#57 My Body My Story 45 Over 45 - Jen

In this episode, you will learn 10 FACTS about Jen and what she thinks about perfect body image, positive changes and challenges of 45+ women, what is it for her to feel good and look beautiful, and what advice she would give younger women and 30-year-old self!

 

10 Facts About Jen

(at the time of the project)

 

1. 60 years old.
2. Six months ago Jen separated from her husband of 40 years. The separation has been a long time coming, but it was a tough decision.
3. Since the separation, Jen has done a lot in the last six months. She was able to do the things that she wants to do and putting herself first.
4. Jen has 3 amazing adult children (a 38-year-old son, a 36-year-old daughter, and a 33-year-old daughter), six grandchildren, and another grandchild on the way.
5. Jen and her ex-husband had a livestock and property business where she did office management and sold real estate for 20 years.
6. After all these years, Jen and her ex-husband sold the business, and took a year off and travelled around Australia. They ended up settling in Sydney. It’s Newport on the beach.
7. And then Jen fell into her dream job as a newborn care specialist, as she was also a nurse before. Now, Jen mainly does nights with newborn babies.
8. Jen is most passionate about being outdoors and sunshine, keeping fit and healthy. She enjoys a couple of personal trainings a week and Pilates Reformer.
9. The biggest challenge at this age – “The separation, I suppose it is still new.”
10. Positive change with age – “I have my freedom. There's more time to do the things you want to do. And I think I'm just kind of myself with age”

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

(auto-generated)

Hi, you're listening to My Body My Story podcast.

I'm feeling cleansed and happier, being able to do the things that I want to do and putting myself first.

 

This is the 45 or 45 chapter where we celebrate rule breakers and role models, the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show that sensuality, beauty, soul and true essence. Here we talk about what it's like to be 45 Plus, adjusting to the changes that come with time, and will listen to the stories of our participants. If you have an interesting story to share, we would love you to participate, you can email us on info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com

 

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the My Body My Story project today with us in the studio, Jen. And while she's sitting in the makeup chair and Citra is doing makeup for her. I'll be asking her a few questions. Hi, Jan, and welcome to the studio. And tell us a bit about yourself.

 

Hi, Alexandra. I'm 60 I turned 60 last year, and I believe that it was a great achievement. And time for me to reflect on my life. I had an amazing 60 years, although turning 60 I separated from my husband of 40 years.

 

Wow.

 

The separation has been a long time coming. It was tough. A very tough decision, but very amicable and an easy decision as I've always well not an easy decision. But it was an easy decision in the end because it have been coming for probably, you know, years 10 year eight, whatever years. And I'd always put my family before myself. So there was a lot of guilt, sadness and painful feelings. I have three amazing adult children, six grandchildren, and another grandchild on the way. So yeah, it's been a pretty tough six months, but I have to say, I've been very happy. But yeah, I think you go along, feeling all those painful feelings and you know, having the guilt and probably shouldn't

 

but it's natural.

 

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So. But anyway, I'm here and that's fine. I'm here today, because I'm trying to put myself out there and you know, try something new. Yeah, it's all about me now. So yeah. So facts about me. I've experienced a very, very career. on finishing school. I trained for three years to become a registered nurse. I finished my training but never registered as I was married at 22. And actually, I was 21 and had a baby at 20 to 22. So yeah, became a mom. My ex-husband and I started a livestock and property business where I did the office management and sold real estate for 20 years. When we sold the business our youngest daughter had just finished school. So we felt it was time for a change. And we took a year off and travelled around Australia will eastern Australia in a Winnebago which was great. We went up the East Coast and sort of came down the centre and then did Tasmania and ended up settling in Sydney. It Newport on the beach. And then I just sort of filled in because I felt that I was semi retired I filled in helping friends out in the home wares and fashion you know, which was just sort of fun, something to do. And then I fell into my dream job as a newborn care specialist.

 

Oh, what a lovely job.

 

Yeah.

 

So that connected to your first nursing

 

Yeah, yeah. And I fell into it by a friend hurting her back. And knowing I was a nurse, and she was a nurse, and she asked me, just to help her out for a couple of weeks, which I did. And then people heard about me, people rang me and it has just been amazing. It's just grown and grown. And I've never advertised or had to take work from an agency or anything. It's been word of mouth. And I mainly do nights with newborn babies, so more or less the day they come home. And yeah, I help them mums and Bubs navigate their first few months together, which is very rewarding. And satisfying. And, you know, there's a lot of appreciation and love from families that believe it's my energy that moulds, a contention settled, baby in those first few months, so, yeah, it's been, it's been a really lovely time of my life, too. You know, I just, I'm with one little baby at the moment that I started. The day she came home, and she's about 10 months. I did nights, three nights a week for probably eight months. And now I'm doing three days, which I don't usually do, but I'm very fond of her. So yeah, I do three to four nights with other babies. And then I do days with her, which is probably way too much. But anyway, it's been good, because I've thrown myself into work. Since my separation, and yeah, I think that's probably helped my journey so far.

