Beauty & Wisdom Trailer by Robbie Kaye

Thank you to Michele Little for your contribution to IndieGogo!!!

Michele,
This quote is for you... and I thank you for all the work that you do to create beauty for all women!

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
           -- Anais Nin


Shine on!!!

Robbie

Thank you Connie Kalriess Koprowicz for your contribution to IndiGoGo!!

This quote is for you Connie! 

Beauty is about perception, not about make-up. I think the beginning of all beauty is knowing and liking oneself. You can't put on make-up, or dress yourself, or do your hair with any sort of fun or joy if you're doing it from a position of correction.  Kevyn Aucoin

For ageless beauty,

Robbie

New Inspirational Video from Good Morning UniVerse!

The Good Morning UniVerse! book is here!!

Thank you to ScanDigital for their award!!

Good Morning UniVerse! FB Page AND First Edition book is here!!

http://on.fb.me/aNrB56

Back from New York

Just got back from New York where I have honor of photographing golden ladies in New York City Salon, Federico's! Amazing and can't wait to share the photos soon.
Meanwhile, Good Morning UniVerse! is taking off and we are getting lots of followers on twitter (MorningUniVerse) and sign ups for Morning Inspiration (www.gmuforyou.com)
So happy to be sharing Debbie Johnson's words and my photographs with everyone.

Bonus for me - I had the chance to photograph Autumn on the east coast... what a dream! Will post some photos soon. I am in computer limbo at the moment as I await my new knight in shining armour --- my computer finally threw in the towel and it is time for a new computer, an essential part of my work!

I look forward to sharing some beautiful images with you. For now, wishing you an Autumn filled with beautiful joy and color!!

Together we can alter the perception of beauty!

Just one step closer to show how beautiful older woman are! Please help me make it happen by contributing to Every contribution helps so much! Thank you!!

Join Debbie Johnson and me for Good Morning UniVerse!

Join Debbie Johnson and me for Good Morning UniVerse!

Thank you James Yates for your contribution on Indie Gogo!!

Here is a quote just for you! I am so thrilled to share this journey with you!
With gratitude, Robbie

Aging is not "lost youth" but a new stage of opportunity and strength. Betty Friedan

Thank you Aline Smithson for your contribution to Beauty & Wisdom on Indie GoGo!!

Please visit Aline's website... her work is stunning! http://www.alinesmithson.com/site.html

This quote is for you Aline!

Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be. -Ravn

Your support is immeasurable! Together we soar...

Thank you Stephanie Miller for contributing to Beauty & Wisdom on Indie GoGo!

This quote is just for you Stephanie. I am so happy to have you be a part of my project! Thank you for helping me take it all the way!! Robbie

To find beauty in everyone you must see beauty in everyone, then announce that you see it, for in announcing it, you place it there in their reality. Neale Donald Walsch

"Super Mum" Marie, 81, Kent, England

My Mum, Marie Elizabeth Woods, born Kent, England, in 1929. High kicking it as usual.

The first up to dance and the last to sit down - always.

Hobbies include Keep Fit twice a week, Golden Oldies singing club twice a week, and informal chauffeuse to those she calls the ‘old folk’!

Living proof that you are only as old as you feel.

PS. One bionic knee so kicks with her other!!

Aline Smithson and Lenscratch present Beauty & Wisdom!!

http://lenscratch.blogspot.com/2010/09/robbie-kaye.html


Please check out this amazing post from today that Aline Smithson from Lenscratch produced.  I am so honored and excited to share it with you!!

Verlie Boyd, Beauty Queen

Verlie Circa 1965

Verlie, 18 Years old

Tamera, 2 Years old

                   

My Grandmother, Verlie Maude (Brookes) Boyd, opened her Beauty Shop in 1950. Died in 1984 and had been retired for just a few years. (1908-1984) I handed her pincurls and rollers on weekends over the years (as a child) and actually learned how to cut hair by watching her. I still cut my husbands hair to this day. I cut my son's hair, (21 and 23), until they were in their teens.

