What's the rest of YOUR story?
January 2025
Here we are at the beginning of another New Year! Resolutions! Ambitious goals! And stellar visions are the usual tools at this time.
At my age, intentions matter most, especially as I get older, I realize that I'm in control of so little. Acceptance is my word for this year. It's taken 4 months living in temporary housing while our real home was under construction after the flood. For most of these months I was miserable, disoriented, frustrated. You can imagine, knowing me and my many short fuses. I tried thinking of this time as a Staycation, but that didn't work. There were too many places I'd rather be. Acceptance with gratitude became my daily mantra, for then and now.
Every day became a challenge witnessing Barry's easy-going nature, in spite of the fact that he is still in recovery from chemo, radiation, over-all pain and discomfort. What right did I have to be so miserable when I was so healthy? What else is there, right? These last few years and his illness changed our lives. All he wanted was to stay alive!
"Honey," I'd ask him daily, "What's your WHY?" He'd look back at me, his watery blue eyes still sparkly, wearing a neon color beanie cap to keep his now-bald head warm, "I want to see how the rest of our story turns out!"
"To Life!!" he'd shout, as I recoiled in guilt.
He opened my eyes even wider. This is the chapter where our 5 grandchilren make their life choices: Jordan at 25 graduated from University of Arizona and kept right on going to become a nurse and fell in love with Carly who he went to elementary school and camp with. They are engaged to marry a year from now. Dylan at 23 also graduated from U of A and he chose to continue on for this last year studying at the Yeshiva in Israel. "I'm so happy here, Nana." I'd try to hide my biting bottom lip, excited that he plans to come home, safe and sound in July.
Juliana, age 19, chose NAU to continue her percussive music experience. Cameron and Zach both graduate high school this year. They are cousins that are the best of buds, Cam is going to Mizzou for their sports journalism and Zach chose ASU to discover his future. How exciting to be here to 'see the rest of the story' as it unfolds.
Acceptance and gratitude will lead me forward, every day a gift, every day full of color and Life!
Think about it: What is the rest of YOUR story? Keep learning, stay healthy, eyes open, in love and grateful for being alive. Find the awe that is hiding right before your eyes...that is your fuel.
There's no better screenwriter of your life story than you, especially in the messiness of midlife. While it may be hard to believe, you understand what brought you to this place in life better than anyone else. Sure, there are hurts along the way, but, deep down you know your wounds contain your wisdom. Your teachers showed up at all ages and stages of your life, always opening your eyes a little wider, reminding you of the lesson you needed to learn.
As David Bowie said before he passed, "Aging is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been."
If you lose your way on this journey, let's talk over coffee. Maybe I can support your efforts to celebrate the life you are living and the life you can still create.
Please reach out. Susan Brooks (602) 228-5279
you always should have been."
― David Bowie
Featured Modern Elder*
Lynn Lanoue
Age 74
Lynn is a fighter AND she likes to win! She is fanatically fair and when she 'fights the good fight' she fights with all her heart, proud that the situations she puts herself in are those causes that have a wide reach of impact for the good of many others, especially when the battle was around women's rights.
In 1972, Lynn worked at a Buick Pontiac and GMC car dealership in Lake Geneva, WI. Her first stop in this job was working in the office, then quickly moved up to Finance Manager and Fleet Manager along with the new car manager. She was the first female Finance Manager in 3 midwestern states, however, she was paid 75% less than the men and asked "to slow down" because the male Truck Manager was feeling emasculated and HE, her boss told him (wink) he would speak to Lynn, because she outsold him.
In 1978 the car industry had huge issues and many dealerships were going bankrupt. Lynn paved the way and opened many doors for women to be seen...and heard, and earned good money.
Lynn's next move was another battlefield at Baxter Healthcare. Again, because it was a familiar first step for women, Lynn became 'a Kelly Girl' which quickly led to a career in healthcare manufacturing. When being hired, her first question asked 'how fast do you type.' Over the course of 25 years, Lynn went from an Administrative Assistant to starting the first Inside Sales Department in Clinical Nutrition. She won awards, trips, and jewelry. "My wardrobe was amazing. I loved the opportunity to mentor, be mentored by other successful women and men. I also had the opportunity to be a founding member of Baxter Women Inc., a non-profit started for women of all levels."
BWI worked with a battered women's shelter on the North Shore of Chicagoland. She also worked with numerous AIDS agencies. Lynn was always on the front line. Bigger and better was her achieved goal.
