A MidCentury Manifesto: Things I Will Do Over the Next 50 Months
I turned 50 this week. I have neglected this blog and many of my passions for far too long.
I don't make new year's resolutions for public consumption, but I am a compulsive list maker.
In addition to recommitting myself to writing about great places to relax, relocate and retire, I commit to the following over the next 50 months as my own MidCentury Manifesto:
1. I will continue to feel 35, in mind, body and spirit, for as long as possible and will do all the things to make that be the case.
2. By the same token, I will embrace.my true age and wear it like a badge of honor. I will channel my friends Marianne Goldsmith and Helen Davis Chaitman, who are strong, bold women who provide inspiration by maintaining sharp minds and full lives.
3. I will continue to be confident in my choices. I will be honored to be too brash and "New York" for some in the South and to be too soft and Southern for some Northeastern counterparts, ideally resulting in a measured balance of tenacity and warmth. All of which I will be unapologetic about.
4. I will follow my philanthropic passions to engage in activities that are meaningful and transformational in my communities and in my personal growth.
5. I will continue to make our house a "happy" home in function and form.
6. I will acknowledge my klutziness and give up on learning to ski.
7. But by the same token, I will train for and participate in a half marathon in NY by 2010.
8. I will let my children continue to grow into the fine young adults that they are becoming. I will support them when they request it and let go when they need it. I will continue to be in awe of their beautiful resolve in the manner they chose to live their lives, in their goals and objectives.
9. I will complete the writing projects I have started. I will tell stories extracted from my life experiences, to learn lessons and to share experiences that are both entertaining and instructive.
10. I will learn to be a better daughter and daughter-in-law, more patient and caring in the way I interface with my parents. I see my friends who do not have the pleasure of having both parents in their lives any longer and realize how grateful I am that this is not yet my reality.
11. I will speak kindly of others. If I cannot, I will keep it to myself.
12. I will strive to be a better friend.
13. I will make fun a priority.
14. I will not wear a red hat and purple dress together. Ever.
15. I will travel to foreign lands and nearby destinations alike. I will continue to engage in dialogues with people during these travels to truly understand and appreciate their lives..
16. I will plant a garden and fruit trees. I will plant seeds for others as well.
17. I will engage in my hobbies and take time off from my work.
18. I will get straight teeth, smaller hips and a rosier complexion by wearing braces, engaging in exercise and drinking lots of water.
19. I will laugh. A lot. I will realize the fullness of my life and be genuinely grateful for it.