My grandmother would put cold cream on her face every evening before bed as a beauty ritual of sorts and I used to watch her in the mirror thinking she was so old and so beautiful and I loved her wrinkles (I think she was about 50 then~~OMG! Hah) I am 53. What I learned from that though, was that self care and appreciating yourself as a woman was not only good for You but for all those around you.   -Tamera Boyd Hays

Perks in the mail!

Today I mailed the  perks to 2 contributors.  I had so much fun creating the note-cards and burning the CD with music I hope they will enjoy (original!).  I so enjoyed the process of saying thank you and giving something in return for their generous donation.  All contributions are generous no matter how great or small or if they are about supporting me with energy and love... they all have great value and are part of the journey.

Tomorrow I will be going through more footage from the trip and making notes of which ones might work for the documentary.  Can't wait for NY and the ladies there!! Dawling, they are going to be fabulous!!!

The Godfather

My father's name is SAVINO CAVALLO
Born:  March 15, 1918 in Dominican Republic
He migrated to USA and lived in USA for 25 years then returning to his country of origin. 
He's 92 right now, retired, widowed.  He's outlived all of his family (they were 11 siblings).  He's overcome 2 cancers and is still moving along, taking care of his 3 dogs and has his occasional drinks.  He still travels to Dom Rep on important occasions. My father's a gentle soul and loved by all who know him.

by Savina Cavallo

Thank you Dave Salter for your generous contribution!!

A quote for you!

When you are doing anything in a heightened state of realization and prosperity for yourself, you are helping millions of others to shift and to know it as well.  Asara Lovejoy

xoxo

Thank you to Margaret Bowen and Dr. Karen Monroy!!

For you...

"What is this precious love and laughter 

Budding in our hearts?

It is the glorious sound

Of a soul waking up!

Hafiz

Thank you both for your generosity and support of Beauty & Wisdom - we are in this together!!

The first contribution to IndieGoGo!!

Thank you Rita! from PocketPeople for contributing to the progress of "Beauty & Wisdom!"

This quote is just for you!

"I am not afraid...I was born to do this." Joan of Arc

Please visit the PocketPeople on FaceBook!

With love and gratitude,
Robbie

Participate in the Beauty & Wisdom project!

Please help make it happen!

Click on the above link to find out how you can participate in the Beauty & Wisdom project!

Thank you for all your support!!
Robbie Kaye

Beauty & Wisdom Trailer by Robbie Kaye

L.A. STORIES featuring the photojournalist Robbie Kaye. Created by Chris...

Ramona Lupo, Guest post (Daddy Mario)

Sometime in his 6th year, my father Giovanni came from Sicily to America. Over the sea, in a ship, accompanied by his mother (my Grandmother Stefanina), and his grandmother, (my Great Grandmother Virginina) they entered a foreign land through Ellis Island. Six years earlier, in 1923, his father (my Grandfather Mario, who we grew up calling Daddy Mario) preceeded his wife and infant son, immigrating to America and settled in Chicago.  When Daddy Mario left Palermo, he was by trade a barber. The story goes to make extra money,  he began cutting hair for his neighbors, including the women, in the one room "apartment" he'd rented in a small suburb outside the city of Chicago.  After a variety of odd immigrant jobs, he took a big risk and opened a barber shop. Mind you, this was a rather risky venture for a young man who barely spoke any English and had few contacts in a country and a culture he was struggling to know. But the women were the ones who came for haircuts. They loved Mario, who was a dashing young man, who coiffed and permed and doted on them. By the late 1920's he had saved up enough money to send for his family. Can you imagine spending six years away from your wife and only child? Once again the family was together and Mario's business now thrived as Mario's Beauty Shop. My father, of course grew up, met and married my mother and in the 1940's they moved to southern California to settle and raise their family. Los Angeles was a long way from Chicago, and I don't remember exactly how old I was, probably around 4,  when I first met Daddy Mario and Grandma Stefanina, but I grew up hearing the stories of Mario's Shop and all the women who were "in love" with Mario.

