How One Woman Inspired Future Generations Just Being Herself and Having Fun! Being a Role Model and Inspiration Can Happen Anywhere.

I had an amazing experience in a restaurant recently. We were at a conference in Orlando, Florida, and it was a group go-out night to Opa, a Greek-themed Taverna experience. The music was not Greek, but the DJ had it booming from the speakers as loads of food were delivered to our tables to share as almost a hundred hypnotherapists, social workers, psychologists, hypnotists, and coaches, enjoyed a break from three days of classes. As often happens in Orlando, due to a massive high school-age volleyball competition and another nearby cheerleading competition, there were easily two hundred or more fourteen to eighteen-year-old girls there with their coaches, dancing around, taking endless selfies of themselves, each other, the belly dancers, and the DJ and generally having a grand time.

This place really encourages dancing on the chairs and tables – and I was daring enough to try the chairs, but there was one woman in the whole huge place that took to the table – a tall man there to keep her steady just in case – and soon had every teen eye and others on her. She radiated energy, confidence, and playfulness yet a sort of regal pride, and she danced on and on. The high school phones started turning to her instead of their young owners, who were screaming, pointing, and cheering for this amazing woman. Their eyes were wide, soaking in this incredible presence and getting a memory I hope will stay with them forever, even if they don’t know it yet. She was not even 5 feet tall, wasn’t in a skin-bearing outfit, and wasn’t showing off for anyone. She was pure joy to watch and was dancing for her own pleasure. Her smile, arms, hands, and hips all juggling the balls of energy that flashed from her heart. All I knew was that she embodied everything I hoped I could be the rest of my life – self-assured, enjoying life, and living in the moment.

What made this all the more wonderful was talking to her later – and eventually inviting her to dinner with us a night later. I found out she was the author of two books that I had recently read, was a clinical psychologist, a wife, a mother, and a widow. She was raised in India but had lived most of her adulthood in North America, so she had multiple cultural points of view. She has weathered loss, gained knowledge and respect, and lived each moment. She was also 80 years old. No one would have guessed that not in a thousand years. At dinner, we talked about her life, and I told her what an incredible impression she had made on me – and, more importantly, on those young women who were so taken with her.

“You are such an inspiration. You have given these girls such a gift that I hope will settle in their subconscious, in their hearts for the rest of their lives.”

She asked me what that was.

“You have shown that that you can be confident, energetic, radiant and be yourself without fear of judgement or societal expectations. You have shown them that being older doesn’t mean fading into the background, being withdrawn. Life isn’t over at any age – you can live every moment. It is your choice and your alone.”

She smiled. “I hope so!”

I know so. Shortly after we’d sat at our dinner table a couple of large groups of young women with a few adults were being seated nearby. I glanced over and saw a whole tableful of girls staring at us with wide eyes, whispering and pointing at us. I heard one louder whisper – “It’s HER!”

I subtly directed her eyes to the girls and told her, “Your fan club has arrived!”

Her grin spread from ear to ear. The adult at the table rushed over, apologizing for their pointing and noise – she mentioned that the girls remembered her from last night and she would mind having a picture with them. She graciously agreed and rose with the grace of a queen approaching her subjects, then gave a little hip shimmy at the girls who were buzzing like wild bees. She spoke with them, asking them how their competition was going, wishing them luck, and posing for all the pictures requested – even with another table of girls who had seen her as well. She even invited me to join the photos with a call, “You were dancing too!” I knew, though, that those adoring eyes were all for her, and that she deserved them. She had shown them hope for their futures, given them proof that they weren’t in the “best days of their lives,” but rather their lives were just beginning and every day has the potential to be the best day when you be yourself and feel joy in the moment, no matter your age or where you are.

I look forward to interviewing her and learning more of her philosophy on life and experiences as a professional for my upcoming book!