 

And what's the age, when you stop when you move on with babies?

 

Usually… well actually the other one on within six months, they don't like to let you go. So. But usually, it's you know, just to help them, you know, when they first get home, and they just need a couple of solid night's sleep. So usually it's only eight to 12 weeks. But yeah, most of mine do go on. I mean, occasionally you'll have, you know, the odd baby, just, you know, a couple of just for a couple of nights, and then you won't see them again. But very rarely. I actually had I looked after triplets a couple years ago. Yeah. From 10pm till 6am on my own, like three at night. And yeah, though in such a good routine. it was easy. And it was fun, you know? And it's the satisfaction and yeah, you just you just helping the families so much, and

 

 

triplets. I can imagine how much you help.

 

I know. But you know, you had to have a down pat. Exactly. You got to know which one woke first and which one could wait a bit longer, you know, because you couldn't hold three bottles. And you know, you knew which one you could put a dummy in and which one just would scream and they were amazing. You know, they'd be up and back in bed, the three of them and me too, you know, usually within an hour. So it's pretty good. Yeah. Yeah.

 

My next question is what are you most passionate about?

 

I'm most passionate about being outdoors and sunshine. By enjoy keeping fit and healthy. I work hard on trying to find a well-balanced life. Which is difficult because I'm a bit of a I never stop. I never relax. But that's what I'm trying to do now that I'm on my own. I enjoy a couple of personal trainings a week and Pilates Reformer. So yeah, also, I'm passionate about my home. I've been lucky enough to be able to stay in our family home. So it's my sanctuary on the beach where I love to cook and entertain.

 

So you said you're living which area?

 

Newport. Yeah, on the beach. So Yeah, love my home, and love to be there.

 

Excellent. So let's touch a bit of age subject. And I'd love to know, what are the positive changes have you experiencing with the age, you know, like being 45 plus? And now you said you in your 60s? What do you see as the benefit of this age for yourself?

 

Yeah, right. Well, my immediate benefit is being single.

 

That you have your freedom.

 

I have my freedom. Yeah. But I think the positives are just seeing life differently. You know, I think you, I mean, there probably isn't more time, but there should be more time. And you know, there's more time to do the things you want to do. And I think I'm just kind of myself with age. That's the benefits. I think you relax a bit more. And I suppose. Yeah, there's more time your children have left home. And yeah, there's more time for me.

 

And what is the biggest challenge at the moment?

 

The separation, I suppose it is still new.

 

Yeah. That's right.

 

So that's a real emotional roller coaster. My loves my life. I've always loved my life, even though I've had my times where, you know, it's been tough. But I'm pretty easily pleased. I have to say I had a wonderful 30 years of marriage with my ex-husband. We bought up three beautiful children in the country, where we had our own business. And we're very close, strong family unit. So that's been a challenge in itself, you know, separating. You know, and my husband and I did try, you know, for up to 10 years, I suppose, to make it work. But, you know, I got to the stage where I thought, well, if I'm going to go it alone, I've got to do it now. So turning 60 sort of made me make the decision, I suppose. So yeah, we just said, we separated in December last year, and I've loved my six months reconnecting and taking short breaks with friends. I was fortunate enough to travel to LA and Austin, in May with one of my daughters, her partner, and one year old son.

 

This year?

 

this year, yes, I've done a lot in my last six months. And I'm feeling cleansed and happier. Just yeah, being able to do the things that I want to do. And putting myself first.

 

And I don't remember if you mentioned that. You have you said you have three kids, all they daughters.

 

I have a 38 year old son, a 36 year old daughter and 33 year old daughter,

 

so two daughters and one son.

 

That's exactly how I want to do. That's what I got.

 

Excellent. Yeah. So what would you say is your greatest accomplishment at the moment?

 

Well, I suppose my three children and my Yeah, grandchildren, to your family, my family. Yeah. Also, a great accomplishment is all the wonderful things that have happened along the way. In my life, you know, I really don't have too many regrets. So, yeah,

 

so what if you if you had chance to meet your 30 year old self? What would you tell her? What advice would you give her?

