Ten to Twenty (Adolescence)Regrettably, we have no young women (age ten and under) or senior women over the age of eighty. Time restrictions and student priorities placed unavoidable limitations upon the scope of our project. We believe, however, that the quality of the interviews will more than compensate for the quantity.
By decade of life, here they are:
Ten to Twenty (Adolescence)
Ages Twenty to Forty (Young Adulthood)
Ages Forty to Sixty (Middle Adulthood)
Age Sixty and Upward (Later Life)
Review Counsellor's Discussion of this Stage.
My current priorities are (a) studying for upcoming exams, (b) working my voice up enough to hit a high A without it cracking, (c) finish at least one of the three stories I have on the go and (d) do my "Lilies" cross-stitch picture.
What I value the most is working my voice up enough to hit a high A.
The majority of my time is spent on my stories and my singing.
What gave me the most pride was singing a solo part in front of a lot of people.
Advice to older women would be to never stop having fun.
Advice to younger women would be if you strive hard enough you can accomplish your goals.
My most rewarding relationship is with my best friend, Danielle. She and I get along very well and she understands me. No-one else usually does.
The approaching millenium means to me that (hopefully) war and slavery will come to an end and that the world will have peace everlasting with no more crime or violence. The year 2000 will, in my opinion, be the greatest year in all history.
My current priorities are school and my friends.
I value my mom, dad, and grandmother the most.
School occupies the majority of my time.
The achievement that give me the most pride is passing every grade in school.
The advice I would give to an older woman would be take care of your body so you willlive longer.
To a younger woman the advice woud be get a good education, and be whatever you want to be.
My current most rewarding relationship would be my mom and I.
The significance of the approaching millenium would be world peace.
My current priorities are I reallylike to draw, read and take care of my guinea pig, Ginger.
I spend most of my time playing the piano, drawing, and using the computer.
I'm most proud of the stories I write and the way I care for my Guinea pig. I'm really proud of my drawing.
The advice I'd give to older women -- I'm not really sure. To younger women if someone wants you to play with them and you don't really want to play with them then you should stick up for that and don't play if you don't want to. Don't talk to strangers.
The relationship I value the most is my guinea pig, my parents, and my friends.
The millenium -- it's not really important. I don't care about it.
My current priorities are playing violin and studying music theory and history, harmony, choir and orchestra. I'd rather be doing musical things.
The majority of my time is spent practicing and studying and going to school.
My greatest pride? I haven't really lived that long yet. Probably my music. I'm proud that I started violin when I was 9 -- that's kind of late to start and I had to restart at 11 -- I have only played for 3 years but I've accomplished a lot.
Advice to olderr women -- if you're a musician, don't forget why you are playing and to keep exercising. To younger-- do things for yourself, because you want to, not because someone else wants you to. Don't do things just to please someone else. Keep thinking of the future.
My most rewarding relationship is with music teachers, mine and my sisters'.
The approaching millenium-- I will have graduated the year before, other than that, nothing, really.
What occupes most of my time? School and music. Practicing and studying.
My greatest accomplishment was an exam for piano. I got First Class Honours.
Advice for older women would be slow down and enjoy life a bit more and have more fun. To younger women, I'm not sure.
My most rewarding relationship would be everybody in my family.
The approaching millenium -- that's the year I'm going to graduate, so that's important. Besides that, there is nothing.
My priorities areplaying the cello. I like playing music. School is important, too.
The majority of my time is spent going to school and practicing the cello.
My biggest accomplishment is that I can play and that I do very well in school.
Advice to older women would be don't be so worried all the time. Take more time off from whatever you ar doing and do something that is fun. To younger do as much as you can that makes you feel good.
My most rewarding relationship -- hard to say... my cello teacher. I've been studying for four years. She is teaching me a lot and is a good friend.
The approaching millenium? Nothing, really. Just another year.
Values -- Cheesy as this may sound, I value my life and being alive the most. With friends my age dying of AIDS/suicide/violence around me, being alive is something I no longer take for granted.
The majority of my time is spent talking to people and reading and enlightening myself with nifty books.
I am most proud os the relationship I have with a few young kids (12 to 16) I took under my wing and how far they've come. I'm also proud of some of the survival skills I learned from them.
My most important relationship is probably with my mom.
Advice to older women is don't make us feel small. Don't be surprised that we don't often think like you and sometimes fear your power. Teach us what you think you can give and we will teach you back (teaching in my mind is an interactive process -- I think "students" should be called "teachers" too.) Don't assume we can't speak for ourselves -- we often get gagged or our voices are co-opted, don't contribute to the process. Ditto about respect. Advice to younger women? Hang in there. Just because many adults have screwed up so far, it does not mean they are our only model. Don't fear change or breaking a few rules or free-lance rebellion. Respect is such a cliche, unfortunately, since no one understands it... hmmm, try and live it. Advice to young people from older people is often rigid, condescending and paternalistic... make up your own advice and pat yourself on the back for it.
