Why is that an important goal for women at all stages in their lives?
VI: Now that I’m in my fifties, the obvious reason for being kind to myself is right in front of my nose: If I don’t value and care for myself, it can result in missed mammograms, Pap tests, dental upkeep … and before you know it, I’ve given in to slothful disregard for my health and self-respect. I commit to exercise, I eat right and I SHAVE MY UNDERARMS AND LEGS EVERY SINGLE DAY — just to stay as fastidious as I deserve to be. (Plus, you never know when an “intimacy opportunity” will present itself.) One last thing: I now drink expensive wine, even if it’s just a Crockpot dinner with a couple of friends! “Two-Buck Chuck” (or, adjusted for inflation, “Five-Buck Chuck”) makes me feel disrespected. As for being kind with others, that’s a reflection of some of the humility I’ve picked up on my journey. Birthing children reminded me of how humble and dependent I am on other people, particularly other women who have continued to be my backbone and inspiration for the [last] 25 years. Gi