In 1962 when I was 10, Grandma Stefanina came by train to visit us in California. It had been many, many years since my father had been back to Chicago, and he decided he would drive Grandma back. I was the youngest of the four Lupo children and the "chosen one" to accompany Dad and Grandma to Chicago. We loaded up the Cadillac and hit the road, back then it was along the infamous Route 66. But the trip could not begin until Grandma had her hair done for the road trip. I remember her putting on her hair net each night as we settled into our hotel room so her hair would look the same in the morning. When we arrived in Oklahoma to visit cousins, the first thing we did was get her to a salon. There, her hair was washed and once again coiffed, and that was how it stayed for the remainder of the trip.

Finally, on a day of thunderstorms and humidity like I had never experienced, we arrived in Chicago. The house on North Nordica Ave was filled with VERY nice things, artwork, glassware, vases, a piano, a large television set, even jewelry and watches, and many other items. It turned out that many of these luxeries were gifts from Daddy Mario's wealthy clients. On my third day in Chicago, Daddy Mario took me to the beauty shop with him, and Oh My God, that was an eye opener. These beautifully cut, dyed and permed women pranced in and out of that salon all day long. I lost track of the number of hugs and kisses, flirtations and gifts that Daddy Mario received throughout the few days I got to spend there with him. I never smelled so much hair spray, perm solution and perfume again in my life!

Daddy Mario outlived Grandma and even outlived his own son, my father. He continued making women beautiful until he was well into his 80's, when he finally sold Mario's to a young gay couple. Many of the women who were his customers in the early years, remained his customers until the day he retired. I'd guess that many of them, even still had the same hair style. When he died at 93, my mother attended his funeral in Chicago. Much to my dismay, I was not able to attend. The end to this story is best conveyed by the number of beautifully cut, dyed and permed women in their 80's that were in attendance at Mario's funeral, most of them in tears throughout. Daddy Mario's wisdom of how to make beauty for who knows how many women in all those years is beyond my comprehension. What I know is that, whatever it was, he had the spirit.

And then there was the time...when he came to visit in California...I was about 7 years old with beautiful long wavy hair, that he CUT...SHORT, when my parents were at work, yikes, he ought not have done that!

Ojai, CA Part 2 of my Personal Retreat

I arrived in Ojai on Tuesday and check into the Ojai Retreat Bed and Breakfast. After driving up a long road to the top of a hill I found the office, got my key and drove round to the "Oak Room" which is where I stayed.  My room had a bed, a little table and chairs, refrigerator and private bath and a bay window that looked out onto the mountains.  Outside my room was my own private patio with a table and 4 chairs.  That afternoon I met with a yoga instructor, Mihaela, who came to my room to do yoga with me.  And there on my patio, I spent two and a half hours learning yoga from this amazing and inspirational woman. I had only done yoga a few times before and had not been able to do any kind of stretching until now, since my back surgery in October.  I learned about Yuan Miao and bought the book "Dancing of Rooftops with Dragons, The Yoga of Joy," which I started reading right away.  I loved it and it was just what I needed to learn about. On Wednesday morning when I opened the door, I saw a tree, surrounded by the morning mist, mountains in the background and flowers that were pink and purple in the bushes all around my patio.  The birds were singing and the air was crisp and fresh.  I had slept straight through the night again and felt rested and peaceful when I woke up.  I went for a walk down the nature path and onto a meadow and followed the trail around the property... I saw many baby quail and their parents scurrying along the path, chirping and hiding.  It was a long walk and it felt good to be by myself in nature, noticing the tiniest little flowers that grow out of the brown dirt, yellow and purple and sometimes red.  I heard noises of animals in the brush as they heard me getting close to where they were.  Being a former city girl, I became aware of the sounds and cautious as if someone or something might jump out of the bushes and attack me.  And when that moment passed, I was back in my country girl skin enjoying the smells of sage and hot pine needles all around me.

It's been a long time coming...

