I think that maybe you are now outside who you’ve always been inside. Sometimes when we’ve been through a lot that’s how it happens - in my opinion, and also my experience. So you got there at 73 👍 Good on you. I’m 77 and still working on it. Glad you’re here as you are. I like how honest you are.
Lost count - how many times ‘reinventing myself’ was necessity - Fred
You & your readers would laugh re the Essay for my Son - called ‘the Nine Lives initially - but is now more ‘The 18 Lives’ - el gato - Became aware of the ‘storytelling concept’ - early days at Whistler & also cottages. Seniors are quite understandably the best at sharing such tales - as they ‘survived & are still alive to share such True Tales..
Am interested / intrigued re your ‘Voicing / Content / Messaging - from a McLuhan - Culture & Technology perspective
Aside from my various ‘personal Media Endeavors - whether ‘stalled out’ or underway ‘full steam ahead - am the eternally curious cat - a feral child / orphan - born in ‘51 - Toronto Canada eh
Am always glad to assist others re ‘Problem Solving - but often wish others could help re MINE ! I don’t have a dime to my name - but consider myself among the most fortunate persons on Spaceship Earth .. riddle me that GeezerMan 🦎🏴☠️🍁
Reinvention stops being a “brand strategy” when it becomes survival instinct. Some of us didn’t pivot for novelty. We pivoted because standing still would’ve finished us.
The older I get, the more I realize we don’t have nine lives. We have as many as it takes to stay standing.
And you’re right about McLuhan. The medium shapes the message... but it doesn’t replace the storyteller. I’m just an old porch-talker using newer tools.
As for being broke but fortunate? That’s not a riddle. That’s perspective earned the long way around.
I’m so happy you found your voice Fred. You may not believe this but you, your thoughts, and the way you express them are refreshing and mean a lot to me. Kudos.
For a long time I wasn’t sure I even had a voice... just a collection of opinions and noise. So hearing that it resonates with you means more to me than you probably realize.
I don’t write to be impressive. I write to be honest.
If that honesty feels refreshing, then I’m doing something right.
That was a raw one, Fred. As a former hockey player, I know all about throwing punches—but your '93 story shows the real strength is in what we leave behind. 10+ years sober and smoke-free here, and I felt every word of that 'raw' truth. Glad we both stopped fighting the past and started living. Qualicum Todd.
I like my life to Humpty Dumpty... Everytime society told me "you need to change" I did. Not like a little, but a lot. Taking myself apart and reassembling as requested.
Finally felt like that old egg, off the wall, pick up the pieces that were "appropriate", invent new ones to fill the spaces left by the ones left behind. In my 60s I felt like I'd taken that dive so many times that I no longer knew what was me and what was imposed. In my seventies I realized it didn't matter, I am a work in progress. I'm done jumping off walls, now I change because I can see when it needs to happen. I'm open to change but not on demand.
I think you ROCK Silvana. I remember someone I’d met and only engaged with a few times, and briefly at that. She said to me very sardonically “You’ll never change.” To this day I wish I’d socked for that. To this day I think it must have been outrageous projection. I was 19. She was middle-aged. Pretty inappropriate.
Thanks Patricia! I honestly think that the combination of honesty and pattern recognition really rattles people who think they do a great job covering up and presenting a well curated mask....
The unmasking by a person who is simply saying what they see is a major threat and all the changes demanded are to try and make us "average" because that's what's safe. I finally received a late diagnosis of autism in my middle 60s which ended my marriage but liberated me from the label of "broken, in need of repair!"
Nope... Not broken, diverse and there's a definite difference!
So Silvana, you double ROCK! You have been through difficult times. I honour your sharing, and all the work to get where you’ve gotten that you’ve put in. Hard labour. Thank you!
Your writing is authentic because it's honest. It's your own voice. You write with integrity and that is not only refreshing in these times of so much posturing, it's necessary as the antidote. I sincerely look forward to your pieces. Thank you! ❤️🇨🇦
I like how you write. I think it seems authentic and is easier to read than blocks of text which I find overwhelming.
I also like your recap, it's as though that cements your points into my brain. I'm sure there's a linguistic name for it, but not one I know.
I'm glad you found your voice.
Thank you... that means more to me than you know.
I found my voice late.
I break things up in my writing on purpose...
I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed by walls of text.
If the recap helps it stick, that makes me happy.
Yes, the recap is unique and welcome!
I think that maybe you are now outside who you’ve always been inside. Sometimes when we’ve been through a lot that’s how it happens - in my opinion, and also my experience. So you got there at 73 👍 Good on you. I’m 77 and still working on it. Glad you’re here as you are. I like how honest you are.
Keep writing your way, Fred. It looked cathartic to me my first time, it feels good to see, read and engage. Thanks 🤗
Thank you. It is cathartic... more than I expected when I started putting some of this down.
There’s something about saying it plainly that clears space inside.
If it feels good to read and engage, then maybe we’re all clearing a little space together.
I appreciate you being here for it.
I'm 68, still wrenching. I like how you write.
Lost count - how many times ‘reinventing myself’ was necessity - Fred
You & your readers would laugh re the Essay for my Son - called ‘the Nine Lives initially - but is now more ‘The 18 Lives’ - el gato - Became aware of the ‘storytelling concept’ - early days at Whistler & also cottages. Seniors are quite understandably the best at sharing such tales - as they ‘survived & are still alive to share such True Tales..
