One small change – little moves that make a BIG difference
AFEW MONTHS AGO WE WERE IN THE OFFICE DISCUSSING THE NEED FOR GUIDANCE IN OUR MIDDLE YEARS – A ROADMAP TO HELP WOMEN LIKE US FIND A NEW WAY FORWARD.
WE ARE SO DIFFERENT TO OUR MOTHERS’ GENERATION – THEIR LIVES WERE MAPPED OUT MUCH MORE CLEARLY – AND TODAY THERE’S NO SUCH SATNAV. THERE ARE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, BUT WITH so MANY ROADS, IT’S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHICH ONE TO TAKE. THIS MONTH’S BONUS: MIDLIFE WITHOUT A MAP (P65), WILL HELP YOU FIND A NEW ROUTE
AND FEEL FULFILLED. OUR BRILLIANT LIFE COACH, CAROLE ANN RICE, EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY OF US EXPERIENCE A WOBBLE WHEN WE HIT A MIDLIFE POINT, AND HER FOUR-POINT PLAN IS A GREAT PLACE TO START ADDRESSING THAT.
ONE PERSON WHO HAS FOUND A NEW DIRECTION IS BARBARA WILSON, A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR WHO STARTED WORKING WITH CANCER, AN ORGANISATION HELPING PEOPLE WITH CANCER BACK TO WORK, WHO I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF MENTORING. SHE’S
ONE OF THREE WOMEN (P160) WHO HAVE PUT DOING GOOD AT THE HEART OF THEIR BUSINESS – THEY’RE TRULY INSPIRING. I DID LOL WHEN I READ NEW GRANDMOTHER KIM CARILLO’S ACCOUNT OF WHEN SHE AND HER HUSBAND AGREED TO LOOK AFTER THEIR NEW GRANDSON FOR THE NIGHT (P148). FIRST CAME THE INSTRUCTIONS, THEN THE EQUIPMENT
AND THEN THE HOURS SPENT TRYING TO ASSEMBLE IT. FORGET DOWNSIZING, YOU’LL NEED AN EXTENSION, SHE SAYS! AS A “GAN-GAN” TO TWO ADORABLE GRANDSONS I EMPATHISE BUT OF COURSE, LIKE HER, WOULDN’T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD.
I’M AMAZED AT HOW
MANY WOMEN BELONG TO BOOK CLUBS – INCLUDING MY FRIEND ORLA, WHO HAS BEEN GOING TO ONE FOR 25 YEARS! BOOKS ARE THE GLUE THAT STICKS THEM TOGETHER, BUT THEY SHARE SO MUCH MORE – FIND OUT WHAT ON P54.
IF YOU’RE PART OF A BOOK CLUB, ONE BOOK I CAN THOROUGHLY RECOMMEND IS OUR BOOKS EDITOR FANNY BLAKE’S NEW NOVEL, Our Summer Together. SHE TALKS ABOUT IT ON P198, AND IT’S ABOUT A WOMAN N OF A CERTAIN AGE WHO IS COASTING THROUGH LIFE WITH NO EXPECTATIONS. HOWEVER, A CHANCE MEETING SHOWS HER THAT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
DEMENTIA CAUSES MUCH ANGST AMONGG FAMILIES, AND IT WAS JENNIE PRICE, CEO OF F SPORT ENGLAND, WHO GAVE ME THE IDEA FOR OUR FEATURE, LESSONS WE LEARNED ABOUT DEMENTIA (P60). SHE TOLD ME HOW HARD SHE FOUND IT MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS WHEN YOU’RE CARING FOR A PARENT. SO WE ASKED HER AND THREE OTHER WOMEN FOR THE ADVICE THEY’D
GIVE OTHER FAMILIES. I HOPE YOU FIND IT BOTH MOVING AND USEFUL.
DO YOU FEEL, LIKE ME, THAT
YOU KNOW FIONA BRUCE (SEE P16) BECAUSE SHE’S CONSTANTLY IN YOUR HOME, EITHER READING THE NEWS OR PRESENTING Antiques Roadshow? FIONA LOOKS FABULOUS, GLAMOROUS AND RELAXED ON OUR COVER, AND AS SHE SAYS, “I AM THE PERSON I AM, AND THAT’S ALL RIGHT” – AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH HER – ALTHOUGH I’D SAY SHE’S A LOT MORE THAN ALL RIGHT!
“If you’re at a crossroads, our Bonus will help you find a way forward”