We are bombarded with an over abundance of information in a variety of forms from a variety of sources. What skills do we need to adopt and execute in order to effectively navigate our way through the sea of misinformation and deception?

Think for Ourselves:

Don't accept at face value that what we hear is fact. Question, dig deeper and seek out reliable sources (including our inner voice) before settling on something as truth. Don't allow someone to take away the power of self-discernment. Critical thinking, common sense and intuition are valuable tools to help keep us in life's driver seat. Truth is subjective and influenced by our beliefs. As such,  we need to be open to changing our truths as we discover more and experience more of what life has to offer. It is dangerous to be stuck with an old truth just because the group consensus remains steadfast to the old ways despite new evidence to the contrary.

Fear, control, manipulation and false promises are tactics used to persuade society to think a certain way. Tactics are used to encourage purchases of products, to blame a group or individual for arising problems, make rash decisions rooted in the fear of what could be and/or to follow an individual, party or company based on their promises rather than rejecting them due to their questionable behaviours or poor past track record. Question and think for ourselves!

Let Go of the Past:

We all have had "good" and "bad" experiences growing up. We harbour regrets, sadness around what could of been and anger at what was. Holding on to these emotions and beliefs perpetuates the suffering and weighs us down with baggage from the past. In order to liberate ourselves, we need to look at those experiences from a different perspective. They are done, we can't change the circumstances but we can extract the value gained from the experience and decipher how we can grow from it. Judging ourselves, being angry at another misguided person or hanging onto the desire for a situation or individual to have been different only hurts ourselves and our ability to let our true self shine through. Let go, forgive yourself, forgive others but retain the lesson learned and move on from there. Find a way to face, give space and release the blocked emotions, be it talking to the person dead or alive, in your head or out loud to get things off your chest. Maybe letting go, is writing a letter describing the pain and then symbolically burning it or finding a trusting empathetic or professionally trained ear to open up to. Sometimes letting go are quiet moments alone to feel, acknowledge the emotions and allow them to flow up and out in the form of a cleansing cry. Whatever the method, no matter how many repetitions, we must give ourselves a hug and do our best in the moment to free ourselves and incrementally move forward a little lighter and wiser.

Thinking for ourselves and letting go but learning from the past, liberates ourselves to be ourselves. This reclaiming of our power and increased self-acceptance activates our inner drive, passions and creative expression. It also allows us to make an valuable and unique contribution/imprint  to the colourful, interlocking tapestry/canvas we call Life.

The world around us, appears to be falling apart with fires, floods, wars, starvation, homelessness, high costs, corporate/government corruption, healthcare crisis, shootings, scams, viruses, social disconnection etc..

Where do we start to make sense of the senselessness? We begin by examining our beliefs and attitudes towards the whole state of affairs. What camp do we reside in and feed into? Do we choose to see life's predicament likened to a runaway roller-coaster plunging towards total annihilation and self-destruction or are we able to step back and take an eagle's eye view of the chaotic events unfolding before us and perceive a different perspective, a more purposeful, conscious excavation and cultivation at work.

For eons, the seeds of self-destruction have been planted in society. Humans have bought into the illusion and fear of separateness, lack, the need to conquer, to control and to compete in order to succeed and get ahead. This dark seed of fear has long since germinated and now more than ever it has sprouted and risen to the surface in full view of the masses. To some, this revelation signifies the beginning of the end of the world, while to others it is viewed as the uprooting of the old, a greater clarity into what actually is and an opportunity to choose differently and be a part of a major transformation.

Do we put up our hands in despair and defeat or do we focus our thoughts and intentions on the present moment and begin building an inner world of peace and harmony. It is from this inner world of calm that love, unity, hope, peaceful strategies and creative problem-solving can be accessed and utilized in working towards a more community-minded and nature centred outer world. Soul power not physical power is needed to make a difference. We each have a responsibility to nourish our mind, body and spirit to a higher level, freely emitting a more natural loving and creative drive that unifies not divides, uplifts not destroys and includes not excludes.

The darkness of this world has come into light. It is our time to consciously choose what we prefer for both our inner and outer reality. From a mindset of peace, love, unity, hope and the ability to stay grounded in the present, we can each add a little of our light and our talents for the common good. Light consumes darkness and helps to reveal, clarify or make sense of what seems senseless and highlights a revolutionary path forward!

I read somewhere that dancing is one of the best exercises for the brain. I also read about the plasticity of the brain and its ability to create new neurons and pathways  at any age. Could this idea be part of the solution to fewer "senior moments"? I have the added pressure to stay alert because my son is a doctor and at any sign of weakness, his medical training kicks into gear. All joking aside (kinda), the body and brain are a team, so I am always curious about ways to cater to both while still having fun.

So low and behold, last October, I received a notice from my daughter's old dance studio (Soo Dance Unlimited) about an adult beginner tap dance class. Automatically, images of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers flashed in my head - I was on stage with the bright lights, the glittery costume, and the wild applause. Coming back to reality, I realized that learning tap was something that fit my criteria; good for the body and brain but more importantly, it is social and fun. So here I am 10 classes later, tapping, albeit, a little laboured but still an enthusiastic member of "Chrissy's Rockstar Tappers". The combined sound of the group tapping and the lighthearted laughter are food for my soul  as well as my body and mind. I think, Wendy Rose is a good stage name, what do you think?

I am finding that likes, dislikes and desires don't diminish as you age. Plus, there are fewer excuses or inhibitions to hide behind as in years past (kids, job, the need to impress etc.) and even fewer number of years ahead to postpone those desires. If the urge is there, then there is a hidden talent, waiting to be exposed - go after it! Remember age is only a number and you are never fully tapped out until your final curtain call.

The word "retiring", should be retired from a person's vocabulary and replaced with "rewiring". My rewiring began at 57 when I choice to leave the 9 to 5 workforce to enjoy the last third of my life as my own boss. I was never heavily invested in a career or rising up the corporate ladder. Whatever position I took, had to meet the following criteria:

• Worked with my family's schedule
• The job had to have a continual learning curve
• Was located close to home so walking was an option and having one car was never an issue
• I would not be micromanaged and there was room for personal input
• The organization was customer oriented and not all about the bottom dollar
• An opportunity to empower and not enable others was the main vision

Looking back I accomplished that and was able to help with the family expenses as well. At 57, my kids were grown, financially independent; and my husband had only a couple of years until his "rewiring". I jumped ship. I know everyone's situation and goals are different but I looked at my situation. Sure, the house (1912 vintage) is small and a little dated but it is paid for. I can live with my 90's colour scheme and painting techniques (sponge painting will come back). Unfortunately, home renovations are not one of my talents or desires. My perks of being more available to family, friends and myself are my priorities.

My strongest fascination now, as I age, relates to the "big picture" and how we as humans fit in. My human brain will never fully figure out that question but I am open to exploring and rewiring and learning more about myself, through new experiences. My desire is to write about my aging escapades and  hopefully inspire others to head their own expedition of self-discovery.