Am interested / intrigued re your ‘Voicing / Content / Messaging - from a McLuhan - Culture & Technology perspective
Aside from my various ‘personal Media Endeavors - whether ‘stalled out’ or underway ‘full steam ahead - am the eternally curious cat - a feral child / orphan - born in ‘51 - Toronto Canada eh
Am always glad to assist others re ‘Problem Solving - but often wish others could help re MINE ! I don’t have a dime to my name - but consider myself among the most fortunate persons on Spaceship Earth .. riddle me that GeezerMan 🦎🏴☠️🍁
Thomas...
Reinvention stops being a “brand strategy” when it becomes survival instinct. Some of us didn’t pivot for novelty. We pivoted because standing still would’ve finished us.
The older I get, the more I realize we don’t have nine lives. We have as many as it takes to stay standing.
And you’re right about McLuhan. The medium shapes the message... but it doesn’t replace the storyteller. I’m just an old porch-talker using newer tools.
As for being broke but fortunate? That’s not a riddle. That’s perspective earned the long way around.
Glad you’re still here to tell your versions.
... Fred
I’m so happy you found your voice Fred. You may not believe this but you, your thoughts, and the way you express them are refreshing and mean a lot to me. Kudos.
Tracy… that’s kind of you to say. Truly.
For a long time I wasn’t sure I even had a voice... just a collection of opinions and noise. So hearing that it resonates with you means more to me than you probably realize.
I don’t write to be impressive. I write to be honest.
If that honesty feels refreshing, then I’m doing something right.
Thank you for saying it out loud.
We sometimes find strength in ways we least expect it. ❤️
I’ve learned strength doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes it just decides not to go backward.
That was a raw one, Fred. As a former hockey player, I know all about throwing punches—but your '93 story shows the real strength is in what we leave behind. 10+ years sober and smoke-free here, and I felt every word of that 'raw' truth. Glad we both stopped fighting the past and started living. Qualicum Todd.
Todd... that means a lot coming from a guy who knows what a real fight looks like.
Hockey teaches you how to take a hit. Sobriety teaches you how to stop swinging.
Ten plus years sober and smoke-free? That’s not a streak. That’s a rebuilt identity.
’93 was when I finally figured out that the toughest opponent wasn’t in front of me... it was the version of me I kept defending.
Glad we both decided to retire from that league.
Max Respect, Qualicum Todd. Those are mountain-climber milestones.
I love the way you write, Fred because it's more impactful, I understand and retain the infomation faster.
"I find beige exhausting", love that! Oh and thank you for sharing your journey, it has helped me in mine.
Yvette… that might be one of the best compliments a writer can get... that it sticks.
I work hard to cut through the beige. Life’s too short for padded sentences and polite fog.
If it helps you move faster through an idea... or your own journey... then I’m doing exactly what I hoped to do.
And yes… beige is exhausting. 😉
Thank you for walking your path out loud.
I am a skip reader, bored easily, so you write the way I like. Good on you and all you have and do for yourself
Suzy… I’ve spent half my life bored by what I was “supposed” to read.
So I figured if I was going to write, it had to move. No padding. No academic throat-clearing. No beige.
If a skip reader sticks around, I’ll take that as a win every time.
And thank you... I’m just trying to build something that feels real. Glad it lands with you.
I very much enjoy your writing. Live in truth and enjoy the results.
Isn’t it great being older than 70 and not caring what others think of you. I personally love it.
Please carry on; your prospective is necessary.
Thank you
.. feral ..
Feral... untamed... I’ll take that over domesticated and docile any day.
I like my life to Humpty Dumpty... Everytime society told me "you need to change" I did. Not like a little, but a lot. Taking myself apart and reassembling as requested.
Finally felt like that old egg, off the wall, pick up the pieces that were "appropriate", invent new ones to fill the spaces left by the ones left behind. In my 60s I felt like I'd taken that dive so many times that I no longer knew what was me and what was imposed. In my seventies I realized it didn't matter, I am a work in progress. I'm done jumping off walls, now I change because I can see when it needs to happen. I'm open to change but not on demand.
Silvana, that’s one of the most honest things I’ve read in a while.
A lot of us weren’t “growing.”
We were responding to pressure.
Taking ourselves apart to fit expectations.
What you said about your 70s hit me...
changing because you can see it needs to happen, not because someone demands it.
That’s not rebellion.
That’s sovereignty.
Thank you for putting words to that.
I think you ROCK Silvana. I remember someone I’d met and only engaged with a few times, and briefly at that. She said to me very sardonically “You’ll never change.” To this day I wish I’d socked for that. To this day I think it must have been outrageous projection. I was 19. She was middle-aged. Pretty inappropriate.
Thanks Patricia! I honestly think that the combination of honesty and pattern recognition really rattles people who think they do a great job covering up and presenting a well curated mask....
The unmasking by a person who is simply saying what they see is a major threat and all the changes demanded are to try and make us "average" because that's what's safe. I finally received a late diagnosis of autism in my middle 60s which ended my marriage but liberated me from the label of "broken, in need of repair!"
Nope... Not broken, diverse and there's a definite difference!
So Silvana, you double ROCK! You have been through difficult times. I honour your sharing, and all the work to get where you’ve gotten that you’ve put in. Hard labour. Thank you!
Your writing is authentic because it's honest. It's your own voice. You write with integrity and that is not only refreshing in these times of so much posturing, it's necessary as the antidote. I sincerely look forward to your pieces. Thank you! ❤️🇨🇦
Cath… that means a great deal.
I don’t always get it right, but I try very hard not to posture. I’ve done enough performing in my life to know the difference now.
If honesty feels like an antidote, that tells me we’re all a little tired of the noise.
I’m grateful you’re reading. And even more grateful you feel it.
Thank you for saying so.
I love your style of writing Fred, works for me
Go for it, Sir. It's a good voice you found.
Thanks and keep at it. We need more Canadian voices here besides the Canada Resists