Dear Ms. Quindlen,
Like many Newsweek readers, I was stunned when I read your final “Last Word” column. I was even more surprised — and a bit concerned — as I considered your rationale for “Stepping Aside.” Don’t get me wrong, I respect your decision. Among the great advantages of living and working in the USA are our freedoms: of speech, of the press, of the choices we get to make in our personal and professional lives.
But as the founder of VibrantNation.com, a website for women age 50+, I’ve got a vested interest in ensuring the voices of this powerful, yet often ignored niche of the Boomer generation, continue to be heard.
Now, more than ever, our nation can benefit from the strong, wise and opinionated voices of the women who comprise the Vibrant Nation. In a world where women over 50 are too frequently pushed aside, written off and broadly ignored by marketers despite their exceptional purchasing power, stepping aside to create opportunity for a younger generation cannot be the best or only solution.
As you regularly do, you eloquently wrote in your farewell column about how, “Barack Obama hopscotched over an entire generation of politicians to reach the White House; he had not waited his turn because a majority of the American people decided that he ought not to do so. They agreed that the country needed change.”
I respectfully suggest that the reason Barack Obama became President Obama had little to do with his age and lots to do with the potent combination of better ideas and inspiration. He surrounded himself with advisors (younger and older) and combined the latest advances in communications technology with traditional, proven political campaign techniques. He called upon us to bring our best to make this a better world—regardless of one’s age or generation.
It is this combination of smart ideas, diverse experiences and well-stated opinions from our nation’s youngest and oldest citizens that truly represent the image and likeness of our nation and our world. Stepping aside is not an option, because we don’t believe you’ve said all you want or need to say.
Surely I’m not the only one who worries that your self-imposed retirement simply reinforces what the marketplace has always imposed on women over 50: silence and invisibility. Why else imply that it’s time for women like you to get out of the way? I am confident that women your age (and you’re only 56, for goodness’ sake) can make room for younger voices while continuing to share everything they’ve learned along the way, both in the broader arena and (as they always have done) with each other.
Please accept this formal offer to join the chorus of smart, passionate women over 50 as Contributing Editor for VibrantNation.com. We hope we can play some small role in helping you continue to share your imporant perspective on our world with other women like you who are eager to hear your voice…trust me, they’ll let you know how they feel about what you have to say. If you’re interested, please email me at stephen@vibrantnation.com. If you choose to pursue other adventures, I hope you’ll still join the dialogue by becoming a member at www.VibrantNation.com.
Sincerely,
Stephen Reily
Founder and CEO
VibrantNation.com
I will never step down! My hard-won wisdom is valuable and deserving of its voice.
Pat Matson
TheWorldofWithin.com
I will miss Anna Q., too, but as a fellow newspaper columnist, I do understand that she might feel ready to move on to other writing. Being on deadline weekly or biweekly — for several years in a row — is very hard, albeit rewarding. Anna mentioned working on other projects, and she might be ready to work on another novel — at her own pace. I get that. But will miss her terribly. — Cindy La Ferle,
Cindy’s Home Office: http://www.laferle.com
I agree that making room for younger talent is not a good primary reason for retiring. It may be a positive side effect from Anna’s wished for changed of venue, as Cindy La Ferle mentioned.
Anna probably just wants a change from the higher stress writing she has been doing (so well) for such a long time.
But, making room for the youngsters shouldn’t be the primary motivating factor. Youngsters can and will make thier voices heard, but not at the cost of losing the more experienced writers.
An interesting perspective, indeed!
My first book was published at age 50; second book at 54; featured blogger for Huffington Post at 55 … I’m just getting started.
