I am not sure when it finally hit me. I have had to concede that I am actually in the age bracket that is considered old – not just ‘old’ but ‘very old’ – maybe even ancient! I don’t feel old and am fortunate to be quite healthy. I even have people tell me that I look good- then spoil it all by adding, “For your age!”

Last week I spent five days going over an edit of my book. A company has approached me, encouraging me to republish it. I was horrified at first, feeling that the book was written five years ago and I am no longer ‘Sizzling at Seventy’. Strangely I began to receive a spate of sales and encouraging emails from strangers who had read my book and found it uplifting. This is what has me motivated me to proceed with the rewrite.

As I poured over my manuscript, I was grateful to make changes, also add a postscript about the loss of my beloved husband who had inspired me to write the book in the first place. So much has happened in the following almost five years, that I felt that I had moved on. I am grateful for the wise counsel from my friends who reminded me that I had written about the strategies that had assisted me to work through some issues of the past, and that it still can be a bridge for those who may be seeking answers. There have been some who have found it uplifting and say that it has provided them with a measure of hope. What a thrill that is and I’m inspired to do more. I feel that I will write until the day I leave this mortal coil.

As I read through the edited manuscript, I became aware of the vast life span I have covered. It only seems like yesterday that some of these things occurred, yet they happened so many years ago and I am reminded that in comparison, I have very few years left. I’m not sure if this is the reason I feel compelled to limit my activities to those that I feel fit my purpose – my reason for being here. I began to realise that I had wasted so many hours trying to fit into spaces that weren’t always comfortable for me. Now it is important for me to spend the rest of my days using all that I have learnt, over my considerable years, doing all that I can to support women of all ages. My Mick used to say to me that he felt that it was my purpose to work with women and, as I was still working in the corporate space, I didn’t believe him. Since then much has happened to ensure that I at last ‘get it’. I feel honoured to be working with women of all ages and races. I feel privileged to be there and watch how, with a little encouragement, these fabulous women gain enough confidence in themselves to blossom at a much earlier age than did I. I can see that all that has happened in my life has provided rich fodder that has helped me to have a more empathic approach to clients. I understand so much more about perceptions and how we can see things so differently. I have become more tolerant, although I am still often triggered by the pain we humans can inflict on each other. I have gained more resilience- and best of all, I have learnt to laugh out loud.

I am looking forward to the speaking engagements on the horizon. I love having these opportunities. Yes, I know I am no longer Sizzling at Seventy – but I know, five years later, there’s a hell of a lot of sizzle left, and I can really see how I can thrive at seventy-five.