GETTING OLDER IS A GOOD THING
AT 75, THE GRACIOUS LIVING EXPERT ENJOYS PASSING ON HER KNOWLEDGE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION
A“few hundred” of Martha Stewart’s friends will be invited to her holiday open house in Bedford, N.Y., in December. “I have three houses on the property — all within walking distance — that I decorate,” Martha tells Closer, explaining that one house will serve Christmas cookies, another desserts and the last will be a buffet including “souffles hot out of the oven.”
It’s easy to see how Martha has made a career out of teaching people how to live the good life. “I like being a role model, but I like being a mentor even more,” says Martha, 75, who believes that more older Americans should impart their wisdom to the next generation. “They have so much to offer,” Martha says. “If they’ve been clever and successful, there’s a lot they can teach.”
At her fifth annual Martha Stewart American Made Summit, held in NYC on Oct. 22, Martha brought together a group of budding entrepreneurs for a day of seminars and networking. “I enjoy giving some of my advice to these young people who are trying to build a business, trying to do something with their lives that they like,” she explains. “It’s not about emulating me. It’s really about them creating their own business.”
Of course, it’s not always necessary to create a seminar to teach. Closer to home, Martha’s favorite young apprentices are her grandchildren, Jude, 5, and Truman, 4. “They are really fun,” she gushes. “Jude reads my magazines from cover to cover. She chooses which dresses she likes best in the weddings magazine. She has very good taste!”
Martha often cooks with her grandkids, and they also garden, hike and swim together. “They are such avid learners and so open to anything,” she says. It’s a trait they must have inherited from their grandmother, who also embraces each day with an eagerness to learn, share and grow. “I do exciting stuff every day,” Martha says. “It’s fun!”
— Louise A. Barile, with reporting by Hilary Sheinbaum
“Retire? I do not even know what that means.”
— Martha