Merry Christmas at 70, 1960s White Christmas, New Year's Resolutions

In this episode Lucy and Lisette, feeling 70-years-young, reflect on their experiences of turning 70 and discuss their plans and remember childhood traditions for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

Their discussion touches on:

• Both Lisette and Lucy feel youthful and energised at age 70, though they acknowledge the milestone of turning 71 next year sounds somehow older. Lisette describes herself as a "young 70-year-old" who is still physically active and engaged. Lucy feels she is consolidating her life experiences and wisdom at this age. They discuss the perspective that comes with their life experiences.
• The two friends reminisce about their contrasting childhood Christmas traditions back in the 1950s and 1960s. Lucy describes the very ordered and traditional Christmas celebrations of her youth in an almost 'Mary Poppins' London, while Lisette recalls more low-key family gatherings in the Netherlands without a strong religious aspect.
• As older adults, both have embraced more flexibility and simplicity in how they observe the holidays. Lucy has even skipped putting up a tree this year to avoid the pressure; while Lisette has never had a Christmas tree in her own home. They touch on the different pressure Christmas brings as a parent (Lucy) and a non parent (Lisette).
• Looking ahead to 2025, Lisette plans to focus on finishing a non-fiction book on using money for good that she's working on and staying open to new opportunities as they arise. Lucy wants to finish writing a novel set in her childhood, which is a more personal creative project separate from her business writing.
• They discuss the challenges of writing fiction based on one's own life experiences, and how to balance including personal details with making the story accessible to readers.They talk about their different 'writing habits' and agree that both appreciate the freedom of an "evolving life" at this stage.
• Their conversation touches on the role of family, the changing nature of traditions, and the mixed feelings that can accompany the holidays.

Overall, this episode presents an insightful and relatable discussion of aging, creativity, family and the lived experiences of two vibrant 70-year-olds.

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