If I could describe the experience in one word it would be refreshing. Margaret Trudeau is a beautiful, gentle and charismatic person to say the least. I asked her two questions after hearing her speak at a global health conference in Toronto.
She spoke openly about being diagnosed as bi-polar, her marriage to former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Elliott Trudeau, running off with the Rolling Stones and being a mother. Her son Justin Trudeau -- head of the Liberal Party will be running for Prime Minister of Canada in October of this year.
My first question was what inspired her to write her latest book The Time of My Life: Choosing a Vibrant Joyful Future?
She addressed many different topics. With the success of her previous book, Changing My Mind, publishers asked her for her next book but she didn't know what to write about right away. After the passing of her mother, she said she felt alone and began to examine what it means to be an elder. Both of her parents were gone, her closest friend was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she had been in a bad skiing accident. She turned 65 and wanted to know what growing old meant and what was next.
She began talking to other women and asking experts. One of her findings was that if a person was in good health at the age of 65, they were most likely going to live till the age of 85. Then she began to research how to live a joyful life and came to the conclusion that it was all about choice. "This generation will have very different later years than our parents," she said, "We are not going to retire, play bridge and have enough money." Her focus was on the aging population in Canada and how people would find purpose later in life. She addressed that there are so many elders, they have the power to make changes in government and should be proactive about growing old. She discussed people needing to take responsibility for their own health because there will not be enough resources for everyone and this generation will not have the services that their parents had. She then addressed how important it is for people to think ahead and begin creating support so they are not left alone.
She went on to discuss people being free to choose how they want to live and by age 65 knowing themselves and knowing what their edges are. She said it is time to improve our own physical and mental health and that we tend to know what we don't like, that it is time to think about what we like, leave behind what we don't like and be proactive in what will create a high quality of life. It is her perspective that a bucket list should be: "I want to be ready and open to adventure!" And part of being ready is choosing to be healthy and happy.
She addressed the important issue of many women living in poverty, women who have plenty of experience and could be hired as consultants but will most likely not be hired after the age of 65. She felt strongly that $12,000 per year from a pension plan is simply not enough anymore. Then she went on to discuss the importance of having a strong mental balance, getting rid of grudges, cleaning up past bitterness and so on. She addressed that often aging comes along with feeling that one no longer has purpose, which leads to isolation, which leads to depression and mental decline.
It is my feeling that her perspective and inspiration was a well-rounded approach to health and happiness, addressing personal power, socialization, finances and purpose.
My next question I stole from Oprah's "Super Soul Sunday's." I asked her if she could give her younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
She said one problem that she faced when she was younger was being dubbed by press as having "dangerous candor," and telling it like it is. Her one piece of advice to her younger self would be to keep doing what she was doing. She said over time she often would become her actress self and hide behind a façade to make things easier. She said she wouldn't change any experiences as she has wonderful memories and learned tremendously from her mistakes. She ended by saying that being human is her goal and to be real and authentic comes with age.
This was a wonderful thing to hear. Challenging experiences and not necessarily knowing what to do is a big part of life, I would even say it is the biggest part of growing and expanding emotionally. Often we are shamed in some way by our friends or family for our mistakes or choices and for those who are famous, by the media. It is important to remember that there is nothing that we have thought or experienced that others haven't as well. We are here together and have the opportunity to pass onto the next generations a gentle approach to learning as opposed to a harsh and critical approach.
Margaret Trudeau is an excellent example of someone who has grown into a kind, loving, powerful, compassionate person. Through her own expansion she has chosen to be of support and uplift-ment to others. Her openness and honesty is soothing, healing and inspiring to those who are ready to embrace the fullness of their own life experience.
-A Little Love From Mala-