Well, sometimes vulnerability does come in. I had a day this week when I was completely overwhelmed so I shared these Mary Oliver words. Sometimes, it is great to share. And AofA members lifted me up with their responses.
What I loved was how different all the responses were. Some people gardened, went for a walk, read a book, did something mindful, heeded advice that worrying was a waste of time, one woman confessed to eating her way through worry which made us laugh, someone else mentioned that worrying is like praying for something that you don’t want. I felt restored afterwards.
2. AOFA AWARDS 2025 EARLYBIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW. Last time, they sold out so you’d better get your early bird tickets now. At the very beautiful Hoxton Hall ON NOVEMBER 20TH - with luscious velvet curtains - we have a wide range of categories that celebrate individuals and organisations that are pro-ageing. From Grooviest End of Life Organisation to Best Pro-ageing Substack Writer to Style King. In fact that are part of the pro-ageing revolution. This is not one of those boring Awards ceremonies, it is non-stop fun, flamboyance and fragrant. There will be an exhibition which challenges the stereotypes around ageing, there will be a performance by a later in life bloomer. And Suzanne Noble and I will host. Roll up, roll up.
(https://hoxtonhall.ticketsolve.com/.../shows/1173668477...)
Photo of the wonderful Ruth Fox by Mish Aminoff Moon at the Awards 2023.
Am sharing this quote about AofA Substack because it was so beautiful to receive. I’ve been commissioning pieces and for nine years about ageing - initially on our website - and curating the FB group and just felt timely to be acknowledged in this way. Thanks Jane and for paying for a subscription. That was also a lovely thing. And so important that we do celebrate this time in our lives.
And photographer Clare Tollemache was there as the druids celebrated Autumn Equinox this week. Great that these traditions and rituals continue. AUTUMN ‘EQUINOX with a Druid Ceremony on Primrose Hill. The Druids were joined by a few members of Extinction Rebellion who joined in with the peaceful Thanksgiving ceremony.
The Druid’s Ceremony, on today’s Autumn equinox, says is a time to give thanks for the harvest, not just the material harvest but also what we, human beings, have become during the year…
What an amazing woman and artist she is! We all agree.
‘"If I do not create art, I will die." – Yayoi Kusama (96 years old)
Despite her long struggle with hallucinations, she transformed those difficult experiences into a source of inspiration that made her one of the world’s most important artists.’
And Zandra Rhodes, the fabulous Ms Rhodes is 86. So great to see her in this archive photo. She’s an inspiration to us all carrying on with verve and flair. And still producing fabric designs. Cheers! I once interviewed Divine at her house in West London in the 80s. It was an experience.