Today, the New York Times published a story about HoneyGood.com, MOXIE! and the power found in connection.

Little did I know, when I started HoneyGood.com several years ago, that my musings and our community would end up in the New York Times.

After all, I wasn’t searching for attention when I began HoneyGood.com; I was on the hunt for inspiration… for a purpose.

I was looking for a way to re-write what life after 50 looked like, and so, I picked up a “pen,” and authored my own story, my narrative of life as a visible, vibrant woman after 50.

And you joined me.

Together, we are rewriting the typical story told about women of a certain age. And today, you, my co-authors if you will, number in the hundreds of thousands.

Together we are far from invisible after 50! Together, we have MOXIE! Today The New York Times covered HoneyGood.com and the power of our tribe. We are so very visible!

But for those of you who don’t know me, and may have just discovered our delightful community from the NYT article, this is who I am, why I matter… and why you do, too!

I am Susan “Honey” Good

I am an author

I am not a writer by trade and yet, when searching for my purpose after 50, I met a woman who was a writer.

She told me to keep a journal for three months and never miss a day writing. She promised me, “You will find your voice.” I was not a writer by degree but then again I did not know how to read at age six until I worked and learned.

I was intrigued by her statement, “you will find your voice,” so I plunged into daily journaling for three months, never missing a day.

It was not long after I found my center. I loved to write, to spend time alone with my inner thoughts in the quiet of the day and the quiet of the night with my precious pup by my side during the day and my fabulous husband by my side at night.

My perspectives and perceptions of people, lifestyle, family, friends, personal needs, fears, desires and “who I really am” exploded outside my subconscious into consciousness.

I thought about everything long and hard before I shared my musings and I must tell you, darlings, writing has changed my feelings about oh so many things. And, it is all good. And I am happy because I worked to find positive fulfillment.

I am a wife

I was shockingly and unexpectedly widowed in my early forties with two children. I do not know how I survived this loss, and yet I did.

Meeting my second husband, Shelly Good, after the heartbreaking loss of my first husband, became my personal fairy tale. The story starts out with a simple comment: “I’m not interested in dating,” I said to my dearest girlfriend when she mentioned the name of a man she wanted me to meet. We were walking along the Hawaiian shore at sunset. She was visiting me in Honolulu seven months after I became a widow. Little did I know that day my life would change forever. She turned a deaf ear to my comment about not being ready to find love again. She knew Shelly, and she knew we were meant for each other. She played Cupid and arranged that Shelly and I meet. Because of her, Shelly Good became the love of my life.

Twenty-seven years later, my pitter-pattering heart still belongs to Shelly Good. His devotion is unprecedented. He is my soulmate and best friend. I often say to him, “If I could have one wish it would be to relive our life together.” There is no one I admire and love more than my husband, Shelly.

I am a Mother and Grandmother to 25!

I have 25 Grandchildren that I call my “grands.” Needless to say, they are each my pride and joy. There is truly no love like a grandmother’s love.

I’m also thrilled to announce my first book, Stories for my Grandchild, is now on sale on Amazon. The book is a keepsake journal of your life, your values, your family history and your wisdom and dreams for your Grands that you will pen in your own words and gift to your Grands as a ‘keeper,’ a lifetime heirloom.

As the author, I wrote this book and developed the prompts for you to answer. Abrams Books was looking for a 21st Century Grandmother to be their author. I was so fortunate they chose me and was thrilled and elated that this project appealed to me. I was selected to be the grandmother who produced the prompts you would answer to record your family history, including your life story, your values, and wisdom, and love in your written words. It is a forever keepsake for your Grands.

I am a visible and vibrant woman after 50. Are you?

I’m about to get very real with you. There was a time that women of a certain age were not seen as beautiful. While this was always incorrect, there was a time that – to society at large – it was true.

But it is not “true” anymore! Society’s view of beauty has changed. Now 50 is the new 40, old is the new bold and age is just a number.

I don’t mean to imply that you ever needed society to tell you that you were beautiful in order for it to be so, but there’s no longer much of an excuse not to embrace the beauty that is yours.

Wear lipstick if you wish, grow your hair long or cut it shockingly short, let it go gray if you desire. There are no rules, just the feeling that is so right that you are beautiful. The beauty that defines you – and me – comes from within. Take pride in how you look, take pride in how your face has changed and matured along with that stunning mind of yours. Acknowledge your beauty and let it be seen. Inside and out!