We’re All Getting Older (WAGO) is a resource for those of us who — when we get to the end of the line — would like to be able to say, “Wow! What a life!”
WAGO is also a community. Of midlifers and middle-aged folks, late bloomers, second act-ors, olders, and whatever other term you like to call yourself — you know who you are! This is for us, for the “us” who want to live deep and genuinely meaningful lives WHILE also squeezing every bit of that joie de vivre juice.
This is for everyone who reads the following from the great Mary Oliver and says Yes, Yes, Yes!
“I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened or full of argument. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.” — Mary Oliver, poet
I started WAGO not because I’m an expert on these things. Hardly. I study and write about these topics because I want these things for myself too... and sometimes, I think I’m doing well, and other times, I’m like, “Lou, what are you doing?!”
If you can relate and are in the same boat as me, hop right in. Let’s get you some mocktails!
WAGO is meant to be a resource. So, what you’ll find here are, in essence, my study notes and reflections: what I’m learning from the books and articles I’m reading, podcasts I’m listening to, and “talks” (TED or otherwise) that I’m watching. I write about what I’m gaining and also when it’s not working as intended.
What to expect
Here’s what’s happening and what’s on plan:
The Sunday WAGO newsletter >> This is the main dish, so to speak
Bi-weekly(ish) profile of a wonderful “one of us” who’s on this journey too!
The Monthly Mixed Bag, a lovingly curated roundup of relevant (and sometimes irrelevant) finds I enjoyed during the month.
But you’d want to become a paying subscriber. Here’s why:
You’ll get access to all posts and archives.
You’ll be able to participate in community discussion threads (coming soon).
You get to support this work and my coffee habit (which, I have to say, is very important for the research and the writing).
You get to put a huge smile on my face and help keep this boat sailing!
What do you say? Are you on the boat with me?
“We’re All Getting Older feeds my curiosity, my love of learning, my sense of humor, and because it’s aimed at people in my stage of life, I feel completely understood.” — Melissa Dinwiddie, CEO, Innovation Catalyst
Who is behind WAGO?
I used to be a happy corporate ladder climber and thought I’d never want to do anything else. Until one day, I realized I did indeed want to pursue other things. Hah!
But it took me a while to figure out who I was without my corporate job title. Then another while to figure out who I wanted to be next. Then another little while to embrace the kind of person I wanted to be.
What’s kept me going through through those years of wandering is my belief that to learn is to grow is to live. That we must continue to grow — regardless of our age, no matter our circumstances, until the day we check out.
I write this newsletter in support of that belief and to help you keep growing, too.
Here’s a more formal-sounding bio 😉:
Lou Blaser is a former change strategy consultant and IT leader turned writer and podcaster. She writes We’re All Getting Older (previously called Midlife Cues) and hosts Second Breaks, a podcast about midlife transitions. She is the author of “Break Free: The Courage to Reinvent Yourself and Your Career” and is currently working on her next book project about building a new career in the second half of life.
