The First 69 Years
My Aunt Elli, who lives in Israel, reminded me that although I am celebrating turning sixty-nine, I’m beginning my seventieth year. I know it is only a number, but I still feel nineteen-ish.
I thought I would share seven things I have learned during my first 69 years on planet earth.
- JOY IS IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES: Joy and happiness come from appreciating, witnessing, and experiencing a million little things. This past week, while visiting my 95 ½-year-old Mom, she was excited to learn that Star-Kist, the tuna company, wanted to use her image so she could be their first 95 ½-year-old influencer.
- THIS TOO WILL PASS: The angst and emotional roller coaster we all travel along will shift and change if we wait. With time, feelings turn us upside down until they don’t. Then we move on to the next set of emotions. It is kind of like the weather. If you don’t like it raining, wait a little bit, and the sky will clear.
- HELPING IS THE WAY TO BE IN THE WORLD: When you surround yourself with people who ask, “how can I help” you know that your small community has your back. When you can be like that for someone else, you can make the world better – even if it is only a tiny part of the world. The people I want to draw close to me are people who are always asking, how can they be helpful?
- WANTING AND NEEDING ARE DIFFERENT: In my twenties and thirties, I wanted things. In my forties and beyond, I realized that the difference between wanting and needing was meaningful and essential. Once I judged stuff as a want or a need, life became simpler. In my first 69 years, I’m letting go of stuff – and replacing it with people, friendships, and connections. Since I no longer commute to work, my wife and I share a car. I used to want to have a car. I have learned to let it go.
- BEING VULNERABLE AND EMOTIONALLY PRESENT IS A GIFT: I know many people who like to portray a version of themselves online instead of being who they genuinely are. My wife and our daughters are the best teachers of being vulnerable and emotionally present to their friends, family, and communities. I’m in awe of their examples, and I am a better person because of their gifts of being true to themselves. Follow Sarah and Fanny online to see what it means to show up as your authentic self.
- PURPOSE IS POWERFUL: I don’t know what it means to retire. What I know is that I wake up each morning thinking about one of the marketing projects I’m working on, and it gives me the joy to try and unravel the challenge. I love to use my creative chops to see something new, different, and disruptive. Every day, I try to identify one person who I might be able to help in some small way through an introduction, a connection, or to share some advice.
- CURIOSITY KEEPS ME THRIVING: I love learning new things, experimenting, and playing. Recently, I have been using ChatGBT, the ai alchemy. When I go to Whole Foods to shop, I try to buy one new thing I have never tasted or cooked with in my first 69 years. When my walking sneakers wore out, I bought a pair of sneakers my brother Mitch described as looking like Peter Max throwing up in color. I listened to 25 audiobooks in the last four months to fill my head with excellent writing with many great recommendations from my sister Diane.
As I embark on my next 69 years, I’m optimistic and grateful for everyone that is a part of my life. I deeply appreciate those who read my writing and subscribe to my blog. My family and friends continue to be the wellspring of my joy, strength, and inspiration.
Most mornings, I wake up with a text from my daughter Sarah in Hawaii, who shares a picture of something new that our four-year-old grandson Bodhi is doing. This past week, he created a helper chart for home with chores he needs to do. It is hilarious. Yesterday, Bodhi woke up and dressed for school in his unicorn costume from Halloween.
Every week I get to see Fanny’s imaginative and brilliant recipes come to life in video, pictures, and words – and my mouth is like a waterfall, drooling in anticipation. She openly shared about her sobriety to show others the way. By the way, on February 4th, she will hit her second anniversary of sobriety.
My wife Ra El helps me stay centered, calm and confident as I shoot for the stars while coursing through rough waters. She expands my view of what’s possible and challenges me to see life’s multi-dimensions. She shimmers pure love and light each and every day.
And last but not least, I see my Mom, Bea, getting ready for her next new thing as a 95-year-old influencer for Star-Kist tuna fish. She is courageous, brave, and still the only person who sends birthday, anniversary, Hannukah, and Halloween cards to everyone she knows.
Life is like a mandarin orange, filled with sweet, juicy joy.
Life is also like a pair of funky sneakers that makes you feel young. Do you dig my colorful kicks that celebrate my creative sole/soul?
You can set up a time to chat with me about your marketing challenges using my calendar. Email me jeffslater@themarketingsage.com Call me. 919 720 0995. The conversation is free, and we can explore if working together makes sense. Watch a short video about working with me.