The year 2000 means on one hand that whatever action that intersects with the changing of millenniums will probably be more likely to make waves because people will consider it indicative of movements to come: an activist's golden moment. On the other hand, personally, it really means diddly-squat because there are about a zillion different calendars (Jewish, lunar, ...) so the year 2000 is really quite relative. In any case, it's supposedly 2000 years since the birth of Jesus and since I am formally non-Christian, I really don't care.
Review Counsellor's Discussion of this Stage.
My main priority is school right now. Family and the relationship I'm currently in are also priorities.
My time is split between school and the person I'm seeing now, who is also connected to school. I also spend time on the phone, talking to my family and keeping up.
My major accomplishment -- I haven't accomplished yet what I would like to. I think my major accomplishment has been speaking at a youth conference in Kansas. It was actually really rewarding because I didn't think I had a lot to say but I got up there and spoke for about ten minutes. People came up afterwards and were pretty impressed with what I had to say about the choices you make in your life and about keeping in line with your goals. It made me feel good about myself that I actually had something to say that was interesting to other people.
Advice to older women would be to talk a lot to the young people and tell them about your experiences and your lives. To younger women I would say, don't get married and have kids until you're thirty. There is so much to learn and you change so much in your twenties.
My most rewarding relationship is with the person I'm dating -- particularly the politics behind it. He's white and I'm black -- it is the first inter-racial relationship I have had and it has really educated me in a lot of the misgivings I had in terms of how people were. I think I had a lot of stereotypes that I have had to deal with head on. It has helped me grow as a person.
The approaching millenium -- I have a lot of hope and ambition. It is when I plan on being the person who I want to become. It's a measuring point for where I'm going.
My current priority is school, because I'm in a multimedia course. What I'm trying to do is get the most out of that experience and do the kind of work that I want to do. Which brings me to my second priority which is basically creative work. It's particularly important for women, I think, to express subject matter and material that comes from your life through a creative medium, whether it's a painting, a piece of writing or, in terms of what I'm going now, new technology -- digital technologies.
The majority of my time is spent with school mostly, but over the last few months there have been other things that have really kept me going: plants, cooking, having a pleasant environment to be in, having colour around, having pieces of writing around and the things that help you know who you are spiritually.
The accomplishment I value the most is my art work and my writing, which I concentrated on in the time just prior to coming to school, and being able to express myself. Making that expression public and having other people relate to and understand what I'm saying gives me tremendous satisfaction.
Advice to older women -- I don't think I would have any advice, I would want to ask them things. I think it's really important for older women to share their experiences with younger women.
To younger women-- don't let people scare you. Just go out there and do it anyway.
My most important relationship is with myself. In the environment I'm in now, I don't have a lot of close friends here, so in the last few months, I've been getting to know myself.
The millenium -- its quite amazing that I should be alive at the end of 2,000 years, by this calendar. This is a time of tremendous change in the way we think, and communicate with each other. I feel a great sense of responsibility to contribute what I can to that change.
My current priority is to make sure I'm creating a wonderful life for my family.
I spend the majority of my time mothering.
The accomplishment that gives me the most pride is my family life, working at it, making it work and getting through the challenges -- keep love happening.
Advice to older women would be -- I don't feel I can give older women any advice -- there is a wisdom that coms from spending more time on this earth and each person's wisdom is different. I see them as friends.
To younger women know yourself really well before you get into the relationship of your life. Explore your desires and dreams and get to know them very well.
My most rewarding relationship would be a tie between the relationship I have with my husband and the relationship I have with my son. Combined, it is the relationship with my family.
The approaching millenium means nothing as a number. It's just an arbitrary amount of time, it doesn't mean anything. I think what is more important are the forces within society that are going to change our lives. Technology and how it is going to change how we relate to one another.
My current priorities are my relationships with my partner, my family and my friends. Nurturing these relationships is top priority in my spare time.
I spend the majority of my time at present on my own professional development. I am finally at the point of wanting to focus my skills and zero in on what I want to achieve. My career path up to this point has been more one of exploration.
My most valued relationship is with my boyfriend, soon to be husband. I find that being in this relationship has taught me more about myself, my life and the world than anything else. Because of this, it is the most rewarding thing in my life. The complete feeling it gives me frees me to really explore myself and my potential.
What gives me pride? I feel most proud about the experiences I've had over the last few years travelling and living in foreign countries. I fulfilled a long-time dream by travelling on my own through Thailand, Malaysia and Borneo, then living and working as a journalist in Ecuador. I feel it was my biggest challenge and therefore offered me my greatest reward.