2001, aher being one of the few whistleblowers at an unnamed food company, she moved to Arizona (no hurricanes or harsh winters) from Chicago. She had a dream to fulfill. She also started a consulting business called BWI Business With Intention, focusing on medical offices and companies along with launching new products within the natural products industry. She also studied NLP and Hypnosis with a specialty in past life regression and became an Adler trained coach, focused on business. She did this to improve herself and her business along with utilizing the hypnosis to manage her chronic pain.
Additionally she co-created a trademarked coaching process for Six Sigma Master Black Belts. This process is currently used in officer training for the DOD and all armed forces. She also became civically actve Women's Commission (left as Vice Chair) and the Deer Valley Planning Committee (left as Chair). Lynn also worked as Manager for a mayoral candidate.
I know I would always want Lynn on my team. I love standing next to powerful people, don't you?
Her health has been her greatest challenge. Aher a near-death experience, "the biggest lesson learned is that everything in life prepared me for this moment. I am still here, and there is a reason.. Almost dying has brought out the warrior in me. I have always been a feminist andbelieved that if I lived the change I wanted to create, the game and the rules would change. And it did. And now the tide is turning. I am moving back to Chicago and will now be in a place where my voice is heard. The joy I feel of my future lights up my life."
Her advice to another elder: "Mentor and encourage younger generations of women to get involved civically and politically. Share your experience with stories, share everything as elders, what we have learned has prepared us for this moment. Knowledge is only powerful if you share it."
Her advice to a young woman: "Get involved in the game, learn the game, change the game, change the rules. It's your turn. Whether it Corporate America, Healthcare, Politics, Sports or Education. Please reach out to elder women. We have wisdom to share. We are here for you to succeed. Please engage. Do not disparage other women or men. Until we as women can engage men to speak up and out about women's rights, nothing will change for the better. Step out of your comfort zone, be with those who do not agree and just hear them without judgment. Facts solve problems not emotion. Emotion is a reaction not a solution."
Thank you, Lynn, for leading the way... and being such a good friend on this journey.
Contact Lynn at: Lynn8@cox.net.
f retirement or the next chapter is calling your name, if I can help you realize your vision in business and lifestyle, email me. Let’s make it happen now! Susan@SusanLBrooks.com.
*Chip Conley, best-selling author and speaker, hospitality entrepreneur and leading thought leader, created The Modern Elder Academy's mission "to inspire the ability to reframe a lifetime of experience and recognize one's mastery, relevance, and value in the modern workplace." The Modern Elder* is Conley's term and effort that "liberates and inspires us to embrace wisdom as a path of growing whole, not old...The Modern Elder marries wisdom and curiosity."
Every month this newsletter will Feature the stories and wisdom of Modern Elders.
Share your Modern Elders with us...maybe it's you!! Please send in your Modern Elder Story along with a one-line Wisdom statement plus photo to be featured. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT.
Today, I am 78 years old, and proud of it! Paul Simon, who is now in his 80's said it best years ago: us boomers were BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME!
Yes, I was born at the right time! I'm still a hippie from the 60's, I marched for civil rights for all humans, equal rights for women, waving my bra with the best. I am proud to be living and growing in a robust marriage of 57 years. I survived motherhood, and so did my now-adult children. I was an award-winning woman business owner when there were but a few of us. I've learned a whole bunch of lessons, and more importantly, I've earned my fair share of Wisdom, too. I am Pro-Age!
According to Chip Conley, one of today's leading thought leaders: "Experience is making a comeback. Wisdom never grows old." Chip created the hallmarks of the Modern Elder*: "learning to marry wisdom and experience with curiosity, cultivating a beginner's mind so that learning never ends, exemplifying a willingness to evolve both as a student and sage." Research shows that shifting our mindset about Aging can add 7.4 happy years to a person's life.
Proud to say I am a graduate of the Modern Elder Academy as well as an active participant in Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience, and Spirit programs. As one of the creators and hosts of the Thrive@55 event, we celebrated our female community leaders who were 55+.
As long as I'm able to see the sunrise every morning and keep a curious mind, there's more living to do, so much more to learn, and so many new ways to serve. Trailblazer that I am, and always will be, I recognize my next mission: by example and demonstration I am committed to Changing the Face of Aging: One Modern Elder* at a time!
I welcome both local and national speaking engagements as well as one-on-one coaching opportunities to delve more deeply into navigating life transitions. Email me Here.
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