Maya Angelou had a way of expressing profound statements in simple language that we could easily understand. Age was not an issue for her. She liked herself, liked what she did and liked how she did it. She was highly successful in expressing her thoughts.

Maya Angelou was an excellent example and advocate for AgeEsteem. She was and remains a role model of a person aging with confidence, conviction and commitment. Her self-esteem and age-esteem manifested in all that she did and said. It was expressed in her humor, her poetry and her manner of living.

Success at every age is about loving yourself, enjoying what you do, and liking how you do it.

Bonnie Fatio

If I Had My Life To Live Over

Written by Erma Bombeck

“If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

Erma Bombeck wrote this when she knew that she had a fatal disease. It is filled with loving advice for each of us, at every age and stage. 

Bonnie Fatio

Esteem At Every Age

LIFE is a little like these rhymes:

It doesn’t “jingle” all the time!

You need to stop and try to find

The LYRICAL within your mind.

POETRY is a way to say

“Ah ha”, there is another way

For making every age to seem

So VERSEatile and so esteemed!

Start with A and go to E

It really works…just try and see!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

Love with Every Age

Do you remember the first time you were kissed? – Really kissed!  Your heart seemed to stop, your toes tingled and you felt as though the ground was opening under your feet.

I hope you did, or will.  It is never too late.

Let’s face it, though.  Lights don’t always go off and bells don’t always ring.  – Nor is it necessary.

There are many ways to love. The media focuses our attention on romantic love as though it were the end-all.  They forget the love of a parent or grandparent, aunt or uncle, teacher or tutor, or the love of a sibling for another.

The media also overlooks the love that we share among friends.  It has nothing to do with romance.  It has everything to do with listening, understanding, and being there for the other person.  It is based on shared experiences, memories, laughter and tears.  It carries the knowledge that you can say what you really feel and not be judged, or ranting over something silly and not be laughed at.

Love is an important ingredient to aging with vitality and health, and with age esteem.

Look at your own relationships and ask yourself

• Who do I love?
• How do they know how important they are to me?
• How can I express to these people that I love them, care about them or appreciate them?

Age-esteemers know that love is a gift.  They use it generously.

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

Salt For Healthy Aging 

Too much salt is not good and is found in many processed foods. However, with transpiration salt is eliminated from the body along with other minerals.

Too little salt in your diet is also not good.  Side effects occur such as weakness and vomiting if there is too little salt in the body.  New studies are showing that a salt free diet is not healthy for us.  Too little salt can negatively affect our bones and memory.

A diet that is well balanced, which includes vegetables, fruits and salads with a normal amount of salt is a good step toward enjoying good health at every age.

Grandma Nature

My best friend Maggie Dull

As we age, best friends continue to hold their special place in our lives.  As children our best friend may have changed daily, but best friends from our teen years remain solid.  Even though we may have little else in common today, our “best friend” relationship continues to unite us.  Maggie, my best friend from High School, and I plan to spend the reunion time together.

Maggie was the Chief of Police’s daughter and I was the Methodist minister’s daughter – so together we could do no wrong.  Heaven knows we tried!  We wanted to be bad, but when we did do something stupid like knock the head off a snowman our guilt drove us to rebuild it almost before the head hit the ground.  Now, 50 years later we still laugh just at the joy of being together.

Contact your old “best friends” today and renew your relationship if you haven’t already done so.  Friends are precious at every age!

Bonnie Fatio

Do you sometimes look into the mirror and feel unloved?

Try this.  Look through and beyond.

It is very easy for us to forget as we look into the mirror that if the glass we look into had no silver in it, then we would be looking not into a mirror at ourselves but  through a window at others. – And we just might realize how well off we are and how desperately the rest of the world needs our love.

A fear of committing ourselves, of taking a step beyond our own comfort zone, often holds us back from offering to others the kind of uncompromising love exemplified by a newborn.  And it is in offering our love that we receive love.

A happy way to experience age-esteem is to

• look beyond yourself to the needs of others,
• stretch out of your comfort zone and
• find a way to share your talents and love with those less fortunate.