Sue traveled from Cincinnati to my studio in Plymouth, NH, for a portrait session for The Over 50 Revolution.
She had never liked being photographed. Her 6-foot 4-inch body defied the stereotypes of beauty that she had known. That, combined with ageism in our culture, made her feel less valuable.
Then, while watching a presentation on aging when she had seen a portrait of an older woman that mesmerized her. She said, “I was so mesmerized by the power and beauty [Maundy] captured that I wanted to have photos that show my true essence as part of a rite of passage into becoming an elder.”
“The conditioning [we] endure around how beauty is defined, particularly as women age, has typically cast aside many of our elders and wisdom keepers. I was drawn to looking in the mirror/lens and really seeing my own beauty, wisdom and power, for the first time.”
Sue said, “Women over 50 are entering a new season. I believe these times are ripe with opportunities for older women to rediscover and share their roles as leaders, guides for the world and the future. There is so much to share when truth is embodied. Each of us, no matter how challenged or privileged our lives have been to this point, brings a treasure trove of experiences to the journey. If we reach out to each other in an authentic way, and uncover the patterns in our humanness, each journey becomes a facet of a precious gem.
“Each story of brokenness becomes a gift of wisdom. Each time a woman is courageous enough to be truly seen (body, mind and spirit), the light shines into the darkest shadows. I am now one of those called to brighten the light within and around me. The women I walk with are treasured pilgrims on the road. They are Anam Cara (‘Soul friends’).”
Sue’s mantra is, “Change is inevitable, growth is optional.” Since she turned 50, she has deepened her focus on spiritual growth. She said, “The need for acceptance through achievements, careers, bullets on resumes and external measures of beauty has been revealed for what it was, something the ego came up with to survive in this status driven culture. It takes a humility and courage to become your True Self. I have become more courageous, vulnerable and humble as I seek to embody me True Self. Maundy’s work is gently empowering women to strengthen those qualities within themselves and thus create the ability for each of us to hold hope for others until she can hold it herself. This new season of life has given me the focus and stillness to be present to the truth within and around me without judgement or an ego driven need to ‘fix’ things. I have been gifted with the ability to ‘pause.'”
Sue had role models growing up, but she did not discover the gifts they shared until much later in life. “Some lessons floated into my awareness in quiet moments, when the meaning of their unspoken examples pinged my weary heart. Other experiences were so powerful they are etched in my mind as if yesterday. One of my mentors, a Zen Roshi, was simply unabashedly courageous and fiery. One day she asked me, ‘Can you just show up?’ She taught me the importance of being present to all that is in this moment, to see clearly. I have stood on the shoulders of women I have never met. These women were people whose lives were courageous and holy, I call them ‘ordinary’ saints. They are poets and prophets, mothers and aunties. They are sisters and teachers. They continue to speak to me without saying a word.”
When asked what advice she would give to women who are younger than her, Sue said, “While it is a great responsibility to write what advice I would give those younger, it makes me think about my own willingness to engage in sovereign service. Without getting too esoteric, here are a few one-liners:
Embrace brokenness.
Love and forgiveness are your superpowers.
Take the journeys that lead you inward to your truth. (Find your inner voice.)
Stay curious (Live the questions).
Stay humble (Embrace mystery. Be teachable.)
Share your feelings with someone you trust.
You are enough.”
You are Enough. Exist in Portraits.
Celebrate yourself and exist in beautiful portraits. If you are a woman over the age of fifty, The Over 50 Revolution is for you. I hope you’ll join me in this luxurious and empowering experience. Book a portrait session for The Over 50 Revolution. You can learn more HERE.