I've been out of touch.... literally.  Not just with my blog, but with myself.  I needed to take some time to be still, quiet and just listen... to nature, to the wind, to myself.  So I took a 5 day personal retreat and started it off by driving down to San Diego to see the amazing Claire Cook, best-selling author give a talk as her newest book, "Seven Year Switch"  was just released and is now in book stores everywhere! I met another twitter friend/author, Dawn Maria, before the talk and had a fantastic dinner. I stayed in San Diego for 2 days, thanks to a generous friend who gave me points to stay at the Sheraton down there.  I pampered myself with a massage and sat by the pool reading Claire's book and eating caesar salad and herbal iced tea.  I went to sleep early, never turned on the television and slept straight through to the morning...something I hadn't done in - I don't know how long!  Wow.. it was amazing...I felt so rejuvenated just by getting that kind of sleep.
I'll share more about my "retreat" and photos too - soon...  just wanted to touch base and let you know  I'm still here... just working on the "engine" to keep the machine running.  Hope you are too!

What's YOUR Seven Year Switch? http://bit.ly/bYhy1D

Janey Cutler - Still singing - after all these years....

80 years young and singing like never before!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SrZJexfl94


Check her out, you'll be glad you did!

Beauty of Wisdom article by Fine Art Photographer, Bob Killen

I am so honored and excited to share this article!


http://bobkillenphotographyblog.com/2010/05/robbie-kaye-beauty-of-wisdom/

Growing Boulder Interview

I am thrilled to share this link to my interview with Katy Widrick from Growing Boulder, a fantastic organization who supports that age is all about attitude and beauty is timeless.
http://growingbolder.com/media/gb-exclusives/webchats/gb-webchat-robbie-kaye-616416.html

Please take the time to peruse their website - there are so many amazing videos there!!
Shine on!
Robbie

The Amara Rose Interviews - Feminine Wisdom

Here is a link to an article, "Feminine Wisdom." written by Amara Rose. It is so poignant and wonderful I whole-heartedly recommend it and while you are there, visit her website - it is a treasure trove of inspiration.

http://www.liveyourlight.com/mind/Feminine.html

In this article she interviews a woman who at the age of 101, still runs her household with minimal help.


As a "midwife for the soul," Amara Rose offers life purpose coaching, talks, tapes/CDs, e-courses, playshops, retreats, and a FREE inspirational monthly newsletter, "What Shines." Please visit LiveYourLight.com to learn more. Contact Amara at amara@liveyourlight.com, or call: 1-800-862-0157 within the USA.

(Photo by: Robbie Kaye 2009 - "Florette" Marina Del Rey, CA)

Embracing Maturity

This is an amazing piece of writing about embracing maturity by a woman who contributes her talents to reminding women that they are beautiful at any age. Thank you so much June!

Embracing Maturity

As a woman approaching her mid-fifties and living in a society where there is huge pressure placed on looking good, I have now come to realise beauty and the definition surrounding it, is not all about looking ten years younger than your actual age or turning heads in the street. That is not to say that like other woman of my age, I am of course, concerned about my body visibly deteriorating and getting older but I firmly believe that we should embrace maturity and learn to work with and enhance what we already have.

We always tend to focus on our imperfections and fail to realise that other people never actually see us how we see ourselves. Therefore if we do want to change our appearance in any way be it with diet, exercise or even cosmetic procedures, we should always do it for ourselves and never for someone else. It would not be right (and is probably impossible!) to have reached your mid-fifties and not have any wrinkles; in fact every wrinkle tells a story about the laughter and the tears that has made you the person that you are today and is merely a physical and positive sign of what life is all about.

Don’t wake up in the morning and think ' I'm getting old'. With determination, you can embrace your increasing maturity and learn to enhance yourself and your self esteem. With the ability to love the fact that you are maturing woman, you can be full of vitality and life. The simple and honest fact is that there will never be a magic formula to physically turn back the clock. Look at what you like about yourself and focus on that, try to be positive about life because inner peace and being positive works wonders on your physical appearance and will make far more difference than any expensive potion in a jar. Regardless of age, if you are happy and have a positive outlook, it will always show on the outside. Try to change things that make you unhappy - at our age we know we need to invest time in looking and feeling the best we can, and if you look your best, that in turn gives you confidence. Beauty is not about being glamorous, but really does come from within and if you are happy with yourself then you will sparkle and your attitude will change - happiness is infectious and if you walk down the street full of inner confidence others will be sure to notice too!

