Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

At age 65, Jane Llewellyn (PHD, RN) decided to retire from her rewarding and demanding positions as Vice President of Nursing and as Associate Dean of the Nursing College at Rush University Medical Center. Why retire when she was on top of her game? Having survived aggressive breast cancer at age 43, with only a 20% chance to live beyond five years, Jane wanted to “experience more and enjoy life while I am able.” Thus began her new life as a world traveler--a temporary local--to exotic places in all seven continents. Jane says her favorite place is the next trip although she especially loved Antarctica and Africa. Jane’s continued involvement in health includes serving on the Board of a local hospital and on the Oak Park Action Team for End-of-Life Options Coalition--Compassion & Choices. She travels with and anticipates providing more care for her sister who has Alzheimer’s disease. Jane is writing her own extraordinary life story. Life is short, take the trip, buy the shoes.Contact Jane Llewellyn jllewellyn@me.com

Ever since she came to the United States from Kobe, Japan, at 10, Lily Liu has devoted herself to living up to the role models she found in her grandparents, aunt and mother. Her grandmother raised her while her mother, widowed at 32, worked to support her children. Every Sunday was Mother’s Day because it was the only day her mother was off from her work. She came to spend quality time with Lily and her brothers and planned adventurous activities. Lily Liu took full advantage of the world her mother shared with her.  Lily was a sought-after model as a teenager. Later, she gave her own three children the same opportunity when each was born during the years she owned her agency. Soon other mothers approached her to find modeling jobs for their children. Lily’s Talent Agency grew out of these early years. Lily shares how she became a model and how important it is to her to guide the talent she represents to excel, be professional, and pay it forward.  Live your life to your fullest, but remember to take care of yourself. Don’t let others influence you to give up what you love. - Lily LiuAs president and founder of a 501(C)3 non-profit,  “Mentoring Artists Chicago” since 2010, Lily helps young performing artists in the Chicagoland area with monetary as well as financial awards. She is also the founder, owner, and manager of Lidi Real Estate L.L.C. since 2000 and invests in properties to rent, as well as sell, at the most opportune time.CONNECT WITH LILY LIU:Website: https://lilystalent.comEmail: lily@lilystalent.com

Martha Hansen knows what it’s like to age. What she didn’t know was that 7 Days at Sea would be the first play she wrote and self-produced. Or that it would hit, head-on, the sexuality of women at older ages, as well as bring her close up to illness, gayness, and the growing insignificance women experience as they age.Martha says a lot of the credit for mounting the play goes to Kristina McCloskey who helped her with development. And, Margaret Knapp, who helped with structure and production and ultimately became the director. She couldn’t believe the support the theater community heaped on her and said she could never have come to this day without them. Not bad for a woman whose entire career was in science! ”I’m a big storyteller. I was such a wild child that I have a lot of stories.”7 Days at Sea is enjoying a limited run in Chicago at the Edge Theater on Broadway. Connect with Martha:Email: mjhansen613@comcast.netWebsite: https://www.lightandsoundproductions.org/

As a child of the 1960s drug culture, Stephanie Raffelock dropped out of high school. Her return to formal education in her mid-thirties opened the doorway into examining her own life and providing platforms for other women to tell the stories of their truths. In her recent book, Creatrix Rising--Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women--Stephanie changes the last stage of a woman’s life cycle from the dried-up Crone to the blossoming Creatrix. Aging, she believes, “is a remarkable and noble passage.” Through telling her own and others’ stories, Stephanie offers a reflective guide to embody and celebrate the Creatrix in each of us. I am replacing the archetype of the Crone with the Creatrix--women with resounding voices who inspire us with their personal stories.- Stephanie RaffleockConnect with StephanieStephanie.raffelock@gmail.comhttps://www.byline-Stephanie.comBooks by StephanieCreatrix Rising--Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women (2021)A Delightful Little Book on Aging (2020)

Dr. Katharine Esty’s husband was seriously ill when she turned 80. It put her in a funk. Even hiking with her family, an ordinary event, sent her deeper into the doldrums. Katharine couldn’t make it to the top of a favorite hill during one hike and it (removed only) made her realize she couldn’t keep doing everything she did. She decided it was time for research. As a psychotherapist, Katharine knew what to do. She searched for a diverse group of people across the country in their 80s to interview: men and women, most were flourishing, primarily in a positive economic space; most lived independently, some in retirement communities and a few in nursing homes. She interviewed some of their children, too, to understand how family dynamics changed as elders aged.“I was paralyzed with fear about aging until I began to feel, 'I can do this.' My picture of aging was completely out of date." Dr. Katharine EstyThe conclusion was very clear. The picture she held of old age was completely out of date. Her image came from her grandparents’ lives and that provided a grim reality. Some 11 million people are in their 80s today and this group is growing faster than any other decade. Her research revealed that, in part, people are thriving due to modern medicine and can continue to enjoy active, pain-free lives as long as they are healthy. Surprisingly, they are much happier. They stay involved, continue to learn, and have a purpose. This happiness is psychological and stems from having dropped regrets and striving in the rat race, as well as feeling gratitude for just being alive.Connect with Katharine:Book: Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected HappinessAvailable at Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Eightysomethings-Transitions-Letting-Unexpected-Happiness/dp/151074312XSign up for her monthly newsletter: https://www.katharineesty.com/newsletter-subscriptions

