Ourselves, Our Posterity
In this inaugural issue: the rallying call of Ourselves, Our Posterity, a commentary on a commentary about Demi Moore’s new movie, and two Pocket Power money saving tips.
Battling Fear: We Have This In Common
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
It was not my best moment, but that was my response to the eighth-grade boy who flagged me over to his desk and mumbled a question that made absolutely no sense. Even after I asked him to repeat it and speak more clearly, I was still clueless.
To compound my professional indiscretion, the girl with a hearing impairment who sat near the boy heard me and thought it was hilarious—so much so that she repeated it loudly to the class. Mortified, I felt as if I had, in that instant, imploded my 20+ year career as a well-respected teacher.
I’m quite proficient at owning up to my mistakes (perhaps because I get enough practice) and generally want to own up quickly because I have a great fear of getting in trouble. (More on that when we look at tapping into our inner child.) As soon as I could, I walked into the administrator's office to confess. The two of us had taken a while to build a trusting relationship. Thus, my worries were compounded by the possibility of having undone our progress.
When I told her the story, she burst into laughter. Needless to say, I was relieved. She advised me to call the boy’s mom before he relayed the story. The mother’s response was to say through her laughter, “He can try my patience. If that’s the worst said to him today, it’s all good.”
Phew! My fears were assuaged. Yet, I have times when my fear of getting into trouble or being judged stops me. It’s one of the reasons why I hold back, resulting in, among other things, my silence. I think too many of us are scared of being misunderstood, resulting in opting out of meaningful conversations.
To quote one of my favorite thinkers, Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, “So why have we been silent? Simple, because it’s easier. Because speaking up is hard, embarrassing, and makes you vulnerable. It exposes you as someone who is not chill, as someone who cares a lot, as someone who makes judgments, as someone who discerns between right and wrong, between better or worse.”
One premise behind Ourselves, Our Posterity, is that together, we can find our voices.
Voices of common sense.
Voices of rational thinking.
Voices of compassion.
Voices of courage.
Voices to help create a better tomorrow.
Battling Bugs: We Must Decide to Build a Better Future
When my family moved to Orlando in 1972, we lived in the Melody Motel for about two weeks. It was what we could afford while we waited for our house to be move-in ready. Let’s just say the mirrors on the ceilings were a later addition. Having moved from Oklahoma, we were familiar with cicadas but not the palmetto bugs prevalent in the Florida humidity. We’d kill one, only to have another make an uninvited appearance. It seemed futile, yet we were determined to keep our temporary quarters spotless to discourage the filthy pests.
Like my family’s fight with the roaches (palmetto bug sounds less disgusting), some people are willing to do what it takes to improve conditions in their lives, communities, and country. Others try at first, only to eventually become frustrated and give up. Then, many are resigned to the situation; they see any effort as pointless.
As for me, I want to lead my best life and leave the world a better place for my grandchildren, for posterity. I want to do whatever it takes.
To be clear, I don’t think the world is worse today than in the past. And I don’t know if America is in decline. I know we can take individual actions to make the world as good as possible. I realize, as I wrote in my first book, Taking the Holy Spirit to Work:
“When we add the challenging times in which we live to life’s realities, we sometimes feel perplexed or discouraged. To change this mindset, think about it this way. When has there not been a challenging historical period? The difference is wars, famine, and atrocities that occurred in the past are history. Because we are far removed from the past, we can feel as if the present day is somehow unique in its problems. It’s not. History is incredibly nuanced and complex; we can never fully understand it.
“Yes, we live in uncertain times. There’s nothing new there. Economic downtowns, new virus variants, and political unrest are made more alarming by a relentless news cycle. I am confident, however, that the opportunities in this day, at this time, are exciting.”
Battling Fires: We’ve Got to Grab the Bucket
It was always burning, since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No, we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it. - Billy Joel
We may not have struck the match as Billy Joel alludes to in his 1989 number-one hit “We Didn't Start the Fire,” but are we trying to stop it from spreading?
I’m looking for like-minded people who look around and shake their heads. Who are tired of going to the polls to vote against a candidate rather than for one. Why, in a country of about 200 million natural-born citizens over 35, can’t we end up with presidential candidates who are more statesmen than politicians? Why do we continue to accept lawmakers who create stalemates while drawing salaries and benefits?
