Why a blog called Best Years Ever? It reflects a culmination of thirty years of striving and struggle. Raising a family, rising the ranks in a corporation, trying to always be better. Be healthier, thinner, a better mother, a better partner, a better leader, a better colleague.

Suddenly things changed when I turned 60. I stopped struggling. I kept striving but in new ways that felt less exhausting and futile. Life seemed so much better, easier, more gratifying. I enjoyed exercise for the first time in my life. I felt confident at work. I loved helping my team thrive. Of course, the kids were grown and out of the house. My husband and I actually loved the empty nest. We had a lot of fun until his cancer became debilitating. More on that later.

Now I am 65 and a half. I retired 6 months ago. I’ve been a widow for nearly 2 years. It’s time to give back to anyone who could use a bit of encouragement through their final working years and into retirement. While I consider myself more equipped to support women, perhaps men can benefit as well. I will address all the areas I have found to be challenging but surmountable. Health, friendships, becoming a grandparent, appearance, finances, getting more out of life, finding meaning, finding new interests that actually resonate with your true self and so much more. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead.

Update: January 4, 2026

Wow, this sure does show that just when you think you’ve got a few things figured out, everything changes and topples and you’re starting all over again. So here I am 2 years later. Hopefully I’ve learned a few more things that I can share. I still believe that these can be The Best Years Ever but it will take us some focus and work. I hope I can find those of you out there who want to join in and help yourself and your friends truly make this the best of our years ahead.

I think it’s best if I start with where I am today. I have collected some new lessons from the last 6 weeks or so that I want to share. There always does seem to be some anxiety and even sadness until you break through to a new plan (of sorts). So count that as a bit of a win–the breaking through.

Do you ever have this nagging desire to do something that perhaps you know is core to you but feels like it was the past, it isn’t you now or you feel it should not be you now. I have that about dancing. Let’s be honest, sooo many people do. This is not unique. But some people just seem to be able to go do it and don’t overthink it. I struggle with that. Am I too old? No longer coordinated? Is there time? I read a line in a novel about 6 months ago that the narrator, a young mother, wished her own mother didn’t have yearnings of her own and could be available more, emotionally as well as literally. And that line haunted me.

If I dance, am I pursuing yearnings of my own? Absolutely. Should I not have yearnings of my own? So you already know I am not the most confident person. Especially since losing my husband. I think I was confident at work and confident that I knew what I was doing as a wife and mother (not that I didn’t make a lot mistakes) but now everything seems up for grabs. Everything feels new and raw as if I am just joining this planet.

Well, first I joined a friend at line dancing class and I loved it. Then I crashed a salsa class at the gym and I felt a high I haven’t felt in years. Tomorrow I am taking a ballroom dancing class. I am not sure if I will like the ballroom dancing but I know I will keep up with line dancing and salsa. So what is it that finally gets you out of the hesitant, over-thinking, second-guessing state of mind and into the positive, take-action, ignore the naysayer voices state of mind?

It’s always a work in progress. It’s not that now I can get out there and try and not worry. It’s a daily push. But I do think that daily push is worth it to make these the best years ever. That’s my plan, that’s my commitment to myself. Everyday wake up and do what has to get done but then do what I yearn to do that will make me happy. And along the way, share what I am doing to move along this path.