Less than 24 months ago I plunged into the business world of aging when my husband, David, and I purchased a small publication called The Senior Guidebook as a semi-retirement business. At 59 I was starting to think about my own aging (and about my parent’s—they are in their 80’s) but I didn’t dwell on it. Like most Boomers I was in denial about what getting older really meant; retirement communities, nursing homes, getting sick, caregiving, and ageism weren’t on my radar. Besides, I was going to grow old gracefully and stay in my waterfront home (with a bazillion stairs) ‘til I died, wasn’t I?
Launching 3rd Act Magazine in April 2016 changed all that. I discovered that most of my beliefs and expectations around aging were wrong, and that there is much I can and should do to insure a better old age. Planning for inevitable changes as I grow older is essential. Aging with my eyes open will help insure a happier and more confident third act, with me more in control of my future life—and death. And this is true for everyone.
I gain new insights every day and will use this space to share my thoughts with you. I’m looking forward to getting to know each other as we all head down this path together. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. New adventures await!
Victoria Starr Marshall
Discussion7 Comments
Your story is an inspiration to us all, Victoria 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Victoria,
I am so excited about this new concept (to me) “The 3rd Act”. I first heard it on Ted Talk with Jane Fonda. I am almost 57, amazingly and excitingly starting to think about my 3rd Act. There is still so much living to do.
I love all your resources, knowlegde and encouragement!! I did subscribe and got my 1st magazine a few days ago. Thank You! I also wanted to tell you, I am going back to school for my Master’s and doing a research paper on aging. The topic I chose is “The 3rd Act of Life.” I’m having lots of fun with it!! I don’t think I will ever be the same! In a good way 🙂
Thank you for sharing your excitement, Tammy. I am glad that you are enthused about this stage of life and that our magazine is a good resource for you. We will travel this aging journey together!
Victoria
I will ever be the same! In a good way!
Hello – today, June17th, 2019, I just saw your magazine at a doctors office. I just decided to look you up online and saw the letter you wrote on 8/9/17. That’s the day my beautiful, well loved 93 year old Mother passed away. Wow! She was healthy and driving, living in her own beautiful home and she got a UTI about a month earlier.
From that moment on, it was suddenly her last month on earth. My husband and I are now trying to determine our 3rd Act so your magazine is perfect. Do we stay or do we go? On the road? To a retirement community? Your magazine is a perfect way to get the search out the retirement communities.
Thank you so much for your comment, Carol. How poignant that your mother passed away on the same day that I wrote that post. How lucky she was to be well loved and to remain so independent well into her nineties. I’m sure seeing her decline so quickly was a shock. Yet, if I could choose what my death would look like, I would choose to be vital and then go quickly. I wish that for all of us.
My husband and I started 3rd Act Magazine to answer the same questions you are asking. I’m glad that the magazine is hitting the right notes for you and I hope that it gives you some ideas. There are many paths, and if I’ve learned anything in the past three years, it’s that the only wrong one is to withdraw in front of the TV. Other than that, the prescription is simple: eat quality food, move your body, get good sleep, stay social, and enjoy your life. I wish you all the best. Victoria