Loved this. Sari is both inspiring in her work ethic and as relatable as a good girlfriend. My secret pleasure is dance. I have absolutely no training or professional experience in it but I find a way to sneak it in to my more-acceptable habit of exercise. Sometimes if a really good song comes on in the morning while I'm emptying the dishwasher (Jesse Cook's Havana will do it), I will dance all over the kitchen. It is so spirit lifting! In another life, I would be a dancer. My uncle had a very successful dance studio in DC, teaching many presidents (though I couldn't see it happening today) so maybe it's in my blood a little.
Trevy, you really nail it about Sari: she is inspiring AND relatable. As for dancing, I love dancing around the kitchen, or occasionally with my husband! Don’t do it nearly enough.
Earlier in my life I worked in many organisations that required a competitive spirit and high performance. At retirement I was lost without anything to compete with or for. So I thought about what I could do well and how I could continue to improve on that and inspire others to do likewise. I ride horses and own 2 of my own. I decided to ride my horses into serious old age and to write about that experience. I am still doing that to the best of my ambitious ability. It is my 87th birthday today. 2 days ago I rode my horse with a friend for more than 3 hours in a local forest in glorious sunshine. I posted this achievement on my facebook page where I announced my birthday to my friends with a happy photo of me on my horse. I posted the same photo in groups of hundreds of older horsey people. I had an enormous response. This is the kind of expression my ambition takes these days... inspiring other older people with similar interests to follow my path for themselves!
I love this, Sylvia! As a seasoned equestrienne I am always looking for role models... especially since I bought a Lusitano foal when I was 54 and belatedly doing the math realized he will probably outlive me. Now that I am pushing 60 and he is just starting to figure out flying changes, my main motivation is to keep myself healthy enough to keep up with an energetic and muscular youngster!
Singing is great. I don't know why Sari doesn't join a choir where you can belt out your music to your heart's content and get pleasure from doing so among other singers. I am planning to write a post about singing one of these days. It's one of the few things that is part of my week's routine, along with my yoga.
Just shows you...the rickety chair in the room does get you a seat at the table when you are all in...super to get to know more about Sari and her successes
Debbie and Sari, thanks for this great interview. I laughed, sadly, at the diagnosis of cortisol poisoning. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
I love your question about what I'm feeling ambitious about right now because I am not exactly sure. This is one I am going to ponder for awhile which is interesting as I've always been quite ambitious. It's interesting when we reach a stage of comfort and the pursuit changes to something more gentle.
Thanks Debbie. I’m a great fan of Sari and her work. Especially like this response: I’m 59-and-a-half, turning 60 in October. I think I’m the most “me” I’ve ever been, and that’s been hard won. I wrote a whole book about it. I’m no longer trying to be who I think people and the world would prefer me to be.
Loved this. Sari is such a force. I’ve loved watching Oldster get bigger and bigger.
I love to sing but I’m not very good and I’m super self-conscious (have never done karaoke). Last week, I was walking on the beach, listening to George Michael on headphones and wanted to sing along… so I did. No one was around (I hope) but I may have traumatised some seagulls. Felt great to just bellow into the wind though!
![[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!i8Z0!,w_80,h_80,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaaca764-d8d6-4a1b-bf58-61dbb72810fc_842x842.png)
![[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!i8Z0!,w_36,h_36,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaaca764-d8d6-4a1b-bf58-61dbb72810fc_842x842.png)
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Loved this. Sari is both inspiring in her work ethic and as relatable as a good girlfriend. My secret pleasure is dance. I have absolutely no training or professional experience in it but I find a way to sneak it in to my more-acceptable habit of exercise. Sometimes if a really good song comes on in the morning while I'm emptying the dishwasher (Jesse Cook's Havana will do it), I will dance all over the kitchen. It is so spirit lifting! In another life, I would be a dancer. My uncle had a very successful dance studio in DC, teaching many presidents (though I couldn't see it happening today) so maybe it's in my blood a little.
I always start dancing to this one... "Mustang Sally" https://youtu.be/16u6w0cjjrU?si=llbOfaY35O07XBj_
Trevy, you really nail it about Sari: she is inspiring AND relatable. As for dancing, I love dancing around the kitchen, or occasionally with my husband! Don’t do it nearly enough.
Neither do I. It seems to fade with age but I'm all for bringing it back!
:)
How does ambition show up in my life?
Earlier in my life I worked in many organisations that required a competitive spirit and high performance. At retirement I was lost without anything to compete with or for. So I thought about what I could do well and how I could continue to improve on that and inspire others to do likewise. I ride horses and own 2 of my own. I decided to ride my horses into serious old age and to write about that experience. I am still doing that to the best of my ambitious ability. It is my 87th birthday today. 2 days ago I rode my horse with a friend for more than 3 hours in a local forest in glorious sunshine. I posted this achievement on my facebook page where I announced my birthday to my friends with a happy photo of me on my horse. I posted the same photo in groups of hundreds of older horsey people. I had an enormous response. This is the kind of expression my ambition takes these days... inspiring other older people with similar interests to follow my path for themselves!
I love this, Sylvia! As a seasoned equestrienne I am always looking for role models... especially since I bought a Lusitano foal when I was 54 and belatedly doing the math realized he will probably outlive me. Now that I am pushing 60 and he is just starting to figure out flying changes, my main motivation is to keep myself healthy enough to keep up with an energetic and muscular youngster!
Great to read this, thank you Sari and Debbie. Love Sari's work. She's an inspiration!
Wendy, she’s a one-woman powerhouse!
Great interview, thank you 🙏🏼
Hi, you two! A pleasure to eavesdrop on your enlightening conversation.
Singing is great. I don't know why Sari doesn't join a choir where you can belt out your music to your heart's content and get pleasure from doing so among other singers. I am planning to write a post about singing one of these days. It's one of the few things that is part of my week's routine, along with my yoga.
Ann, we can't wait to hear more about your choir; will there be a photo??
Just shows you...the rickety chair in the room does get you a seat at the table when you are all in...super to get to know more about Sari and her successes
I’m a huge Sari fan, and know I’m not alone in that!
I loved this. Sari is an inspiration.
Debbie and Sari, thanks for this great interview. I laughed, sadly, at the diagnosis of cortisol poisoning. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
I love your question about what I'm feeling ambitious about right now because I am not exactly sure. This is one I am going to ponder for awhile which is interesting as I've always been quite ambitious. It's interesting when we reach a stage of comfort and the pursuit changes to something more gentle.
Donna, I love the way you put this. Ambition becomes "something more gentle."
Thanks Debbie. I’m a great fan of Sari and her work. Especially like this response: I’m 59-and-a-half, turning 60 in October. I think I’m the most “me” I’ve ever been, and that’s been hard won. I wrote a whole book about it. I’m no longer trying to be who I think people and the world would prefer me to be.
Amy, the “hard won” especially resonates for so many women, I think!
Thanks for these great questions, Debbie! I had fun answering them. <3
Loved this. Sari is such a force. I’ve loved watching Oldster get bigger and bigger.
I love to sing but I’m not very good and I’m super self-conscious (have never done karaoke). Last week, I was walking on the beach, listening to George Michael on headphones and wanted to sing along… so I did. No one was around (I hope) but I may have traumatised some seagulls. Felt great to just bellow into the wind though!