few that imprint has been inspirational.

When I think of my own mother I am overwhelmed by the richness of all she taught me through her actions and her words. She has not been written up in history books, yet she positively influenced the lives of a multitude of youth as a teacher, and families through her church work. Her outreach increased even further when she authored seven books after taking early retirement due to diminished vision. (Yes, she wrote her books typing on an old state-of-the-art Smith-Corona despite severely impaired vision.)

You, too, have people in your life who may seem insignificant to the world at large, but who have been important to your growth into the person you have become. Take a moment to remember each of these people and to be thankful.

People with age-esteem are grateful for those who have influenced their lives.

Bonnie Fatio

For Grandparents

…And All Who Love Children

 How many times had I voiced the opinion that Grandparents greatly exaggerated their descriptions of their grandchildren? No child could be so cute or so intelligent or so clever as the one they describe.

Well, I began to eat those words nine years ago. Certainly I became more sympathetic towards those wonderful people. You see, I was also about to join that exclusive club of grandparenting. At the time friends must have been saying, “If she is like this before the child is born, what will she be like later when the baby is here?” Actually, I asked myself the same question as I chatted about the grandchild to be.

Knowing what a low tolerance level I had towards doting grandparents before knowing that I would be one, I have decided to make up for it and write a daily blog during this month of Grandparents Day. It is for Age-Esteemers who are grandparents and those who love being surrogate grandparents. Many of the blogs were written when our first grandchild was born. I will publish them as written at the time.

Bonnie Fatio

Happy Valentines Day!

May each day of your year overflow with love and age-esteem,

Bonnie Fatio

Say “Yes” to 2016!

One of the many keys to living with age-esteem is to acknowledge that you have control over the realities of your life.

When I was 12 years old and leaving for summer camp, I said to my mother, “I wonder if I will have any fun. I don’t have any friends going to this camp.” My mother stopped what she was doing, looked me straight in the eyes and asked, “Do you want to have fun?” “Oh, yes!” I replied. “Then decide right now that you are going to have a good time, and you will,” she said simply. I had a fabulous time at camp.

Does this sound too simple?

Assuring your happiness during this new year really can be as simple as deciding what kind of a life you will have in 2016 and then embracing each day as it unfolds.

People with age-esteem know that the number of years you have lived have less influence on your health and happiness than your  attitude. Anticipate happy moments and they will be yours.

Say “Yes” to 2016 and bask in its joys!

Happy New Year!

Bonnie Fatio

Welcome to 2016 – A new beginning

May your new year overflow with blessings of love, joyous moments shared, meaningful successes, exciting opportunities, purposeful accomplishments, happy relationships, and bountiful age-esteem.

With love and anticipation for what we will create together in this new year,

Bonnie