Most of us regard ageing as a privilege. For many of our great-grandmothers, life ended prematurely either at childbirth, through disease, poverty or poor nutrition.
A United Nations report reminds us that ageing is a triumph of development. People are living longer because of better nutrition, sanitation, healthcare, education and economic well-being. According to a recent report by WHO, people aged 60 and older make up 12.3% of the global population and by 2050, that number will rise to almost 22%.
A Harvard University study points out that women reach a creative peak at 55-65 and that the 70s are the happiest time in a woman's life.
Even with all of this progress, many people will not see midlife or old age.
My sister Rebecca died over 20 years ago at the age of 41. She was at a place where her children were about to leave home and life was becoming easier for her and her husband. Rebecca was petite and gorgeous and the apple of my parent's eye. Diagnosed with cancer she passed away within 6 months.
My friend passed away two years ago at the age of 49 again with 2 children and an adoring partner.
We all know wonderfully vibrant people who died in their prime. Not all of us will have children, get married or start a business, but we will all die. After our birth, death is the only experience we will all have. When and how is the mystery.
It's confronting for people in midlife to acknowledge that there are more years behind them than ahead of them. Without sugarcoating the challenges of menopause, the grief of an empty nest, and the fear of invisibility and loss of irrelevance, midlife can be an invitation and an opportunity to reset.
If you're struggling with ageing, being part of a community like Silver Sirens is an invitation to commune with women who are facing the challenges of midlife head-on and embracing their newfound confidence, sense of purpose and autonomy.
It's an invitation to redirect the time spent lamenting our lost youth. Let's face it, all the money in the world can’t take us back there.
So if we are privileged to make it to midlife not only do we have a lot to be grateful for, but I also believe that we have a responsibility to live authentically for our remaining decades.
2019 Speakers and Themes
For one powerful, inspirational day women gather together, sister Silver Sirens from all walks of life, to benefit from the guidance, wit, wisdom - even vulnerability - of expert speakers.
The themes for our second event were, The Experts, The Mothers, and The Change Makers.
I still recall sitting on the stage in the Motherhood segment, listening to Silvana Riley share her story. Even though I knew the content of her presentation, the tears began to flow the moment she opened her mouth. Silvana was brave enough to reveal that her daughter was the victim of sexual abuse by her father. Her daughter shared this tragic news with Silvana in a therapy session. The whole room was spellbound. You could hear the sniffles throughout the room. Silvana was so courageous, and that experience will always stay with me.