I am going to let everyone in on a little known secret: Gen-X women (you know, they were the 80s teens with the big hair, Madonna lace, and big plastic earrings) are going to live to 100! I know this because I am one and we think we are in midlife at 50, and beyond (you just said that in your head as Buzz Lightyear, didn’t you?).

Quite frankly, I think this movement is Brene’ Brown’s fault. She is the one who told us

Midlife is when the universe grabs you by the shoulders and tells you I’m not f@cking around, use the gifts you were given.

Damn that Brene!

Entering this midlife blogging world one year ago I thought I had such an original idea. How many 50+ women “my age” have blogs and are into personal growth, creating their next chapter, and catapulting into their “twilight years”? Umm, I came to find out, hundreds, even thousands, maybe? Not sure, but let’s just say my idea wasn’t so original. However, I soon realized it’s actually a great thing. It means there is a market for us, that we all felt this calling, at this time in our lives to keep growing and serving others in our life and work. It means we are powerful as a community, and from what I’ve witnessed this past year, our community is full of leaders, supporters, and sages who are opening doors for each other, and then they go on to ask: what bridge can we build to support one another and our community? We are fierce, and strong, and have 5 Things Gen-X Women Want You To Know

In no particular order, here’s my list of top ten everyday women who inspire me by the way they lead their lives:

1. Kimberly Coonis, Idaho, U.S.A., manages her blog Catching Kims Kitchen Sink. She is a real-life mom, who is caregiver for many loved ones, including several old rescue dogs and nine of her late son’s iguanas at their sanctuary for senior dogs and cats, Nash’s Furever Haus. I also know, first-hand that she also never lets down the community she created for fellow Women of Wisdom bloggers. On her blogs she shares her experiences with family illnesses such as Marburg Variant Disease and Bartonella. Kim is inspiring to so many midlife women who have been through hell and back and she keeps on living, learning, loving, and giving. 

2. Marlene Kern Fischer, New York, U.S.A., manages her blog Thoughts from Aisle Four. Marlene is a mom of three boys who is the Erma Bombeck of our generation. She writes about antics raising and living with three boys who are now young men, her loving marriage and her mental health. She is inspiring to midlife women because she bravely shares life’s ups and downs with sarcasm, wit, and authenticity … mostly with their permission! You can catch her wit and wisdom on Thoughts from Aisle Four Facebook Page

3. Geri McNeice, creator of aRoundJoy, Texas, U.S.A., is inspiring at almost 60, and hoops for, you guessed it, JOY! She is the epitome of second acts since she started her hooping business ten years ago. Yes, she hula hoops for fun, business, and fitness. She says “size does matter” when it comes to hoops, so she personally consults with each client so she can make the right size hoop for them, since each person has different needs in a hoop. She is inspiring to midlife women because she created her midlife into something fun, healthy and helpful for herself and others. She can be seen hooping around on her Instagram @aRoundjoy

4. Chris Lowe, Florida, U.S.A., Founder of fallforwardacrossamerica.com  Chris has taken the worst thing that could happen in a Mother’s life, the loss of a child, and turned it into something that has saved many, many lives. Her calling to help others to Fall Forward, was inspired by a speech her son did when he was just in high school. She took his Fall Forward speech and his passion to “never give up” and to “not let the world change you” to schools and families around the country. Chris practices what she preaches, and always find joy in service to others, even while discussing her difficult journey. She is inspiring to midlife women because she has found the magic in the tragic, and  took her grief and created “22 acts of kindness a day tour” spreading kindness across the U.S. in memory of her son, Hudson, who would’ve turned 22 this year.  She knows her son’s message will continue to inspire others to “Fall forward” for many generations to come, showing that love never dies. Join her on both Instagram accounts @chrislowe_onthego & @fallforwardacrossamerica 

5. Lisa King, Arizona, U.S.A., is The Fulfilled Pharmacist. Lisa promotes ageless living through awareness of your body and self-care. She is an inspiration to midlife women as a pharmacist who, despite doing what her doctors had advised for her painful bladder disorder; she persisted in learning more about self- care and stress reduction and was finally able to alleviate her chronic pain. She now shares her own story to promote healthy and ageless living. She shares her message on her Instagram @thefulfilledpharmacist

