by Marilyn Edelson

As I look back, I see how my life is like a well-seasoned stew—each chapter adding layers of flavor and complexity. Growing up in New York City during a time when women were beginning to spread their wings, I was fortunate to witness a world teeming with creativity and change. The path I took—shaped by people, places, and experiences—has always been a blend of passion and purpose. In every stage of my life, I’ve learned that vibrant aging isn’t just about living long or about slowing down; it’s about keeping your curiosity alive, your spirit engaged, your relationships strong and your creativity flowing.

I attended Music and Art High School as an art student, after submitting 500 pages ( a ream of paper ) of original fashion designs. At M&A I was exposed not just to art but to music – classical, jazz, folk – ballet, opera, Broadway and much more. A Saturday night would be spent with friends be riding the Staten Island Ferry back and forth for nickel. I met Bob Dylan in 1962 playing to 15 or 20 people in Washington Square Park ( he was living my friend’s  family ) and was at the Newport Folk Festival when he became famous. I went to a party at Peter Yarrow’s ( of Peter, Paul and Mary ) mother’s house ( he went to M&A a few years before ) and even went to Andy Warhol’s Factory ( he wasn’t there ) where I was terrified by the weird looking cast of characters. I went to City College of New York (CCNY) and lived at home, missing the whole college experience. I did, however, get to travel. Thanks to Governor Rockefeller’s $250 per semester state scholarship, I went to Europe twice for three months at a time, tearing out chapters of the book, “Europe on 5 Dollars a day “ as I went  mostly with friends by train to 18 countries. My goal was to run out of pages in my passport. But the reward can be captured by the following,  ”A mind stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”

After college, I worked for a year In at the Educational Alliance in Lower East Side and took painting classes with Alex Dobkin. I had lost my passion for art at M&A where a teacher criticized one of my paintings harshly, but Alex reinspired me. I was working for a National Institute of Mental Health research project led by social workers and they encouraged me to go to social work school. So, I took the safe path, and abandoned art again and decided to attend Boston University.  The day I moved into my apartment in Cambridge, MA I took a walk to Harvard Square and felt my eyes burning. It was Fall of 1969 and they were tear-gassing kids rioting there. I was never political but by attending a few key marches on Washington, during that time I sharpened my awareness of the world around me.

Fast forward, I married, had two wonderful daughters now 42 and 36 and have 3, soon to be 4, grandchildren. I’ve had a successful career as a therapist and coach and still work ( just a little less than before ) because I still love what I do. This year I traveled to Italy to paint and have been working on my art. I am always working on myself but not to so much to get better as to deepen my appreciation for people and life itself.

I’ve connected to all my passions—whether through art, travel, social work and, above all, family, by continually embracing new forms of creative expression.

Vibrant aging is about more than just physical well-being—it’s about staying connected to passions, continuously learning, and embracing new experiences at any age. It  isn’t about checking off a bucket list ( although I do have one! ) but about continuing to engage with the world in a meaningful way. Life leads you where you need to go if you’re open to it. Results are always good but in the end the journey itself can be the reward.

Marilyn Edelson, Therapist, Coach, Artist is also the creator of the 2500+ member Facebook page, Blue Zone Living: Live not Just Long but Well.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1047585096280543

Feb 10, 2025