In conversation after conversation, I find many resigned to the status quo. When discussing elected representatives who lie and exaggerate, I’m tired of hearing, “They all do that.” The bar is set so low. We have no expectation of being well served by our public servants.
I’m looking for people who are frustrated that we are still dealing with the same unresolved issues from twenty-plus years ago: healthcare, immigration, out-of-control national debt, and a sluggish Congress. Partisan politics is undermining any chance of common-sense solutions.
This is not a blue or red movement. It’s an American one for ourselves and our posterity.
I want to offer encouragement and strategies for “we the people” to do something because we owe it to our children’s children to try. Accepting quiet resignation because you feel powerless or tired, or overwhelmed is unacceptable. Action is needed for a better life and a better future.
However, our actions need not be the same. Our time, talents, interests, and resources are different. We don’t even have to agree on the issue, candidate, or resolution, but we must agree that we can make a positive difference. An individual’s thoughts, words, and actions are inextricably linked. When we decide to enhance all three, we can do our part for posterity.
It doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Together, we can take steps toward building a better tomorrow. Determined actions, even when small, help us think and live better. Are you willing to defy the status quo, change your mindset, and overcome lethargy to improve conditions in your life, community, and country?
Our opportunities today are exciting. We must take advantage of them. Ourselves, Our Posterity is about YOU. Topics will include ways to age well and live better. It is also about doing our part for future generations. While we may disagree on whether the world is better or worse, we still must do our part for future generations. I’m confident you and I can contribute positively. So if you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, then Ourselves, Our Posterity isn’t for you.
Ourselves, Our Posterity is a community dedicated to empowering and equipping us to do our part to fight the fire. It’s about encouraging legacy, aging well, and living better. The content and conversations are aspirational, practical, and inspirational.
The Real Substance: Life Beyond the Horror Film
Demi Moore, 61, plays a 50-year-old Academy Award-winning actress who no longer gets choice roles because she’s aging in the aptly named horror movie The Substance. Moore’s character resorts to taking a drug that allows her to transform into a younger woman every other week. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but from the trailer, Moore looks fabulous and compelling.
This commentary stems from a Free Press article by Paula Froelich entitled "For Women, Aging is Like a Horror Film." Is it really Paula?
I take issue with her premise that women over 60 are invisible and that “all women consider some form of “the substance” in one way or another.” In Froelich’s defense, she works on TV, so I imagine her realities are much different than mine. But what I am reacting to is not just the hyperbole in the title (though it certainly grabbed my attention enough to read the article) but the negative stance on aging that permeates her perspective.
After reading, I decided to comment and immediately got a flood of emails from women who "LIKED" my response. Here’s what I wrote:
“61-year-old here who wonders if the author thinks life gets harder because she’s trying to hide behind a youthful facade. Life is lived in seasons and moments. All seasons have their perks and challenges. Life doesn’t get harder just because you’re older. Change your mindset.”
I was surprised by the number of people who actually read the comments; the “LIKES” bombarded my email box, so I decided to mute the thread.
Aging doesn’t have to be feared or seen as a loss of value. Instead, it can be embraced as an opportunity to live fully, with wisdom and purpose. What matters most is how we approach it—with acceptance, confidence, and a focus on the beauty of each season. Moreover, our choices regarding sleep, eating, exercise, and a positive mindset are integral to living well at any age. These elements have an immense impact on how we think, feel, and function. They are the key to thriving, not just surviving, through every phase of life.
Let’s reframe the narrative: Aging isn’t a horror film but an evolving story full of possibilities. How we live, care for ourselves, and embrace the journey matters far more than how many times we’ve circled the sun.
Cautionary Tale
Recently, our AT&T internet bill went up $5 a month. While that’s not much, we were told our monthly rate would never go above $30 for the same service, so there was also a principle involved. We called and got it straightened out.
I wonder if they do that often, and most people decide that $60 a year is not worth the effort. Make the call, people.
Cutting Costs, Not Coverage
At 61 and 63, we still want to have term life insurance. My policy went up significantly to $140 per month. I called Zander Insurance, and they found me a 10-year term policy for the same value for $43 a month—a savings of $1,164 a year. To be clear, I don’t get anything from recommending Zander. I’m glad I made the phone call!