Being middle aged does not mean dressing dowdy or giving up on being stylish. If we look at women in their fifties today, we are so different from our Mother's time - I could never have imagined my Mum wearing jeans! Our daughters now ask to borrow our clothes and makeup and there has never been a better time to be middle aged. This is now the time we can truly focus on ourselves. We’ve brought up our children and worked hard and now it’s time to be a little selfish! Make the best of yourself, embrace everyday and you will find that everyday will embrace you!

My make-up, beauty, and styling videos for mature women over 50 can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/june9097

Rita, Memphis, TN

As these women get older, they outlive their spouses, friends and family. Their bond to their longtime hairstylist grows even stronger and they socialize and keep each other company. Tonight, Rita is going out to dinner and a movie with Eunice, who she has worked with, laughed and cried with, for 50 years. They have each other...

Doris & Pepe, Long Island, NY

Our mothers and grandmothers were the housekeepers, the silent partners of accounting and organizing family gatherings, the emotional anchors that we all leaned on. In their day, where else could they go to get replenished? Therapy was not popular or affordable, support groups - hardly established...so they went to the beauty parlor, not only to have their hair "done" but to get a little TLC too, and a little love and coffee served to them and it all made them smile and feel pampered if only for one hour. It's no wonder they were so dedicated to these weekly rituals.

This is Doris with her hairstylist, Pepe.
(Doris is my mom, my anchor)

Aliene's poem to Debbie

This is the reply poem that Aliene wrote to her daughter, Debbie. Amazing and so funny!




My Mother’s Little Secret
Deb wrote it just for me..
The mirror showed a reflection
Her mother she did see.

She saw those bright eyes shining,
The smile you can’t erase.
Yes when she looked into the mirror,
She saw her mother’s face.

She didn’t get the body,
From the neck down to the toe.
She got the love that’s in my heart,
I want you all to know.

She doesn’t have those great big boobs
Hers are rather small.
A reflection of her mother,
But she didn’t get it all.

And she can thank her lucky stars
For a body neat and trim.
For when I get into my clothes,
I fill them to the brim.

My Daughter when you reach my age,
In the mirror what will you see?
A reflection of your mother’s face,
Or will it be All of Me???
By Aliene Bell

Photo: Peggy, Santa Monica, CA

My Mother's Secret

My friend and mentor, Debbie Johnson, wrote this for her mom, Aliene, who just turned 79 yesterday.

My Mother’s Little Secret

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror

And the reflection took me by surprise.

There was no mistaking what I saw,

Those were my Mother’s eyes.

I’d looked in them through out my life

And know them very well.

They are full of love and guidance.

What stories they can tell.

I saw the lines around my mouth.

Had they been there before?

If it’s a smile that makes each one,

I’ll take a whole lot more.

You see I’m not afraid of growing older.

It’s part of life, just one of those things.

And my Mother has shown me the beauty and grace

That each passing year still brings.

She’s taught me many lessons,

Her example has shown the way.

Love deeply and do things for others,

And count your blessings every day.

There’s no such thing as too many diamonds,

Too much food or too much fun!

It’s each experience that makes a life well lived,

And thanking God for each and every one.

I learned that singing makes any job go better,

And that baking is good for the soul.

A homemade gift prepared with love

Makes tummies and hearts feel full.

That life is like a casino.

Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win.

But as long as you keep on playing,

It pays off again and again.

I learned to love very deeply,

And feel the pride that only a mother can feel.

To not worry about problems that many never come,

But instead focus here on what’s real.

Sometimes we are taken for granted.

Meals, laundry, cleaning and more.

It’s not that we aren’t important.

It’s just what mothers are for.

