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Your Life is Your Story, Issue #231 – Turning Seventy December 21, 2025 |
| Greetings "Your past is your story up to now. The future is the story yet to come. The present is where you live with that experience, your hopes and your dreams." 
Your Life is Your Story Newsletter December 21, 2025 Your Life is Your Story, Issue #231 – Turning Seventy From Tom Gilbert – Editor and Writer, www.your-life-your-story.com In this Issue: Opening remarks: Barely Winter Featured Article – Turning Seventy Featured Resource – French Twist Audiobook Opening Remarks: Barely Winter
Today, December 21, is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. It marks the first official day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But you wouldn’t know it from the weather here in New Mexico. The Southwest region of the United States is mostly dry, a desert with little annual precipitation. Yet it is also a land of varying geographical splendor. There are mountains and wide open vistas. There is much more than cactus and desert. And you might be surprised how cold it can get. Early mornings in Albuquerque during December have been in the 30s. It is much colder in the higher elevations with snow in the mountains and pine tree forests. It is not unusual for people to go chop down their own Christmas trees. Lately we have been having a stretch of unseasonable warm days. As I write this outside it is 60s with bright sunshine. It barely feels like winter. Yet I know from living here for about 30 years, we will surely get some winter storms in the months ahead. But I don’t expect a white Christmas this year and that’s okay. The holiday spirit can be celebrated anywhere, anytime that we open our hearts to it. Thank you so much for being part of the Your Life Is Your Story community. Thanks to all our subscribers. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. You are receiving this e-zine because you signed up for it or someone who is subscribed passed it along to you. If a friend DID forward this to you consider subscribing by visiting our signup page . Also, let me know what you’d like to see more of in this newsletter – simply reply to this email e-zine. – Tom Featured Article: Turning SeventyMust come a time...seventy.When you're old, and it's cold And who cares if you live or you die, Your one consolation's the money You may have put by… The above lyrics are from a song in the musical Oliver. Reviewing the Situation is sung by the "avaricious old gentleman", a criminal named Fagin. I played the role of Fagin in High School, my senior year. It was the crowning moment of my limited acting experience. The whole cast had a great time putting on the musical. It was a lot of hard work and long hours and it was loads of fun. At the time an 18 year old pretending to be an old man was, of course, pure make believe. However, I just had my birthday this month and now I am that age I am reflecting on turning seventy. It hits home. It’s actually a bit difficult to wrap my head around it. I certainly don’t think of myself as that age. And I am pretty happy with my life and not despondent or melancholy like Fagin, the villain. Reflecting on my life, this age, and thinking about my past and my future is a process. The life lessons of the years and my philosophy of life have taught me not to dwell on either the past or the future. The past you can’t change; the future is unpredictable. But as a writer and personal historian I can’t escape spending time considering the life journey. For me, living one day at a time, in the present moment, is best. And not getting wrapped up in my head. Live your life the best you can, do for others and share your experience, strength and hope. Although I don’t do that perfectly (I am human after all), I do believe it is a great way to live a life of meaning and purpose. If you write your life story, whether in memoir or some other form, you are confronted with questions about the meaning of your life and the path you have traveled. I find it a fascinating journey. It’s not easy to do the work, but there are things we can do to help, like making a Memory List, journaling, reviewing old letters, searching your genealogy and engaging with other writers in workshops, conferences and conversations. And you don’t have to wait until you are turning seventy to start. Although there is the perspective you gain in the later years of your life. I wish you well on the journey. And remember the old adage, "To thine own self be true." Read more articles here. Featured Resource: French Twist AudiobookThe amazing life story memoir that I wrote for Janine Winters, French Twist–A Tale of Travel, Testing and Triumph, has been receiving good reviews. Grab a copy online or in your local bookstore. Even better check out her recently released audiobook version, narrated by Janine. It’s available from multiple online retailers including Audible and Spotify.Janine’s life is fascinating and full of adventure. She is still going strong, living on her farm in Arkansas, and now with her own website you can find about your passions for cooking, painting and more. In fact, if you sign up for her free newsletter you get entered to win one of her amazing paintings. And you will be able to follow her continuing adventures. Closing InformationThat’s it for this month’s issue. Thanks for reading. Here’s to telling your story. Do give it some serious consideration because I just know you’ve got a great story to tell! Be sure to see the Get Started section.Any comments, ideas or feedback is greatly appreciated. Just reply to this ‘zine and tell me what you think! Until next time, – keep your story alive! Tom Gilbert |
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