Published: June 25, 2009 08:26 pm      

Local author celebrates benchmark

Every day, approximately 2,500 women turn 60 — which some say is the new 50, or even the new 40.

The truth of the matter is, however, that the figure represents a small percentage of almost 10 million women in the U.S. who will turn 60 years of age in the next five years.

This benchmark birthday ‘‘whether celebrated or resented’’ usually stimulates a serious reconsideration of work, commitments, relationships and lifestyles. But turning the big six-zero has neither dampened the spirits nor imposed any effective life limitations on Jima Dunigan, distinguished educator, children’s book author, classroom writing guru and teacher mentor.

“Ten years from age fifty to age sixty went by in a flash,” Dunigan explained. “I hardly had time to breathe. Unlike fifty, sixty did not bring a frantic drive to accomplish. I soon came to realize more fully that the past is past, the future is uncertain, and the present is a gift to be opened today.”

As a result, the most important things are not accomplishments or accumulations, but relations with God, with family and with others, according to Dunigan who turned 60 recently while pursuing a number of personal and professional goals.

“Having been something of a workaholic all my life,” she said, “I still like a good challenge, like remodeling my kitchen myself, learning something new, or writing a new book, but I am also trying to learn to live more in the present and to enjoy the people and experiences in it.”

Age sixty usually brings on health issues for most people. Dunigan is no exception.

“I took good health, strength, and endurance for granted,” the woman explained. “Now, I appreciate them more. I am still relatively healthy, but I am aware of the need to guard my health with healthy food, nutritional supplements, and exercise. I listen to the advice of my physician, read for myself, and realize that ultimately, my health is in my hands, not those of a health care giver. God holds the numbers of my days, but I partly hold the quality of my health during those days.”

Dunigan continued, “At age sixty, I realize that I have fewer years than I once had, and I often pause before making plans. I think, for example, ‘Will another degree benefit me in any way before I am too old to use it, should I buy this thing or that thing, or, do I really need this home improvement? What interests me most at this age, is ‘How can I help?’ With that comes more decision making. Therefore, I have to use my time wisely on things that need to be addressed.”

And at what point does the energetic writer and educator plan to hang it up? That question for Dunigan is not easy?

“The answer depends on the individual, depends on the person and the circumstances,” she maintained. “What I have learned is to be ready and willing as long as we are able. Why not experience new things and have new adventures?”

Her reasoning is simple: “All my life I wanted to be a writer. I spent many years teaching others the mechanics of and the strategies for writing. I also wrote many documents for other people. As for myself, I started publishing my own works, information about how to teach writing for use in professional development seminars.

“That method of publishing was labor intensive. Five years ago, I finally wrote letters to various publishing companies outlining my methods and successes. Very quickly, my work was picked up by Teacher Created Resources. That book (Classroom Authoring) now is sold in all English speaking countries around the world.

“Other books followed, focusing on different grade levels. I have written children’s books and kept them stored away, or kept ideas tucked into the back of my mind for years. Finally, I entered the children°’s book market. My latest work, Do you Love Me?, came available in bookstores June 9 of this year.”

Dunigan, meanwhile, has no plans for relaxing her work schedule anytime soon, but she is becoming more reflective about her life.

“What else can I do at my age? To my amazement, my children are now middle aged. I am teaching the children of — or the grandchildren of — my former students. Some of my former students have become my co-workers. The church pews are filled almost entirely with a different congregation than the one I was used to. I no longer know most of the neighbors along the little stream that defines my ;hollow.’ My husband and I are the patriarch and matriarch of our family. I look in the mirror and see my grandmother. I color my hair, my shape has changed, and I have wrinkles. I have pains in new places, allow myself three snoozes on the alarm clock before jumping out of bed, and I eat oatmeal every day. Sadly, we have reached the point where we can talk calmly about final plans, something we have never done before.”

For many women like Dunigan, however, the limiting and insulting cultural stereotypes of growing old just do not fit their vibrant self image.

On the contrary, women of the 21st century who already have lived for six decades seem to crave a new vision of aging — even though the modern consumer-oriented, youth-obsessed society, in reality, offers few alternatives for those now reaching their maturing years.

Sixty years of living has brought fresh insights and revelations to Jima Dunigan:

“As a younger person, I could not look forward and fully understand the cycle of life. Older people were more like aliens. On the other end now, I can look back and see life more clearly. Older people may have older bodies, but their soul and spirit are ageless. I am still thirty-five inside, but with more knowledge and, hopefully, more wisdom.

“As to the question, ‘Do I just hang it up and sit on the front porch?’ I don’t think so, not until I have no choice in the matter. I’ll just take more porch breaks and take in the aroma of the flower garden. Until then, I must try to do as much as I can with this gift of life — both for myself and for others. I will try to be kind enough without being used, trusting enough not to be fooled, and loving enough not to require love in return. That brings up the question again, ‘Have I left worthy footprints for others to follow?’ I hope so.”