Life is truly what you make it,

And my Mother has shown me the way.

That real beauty comes from the inside,

And the years can’t take it away.

In fact living just adds to the beauty,

Just look at my Mother and see.

The years have been very good to her,

And I know they’ll be good to me.

So as I look in the mirror,

And see my Mother’s smile.

I share her little secret

On how to age in style.

It isn’t a cream or a lotion,

In fact there’s no price you can pay.

Simply fill your heart full of love,

And give it all away.

It comes back to you like magic,

Lifting faces and taking wrinkles away.

Just take a look at my Mother,

She’s more beautiful with each passing day.

So as I fill my heart with love,

I see the lines that living can bring.

I remember mom’s little secret

And I’m not worried about a thing.

By DebbieJJohnson ©2010

http://www.guidedabundance.com/

Jenny #2, Santa Monica, CA

Please visit the new video on YouTube and meet Jenny from The Beauty of Wisdom collection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp-Pup6neQU

Aggie, 87. Memphis, TN

Aggie is cool, calm and collected. She wore a yellow thin sweater with a beautiful large gold cross necklace. Sophistication fell off her soft, southern drawl as she spoke about Gene's harmonica playing or jewelry that he made. Agnes has been going to Gene for 40 years.

Here is a comment from Eileen in regard to the weekly beauty parlor ritual. She wrote it on the "Imperfect Women" interview and I thought it was so poignant, I wanted to share it with you:

"... in the midst of real heartaches that women are experiencing (I hear other customers talk of divorce, cancer, death, etc.) these women are still validating life and doing something positive for themselves, and it’s so true that no matter what is going on in their lives, if they can get to that appointment, all is not lost.
-Eileen

Thank you Eileen!

Mrs. Guste, from "Robbie's Story" on Rebecca Elia's Website

http://rebeccaelia.weebly.com/1/post/2010/02/robbies-story.html

Please read "Robbie's Story" at Dr. Rebecca Elia's website above

Elizabeth, Brantley, AL

Elizabeth, 89, is the teacher of Sheila, her hairstylist, Shelia's mother, and Shelia's daughter. Three generations of women. She is the sweetest southern woman I ever did meet...soft spoken and wise. She has been working with Sheila for 40 years.

Pauline, Conroe, TX

Look at that smile and that pure white snowy hair! Pauline recently had a new pacemaker replaced and was in pain, but you would never know it. It was like she was visiting a family member as she told Kathie, her hairstylist, all about the procedure and you could see her pain falling away as she and Kathie engaged in conversation. Pauline and I chatted a bit while she was waiting to get her hair done...and she leaned over to me and in her sweet southern accent asked, "so what do you think about your First Lady gardening in high heels?" I love southern women!

Timeless Beauty-Guest Post by Rebecca Elia

I am so happy to have found Rebecca Elia on Twitter and so excited to post her words and thoughts on Timeless Beauty on my blog. Please visit her website and the links she has generously provided.

Timeless Beauty
Once again, I am thankful to Twitter for connecting me with like-minded people. More and more women are exploring our society’s refusal to accept death and aging, and, lately, they’ve been tweeting about it. Elissa Stein, author of FLOW is working on her next book project, Wrinkle and her recent Huffington Post piece, The Age of Invisibility, was about our mistreatment of the elderly. Through twitter, I also learned of Robbie Kaye’s work.

