Judy, 60
Creative, determined, astonishing
“I have done so many things for the first time and am so proud that I am abandoning fears and have a new desire to live life to the fullest. ”
✨Twinsight: Judy's adventures had us hooked from the get-go! Even though her journey was sparked by a significant life change after her separation, we were inspired by her fearless appetite for new experiences. Her story proves that you're never too old to hit the reset button and embark on a whole new adventure in life. So why not take a leap of faith and see where the journey takes you? Who knows what kind of amazing experiences could be waiting just around the corner!
How old are you and how do you feel about this age?
A: I am 59 and turn 60 in December. It’s D day . Gotta tackle the bucket list NOW
Three words that describe you.
A: creative, determined, astonishing
What’s one life lesson that you wish you had known earlier?
A: Not to lay all your cards on the table and not to appease everyone . That you have the right to be happy in your life.
What’s the worst part about aging and what’s the best?
A: The worst is aches and pains and loosing my Hercules abilities and the best is that you are allowed to look stupid in the eyes of young people when making mistakes , because you play the old person card .
What is your proudest accomplishment so far?
A: Making a very difficult major life change to avoid being unhappy and unfulfilled any longer after years of contemplating and cowering.
“I had never thought of going to Jordan and ended up staying in a glam camping kind of tented resort. The transportation in the desert is to ride in the back of old pickup trucks. There was an extra snowboard hanging around and the driver drove to this sand hill. I had never snowboarded before. The fact that I have one titanium hip already weighed lightly in the back of my mind.
There was no one to watch for form and the truck driver didn’t speak much English but tried to help me strap in. I got the hang of it after 6 or so attempts and I want to try it again to improve.”
Have you experienced ageism?
A: Yes, when applying for acting jobs so many characters are under 30 yrs . And when they ask for 50 or 60 yr olds they are imagining someone who looks older than me with grey hair and out of fashion wardrobe. The stereotypes are frustrating .
What’s your message to the world?
A: Be inquisitive and ask questions about everything you see or are told and listen to other concepts, ideas, angles and options - beyond your little circle of living and learned ideals. When I was teaching and trying to inspire my students, I would tell them that they didn’t have to be singers to sing, didn’t have to be dancers to dance and didn’t have to be artists to draw. In other words, we should allow ourselves to do things that we are not necessarily good at. I personally was afraid to do things if I was not proficient at them. I also had to reteach myself to dispel negative statements about myself that I had embedded in my thought pattern; that I was no good at certain things and unable to do other things. I have since proven my negative self talk beliefs to be inaccurate and I have astonished myself by doing things late in life that I never imagined myself capable of such as memorizing lines and acting .
Favourite Band, artist or book?
A: David Bowie and Florence Welch and for artist, it is sculptors Coderch&Malavia
What sparks your joy these days?
A: Laughing and goofing around, acting up and joking, singing or dancing poorly.
“Judy’s List of Firsts”
Pretending to be a DJ at a pop up sneaker sale in department store.
Climbed to the top of Petra and interviewed a bedouin gypsy (20 km in designer sneakers)
Acting in a movie in the jungle of Mexico where lived off the grid for the week in an open hut (for first time)
First time driving a dune buggy & riding a dromadaire
First time in a hot air balloon. No one explained that you took off lying upside down crammed in like sardines.
Finally got up courage to drive a Ferarri, never drove a paddle shift before. (I should have drove faster)
First time zip-lining. You have to jump off and go for it. No turning back. Now I am dying to do it again .
Getting music lessons from my cool 78 yr old uncle who still plays in 2 bands
Hot air balloon certificate graduation
Dressed up by a costume designer to attend the Versailles ball as a princess
What’s next for you? What does your future-self look like?
A: I’m more confident and better at expressing myself verbally, hopefully bilingually. I also plan to take up where I left off painting, only better believing in my talent .
Follow Judy on instagram @judydeboerstyle