Hello everyone. I’m glad you’re here. I look forward to getting to know you. 

You may have heard the phrase “50 is the new 40; 60 is the new 50”. This suggests to me that anyone over the age of 50 wants to be a decade younger. Not me. I have embraced every stage of my life. I think 50 is the new; 60 is the new 60, and 70 and 80 will be the same.

I don’t often think about my age, but if I do, I don’t think of it as a limitation. I think of all the ways that people over 50 live productive lives, and have a lot to offer to the world.

I started my blog in 2006, as part of my Botswana internship where I spent when I was completing a second master’s degree. I was 52 years old, and realized that while there were many older adults attending post-secondary school for the first time, or going back again, finding an internship for a 50 something student was near impossible. 

I love cooking, travelling, living healthy, and doing things for, and with my family and friends, so my blog covers all of these topics and more.

I love to tell stories, so while most of my posts are about things happening in my life now, they will also include what I will refer to as “Seaglass”, which I embrace as a metaphor for my life. These are stories looking back on experiences that have led me to this point in my life.

I think about seaglass starting out sharp and rough, like an uncut diamond. In its early life, its just broken glass, its value is not known or appreciated. Over time, the ocean of life polishes iand smoothes the rough edges, making it a thing of beauty. People walk up and down beaches to find and collect it, turning it into treasured pieces of jewellry and art, to be appreciated for decades.

Some more about me: 

• I was born and grew up in Guyana, South America
• I emmigrated to Winnipeg, Canada at in 1970, at the age of 16, for an arranged marriage
• My husband Robin and I have three daughters, two sons-in-law, three granddaughters and a grandson
• I started university at 37 (a year before my daughter did) and graduated as a teacher on my 40th birthday 
• I am a retired teacher/educator with a teaching career that spanned more than 30 years 
• I have a PhD in Environmental Studies; two master’s degrees; a bachelor’s degree and several diplomas in sustainability, vocational education, and adult education; most of my credentials were earned after I was 40
• I am a certified hairstylist for more than 40 years 
• I am a published author of two books (available by contacting me): 
  • In Search of the Blue Lotus about race, class, gender, power, and privilege and how I experienced those growing up in Guyana, and later moving to Canada; 
  • Comfort Food from Sandra’s Kitchen: Guyanese and Other Favourites which is a compilation of some of my favourite recipes, including some from Guyana, where I was born. 

If you are interested in contributing as a guest blogger, please contact me. I would love to hear how you are living your best life now, and the experiences that made you the wonderful 50+, 60+, 70+… person you are today.

PS: It’s May 2020 and I recently moved my blog to a different domain host, and changed the web address to this one. I am in the process of revising posts to include clearer titles, headings, tags, and categories ,to make it easier for you to find the posts you are looking for. I’m also updating images to include captions and alternative text (referred to as Alt Text), which helps with accessibility for readers who may need to rely on screen readers.

Sandra