Advice to older women would be to have confidence in yourself. Fulfill your dreams. Strive to achieve your goals, even if they don't coincide with other people's vision for you. Live the lifestyle that's most rewarding to you. Don't ever get stuck in someone else's definition of you. Define and redefine yourself.
Advice to younger women ditto.
The approaching millenium-- I will be 35 in the year 2000. I remember making that realization as a teenager and thinking, "I'll know all the answers by then. I'll have life all figured out." The approach of the 21st century makes it clear to me that one never has it all figured out. Yet, it is a milestone in my mind -- a marker that makes me feel I'm on the right track.
Review Counsellor's Discussion of this Stage.
My current priorities right now, as a recently married person, are to maintain and establish a relationship with my husband. It's kind of difficult because he's very involved with school activities right now. We haven't really had a chance to establish what I'd call a routine life style. So, my priority right now is to get through this time period and put it behind us and then from that point on try to establish what I'd call a routine.
How I spend my time --well, it's not very interesting stuff right now. I work full time and I'm basically carrying the bulk of home managment and doing all the stuff around the house. It doesn't leave a whole lot of time for other interests. That kind of stuff is on hold right now.
The accomplishment that gives me the most pride -- there are two things. At a very young age I accomplished a very high degree in piano. I was one of the youngest in the province, and in Canada, to attain the level through the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. The other one is that I quit smoking fourteen years ago and have been clean ever since.
Advice to older women -- I don't know if you can give advice to someone who has experienced more...but I would say to try to open your mind as much as you can to the choices that are available now, that perhaps weren't available when you were a young person. Embrace life with a more positive attitude. I see a lot of older women are not very happy.
To younger women I would say take advantage of the choices that are available to you. Do what you can and what you want. Be accountable for yourself and don't expect anyone else to take care of you.
My most rewarding relationship is with my husband. It's the happiest time of my life and the most important relationship.
The millenium--- my pessimistic view is that nothing will change, it will be a continuum of what is happening now. My optimistic view is, that like any new year, it will be a time to consider new things, to start fresh -- a rebirth. A new century emphasizes it -- a larger renaissance.
I most value my family and intend to finish my MBA.
I spend my time on life, completely. Work, children, friends and projects. I have a 24-hour day. I try not to become preoccuped with one total project because there are too many other things going on. I take time to go out with my friends, go to shows and go to my childrens' schools and help with their homework projects.
My most prideful accomplishment is my family, the relationship with my husband and my work.
Advice to older women is enjoy yourself, be happy with yourself.
To younger women the same thing, because as far as I'm concerned you can't really enjoy life unless you like yourself and you like who you are. If you are constantly trying to change yourself to be someone else, you're not going to be happy and no one around you is going to be happy.
The relationship I value the most is with my husband. I've known him since we were 14 years old, we grew up together. I also have good relationships with all of my children, they are ages 29 to 10.
The millenium means nothing. It's just another day. No meaning.
My time -- I was a workaholic. I learned to create a balanced life -- I moved from communicating to contemplation. More and more of my time is spent in contemplation, letting others execute creative projects and contemplating what needs to be influenced next.
My greatest accomplishment is the last thing I accomplished because I didn't think I could do it. The most valued work that I've done is setting up leadership programs in Texas. Starting in grade school and running right through high school and university, the programs focused on women and special interest groups. I'm also proud of being midwife for my dog most recently.
The advice I would give to older women would be don't cheat on your suffering. Take whatever life has thrown to you, and if it has been painful, transcend it and transform it and use it as fuel to really enrich your life and not to be threatened by younger women. Really extend your life experience, both successess and failures, so that younger women can learn from that. As women grow older they only continue to grow more powerful.
To younger women I would say that you can have it all, but not all at the same time. It is important to plan for a life. There is time for everything as long as you are sincere and follow your inner voice.
My most rewarding relationship is whatever I'm engaged in at the moment. The one with my dogs grounds me to nature and provides insights to my other relationships.
The approaching millenium -- In some cultures, they consider that you only reach adulthood at the age of 50. I'll be 50 at the turn of the millennium. To me, it is very important because it will be the entrance to my most influential years. I have a real responsibility to articulate my life experiences at the turn of the century. What can I leave for future generations?
I valuemy leisure time the most. Over the years I've worked up to the point where I'd like to have more leisure time than work time. Making time for leisure and privacy are my priorities.
I spend my time painting. That's what I do, and leisure and gardening. Getting back to nature and working towards being able to live in the country.
I take pride in the fact that I've sold a lot of paintings and I feel that I've brought a lot of pleasure to the people who have my paintings hanging in their homes. Just knowing my work is out there and people are looking at it is very rewarding. I have many people tell me "I still love your painting."
