Why would two fairly sophisticated aroma-philes with an acute senses of smell care about a relatively unknown occasion like Anosmia Awareness Day?

Imagine waking up and not being able to smell the coffee? Or stopping in a field of flowers unable to smell the roses. Imagine the inability to smell trouble — a gas leak, a burning stove, smoke or a bottle of sour milk. Or for that matter, not knowing when something smells fishy.

Imagine having anosmia — the clinical term that describes the total loss of smell.

Sensual Wellness, that is maintaining and enhancing our senses, is vital to our health, safety, independence, engagement, emotional well-being and overall quality of life. And a major must-have as we age. Sadly, this critical component of health and longevity has been sorely missing from the wider conversation.

A couple of weeks ago at my birthday celebration dinner with my husband, sons, daughter-in-law, nephews and niece, my husband toasted me as the “matriarch” of our family. Sheepishly, I looked around as if he may have been toasting someone else. Are you talking to me?? Me, a matriarch??!! I couldn’t imagine that he was bestowing this title upon me. And while on one hand I felt honored to have had this new label, I also felt rather unsettled. The word “matriarch” carries with it a lot of weight…

A day doesn’t go by without someone – a friend, a neighbor, a casual acquaintance, the guy in the post office - asking me “When are you going to retire?” Even my mother, who now has advanced Alzheimer’s in her few lucid moments seems to be able to remember to ask me the latest in a long line of When question. So obviously it’s top of mind. Right up there with – what are you doing with your hair?

Nothing drives me crazier than women who label themselves as old. Especially when they are not. Jeez, there are already enough people out there stereotyping us as over the hill and setting limits on us as to what we can or can’t, should or shouldn’t be doing – or wearing – or saying. We don’t need to do it to ourselves!

When I retired from my 39-year career in the corporate world, five years ago this week, I never had a blueprint for the future. But some personal characteristics compelled me to stay engaged in the world of business…curiosity- about the world and other cultures, creativity- the fulfillment of creating things from scratch, and compassion- for people, for animals and the environment.

Our Womanifesto: We are never-ending. And Everlusting. We may be older. But we will never be old. Stay tuned - we’re just getting started. Again.

Resumes and CVs crammed with titles, timelines, job descriptions and a list of accomplishments are a rearview mirror to what we’ve done in the past. Our history. They keep us in a clearly delineated and safe lane. They detail our features and benefits. No risk. Marketing director @ Company So & So. From 10/16 to present. But they are not our whole story. What we do in a given time frame is not who we are.

Gerascophobia. Yes, that's a thing. In fact, it’s a real clinical condition. The dictionary defines it as “the irrational and persistent fear of growing old”. Who knew? But what surprised me even more, that of all age groups, millennials experience it most often. Where do these fears come from? Read on…

Many of us now find ourselves at a crossroads. Leaving one chapter in our lives. Headed in an entirely new direction. Which route will we take? What choice will we make? A new job? A new home? A new relationship? To be done and retire? (We hope not!) How do we face these decisions? With optimism? Or fear? Anxiety? Or excitement?

To answer these questions, we sought the sage advice of Isabelle Tierney - CEO and founder of The Feel-Good Life, an array of services that help people recover the power of choice and live a life of less stress and more joy - to discuss our choices.

We wait all of our lives for “someday” – and in doing so, we miss the most wonderful opportunities.

What exactly is Everlusting™? It’s a positive mindset we invite you to embrace. A movement created to keep you moving forward through our thought-provoking articles and insights. And a future sensorial marketplace that will feature products we’re currently concocting and curating designed to ignite your senses so you experience the richness of your life – the vibrant colors, smells, sounds, tastes and textures. Our own form of LSD – Lusting Sensory Design. Stay tuned.

“I will teach you everything I know but I expect blood in return.” That was the first thing Lois said to me the day she became my new boss… As it turned out, Lois and I both lived up to our parts of the bargain – Lois taught me the art of ideation, advertising and strategy. I gave her blood.

Jeanette’s presence was legendary. While most female executives wore the traditional boring blue suit in the 80’s, hoping to blend in with the men, she wore colorful, textured garments and accessories to express her exuberance for life.

I am proud of my age and grateful for each and every birthday. I think a lot of it has to do with my personal history. My grandmother was 63 when she passed. My mother was 64. As I reached my 65th, I celebrated with gratitude and relief.

It came as no surprise to anyone when decades ago I decided to officially and forever cancel all birthdays. I don't acknowledge them. I don’t celebrate them. I don’t allow my husband, friends or anyone in my family to acknowledge or celebrate them - ever. No cards. No calls. No cakes. No blown-out candles. I consider myself truly ageless. I just am.

My hair was literally evaporating. The top of my head was now stringy and sparse. I desperately fluffed my wavy, messy shag, moving my part further and further from the middle to the left side of my head like a combover to hide the bald spots. Was I starting to look like Donald Trump????

In addition to the dire health consequences, Covid-19 has accelerated a series of societal “isms” — racism, sexism, activism and classism. To name a few. And when the CDC warned that the risk factors of Covid 19 were significantly higher and deadlier for anyone over age 60, society unwittingly resurrected one more “ism”. Ageism.