{"id":221,"date":"2023-02-18T09:31:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-18T15:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/?p=221"},"modified":"2025-10-11T07:54:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T12:54:47","slug":"best-life-definition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/18\/best-life-definition\/","title":{"rendered":"Best-Life Definition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This Best-Life Project has been months in the making. I first got the idea through a dream<\/a> I had in September 2022. It began to take shape over Thanksgiving weekend when we three founders had a conference call. At the time, Chuck and I were in Austin, with his daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the six hour drive back to Lubbock, I pondered: \u201cWhat does living your best life really mean?\u201d I know that for me, and many of my friends<\/a>, it has to do with our place in life. Many of us are retired or working a reduced or flexible schedule\u2014we have time. We benefit from our years of hard work\u2014we have resources. And we are healthy. As one woman who participated in the early development of the project through my Facebook queries said: \u201cI\u2019ve waited my whole life for this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As my husband drove, I searched the internet for \u201cliving your best life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Urban Dictionary<\/a> offered this: \u201cA stupid phrase that is used, commonly, on Instagram, to give the false reality that you can wake up and \u2018choose\u2019 which life you want to live.\u201d No. That definition wouldn\u2019t do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I continued my search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found a site: Live My Best Life<\/a>. There the author had some good insights: \u201cWhat does it mean to live my best life? It means to live up to my potential. Living up to my potential means doing \u2018the things I hope to do someday\u2019 now instead of putting them off for some magical time in the future. Life is temporary, and I don\u2019t want to wait to feel fulfilled.\u201d While the site has some similarities to where I thought we were going, our project was still unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my favorite definitions I found at Clever Girl Finance<\/a>: \u201cLiving your best life means living a life that makes you happy and one that allows you to be at your full potential. It means being intentional about the way you choose to live and living on your own terms. It means leveling up to be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I felt I was getting somewhere, but I wasn\u2019t there yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sisterhood<\/h3>\n\n\n
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The Sisterhood<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I remembered a graphic I\u2019d created based on a quote from a novel I\u2019d read (I read a lot of novels). I\u2019d posted a graphic\/quote on our group Facebook Page. It said: \u201cThe women of the sisterhood are strong and self-reliant and all make conscious choices. We do not respond to peer or social pressure that will negatively impact our lives. We don\u2019t go along to get along. We don\u2019t make decisions out of an undefinable fear or the need for positive reinforcement of others. We evaluate each situation and use our intellect.\u201d Now we were getting somewhere. But this still wasn\u2019t it\u2014though it did give us a starting place. It was missing a lot of what we had in mind for this concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the sisterhood quote as a framework, we came up with the following: \u201cWomen who are living their best life gratefully embrace the sweet spot in which we live: the intersection of health, time, and resources. Despite difficulties and setbacks, we have lived well and are confident in who we are\u2014though we continue to grow, improve, and try new things. We are strong and self-reliant\u2014yet we appreciate and cultivate relationships. We nurture qualities and characteristics that make us good friends. Our spirit of generosity is evident as we invest in others and leave an impact in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are Grateful<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, we wanted to start with the fact that we realize we are blessed to be able to live our best life. This is not a right; it is a privilege. Hence we started with: \u201cWomen who are living their best life gratefully embrace the sweet spot<\/em> in which we live: the intersection of health, time and resources.\u201d We never want to take this for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve had Difficulties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The sisterhood quote seemed to imply some magical life. But by the time most or us are 60+, we have faced a lot of reality\u2014and we have grown through it to be who we are today. That idea became: \u201cDespite difficulties and setbacks, we have lived well and are confident in who we are\u2014though we continue to grow, improve, and try new things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Haven’t Done it Alone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We liked the idea of being \u201cstrong and self-reliant\u201d\u2014though that belies the truth. We\u2019ve had some tough times. We have worked hard to be where we are. But we\u2019ve not done it alone\u2014nor do we want to. The result: \u201cWe are strong and self-reliant\u2014yet we appreciate and cultivate relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the lines of not being alone, we wanted to include the important element of friendship. Next we added: \u201cWe nurture qualities and characteristics that make us good friends.\u201d We haven\u2019t arrived, but we continue to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We Give Back<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, we felt that those who are blessed to be in that sweet-spot, give back. We are not selfish. It is important to invest in our communities and leave a legacy. So, the last line of our definition is: \u201cOur spirit of generosity is evident as we invest in others and leave an impact in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, all of that is too long. We can use it in print, but it is too cumbersome to share with those who may ask about the Best-Life Project. Next, we pared it back down: \u201cLiving our best life Is not about being rich, popular, or highly educated, but all about being confident in who we are, being strong and self-reliant, and being good friends with generous hearts.\u201d This is the best version of ourselves we can possibly be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What We Do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some of us may want to spend a lot of time with our grandchildren. Some of us may want to travel the world or hike through the hills. Others may want to start a new business or volunteer in a local charity. You can develop a hobby. Perhaps you want to be a lady who lunches. Whatever the things are that you want to do now, not someday, as 60+ women living our best life, we have these core inner qualities. It is who we are, not what we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you agree? Is that you\u2014or who you want to be? I hope you will join us on this journey and share it with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New to The Best-Life Project?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Please read this foundational post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Life Dream Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More from This Author:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Marita Littauer Tedder<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marita Littauer Tedder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Marita has spent the majority of her adult life working with women\u2014helping them improve relationships, achieve their speaking and writing dreams, and being the best version of themselves they can possibly be. The author of 20 books, this Living Our Best Life Project is her newest effort\u2014through which she hopes to challenge women to be fulfilled where they are.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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