I will be 65 this summer, and I want to grow up to be my mother-in-law, Selma.
I have just returned from a family gathering to honor her 90th birthday. Just about the whole Sklar clan came together for the occasion. It was a time for three generations to reconnect and tell stories – beloved old ones and hysterical new ones. We laughed so hard, shared so many hugs and ate and ate.
My generation talked about retirement – pros and cons, annoying aging bodies and pondered our children’s lives and choices. The grandchildren, in their very early thirties, discussed their career choices, relationship decisions and their futures.
And at the center sat Selma, a living model of strong executive functioning. Alert, often giggling, knitting and snacking, not missing a thing. Her mind is sharp. As always she is strongly in the now, enthusiastically living every moment of her day, which often starts with swimming for an hour at 6:00 AM because that is the only time she can fit it in! Her retirement days are chock full of things she loves to do, from playing bridge, taking art classes, attending lectures, quilting, playing bocce ball to riding her scooter down to the community garden to check on her tomato plants.
What Selma Teaches Us About Executive Function
During this getaway, a granddaughter asked, “Grammie, what’s the wisdom you want to share with us?”
Selma with her four “children”
To which Selma replied, “Live each day well.” And I happen to know that she does that because Selma always has a plan for each day of the week. I’ve often seen her reference her appointment calendar throughout the day. My husband once said that when growing up she always asked him, “What’s your plan for the day?” She continues to have excellent executive function skills for future thinking, planning and time management.
Selma’s full satisfying retirement life didn’t happen accidentally. She had been planning and saving for this time of her life for years and years. Sure, Selma has lived through some tough and difficult times including a recent diagnosis and treatment for ovarian cancer, but the past is just the past for her. She doesn’t let it interfere with her present enjoyment of the wonder of being alive, surrounded by those who love and admire her.
So, can you see why I want to be be Selma?
Selma epitomizes living a life with enthusiasm. I wish everyone could experience her joy for living. And watching her, her children and her grandchildren motivates me to continue to help others grow the skills to be able to design their days with an eye to their futures. It’s one of the reasons I’ve produced the Adult Seeing My Time® Planner and the NEW Set Up Success™ Student Planner. Both planners are much more than an appointment calendar or an assignment book. They are a system that changes the wiring in your brain as it relates to time management, planning and organization. They support you to keep learning, to make plans, achieve goals and have fun. Both planners are available for preorders, so if you are interested, check them out. We do a limited production run.
Time for me to get back to some planning for this week, but before I go, who do you want to grow up to be? Take that first step, that first action for reaching a goal that enriches your life.
Little by little,
Marydee
The Sklar clan!
