Ruth Dreifuss

Happy International Women’s Day 2014

On this International Women’s Day, I would like to celebrate all of the women, and men, who have forged the path for women today. Without the courage and persistence of those who have gone before us, we would not have the opportunities that we do.

One of the most moving moments for me as a member of the Geneva City Council was in 1999. That was the year that Ruth Dreifuss was elected as the first woman President of Switzerland.

Tradition called for her first stop as President to be a visit to her home canton (state), which is Geneva, and to parade through the town with the local politicians so the citizens could welcome her.  It was already special to accompany the first woman president of the country, but what truly moved me were the masses of women lining the streets. Many were waving white handkerchiefs and had tears in their eyes or were openly sobbing with joy as they welcomed her.

President Ruth Dreifuss represented a major step in what these women had fought for both covertly and overtly over the years. These suffragettes were women who had succeeded in having their voices count as votes and to be elected to government! This was a day of rejoicing.

Bonnie Fatio

Love is in the air!

Age-esteemers know that love is in the air at every age. It is accessible to each of us.

Reach out to someone and tell them that you love them. If you do not have anyone to say “I love you” to, then choose someone else like yourself who is alone. It may be someone who is older than you, or maybe a child. Each of us needs to hear those words.

I love you!

Bonnie Fatio

Martin Luther King 2014

And along came Martin Luther King

The one whom to the whole world would bring:

Courage and hope and his ultimate dream:

Singular, spectacular, ageless esteem.

King had dreams and he knew

They really can come true

Depending on YOU.

Now’s the time: start anew!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

Thank You For A New Year

 Many thanks are in keeping

For the Festive days ahead,

And for all the harvests reaping

The grains for our daily bread.

Thanks for the chance of growing older

And for the blessings in each day.

Thank you for the shine which gets golder,

Brightening spirits, come what may!

Thank you for another new year

Calling us to go ahead, full steam,

And courageously without fear,

Using all we’ve learned from Age Esteem!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

A Geneva Tradition: Escalade

Traditions are important as a means of bringing people together for a common purpose. We have family traditions that include celebrating holidays, watching the sunset and greeting visiting friends or family at the airport with flowers. There are also community traditions such as how people celebrate the national holiday together in their town.

The city and state of Geneva, Switzerland have a unique tradition of celebrating the Escalade. It is the day that they commemorate the citizens of Geneva fighting off the Savoyards during the night of December 11th 1602, and thus remaining independent and free.

There is much folklore around the festivities. One story tells of La Mère Royaume, a woman who took the cauldron of vegetable soup off the fire and threw it on the enemy soldiers. This has resulted in delicious chocolate cauldrons filled with marzipan vegetables like those you see strewn over the table in the photo above.

These chocolate cauldrons are then smashed by the oldest and youngest person as they hold hands and say, “And thus perishes the enemies of the Republic!” This is to the great delight of all ages since you then eat the chocolate and its candy vegetables.

Bonnie Fatio

Holly Days With Age Esteem

Jolly is this season’s clue,

As a way to shed the blues.

Decorate your inner “tree”,

Shine with stars, be tinselly!

Give yourself the Gift of Time.

Wrap your days with golden twine.

Oh how festive you will seem. –

Holly days with Age Esteem!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

A RETURN TO LOVE by Marianne Williamson hangs framed on my wall to remind me of my own commitment to shine unabashedly at every age. You will recognize its influence within this Age Esteem Prayer of Thanksgiving. 

An Age Esteem Prayer Of Thanksgiving

Dear God, Spirit of Life,

We thank you for the blessings of the enlightened voices you have given us and the experience, talents and wisdom that have grown us into who we are today.

We know that we each have a unique power within us to manifest our light. – That we are powerful beyond measure.  We were indeed born to manifest the glory that is within us and to share our voices abundantly.

We are grateful for the freedom to let our lights shine unconsciously as a beacon to others so that they, too, might break through their own barriers of fear and self-consciousness.

Be with each person as she and he steps into her own power of voice and “being” her authentic self, filled with love, laughter, gratitude and commitment to test her voice in new ways as a gift to the world.

Guide us to wash away our fears and self-imposed limits in our thinking and actions.

Shower your blessings upon us as we ripen and mature knowing that the definition of aging and elders depends on how WE choose to live and the examples that we become for generations to follow.

And so it is. Amen.

Written for my interview on Using Your Authentic Voice to Transform the World.

Bonnie Fatio

Giving Thanks For Age Esteem

Thank you November

For your special day!

How grateful we are

For Thanksgiving’s way

Of bringing together –

To share and to feast

(In fair or “fowl” weather

From South, North or East,)

Young ones or elders and

Those in between –

And thank you for guiding us

To our age esteem!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®