Hello, my resilient Gen-X tribe,

I’ve written several posts in preparation for starting this blog, and today’s the day. The day I post my first posts and I wasn’t sure what to lead with. I still can’t decide, so I’ll do what Gen-X women do, and just go for the gut punch.

I’m going to share a deeply personal story with you today, about a cherished friend I lost a little over a year ago. Anne was a beacon of independence and courage, an emblem of the life I, and I’m sure many of us, aspire to lead. Anne was always there for her friends and her community. As an example, I once had to call Anne and ask her to run for local office, the day the petitions had to be turned in because we lost our candidate last minute. I offered to take half a day off work to help her get the required signatures. “Never mind, she said. I’ve got this.” And she sure did. Anne was a great official and it was my honor and privilege to serve alongside her.

In 2021, just as we were beginning to emerge from the shadows of the pandemic, we gathered for our first big group gathering. It was a “Covid didn’t kill us” dinner party, held by dear friends. Post-dinner, Anne and I stayed back to help our hosts clean up, chatting and sipping on the remnants of a wine bottle. We laughed, shared stories, and embraced the momentary normalcy that evening brought. The night ended around midnight, and we parted ways.

That was the last time I saw Anne. She went home and tragically passed away in her sleep. She wasn’t extraordinarily unhealthy, but she did have heart disease, an affliction that takes too many women from us prematurely. Anne was just 61, far too young to be taken from this world.

Anne’s sudden departure shook me to my core. It got me thinking about life, its fragility, its unpredictability. It made me contemplate my own life, and the choices I was making. You see, Anne had made some wise investments early on, which had allowed her to retire young. She lived a modest but comfortable life on her own terms, traveling, volunteering, and visiting friends all over the world. She was unapologetically single, embracing the freedom that it offered.

Her life was a testament to the idea of living on one’s own terms. Anne was a testament to the kind of life that prioritizes experiences over possessions, relationships over status, and happiness over societal expectations.

And so, I found myself asking the same questions Anne’s life inspired: if I don’t have many years left, how do I want to live them? Am I living my life in a way that truly fulfills me, or am I living a life that’s expected of me?

Anne’s passing was a jarring reminder of our mortality, but her life was an inspiring lesson in truly living. It made me reconsider my life choices and the path I was on. I find myself more inclined now to prioritize experiences, relationships, and self-fulfillment. I’m more determined than ever to retire earlier rather than later. And this blog will document my journey, toward that end, and hopefully, inspire part of yours.

I’d love to hear from you. What experiences have made you reconsider how you’re living? What changes are you making or thinking about making in your life? Let’s open up this conversation and inspire each other to live the life we truly desire. After all, we’re all in training to be awesome old ladies together.

With love and excitement,

Old Lady in Training