I will be 64 in October - how did I get there:>}}  I am a therapist in private practice (for 26 + years now).  A widow - my husband died 9 years ago - mother of 2 grown sons.  My interests are reading, writing, and playing Native American Flute.  I have had the opportunity to study with several well known NAF performing artists.  The NAF for me is an instrument of the heart - it is said that the flute maker takes the heart out of the wood as the flute is carved - the player returns the heart to the flute.  I play traditionally - which means I play from my heart.

How did you get to where you are now?

By steady inner work on understanding who I am and what makes me tick.  I have found that I like me - my authentic self - and think it's a very cool place to be at this time in my life. 

When I celebrated my 60th birthday - I got a tattoo of a double headed Phoenix on my right shoulder.  I had a birthday party - invited friends of different ages - and divided them into three groups - maiden (those who were in their 20's or 30's), mother (those in their 40's and 50's) and crone (those over 60 - the eldest was 85) - I had made altars to each of these three stages in my life - and placed objects on them that were important to my journey - I had each of those there stand near the altar to that stage of life - and then I asked them to tell me the gifts of those years - ending with the elders who were pointing me to a new direction and new beginning.  So here I am today - approaching my 64th birthday:>}} Life is good.

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

Not sure that I do - maybe wiser - more content - stronger - and more capable.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

The past is history, the future mystery, the present the gift I daily give to me - so I don't know - I will let the winds of time carry me as it will.

Hi.  I am not sure I really appreciated you as I began to grow older.  You made the me of today possible.  Your rebellion, your courage, your toughness allowed me to survive and eventually find my center and myself.  A few years ago I made a journey back into my being - to find you and bring you into my current state of being.  It has been one of the best  things I have done for me - thanks for being who you are - and for getting me safely though the passage from youth to elder years.