Our Women Over 70 blog is inspired by our podcast, Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined, where we talk weekly with women in their 70s-100s who shatter the myth that women become irrelevant as they age. You can listen to their stories in 8 different categories. While compassion is not a set category, this blog focuses on compassion and caring because this theme comes up regularly in the conversations with so many of our guests.
Women Over 70 attracts vital women who care deeply about making a difference in the world they live in. As we move towards our third year, it is clear that women are involved in impactful pursuits, even if only a few have heard of them.
Mother Teresa said: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
What is social activism if not action that eradicates injustice and reminds us that no one is equal until all of us are equal and all are treated with dignity and respect. Matters of humanity also include the environment, housing, preservation, and animal welfare.
Our podcast guests in social activism, for example, resound with voices who have taken on these causes. It’s easy to find them on our website: https://womenover70.com
When you click on the Podcast tab, you see a dropdown box that enables you to search by podcast guest Name or Category. We’ve highlighted a few episodes that illustrate compassion-in-action on issues of significant concern to women.
- Women’s Rights: Frances Poppy Northcutt, ep.157;
- Sunny Fischer, ep. 97;
- Nancy Manahan, ep.118
- Creative Housing: Susan Stall, ep 161
- Preservation: Ellen Shubart, ep 135; Ronne Hartfield, ep. 95
- Health issues: Pat Anderson, ep 138; Ina Pinkney, ep140
- Peace: Pauline Coffman, ep 139; Gerda Bernstein, ep 92
- Animal Welfare: Margo Morris, ep 147
- Racism: Audrey Peeples, ep 95
- Environment: Sue Smith, ep149; Pamela Tate, ep 141; Meg Forney, ep 117
Together, our guests are benefactors to those who need support standing up for themselves. Additionally, they champion causes like art and religion in public life, holocaust survivorship, civil rights. Our guests exhibit compassion at its best.
Compassion is a two-sided coin: We have highlighted compassion towards others. We cannot neglect the importance of showing compassion towards ourselves.
Pema Chodron advises: “Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves.”
Kristen Neff encourages “fierce self-compassion” in order for women to claim what they need and chart a path for putting it into action.
Guests in the categories of Health & Wellness, Spirituality & Healing, and Expressive Arts reveal meaningful ways to practice self-compassion:
- Eating Well: Ricki McKenna, ep. 152
- Managing Anger: Ilene Dillon, ep. 148
- Diabetes Care: mother and daughter team Karen & Marg Graham, ep. 132
- Mental Health Care: Mindy Greiling, ep. 110; Patricia M. Anderson, ep 120
- Learning to Listen: Joanne Schwartzberg ep. 111
- Practicing Mindfulness, Meditation and Music: Kate Kunkel, ep. 87
- Controlling Addiction: Stephanie Kutzen, ep. 13
- Managing Chronic Illness: Diane Swezy ep. 96; Joyce Sutphen, ep 26
- Embracing Holistic Health: Carolyn Torkelson, ep 7
- Exploring Inner Landscapes: Frances Fuller, ep 164; Elaine Soloway, ep 160; Marcia Whitney-Schenck, ep 153; Karla Klinger, ep 4
We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase women who illustrate so brilliantly what it means to act with care and show compassion. We know that you have stories of your own to share. We welcome you to our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined
and hope you will freely share them there. If you have not yet joined us we look forward to welcoming you.
Also, consider participating in our monthly programming, supported by Aging Reimagined Circle, to discuss issues that matter to women as we age.
And, contact us at info@womenover70.com. Your story may be the next one on our podcast.