It’s time to address this peculiar societal dysfunction.
In the not so distant past, the anorexic teenager was our society’s single representation of beauty. The Twiggy template lived on, decades beyond her actual owner. Dove’s relatively recent campaign was one of the first to use normal-looking normal-sized women models. Their famous Evolution video revealed the false representation of the final icon of a female model that appeared on a billboard. By the time the initial picture was adjusted, it was so far removed from the original that it was difficult to connect the two. Our sense of beauty, both outer and inner, has become unbelievably warped.
It took my traveling to Greece to become aware of just how culture-specific beauty is. I was relieved when I discovered that the Greeks were blind to the dark hair on my body that was deemed socially-unacceptable in the U.S. I was thrilled that women who we would consider overweight showed no hesitation in wearing tight clothes in public or bikinis on the beach.
But there was another difference, and this one had more to do with inner beauty. In Greece, the elderly were cared for, honored, and respected by their families. Often, these elderly women provided the structure and foundation for the family. Many of my Greek friends were raised by their yiayias (grandmothers). Because the Greeks are a very social people, I had more conversations with elderly women there than I did with one of my own grandmothers. I could not return to my apartment without talking with a yiayia who lived in my neighborhood. She would pull out a seat cushion and rush to make Greek coffee when she saw me approaching her marble steps. In fact, I had to add an extra thirty to sixty minutes to my trip home if I didn’t return during her afternoon nap.
These grandmothers not only shared their life wisdom with me but provided me with such a strong sense of family and stability that it eased the 6,000+ mile distance from my real family. Looking at the world through their eyes provided me with an immediate sense of what is truly important. Linear time disappeared. Relationships and relating became crucial. It was clear that what we do is not as essential as how we do it, and that those we love are more important than anything else in this world. The emphasis on artificial physical beauty disappeared in a land where nothing could be more gorgeous than the dramatic scenery, weathered by the same natural elements that wrinkled the lovely faces of the elderly.
I became aware of another striking difference. These Greek women lived each day in the present moment, just as children do. In fact, they lived their entire lives in this way. This was a country in which the natural cycles of life were recognized and death was accepted along with life. The Greeks understood that in order for anything new to be created, the old must dissolve. They remembered what we have forgotten, that unrestricted growth is unsustainable and undesirable.
Both of my biological grandmothers died long ago. Now, more than ever, I absorb my mother’s memories of her mother and her mother’s generation. Not wanting to miss any of their wisdom, I grab hold before it disappears forever. By forgetting her, I lose. By forgetting them, we all lose.
Ours is a young nation. How can we expect to mature without the wisdom of our elders? We are quickly destroying our earth and ourselves. The longer we hold onto this notion of unrestricted growth, the more we destroy. When will we, as a nation, begin to face our fears about aging and death and, instead, honor the hard-earned wisdom of our elders? When will we see their true beauty? Until we do, we will remain blind to our own.

Bio:
Rebecca Elia is a Holistic Gynecologist who is more interested in creating health than in curing disease. Her forthcoming book, Creating Feminine Health, Finding Balance in a Masculine World addresses the consequences of valuing masculine qualities over feminine ones, including our society’s difficulty in accepting, let alone honoring, aging and elder wisdom.
Website: www.rebeccaelia.com You may sign up for her free Creating Feminine Health Newsletter on the homepage of her website.
Blog: www.rebeccaeliablog.blogspot.com
Links in Post:
Elissa Stein’s blog: http://elissastein.blogspot.com/
Elissa’s Huff Po post: The Age of Invisibility http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elissa-stein/the-age-of-invisibility_b_400896.html
Dove’s Evolution video: http://rebeccaeliablog.blogspot.com/2009/08/evolution-courtesy-of-dove_16.html

Marilyn & Eunice, Memphis, TN

This sassy Southern Bell Marilyn, has been working with Eunice for 50 years! That's as old as I am! It was so entertaining to interview these two. I couldn't stop smiling from their witty repartee...humor so dry that I had to pay close attention to get their jokes coming out like rapid fire. Eunice keeps a photo of Marilyn's 'girls' at her salon post. The 'girls' are two greyhounds who are Marilyn's pride and joy. Ruby and I felt lucky to have met Marilyn and Eunice and we will be enjoying their energy for a long time to come. As a side note-Eunice has so many clients that are like family...one client even gave Eunice a car. The love is ever-present and proof of the amazingly intimate relationship between client and hairstylist. Stay tuned for some video of these two...