6. Phyllis Lerner, New Jersey, U.SA., Phyllis is a 68 year old health and fitness coach. I start with her age because she highlights the truth that “age is just a number.” Her blog, Follow Phyllis is fitness specific with realistic tips for a healthier lifestyle through mindset, goals, fitness, and fun. She even gives you recipes to get you through the holidays! She inspires women 60 and beyond because at 68 (yes, I said it again) she looks strong, confident, and fabulous from the inside out. Don’t forget to congratulate her on recently becoming a grandmother on her Instagram @followphyllis

7. Sam, London, England, manages the blog themamapause.com Sam is a single mum with a grandchild and aging parent, so she is ‘the middle’ of the sandwich in the sandwich generation. She works full time supporting herself, helping out her kids and her parent, and as if that isn’t enough, mother nature gives her peri-menopause! It’s such a hoot to have: hot flashes, night sweats, constant exhaustion, belly-bloat, anxiety at 6 am and depression at 6 pm. Repeat. She is an inspiration to midlife women because she talks with humor about the issues of perimenopause, including how our symptoms are dismissed by our doctors, and the possibilities of dating while she is a hot mess with an HRT patch on her butt! Her Instagram @themamapause.

8. Verla Fortier, RN, MHSc, Toronto, Canada, created Treesmendus.com Verla is a well accomplished, retired nurse, who, at age 63 learned she has systemic lupus and was confined to her bed. Refusing to take this laying down, she immediately went into action into green space research. She soon found solutions in the great outdoors. I immediately related to Verla, as I too, the past few years have had many health issues that separate doctors want to treat as all separate issues, not taking the whole person into account. Verla authored the #1 Amazon book on aging Take Back Your Outside Mindset Verla is inspiring to Midlife women because she took her lifetime of instincts, skills, and professionalism with her, at a time when she was about to retire, and she found a way to maintain her illness to ease her fears of dying too soon, getting dementia, and losing control of her chronic illness. You can see how she heals with the help of the beautiful outdoors in a lovely region in Canada on her Instagram @verla_fortier

9. Angie Weihs, California, U.S.A., caught my eye as @Theagelessrebellion on Instagram. Angie defines herself as the Ageless Rebel Storyteller. I am not a fashionista, yet Angie inspires me to be bold and experimental with different looks and styles. Her exuberance lights up social media, her smile is contagious, and her outfits, well you just have to see her IG! I call her unapologetic inspirations for midlife women ‘daring pairings.’ You can find some in her store Rebelle. Her innovative and sometimes unusual style combinations result from two years of fashion adventures into many different styles, a slow but steady road to new clarity and confidence told in her book Diva Dismantled. When outfits talk, magic happens. (Spring 2020). Her interactive empowerment planners Ageless Rebel and Soul Sister (I have this one and love it!), are available on Amazon. As a passionate vlogger she often shows outfits that guide her to colorful Los Angeles locations. Check out all of her passions-in-fashion on her blog angieweihs.com 

And last, but certainly not least:

10. Dr.Shannon Gulbranson, New York, U.S.A., Dr. Shannon is a podcaster and Healing Life Coach who followed her heart’s desire of living in NYC. She moved all on her own, far away from “home” in the Midwest. I am not sure how I found her podcast, but she immediately hooked me with her breakdown of words. Yes, words. I love words and, thus, I love Dr. Shannon’s podcast. She is the bestselling author of Date Yourself Well (I have this book, loved it and shared it with a friend) Dr. Shannon Knows, and It’s No Secret. She inspires Midlife women by offering common sense solutions to the monkey mind we have going on in our head all day (why DO we do that, anyway?). Her non-lengthy, daily podcast is full of real information, inspiration, and strategies to find joy and healing in every day – one SIP ON LIFE at a time. Get inspired by listening to her Podcast Women Sipping On Life

Author’s Notes: In writing about these women that inspire me I realize they are all healers. Women heal themselves by healing others. Or, perhaps, Women heal others and in doing so heal themselves. Either way, women seem to find a way to serve their community, and that serves their hearts as well.

It is true, I only know these women through social media, blogs, books, podcasts, etc. Nevertheless, their presence, work, and life inspires me although we have never met in person. They share their life, their time, their work, their talent, and continue to build a community for their fellow woman. I never want any of you to think you or your work doesn’t matter. It does. Someone is hearing your message. Admiring you. Being inspired by you. so please, continue being you. ~ CinDiLo

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