Calling All 50 Plus Readers - Your Experiences Needed
Are you on the other side of 50 and dealing with some type of challenge or issue related to starting over? It can be starting a new career, a new relationship, moving to a new area, starting over after divorce or the death of a spouse, a new lifestyle, health changes, or dealing with retirement. I want to know about your challenges. I want to know what you would like to see addressed here. Send me your questions, your situations, I want to know what you are facing. I will send responses. This will help me know what subject matter to cover in the blog rather than depending on my own experience and that of my friends.
Thank you so much. Your communication is greatly appreciaated. You can email directly to sandy@sandydavidson.com, or simply leave a comment here on the blog.
Dear Sandy! I was fishing through the web for ways to make life better..and Your site caught my attention! I am one who is over 50, faced death collapse of my family and so much more that life seems inevitable to begin again...I served in the military, A Guardsman coming from up North...To my surprise the strength, and faith I kept mustered all those years get me "ready and able" despite the immense adversity against sexism and racism...to top it off, the jealousy to be in a position that "others" thought they should have...I managed but the emotional pain, and wearing my heart for my children to survive the storm gave way when my child died...I do not know how to begin...Where I reside, I find no solace. no direction, and no support...How many of us are here...and those of us who have dedicated our lives to service to find we were never of advantage since we did not climb the ladder like many did...Much I could share, but I still hurt, I slight counseling, I sought refuge, I sought God for the answers to be of purpose....Yes, I have two children left...but the pain is also deep in them as well....Where can I begin to share with our audience the pain, dissolution, the burden that camaraderie lets go when you are without...I lost what kept me going...and what is left is a shell of what use to exist...not much as time passes...I thank God yes, and have learned that being a veteran and a widow, I have no regrets...It's finding out that nothing is permanent, nothing is barred in this society and subjectivity is the host of the world I see...I hope I can bring you into the ways in which I try under dire extremes to stand up against the charades I have encountered...Why Me! Pity or Empathy for the "Lady in Blue!"
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Dear Lady in Blue,
So many of our military ladies and men who spent a good portion of their life serving our country encounter difficulty transitioning from military to civilian life. It sounds like you have had some added challenges. The loss of a child is very difficult to bear. It is so very important that you grab hold to whatever is positive in your life. Strive for elements of optimism. One way to do this is to keep a gratitude journal. Write down nightly three things you can be grateful for that day and why. This will help you focus on some positive.
The other suggestion I have for you is to go to www.authentichappines.com and take the VIA Strengths Survey, the long version not the short version. This will get you very in touch with your top strengths that you can call upon and use to meet your challenges head on.
Thirdly, use this blog as a sounding board, an online journal. Write about your challenges, thoughts and feelings.
I could set up an interactive online support network for those starting over after 50, or just for those transitioning from military to civilian life if you think either would be useful or beneficial to yourself or others.
Respectfully,
Sandy
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