Gene Finney, Memphis, TN

This is Gene Finney. He works at Gould's Salon in Memphis, TN and is 81 years young. He has been working as a stylist for 48 years and still continues to do so. Gene plays the harmonica in church, on a CD and for his clients as they sit in his chair. His finger is taped because the nerve in one of them is dead. His hand went through a window as he was helping a fellow passenger on a bus. That hasn't stopped him from working, playing or enjoying his life. His energy is contagious and I enjoyed the personal concert he gave me in Memphis!

Blossom's Hand, Long Island, NY

Blossom's hand, the hand of a woman, still working, still dressed impeccably and rich in years and life experience. Her manicurist, younger hands adding to the beauty of her elder...there is something very beautiful and poignant about this generational "hand off" - an evident camaraderie.

Harriet, Santa Monica, CA

Harriet gets taken to the beauty parlor by her daughter for her weekly appointment. She is shy and has been working with her stylist, Cindy, for quite awhile. Her stylist used to own the shop where she is now. I love the way Harriet's curlers match her shirt, color coordinated like her shoes and cane. Beautiful.

Response from Lillian's Friend, Joy

Hello Lily,

You are right, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and your beauty is definitely more than skin deep and certainly surrounds your heart and soul. I loved your letter to Robbie Kaye and thank both of you for making all of us altahs feel so much more attractive in our present and future stages of life. Now if Hari could just come to Florida and help out the gang here, we could all really strut our best stuff with crowning confidence.

Be good, stay glorious and beautiful and keep Georgie smiling.

Love you,

Joy

Lillian, Her words - Houston, TX

This is an email I received from Lillian, one of my beautiful models in Texas, in response to the interview that was posted yesterday on "Imperfect Women." I wanted to share it with you because it is so poignant, it made me cry. Lillian will be 83 years young this month on the 19th.

For all the elderly or seniors out there, I thank you for helping me feel more comfortable in my skin. I am also most thankful to my hair stylist, my beautiful daughter Hari for assisting in this process. I have mirrors in assorted sizes and none of them lie and yet my daughter (s) keep telling me how beautiful I am and my son says I am youthful. I suppose it's true? that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Perhaps the courage we elders have, or the fact that we do see a future down the road and that we face all of it with humor (on most days), gives us that extra sparkle of youth.

Here is the interview found at "Imperfect Women," a site you should see:
http://www.imperfectwomen.com/beauty-of-wisdom/

Collective Healing

When I first heard about Twitter or other online communities of networking I was reluctant and skeptical about the whole thing. Today, I am so grateful for being a participant of these communities as I have connected with so many amazing people from all over the world and I feel a collective healing taking place. My so-called "idealistic" views are stronger than ever and I am witnessing true confirmation in all that I see and experience and these online communities are so much a part of this "movement." I am reassured that the world in all it's imperfection, is amazingly abundant with people who possess pure souls and desires for contributing love and life and awareness to our universe. All you have to do is read the entries here or see the people on Twitter reaching out to other people, to teach them how to love themselves and others more deeply more honestly. In total, all of this connectedness has to make a collective difference to each one of us individually which creates a universal shift in energy and I just want to say thank you to each woman, each man, who takes the time and makes the effort to create this glorious synergy. I believe that the women here on my blog play a large role in creating this universal love ... they are forgiving, understanding and honest and have led the way for me to start living my life as Ellen from New Orleans reminded me, more authentically. And what that means to me, is living 'my' life and not another's life, with love and gentility. I will have so much more of me to share. Stay tuned for more beauties from "The Beauty of Wisdom" and thank you so much for taking the time to be part of my journey. I hope you enjoy this photo I took as the sun rose in Molokai, HI this past September when I became 50 years young.

Julie, Baton Rouge, LA

This is Miss Julie. She was reluctant at first to have me take her photograph, but Glenn, her hairstylist at the Hair Unlimited, persuaded her and once we got started she was just fine. Julie worked through her 70's and is now retired at 85. She's been working with Glenn for 7 years and to listen to them speak to each other you would think that they are sisters or long time friends, catching up on each other's lives. Miss Julie does not dye her hair and as you can see has beautiful manicured hands. Julie said that very little could stop her from missing her weekly morning appointment.