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

Blessings Throughout the Year

In the Christian religion the star is a sign of Peace On Earth Good Will Towards All. Christmas is a time of celebrating our Lord’s love. Many traditions surround it in our family: baking and decorating cookies, making gifts to give to others, decorating a tree, family gatherings and a midnight candlelight church service on Christmas eve.

Whether your religious beliefs and traditions are similar, different, or non-existent, my wish for each of you is that you experience blessings of love, joy and peace throughout the whole year.

Bonnie Fatio

Working Across Generations

One answer to working together across generations is Shared Intergenerational Leadership.

Why is this effective?

By working with others of diverse generations through sharing responsibilities, for instance leading a project, meeting or training, we learn how others function and think.

Rather than watch the other person perform in a way that annoys us, we are forced to open our mind. We have the natural opportunity to ask why they suggest something or prefer to work in a way that may seem foreign to us.

A personal incident that comes to mind took place when I was running an Intergenerational Dialogue at a Conference in Colombia with a young woman in her twenties from Trinidad Tobago. As we were discussing how notes would be recorded at each able she said, “They can also Tweet!”

My initial reaction was, “How rude!” Imagine people tweeting while you are sharing your idea. I am not proud to say that I missed this opportunity to sit on my mouth and to say nothing. However I did immediately ask further questions. I do, after all, tweet.

As a result, when we shared the leadership of this Intergenerational Dialogue I found myself encouraging participants to also tweet using the hash tag of the conference.

I learned something, the other person’s idea was valued, and it added to the richness of the dialogue process. Rather than trying to pigeonhole the other person into the characteristics of her generation, we each actively listened to the ideas of the other and acted together, sharing leadership intergenerationally. Each of us benefited in the process.

These experiences further enhance my own leadership style and confidence, and therefore my age esteem.

Bonnie Fatio

Does Your “Selfie” Show Age Esteem?

The following excerpt from “What Selfie Sticks Really Tell Us About Ourselves” (NY Times, Aug. 8, 2015)
 came across my desk recently from Candice, one of my readers in Ireland. Her comment was, “Age Esteem needs to become more widely spread so we might be proud to show what we really look like and to be happy with the way we look, wrinkles and all.”

Here is the excerpt. “The American
 Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports a marked increase 
in demand for cosmetic surgery as people become disappointed comparing their
 selfies with the images they see in the mirror.”

It is true that raw close-up photos of any kind tend to emphasize details like wrinkles and age spots. It is also true that wrinkles and age spots are not yet embraced and celebrated by the society we live in.

So what can we do?

• Avoid posting selfies on the internet. People with age esteem know that they are in control and do not have to follow the herd.
• Post selfies that show your wrinkles and personal character and be proud of them. People with age esteem know that they each have a unique beauty. This is in part because of their wisdom and experience reflected on their faces.
• Encourage all the people who you know who have age esteem to post their untouched selfies on the internet with you to let people know that age is beautiful and that age can and should be celebrated.

Remember that you are beautiful with a unique beauty that is yours. Cherish it and celebrate it.

Bonnie Fatio

On A Gray Day

Despite seeing the sun shining, one of my friends said she was having a “gray day” when we spoke on the phone one morning. She was normally bursting with age esteem and enjoying the opportunities surrounding her. However, on this particular day she felt like Scrooge and yelling “Bah, humbug!” and that was exactly who she sounded like as she decided to be miserable.

One of the antidotes for a miserable day is to get out and do something for someone else. Share your talents and focus outward. So I sat down and wrote this Age Esteem rhyme for her.

 On A Gray Day

When you are down and out

Sit alone, sigh and pout

Feeling down, out, really low

Shake yourself! Get up and go!

Step out of your gray, sad mood

Look outside and do some good

There are those who need you there

With your talents, smile and flair.

It is time to stretch, try something new.

Realize a dream; realize a few!

This is your time to reach out and give

Your time to sing, dance and really LIVE!

You are one of God’s chosen blessed

Why you are down, I could not have guessed.

When I look at you or hear your voice

I think you must be God’s first choice.

He gave you talents, oh, yes he did

(You I would never dare to kid.)

Talents in you overflow

And new ones await to grow.

So what if you do feel low and listless on this day so gray?

A precious resource you are for your feelings today

So replace those blues, with a colored rainbow display!

And grabbing its brilliance, find happiness on your way!

 Bonnie Fatio

Growing Pains

“Growing Pains”

That does explain

Our ever-changing moods –

We way and wane

From Bright to Broods

A pattern we entrain.

How to seem

In Harmony

With Age Esteem

And synchrony

Of Painless Qualities?

“No pain, no gain”

a wise refrain!

Just aim for Joy

Don’t get annoyed

With fruitless “frivolities”!

Written by Alexandra Taylor† for AgeEsteem®

It Is Never, Ever Too Late

 Get well wishes

Are welcome words indeed,

They sound almost delicious

And satisfy your needs.

How swell to be remembered

With cards and plants and food,

Cheer dwells in one’s heart chambers

And quells more somber moods.

Fare thee well oh injured “mal-mate”,

Go on a mending spree!

It is never, ever too late

To be well as well can be.

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem

It Could Be Worse!

When I fell and broke my knee

I asked “WHAT will become of me?”

I thought “Oh Woe”, but suddenly

I stopped my being sullenly

And pity-ingly … when solemnly

I turned for help in rhym-ed verse

And knew that it could be MUCH WORSE!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

Eating Alone – With Age Esteem

I love to travel, but I do admit that it took me awhile to feel comfortable eating alone.

Usually when you are welcomed to a restaurant the person who seats you says, “Just one?” as though there is something objectionable about being alone, and that you must therefore be lonely. As a result, you do feel alone. I used to pull out a book or writing paper to seem busy. Then a friend shared this story.

She and her business partner closed a huge contract in New York. Although her partner had to fly out immediately, my friend decided to celebrate with a delicious dinner and wine at one of the top Manhattan restaurants.

When she arrived the maître d’hôtel looked down his nose at her and announced, “Ah, I see Madam is alone tonight.” My friend’s prompt reply was, “Oh, no, tonight I am with myself!”

Her story changed my outlook from eating alone, to eating “with myself”. I now savor the moment, the food, and the joy of being in my own good company.

Today at the Tampa airport the woman who greeted me asked, “A party of one?” I responded, “Yes. And it is going to be a great party!” – And it was.

Next time you eat out alone, glow with age esteem and make it a party of one.

Bonnie Fatio

Gratitude Is My Attitude

When I was born,

In a Hotel Suite,

With Mother, Father, and brother Pete,

Our cast of four was thus complete,

An absolutely perfect feat!

All was perfect, or so it seemed,

And then we grew and grew much older

(We’d not yet heard of Age Esteem!)

each year braver, brighter, bolder.

Now I am in a Twilight zone,

My future’s not as long as yore,

The family’s gone, I’m left alone

But positive there’s much in store:

Depending on my attitude

And facing Life with Gratitude!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®