It’s been an interesting couple of months. And it is why I’ve been quiet. Because of the flow of life.
It started with a very unexpected event and hard fall in early August while walking the dogs.
I’ll spare you the painful, bloody, road rash-filled details. But I had zero energy those first two weeks.
And am still working my way back to feeling 100% healthy and balanced.
The theme this year, since I went and finished packing up my folks’ home in February, has been dominated by elder care.
They came back to the Denver area in assisted living in February as the doctor said Dad’s days were numbered.
He made it longer than we expected him to. Sadly, we lost him on my mom’s 95th birthday. (Two days after Dolly Parton passed.)
He was only three weeks from his own 95th birthday. I was with him that afternoon as he rapidly slipped away.
(Me with my Poppa on a cloudy day in Austria. I took him on a Viking River Cruise in 2017. What a blast!)
Three weeks later, Mom had a stroke—I was there with her while it was happening.
So weird, she was looking at me, but no one was home.
She returned to her assisted living apartment from a rehab facility in just three short weeks.
She has balance issues and needs to regain strength to walk on her own again.
Just a couple days ago, I took her for an afternoon car ride to reminisce many places, communities and streets she knew from living here for many years.
She and my father were together for 75 years. How the hell do you navigate life after that?
She’s never, ever lived alone before—at 95!
That one makes me shake my head.
The one thing I’ve observed from watching them the past seven months is the options you have around aging.
You can be stubborn, refuse to accept where you are in life (even with mere weeks from being 95), or you can live in gratitude and spend your time reminiscing on all of the wonderful experiences you’ve enjoyed in your very long, very blessed life.
You can live in denial and regret with “I shouda, and I coulda,” or you can decide to age gracefully.
Yup, it’s your choice.
One thing I know personally: my fall could have been much worse.
Fortunately, I didn’t break anything—which I attribute to the investment of time I dedicate to staying in shape.
I lift weights and do cardio 5-6 times a week, walk the dogs every day and I eat healthy.
Often, I cut the alcohol intake for months at a time—and I don’t drink much if I do indulge as my body is over it these days.
Pulling it out of rotation helps to control my weight and keeps me in shape both physically and mentally.
I find there’s a much higher level of clarity when you remove alcohol for extended periods of time.
And if you know me well, you also know that I stay away from sugar.
Sugar is addictive…leads to cravings for more, more, more.
But more importantly, sugar contributes to inflammation in the body, which is the primary reason I’m not on the sugar train.
So I’m in a bit of a reflective mode recently. Looking at my life with a broader perspective these days.
Asking myself, how do I want to show up today?
What’s most important today?
Who am I here to help today?
How can I serve and support more leaders in the business world?
Especially women—there are so many ways I help and support women when they are ready to take the next step in life and/or career.
I can’t believe that I’m closing in on 70 with another birthday next month (no, not this year).
How the hell did that happen?! I don’t feel it. I’m still young at heart.
And I know that where my focus is, my energy is—and that means I’m focused on shining, illuminating the pathway to living a full life.
Where is that place you want to be in life?
What does it feel like?
Is it joy, freedom, gratitude, success, love…what energy do you want to live in?
This is the time to slow down and think about what that is…today.
Even though some people, like my parents, enjoy a very long life, other people’s lives seem to get cut short.
And one thing we can likely agree on is that we never know what tomorrow brings.
So…what will you place your order for in life today?
What seeds will you plant, cultivate and nurture?
How will you use your imagination and dreams to bring you into the life you want to live?
You’ve got to get really clear about it in order to live it.
And if you need a gentle reminder—this is what I do.
This is my focus, helping leaders and their organizations to thrive in business and in life.
I’m always here for you, even when I fall and have obstacles to navigate.
In Love and Gratitude,
Lori, The Success Whisperer
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