Vicki Thomas, 76 is a life-long journalist, producer, writer and purpose-driven business woman.She started her career as a media writer for a multi-state trade association, worked for ABC Chicago and, in 1988, started her own company. At 75, she realized it was time to do more and, with partner, Joyce Cohen, they created My Future Purpose, which fulfills her desire to help individuals harness the power of purpose. She believes “doing what fulfills you makes your days fly by”. “Purpose gives us a sense of identity.” - Vicki ThomasVicki believes aging is an extraordinary process and wants to continue making a difference. She has no desire to retire and told us she intends to be carried out on a flip chart! And she knows about aging. Her mother recently turned 100. A very pleasant person, still, there is necessary care-giving that Vicki must provide.Connect with Vicki:Email: vicki@myfuturepurpose.comWebsite: MyFuturePurpose.comAudioSeries: I Quit, Now What?

In recognition of National Poetry Month, we bring you Joyce Sutphen.Joyce Sutphen discusses her love of teaching and writing poetry, her attachment to rural life, and her decade-long experience living with Parkinson’s. Farm girl becomes college professor becomes Minnesota Poet Laureate. In her eight published collections of poetry, Joyce meets head on the challenges of living and dying, conveying beauty and peace, love and acceptance. Listen to Joyce’s reading of Crossroads about the second half of life, and How I’m Doing about her reckoning with Parkinson’s. Joyce has been heard to say, “I never want to know what the last line will be….”“Poetry is my way of finding out what I think.” – Joyce Sutphen, Ph.D.Take-Aways:Follow the thing you love the most, using the means you haveBody behaving badly—understand, accept, maintain itPoems tell us things in a language we didn’t know we spoke. They say things in ways we didn’t know we knew.Contact information:jsutphen@gustavus.eduJoyce’s latest publication:Sutphen, J. (2019). Carrying water to the field: New and selected poems. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press.Connect with Gail & Catherine:Facebook: facebook.com/womenover70Website:https://womenover70.comEmail: info@womenover70.com

Joan Sotkin, 81, is the creator of 3 books and 5 audios and a financial coach whose approach is based on brain science. She is also the host of the podcast The Prosperity Show.  “What you believe affects what happens in your life. Every decision has an emotional component.” - Joan SotkinIn 1976, while living in Venice, CA, Joan gave away all her possessions and wandered for four years learning how to always follow her inner voice. While staying with her parents at Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, during a deep meditation, she heard: “Go buy a pound of tumbled stones”. She soon built a successful business selling crystals and minerals nationwide. Unfortunately, she never learned how to manage cash flow, went bankrupt and dedicated herself to honing her business and financial skills. After suffering from a range of physical problems for many years, Joan studied and adopted a range of alternative techniques. She is now remarkably healthy and vibrant. Today, Joan is a successful money and mindset mentor who guides people to uncover the habitual thoughts, beliefs, and emotions that affect their business and financial outcomes.   Connect with Joan:Email: joan@sotkin.comWebsite: https://ProsperityPlace.comPodcast: The Prosperity ShowBook: Build Your Money Muscles: Nine Simple Exercises for Improving Your Relationship with Money

Francine Russo grew up in New York - a lower middle class Jewish girl. Her parents felt strongly that her MRS. Degree was more important than getting her PH.D. She did marry, twice. Both husbands died and she was left to find Love After 50: the title of her latest book, which is a comprehensive and intimate guide to finding, keeping, and enjoying love after fifty, the best kind of love there is. Today she lives with Michael, her current partner of 6 ½ years. Francine has a PhD in English literature and is a successful journalist. In this episode, she offers many tips for aspiring magazine writers and is known for being ahead of the curve, finding trends to write about before others. At 75, Francine loves life and has many more articles in her to write. Watch for her next one in Scientific American, a story about a female archaeologist who learns about Viking women.   If you like someone and don’t hear back, there’s no harm in following up yourself - Perseverance gets you what you want, in work and in dating. -Francine RussoConnect with Francine Russo:Email:  francine.russo.email@gmail.comWebsite: https://francinerusso.com/Current Book: Love After 50: How to Find It, Enjoy It and Keep Ithttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=francine+russo+love+after+50&i=stripbooks&crid=U6TWK1J8OL7H&sprefix=Francine+Russo%2Cstripbooks%2C70&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14

For Agnes Loughlin, a former nurse and nurse practitioner, the path to internal wellness begins with awareness. She emphasizes being aware of how we direct our attention and energy to our thoughts and emotions and encourages us to use these powerful tools to create our inner desires.  Agnes describes how her own feelings of loneliness and disconnection for many years were masked by busyness, until she had an awakening experience at age 64.  Always curious, Agnes is devoted to exploring multiple dimensions of spirituality and healing. She is certified in five modalities and as a life coach. As founder of Miracles in Wellness, Agnes speaks and conducts retreats and coaches individuals and groups to create and explore their own joyous realities.  We create our own joy as we become more aware of feeling love, connection, and aliveness in our relationships. -Agnes LoughlinContact InformationAgnes Loughlin, Joy FacilitatorCell 773-791-9590Email: agnes@miraclesinwellness.comWebsite: https://miraclesinwellness.comFree gift--Meditation to Embrace More Love https://mailchi.mp/f99c1fcdc0ef/meditation