I recently decided to leave my home in Manhattan where I lived for my entire adult life. At first, this idea was exciting and intriguing. Imagine…starting an entire new life in my 70’s!
As I made plans to re-locate to the Caribbean island of Tortola, the initial confidence began to wan. In short, the feeling that had felt so wonderful turned to terror.
I questioned my decision:
Should I bury all my negative feelings about life in Manhattan and adjust?
Am I too old to start a new life?
Will I regret my move and become paralyzed with depression?
These thoughts were filling me with doubts and fears.
After several months of feeling nauseous and anxious, I decided to move ahead and keep taking the necessary steps for my move.
While I can’t say that the fear and insecurity left me, I can say that a deep trust in a Higher Power emerged that soothed me through the hard times….and there were many of those!
Pressing on past the fear and taking the actions to prepare for a new future transformed this re-location from a potentially dangerous, daunting decision into actions of true courage and faith.
So, once again, I have experienced the transformation possible for us all, as we weather the fear and move forward with faith, dignithy and gratitude.
I hope you’ll visit me one day in Tortola — a Caribbean island of peace and beauty.
Hattie
hattie@hattieretroage.com
www.hattieretroage.com

Recently all sorts of ads are appearing to motivate us to denyour fears lest they hold us back from achievement. As a therapist, and someone who has overcome many fears, I want to advsie against that philosophy.
I believe that you have to FACE YOUR FEARS, not deny that they exist. Sure, that’s a scary prospect, but the alternative is ultimately treacherous, as you squelch your emotions and bury your feelings.
Feeling fear, though unwelcome, is an integral part of life. The triumph comes not from avoiding our fears, but from tackling them.
Each time you transcend what is frighteneing you, your spiritual growth takes a giant leap.
At first your belly will quiver. (mine does) Then you take action to confront the very thing you wish you could avoid, but shouldn’t…then your life opens up to new possiblities. It’s a daunting task, but one that we must take time and time again to free ourselves from the shackles of fear.
The fears will always show up.
Ask yourself who you will you be in the face of them?
Courage is a glorious skill to master, available to us all. You must just choose it, and it will be yours.

In the middle of all this controversy about Health Care, McCain has introduced a bill to place all supplements in the hands of physicians. A huge movement to stop the bill managed to block its passage…for now. I urge you to be on the alert and as soon as any news of control over our supplements is released, TAKE ACTION to once again stop it from being passed. Even though the Health Care Bill provides greater coverage, those of us who are health food oriented want to control our well being in our own style, which includes taking vitamins, minerals and herbs that are available without a prescription!

That’s a provocative headline, but it’s to the point. I don’t know anyone who isn’t frightened of the downsides of aging. And, may I add, with good reason. Until I hit 68, I wondered what’s all this hype about how bad aging is…I felt the same as I always felt…energetic, vital and sexy. Then, BOOM, my joints and muscles started to hurt like Hell, and I got scared that aging was taking me over. Well, what I usually do with fear is use it as a motivation to take action. The action took the form of increased exercise in my local pool. Before getting arthritis, if the pool temperature was even a slight bit cool, I left. Now, I bite the bullet and do my water aerobics no matter what the temperature is. As a dancer, I never needed to force myself to exercise. Now I do. So what’s my advice to you if you fear aging? Start exercising more AND clean up your eating!!! Yes, that means cutting out fried food, sugary drinks and sodas and all white flour and grain products. I assure you that your body will thank you, and your reward will be the slowing down of your aging process. It’s worth it, I promise!

Just read in today’s Daily News that Cavalli is dating a woman 46 years younger than he. He’s in his 70’s and she’s 24! I heartily approve. Young and old make for great matches. And I know what I’m talking about. In my case the combination is rare and extraordinarily exquite…an older woman with a much younger man. Now this isn’t like that wonderful Cougar, Demi Moore…who’s just a decade or so older than her man…I’m 38 years older! So Roberto, you’ve “beat’ me by 8 years…but we’ve both been brave in conquering critics and following our delicious urges. Let’s hope other follow our suite!

What a great idea. Famous and successful individuals are often mindless to the travails of the rest of society, as they revel in their triumphs. When Olympians use their fame to support human causes, it’s particularly wonderful. Lindsey Vonn is not only a gold medal winner on the slopes…she’s got a gold medal soul. Her “Sweet Cheeks” underwear, besides being a commercially adorable idea will be a reminder of the courage that we all share with this fine young woman. Her achievement becomes a force to energize us all — and what better than underwear to remind us?

Well, now we have something to chew on, as he lies through his teeth. Mr. Wood’s words were wooden. Forgive? Forget? Who cares? He’s just another overpaid, overblown (yes, with blow jobs!) celebrity who can use his repulsive disgressions to generate more publicity. The way we treat celebrities in America is to co-indulge in their travesties, and then feel virtuous for forgiving them. He’ll probably end up alongside Ms. Palin hiring a ghost writer for a book brimming with his indiscretions. Perhaps if his apology were accompanied by a generous contribution to Haiti, we might have believed that he can see beyond his dick.

This is fashion week in New York, which is considered a time for festivity and excitement. Instead it is showing up as a horrid display of emaciated bodies in sky high unwalkable heels. Why are we women allowing this to happen? The media devotes pages and pages of color photos of walking cadavers who starve themselves to be a size ZERO! When you contrast this with the number of people who are actually starving from hunger all around the world, it is particularly grotesque. And where are the millions of dollars spent on creating outfits that God knows who ever wears going? How can the fashion industry in all conscience behave as if we are not living in the real world where individuals in Haiti have no proper food or clothing. It’s a serious disconnect from reality to behave as if these bizarre fashion statements worn by anorectic models represent any form of sanity. One would hope that there is a turn-about, and that all proceeds of this weird phenomenon called “Fashion Week” go to the hungry and needy people who populate our precious, troubled Planet.

Ordinarily, the Olympics are an inspirational champion of the spirit of Man. But not this year! Individual athletes are receiving millions of dollars and being lauded for their achievements overcoming obstacles. All this fanfare while countless men, women and children are suffering on our very small Planet.
Is the festivity functioning as a denial of the pain so many are exeriencing? I say YES, it is.
Why are there not daily silent prayer sessions for Haiti? Why aren’t the sponsors adding millions to relief, instead of making celebrities out of athletes? To me, this is obscene.
Revering physical “beauty” on bikinied athletes on the cover of Sports Illustrated, while countless Haitians are starving and suffering renders all this pomp and exhibitionism a horrid example of human mindlessness Perhaps within the next weeks, there will be a turnabout in values. One can only hope.

You over 50s may have been comfortably settled in with being called “Boomers”. That was a fine title for individuals who still experienced themselves as youthful and rife with potential. But, starting this year they will be referred to by the much-less appealing term, “Senior.” True, that new category has some upsides…like discounts, and Medicare and Social Security checks…BUT, regretably, it is associated with a slew of negative connotations.
As a woman in her 70’s I want to encourage you to hold onto a positive sense of yourself through this time of transition. After all, times have certainly changed, and I assure you that it’s within your h power to transform your personal aging, and become the victor over Time and not its victim.
Does it take work and dedication? Yes it does!
It is worth it? You better believe it!
As my Hattietude declares:
“Your first youth is a gift from Nature…
Your lifelong youth is a gift from yourself”