 

Probably what I'm trying to give the advice I'm trying to give myself at the moment. Yeah, you know. I can still see myself at 30 and I can see where I was very hard on myself and worried way too much about what everyone else thought. So yeah, I would tell my 30-year-old self just to relax, enjoy life. Take time to smell the roses. And don't try to please everyone. You know? Because I

 

it's impossible ...

 

it is impossible and you miss out? You know, I really feel like I've really missed out. As I say, it's been a great life. So kind of into that. Yeah.

 

So what would you say to younger women who will eventually reach this age, but they're still young? So what advice would you give them

 

stay out of the sun would be one thing,

 

save your skin

 

And just you're not put too much pressure on yourself. I mean, times have definitely changed. Gosh, I sound like my mother. But, you know, I had three children by the time I was 29. And, you know, my 36 year old daughter's only just had one and got another one on the way. So if I have having they're such different pressures aren't there today, you know, they've all got to have the double income, to be able to have the life they want to live and lead. So yeah, take time for your family. Actually, I had my mom down just last weekend for her 87th birthday. And I had the three children and their partners and the six grandchildren, when they left, she just looked at me and she said, I'm just so pleased. My life was when it was because I just look and see these kids, it's all just too fast paced, and, you know, they just don't seem to have the time that they need to, you know, take time to be with each other and, you know, do things as a family, which I think's true. It's a, you know, very fast paced world we live in and yeah, keeping up with the Joneses is hard work.

 

I also would like to touch the body image subject. And where do you think this idea of body image and perfect body image comes from? And what it would be for you your perfect body?

 

Well, obviously, the media is where it you know, I think a lot of it comes from peers, especially with, you know, younger children. I grew up with my mother dieting and exercising all her life. And I can remember, at 85, she was going to the beach with friends. And she said to me, I'm on the cabbage soup diet. And I thought I'd only five. Mom. So I grew up with that. And I've probably been very similar. I feel like I've dieted on and off, probably more on all my life. And I'm not proud of that fact, because my daughters have probably picked up on that as well. So yeah, the perfect body obviously, is the slim body, which should not be. But as you say, that's the way we're all you know, thinking more or less, it's almost as if we're educated that way. So, yeah. Which is really sad, because you know, that they're not the important things.

 

So but what would be your perfect body?

 

Well, my perfect body would be to feel really good within from with inside, you know, and hopefully, people will be able to accept that.

 

And it may change with age. Yeah, it may change with age.

 

Yeah. Yeah, I don't think I'll be on the cabbage soup diet.

 

So what does it mean to you feeling good, and looking good and what comes first?

 

Well, obviously, feeling good comes first. Well, I think that's very obvious, because we all know that. If we feel good, and you know, sometimes, you might not think you look so good. But if you feel good with insight, I think other people pick up on that. And they think wow, and they can see it and all that helps. You know, our self confidence and And yeah, so feeling good from within, but I think all women feel good, you know, doing something like this today or, you know, dressing up having their makeup done pampering themselves, you know, having a day, the day spa, whatever. Yeah. And I think if you know, being loved by your family, you know, that makes you feel good. And people around you and having great friends and

 

Yeah. And what makes you feel the most beautiful?

 

Yeah, that's a really hard one. More or less, I suppose all the things I've just said. Yeah.

 

All together, the whole package.

 

That's right. Yeah.

 

Okay. And my last question, and I love it. What is your favourite quote about being a woman?

 

You love this question because you've heard so many different answers.

 

Yes.

 

Yeah. Well, I can honestly say I don't have a favourite quote. So I had to go looking. And there's some great quotes out there. But this is the one that really touched me. Yeah. “The true beauty of a woman is revealed only after you get to know her”.

 

Yeah, I love that. Yeah, I haven't heard that yet.

 

No. Well, I was very worried because I listened to a lot of the podcasts and I, I hadn't either and I didn't want to repeat something. But that will be my quote from now on. Because yeah.

 

So it was a useful question. Now you know, your favourite quote.

 

Yeah,

 

thank you, Jen. Thank you very much for answering our questions and for joining the project. I hope you will really enjoy the rest of the day in your photo shoot, and you will not regret coming here. And thank you, again

 

I'm sure I won't. Thank you very much, Alexandra. I'm so pleased that actually made it in the door. So that's a good start.

 

If you have an interesting story to share would love for you to participate. You can email us at info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com

 

This is the 45 over 45 chapter of MY BODY MY STORY podcast, where we celebrate rule breakers and role models - the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show their SENSUALITY,  BEAUTY, SOUL, and TRUE ESSENCE.

 

For more information about the project visit:

https://www.aleksandrawalker.com/45-over-45

 

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