Vicki, this moved me so deeply. Thank you for sharing your 80-year-old clarity with such grace and courage. Your phrase “coming of aging” is so resonant...and such a powerful reframe. I’m in my mid-60s, feeling the edges of some of these same questions, and reading your words feels like being gently walked home. I’m so glad to be connected with you here. Count me in for the journey. 💛
Happy to discover you here, Vicki. Love the term, coming of aging, and I’m right there with you. I turned 81 last December. I love your story about Joanna Macy. I interviewed her once long ago for Self magazine, an article on “feminist psychology” in the early 80s. You and I also have Avivah Wittenberg-Cox in common.
Thanks. Not quite rebranding. More like discovering what's possible as I open to the gifts and surprises of deep old age. Or maybe presence, and curiosity, and arms and eyes as wide open as I dare IS my brand!
Happy Birthday, Vicki! I just turned 75 and Carl is 80. We're in the thick of the inquiry and experience of coming of aging and finding it sometimes challenging and sometimes exquisite. We're all rocking this new boat and sharing our views and clues. I look forward to more of yours. Love, love, Love....and glad you're here!
Maybe a community of inquiry/ Discovery for those over 80 (and almost). And there are benefits of aging with a partner... And aging in friendship circles. Maybe it's the best time in life for spiritual practice.
Happiest of Birthdays, Vicki! What a beautiful and inspiring share! You speak on many things that many of us are thinking, dealing with, pondering. Becoming of aging is certainly not for the faint of heart but it is an incredible opportunity to continue growing into our selves and increasing our 'inner standing.' And...letting go. Thank you.
Hi Vicki. At 80 myself, I can certainly empathize. Old age is not a decline. It's a maturing, like a fine wine. I love the Joana Macy quote you gave: "This is the best day of my life.” That's a very Zen Buddhist view of old age. Today is not only the best day, it's the only day. I believe we live in a continually unfolding present moment. A great Chinese Zen master was famous for saying, "Every day is a good day." We at 80 know what he meant.
thank you. I intuit the truth of what you say. life is simply present moments. blinks. and then what is the story we tell? Is the thinning of ego in this coming of aging is living more in those moments and less identified with the stories. Yet, the stories, what are they? Only events? Only little concentrated bits of trauma or amazement? So much yet to see... and see... and see...
Vicki, this moved me so deeply. Thank you for sharing your 80-year-old clarity with such grace and courage. Your phrase “coming of aging” is so resonant...and such a powerful reframe. I’m in my mid-60s, feeling the edges of some of these same questions, and reading your words feels like being gently walked home. I’m so glad to be connected with you here. Count me in for the journey. 💛
Happy to discover you here, Vicki. Love the term, coming of aging, and I’m right there with you. I turned 81 last December. I love your story about Joanna Macy. I interviewed her once long ago for Self magazine, an article on “feminist psychology” in the early 80s. You and I also have Avivah Wittenberg-Cox in common.
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! :-)
Happy birthday, Vicki!
Wishing you continuing health and pluck into the next decade.
To rebranding 80! Look forward to it Vicki, and to learning about it from you.
Thanks. Not quite rebranding. More like discovering what's possible as I open to the gifts and surprises of deep old age. Or maybe presence, and curiosity, and arms and eyes as wide open as I dare IS my brand!
yup, exactly. which rebrands it for the rest of us walking in your footsteps.
You're very fortunate to be turning 80 tomorrow, don't forget that! Happy Birthday and many more!
Just…beautiful. You have always been, and still are, a teacher.
Happy Birthday, Vicki! I just turned 75 and Carl is 80. We're in the thick of the inquiry and experience of coming of aging and finding it sometimes challenging and sometimes exquisite. We're all rocking this new boat and sharing our views and clues. I look forward to more of yours. Love, love, Love....and glad you're here!
Maybe a community of inquiry/ Discovery for those over 80 (and almost). And there are benefits of aging with a partner... And aging in friendship circles. Maybe it's the best time in life for spiritual practice.
Happy birthday Vicki! You have much to teach us, keep going.
Happiest of Birthdays, Vicki! What a beautiful and inspiring share! You speak on many things that many of us are thinking, dealing with, pondering. Becoming of aging is certainly not for the faint of heart but it is an incredible opportunity to continue growing into our selves and increasing our 'inner standing.' And...letting go. Thank you.
Oh my, becoming of aging!!! I love that
You may want to rename your substack, Becoming of Aging is... perfect.
or maybe just rework my presentation of myself and the blog to the world. i mean, isn't coming of aging my ... brand?
Yup. Enough. Just drop it in from time to time? (Be)Coming of Aging
Happy birthday, Vicki. I’m 52 and appreciate your lighting up of the path ahead.
This is wonderful, filled with wit and wisdom. Thank you, Vicki.
Thank you Ginni. sisters on the path
Hi Vicki. At 80 myself, I can certainly empathize. Old age is not a decline. It's a maturing, like a fine wine. I love the Joana Macy quote you gave: "This is the best day of my life.” That's a very Zen Buddhist view of old age. Today is not only the best day, it's the only day. I believe we live in a continually unfolding present moment. A great Chinese Zen master was famous for saying, "Every day is a good day." We at 80 know what he meant.
Happy 80th, Vicki.
thank you. I intuit the truth of what you say. life is simply present moments. blinks. and then what is the story we tell? Is the thinning of ego in this coming of aging is living more in those moments and less identified with the stories. Yet, the stories, what are they? Only events? Only little concentrated bits of trauma or amazement? So much yet to see... and see... and see...