How many times have you thought “I’m so different than my Mom was at my age”?

Do you marvel at the fact that you’re considered “a senior citizen” and you’re still wearing your jeans and tees like you did in high school? And are still energetic, engaged, sexy and fun?

Well, that’s us! Check out these fun facts and truths about the women of our generation.

1. We have witnessed an era of incredible technological and environmental change

2. We have always been a major force for attention to social injustice

3. We are experienced and educated - more of us are college graduates than previous generations

4. We are spiritually awake and value opportunities to grow and learn

5. We are strong, independent spirits

6. We don’t look old and we don’t act old

7. There are huge numbers of us! Seventy-seven million in the US alone, and in Canada, we are 30% of the population

8. We are savvy consumers with tremendous buying power; we actually outspend younger adults

9. Many of us are pursuing second careers and are continuing to work past 55 years, while others choose to volunteer after retirement to continue to give back

10. We will live longer than women of previous generations, thanks to medical advances and our preference for healthy lifestyles

11. We got divorced in droves and many of us are now choosing co-habiting over marriage

12. Generally we face unique financial challenges: we didn’t earn as much as our male counterparts, we didn’t manage our money as well, we didn’t save as much, and our pensions are lower because we missed time to take care of our kids or worked part-time, so we must continue to work and earn

13. Ah...but we’ll live longer so must stretch less money over a longer period of time…

14. On the bright side, we know that how we experience aging is in our control and is strongly influenced by our personal choices

AND...

1. We were steeped in the greatest music of all time

2. We can cook, clean, sew, knit and fix things

3. We are stylish fashionistas, like we always were

4. We know how to have fun

5. We’re sexy, goddammit

6. Which makes us very COOL

I think sometimes we forget how special we are, how much has changed in our lifetime and how we’ve coped and come through it all. We’re probably the most interesting and powerful generation of women “in the history of the world” (to coin a phrase commonly used by the current US president).

In my opinion, we need to be coming together in groups and on retreats to celebrate our lives, to share experiences and discuss our hopes and aspirations for the next phase of our time here. The energy of us together will bring powerful inspiration and transformation!

What can we do to help our planet and future generations of humans and wildlife?

I’m off to a retreat in Tuscany in 3 weeks that will focus on sleep yoga and Ayurvedic therapies. I expect it to be a time of intense quiet, relaxation, and reflection - along with the inspiration and transformation that retreat experiences provide.

I’ll bring this question to the other women at the retreat during discussion times and will write about it next time.

But for now, let's remember - we may be aging differently from our mothers and grandmothers, but they helped make us the force that we are.

I salute you my wise and cool sisters.

Namaste 8-)