Advice to older women -- none. I'm not an advice giver, more of an observer.
To younger women I'd say do what you want to do now, as soon as possible. I took too long to get there. Work towards doing what you really want to do regardless of what other people say.
My most rewarding relationship is with my sister. She's much younger than me and we've never had a close relationship. She's living with me now and I'm helping her look after her child. It has given me a new outlook and respect for motherhood. It's a full-time job.
The millenium approaching -- I don't usually think more than two months down the road. I can't really think long term. I focus on the next thing to be done and when that's accomplished, I think about the next thing.
What I value most is supportive relationships with family and friends. My priority is to stay healthy so I can enjoy the next 40-50 years. Develop mindfulness in all activities.
I spend my time caring for and nurturing relationships. Working on my art. Learning and supporting learning for others.
My best accomplishment is taking the risk to build a new home, community and marriage after forty. Birthing, raising and loving three great children. Following my dreams and artistic drive to get a Fine Arts Degree at fifty.
My advice to older women is to take pride in your wisdom gained by experience and never feel that you are too old to follow your dreams.
To younger women have the courage to take risks and follow your intuition. Be alive and fully present in your life.
My most rewarding relationship is with my husband. Creighton and I have an alive, growing and fully supportive relationship (second time around for both of us). I continue to be daily surprised and grateful after twelve years.
The millenium approaching means the opportunity to grow in mindfulness and to make a difference in the world, both in my own community and possibly in other countries like Guatemala. I believe that the need and opportunities to be of service to others will increase in the new millennium as my care/centre becomes stable and well nourished, I am more called to make a difference in the world.
My priorities are to keep myself, family and animals fed and healty. To fulfil my community responsibilities which include the operation of the Community Museum. My health and our financial independence which is based on my husband's pension and our ownership of our home and land.
My time is spent growing, storing, cooking and serving food and general house and animal care. A close second is community work.
My greatest accomplishment is that I have managed to raise two daughters to independence and kept my marriage intact. Outside my family I have, in ten years, brought our Community Museum up to a level of activity and excellence I would not have thought possible when I was first appointed Curator. This was an easy task compared to raising my daughters and husband.
Advice to older women is don't start telling yourself you are old and can't do things. You may, for physical reasons, not be able to do allyou could at a younger age, but years alone are no excuse.
To younger women stand up to your husband/mate/partner from the start and look after your health.
My most rewarding relationship up to this time has been my husband although I honestly feel I have worked a lot harder on this marriage than he has. Recently I have made two new women friends who are a little older than I am and have had much wider experiences (and harder lives) than I and I am getting good feelings about my relationships with them.
The millenium -- I hope to be finished menopause and entering a more productive and happier period of my life. I was not much good at being a young person -- perhaps I'll be good at being old!
Rachel Lamb, Student, Comox, BC.
Toni Hildebrandt, Student, Calgary, AB.
Madeline Leith, Student, Vancouver, BC.
Jasa Baka, Student, Vancouver, BC.
Kaethe Sabr, Student, Vancouver, BC.
My current priorities -- I play piano and go to school five days a week.
Tyr Jami, Student, Vancouver, BC.
Anna-Louise, Student, Montreal, PQ.
Nicole Curling, Multimedia Student, Toronto, ON.
Ruth Bastedo, Multimedia Student, Toronto, ON.
Ruth Boggild, Mother and Musician, Vancouver, BC.
Ann Carey, Multimedia Student, Denver, USA.
Charlene Gallagher, Office Systems Specialist, Vancouver, BC.
Muriel Hill, Sales Supervisor, Richmond, BC.
Zeneta Matkowska, Owner/Director of two firms, dancer, poet, lecturer, leadership training and development consultant, West Vancouver, BC.
I most value my time, because that's how I implement my creativity and where I expend my life force. So, I'm very possessive of my time but I'm very careful as to what I actually do with it. I have 5 priorities, and they all happen at the same time. The first is the life of the spirit, the foundation of my life. The most successful people, and the happiest people, are those who know their place in the universe. Secondly is a dialogue with life -- experiencing as much of life as I possibly can. Thirdly, my creativity in all sorts of realms -- technology, paper, sewing, music. A creative life is a most fulfilling life. Number 4 is stewardship -- this came from my leadership studies. It is the idea of the circe -- women working together. My environment -- house, garden, companions, friends, colleagues, etc. Finally, my relationships with the people I work with, colleagues, mentors, friends and my dogs.
Rose Ann Janzen, Artist, Vancouver, BC.
Eliza Schurman, Teacher, Artist, Rural Nova Scotia.
Donna Smith, Housewife and Community Volunteer, Scarsdale, NS.
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