Janice Taylor
http://www.ourladyofweightloss.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janice-taylor
I APPLAUD YOUR GESTURE, IN ALLOWING THE WORLD TO CONTINUE BEING USHERED ON BY A VOICE OF WISDOM. THERE SHOULD BE MORE PEOPLE IN POWER LIKE BOTH, MR STEPHEN REILY, AND MS CAROL ORSBORN. I MYSELF DECIDED TO STEP ASIDE IN MY OWN PROFESSION, AFTER SERVING OVER 35 YRS IN NURSING. I WAS FORCED OUT, BECAUSE OF AGE AND WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION CALLED, TOO OFTEN ILLNESSES. IF TRUTH BE KNOWN, IT WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE NOT UNIONIZED, AND AS A MINISTER, I SPOKE UP FOR CO-WORKERS AND MYSELF. I WAS READY FOR THE CHANGE, AND SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE BEGUN WHAT I REFER TO AS MY PHASE TWO PROJECTS. I HAVE ALWAYS FANCIED WRITING, MINISTRY, AND FINDING OTHER AVENUES TO HELPING OTHERS. THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME OF LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT THIS PRESENT ECONOMY, OR STATE OF AFFAIRS ON THE WORLD SCENE DICTATES. WE BABY BOOMERS DON’T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE AGE, AS FORMER GENERATIONS HAVE. AT 59, I FEEL I HAVE MUCH TO OFFER TO THIS WORLD. EVEN SITTING AT MY COMPUTER, BEING AT HOME ALL DAY, OR DOING WHATEVER I FIND MY HANDS AND MIND CAPABLE OF, I FIND LIFE REWARDING. I LOOK FORWARD TO EACH DAY, AND TO EVERYTHING I DISCOVER THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER MY INTERESTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE INTERNET HAS BEEN MY PLAYMATE SINCE LAST NOVEMBER. I TREATED MYSELF TO A LAPTOP, AND I’VE BEEN WRITING, AS WAS THE PLAN SET UP, MANY YEARS AGO. IN MY YOUTH, I DECIDED I WOULD WRITE AND PUBLISH AFTER MY RETIREMENT. LET US ALL CONTINUE TO FORGE AHEAD. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING US. I DON’T MIND A ROCKING CHAIR, FLUFFY SLIPPERS, OR A QUIET CORNER, BUT THAT’S BECAUSE I’LL BE BUSY CREATING SOMETHING. TIME TO RETIRE IS WHEN YOU CAN’T MOVE. TAKE THAT TIDBIT FROM A FORMER NURSE. AS FOR NEWSWEEK’S FORMER – LAST WORD’S COLUMNIST, MS ANNA QUINDLEN; I TRULY HOPE YOU TOOK THE JOB. I CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU. REVEREND/EVANGELIST LILLIAN WILLIAMS LPN -PHILADELPHIA, PA.
i am also a former nurse and worked in israel for 35 years. at the age of 60 at that time was retirement..even if you were able to continue..at the age of 60 after divorce moved to the u.s. and worked for another 15 years till the age of 75 when i decided it was time to quit even tho they still wanted me to stay on…and there is no union in az. shula
BRAVO!
At 57, I’m just hitting my stride and have found my voice as a published author. I have a lot to say and I’m saying it – and from the emails I’m getting from YOUNGER women, what I’m saying seems to be appreciated. I haven’t lived the life I’ve lived, made the sacrifices, learned the lessons and fought my battles just to roll over now and play dead because I’m over 50! No sir, because I am now at my most authentic, and my experience counts for something. I plan to make everything I learned in the first half of my life count in the second half by shining my light into this dark world.
Heather Summerhayes Cariou
http://www.sixtyfiverosesthebook.com
I respect Anna Quindlen’s decision to step down or aside. You grow tired of the “World Games” after time. I would venture to say, Stephen, that she already has a plan of action on her future. I am over 50 and enjoying this MOMENT of time - in life – more than ever before. Focus and Peace are working hand-in-hand amazingly, for me. I commend you Stephen, however, for the invitation. You will both benefit when the time for that move comes.
Peace & Blessings, To All Hymetta
Return response on Contact page of http://yccs.vpweb.com
BRAVO!!!! I congratulate you for taking a stance for us “older” women. We certainly do have something to offer and I agree that it’s the combination and diversity of ideas that come from young and “mature” individuals that will help this country grow. Well done!!
The sentiment that OLDER IS OVER is only there because we buy into it. To me OLDER means I AM WAY AHEAD OF YOU, Baby!
I applaud VN! I am unsure which is more shocking, her resignation or VN’s quick response/offer (in this day & age – kudos)!
Hopefully Ms. Quindlen will accept the offer so we can continue to share her wisdom & truths!
Respectfully,
Patti G
Stephen, you are right about the experience of the boomer generation. Older means sager and wiser. We need to get away from the ageist notions that older means fraility, weakness, and death! Check out the Silver Stars, amazing seniors with amazing accomplishments, at Silver Planet, the website designed to inform, inspire, and interact with the 55+ generation: http://www.silverplanet.com/lifestyles/silver-stars You will be inspired to nominate your own Silver Star1 Experience brings wisdom.