LYCHEE: Wise Women

Our salsa class is erratic. Last week we had too many men. Today, it was the wise women class. Our instructor is a sprightly woman, the kind I think I normally would not like, but she always makes us feel that we are salsa queens even as I know I am fumbling through various sequences. Afterwards, I became absorbed into a conversation with our instructor and another older woman in the class about the empowering aspects of exercise, diet, and meditation when done for yourself, not to meet some superficial goals of society (albeit, at times, those are hard to differentiate). Anyway, this led me to realize how many of my life teachers/mentors have been women in their 40's and 50's, fascinating since society generally regards women of this age as useless and unworthy of admiration or even just simple acknowledgement. For me, these women have often been more active, progressive, and mentally and physically healthy most people I know regardless of age or gender. I find that on my life's journey, I often use them as models that I strive to emulate. I am thankful for these women (and some younger women who are just wise women with perhaps old souls) who inspire me to challenge myself to never be content yet to always be happy: Toni, Diana, Jeanne, Diane, Erica, Christine, Cooper, Amy, Ananya, Priya -- thank you.