While I have been away for the last two weeks, attending the Olympics. Okay, well not technically away, unless you consider watching too much television a vacation. Every four years I say I won’t get sucked in, but to quote Michael Corleone, “Just when I thought I was out…they pulled me back in.” It’s over, so I can get back to my life, but as with everything else, watching these fierce competitors helps me to focus on my own goals and anything that can do that, is a good thing.

So here are my thoughts on setting and reaching a goal, when you recognize you no longer have decades to do something with your life. Not that most women have done nothing with our lives. For most of us we may have gotten sidetracked on our way to somewhere by all those tiny detours, the needs of our spouse or those demanding little people we loved and wanted the best for, I think they call them children. PTA meetings, soccer practice, back to school shopping, cooking, cleaning and in some cases a full-time job thrown in.

Now is the time to think of where we were on our way to, when we left our path and traveled someone else’s road. Yesterday, my husband and I were in a part of the city where I had led a Weight Watchers meeting every Sunday morning for fifteen years. Mind you, we were there on some business for my husband. We decided to have a bite to eat and we ended up at a little place where my team and I had lunch almost every Sunday for that entire time. It made me realize how much I love consistency, and how little of it I’ve had in my life.

Much of my life involved doing what others needed or expected me to do. First, my family who I loved very much, but who moved often enough for me to attend five high schools in four years. Then, my first husband, who was transferred or changed jobs eight times in seven years, always up the ladder, but still I was always part of the deal. And finally, my husband of thirty-five years, who just likes to move. I often say, “I must have killed a gypsy in a former life, and this is my punishment.”  We can’t go back so how can I change my future? 

Yesterdays’  lunch made me realize those few decisions I got to make by myself, involved much more permanence then those others have made for me. I kept the job I loved for a long time, and when I look back the longest period I ever lived in the same place was between husbands when it was just me and the kids. It’s time I take over as Captain of the ship, if the ship goes down so be it. No more back seat driving or thinking I am the power behind the throne. I want to sit on the throne. Having been exposed to fourteen days of England, I just realized three of the most important and longest ruling Monarchs of Great Britain were women. Elizabeth I, Victoria and Elizabeth II.

My dream with this blog is to inspire women to open up their lives, to expand and not contract the worlds as we grow older. Maybe, being forced to find the words to get my thoughts across to others, has made me understand what it will take to make these changes. I hope it has better prepared me embark upon a journey to open up both mine and hopefully other lives and to embrace these “golden years” with both joy and anticipation. I believe I am having an “AHA” moment, I think this is what Oprah referred to as authenticity. Stay tuned!!!!