The 100 Years Club Installment #83: Hot Woman Summer Week 8

This will be the final Hot Woman Summer.

That doesn’t mean that the weather (or yours truly) will be any less hot.

Or that I’ll stop blogging weekly.

But now that I’m eight weeks in, I realize that every summer can be like this, and every spring, fall, and winter, too.

What does that mean?

At this stage in my life (which I call 6+ times around the sun), I am finally learning not to define myself just by my work (although I still truly love what I do).

Without being selfish, I have also learned how to be a good (and sometimes even great) friend, mentor, mother, sister, and grandmother without worrying about whether I’m pleasing and taking good enough care of others.

Although I’m no longer a daughter (because my parents are gone), the things they taught me often spring into my head at various times. This is one of the best lessons I ever learned from my dad. And my mother was the eternal optimist, even in her final days at 95.

Summer is a great time to ponder, reevaluate, and plan for the months ahead. (I found this article I published in 2018 about “future-proofing” your summer.)

But be sure to find some AC. Heat can actually impact your mood and cognition.

Speaking of the whole hotness thing…

My internal heat (mental, physical, and intellectual energy) lives on year-round, and I realized during these eight weeks that every day of my life can be one where I explore, learn something new, and take a risk. (“Why the hell not?” was one of my summer mantras.)

I’m doing well on the seven general rules I laid out in May when I started this Hot Woman Summer (HWS) series.

Many people my age view this phase of their lives as a “wind down” period. They retire from work, pursue hobbies close to home, and relax.

I don’t judge.

My second mantra for the Summer of 2024 is “You do you.”

In fact, one key to enjoying summer (and not getting “hot under the collar”) is to avoid heated and borderline abusive arguments with people who have different opinions than your own.

Stay cool during your hot life.

Take politics and religion off your summer picnic table (especially with strangers). I’ve even discovered that discussions about work, relationships, and dating styles can devolve into bully fests. When you find yourself triggered, simply walk away.

Don’t feel guilty if you distance yourself from people who are perpetually negative or become energy vampires.

So, what does the rest of the summer hold?

As of this writing, Labor Day is about four weeks away. It’s often considered the official bridge between summer and fall.

But I plan to burn that bridge and simply lace up my “back-to-school shoes” (which are these cool glitter Cons that I just customized—I can’t resist a 25% off deal!).

And I’ll step (or perhaps spring) into my Hot Woman Autumn! Come along with me! 

• Listen to my podcast
• Follow my series about dating after 50
• Subscribe to my Link.Tree
• Local to Arizona or LA? Sign up for one of these fun fall events. If you live anywhere, you can be an SOS Board Member! Applications are due 8/12.
• And watch for exciting news on October 9th!