Nov. 30, 2019, Vol 17, Issue 5
A great sense of humor can get you through anything, and I think that’s particularly true as the years wear on. Our speaker and comedian, Nancy Witter, offers proof positive in today’s feature story.
Nancy Witter
Say YES to… Everything!
One never knows where a surprise opportunity may lead. The idea of entering a beauty pageant had never crossed Nancy Witter’s mind. In fact the first time it showed up, at the age of 62, she quickly discarded it.
She had performed a one-woman show on Cape Cod about a year before. Afterward, a lovely, elderly woman approached her and invited her for lunch at her house the next day. She said she had a career prospect.
Intrigued, Nancy agreed and set off for lunch the next day, with her best friend Carol in tow. At the house, they were immediately drawn to a display of crowns and framed sashes in the curio closet. The woman explained that she had been crowned Ms. New York Senior America and then had gone on to win Ms. Senior America.
“She said she thought I was funny and talented and that I would stand out among the others, and she told me that I should enter the pageant,” Nancy said.
Six months later Nancy got a telephone call from the administrator for the New York Senior America pageant, asking her if she would attend a pageant meeting the next Sunday. She made a point of saying there would be coffee and free doughnuts.
“She had me at doughnuts!” Nancy said. “So I went. I met the most wonderful group of women there. They were inspirational, fun, daring, and darling. So I thought, ‘I’ll say yes and see where it takes me.’ I knew at the very least I would get a great story out of it.
Well, by saying ‘yes’ I got a lot more than that! “As I get older – I’m now 63 – my new mantra is, ‘Say yes to… everything.’ You never know what it will bring. If it doesn’t work out you’re old enough now that you know that you’ll survive it, and if it’s something good, you’ll be glad you said yes.”
YES to… Action
“When I go out as Ms. New York Senior America entertaining at either a veterans event, or an assisted living facility and wearing my sash and crown, all I get in return is unadulterated joy! People want their pictures taken and they are fascinated and star struck! I never imagined that would be the reaction I would get. I thought people would think it was silly, but they don’t. They think it is a great thing for a woman over 60 to stand up on a stage and share her talent, no matter what that talent is— and that is exactly the purpose of the pageant.”
And the Results…
The pageant was started in order to empower and encourage women when they reach the “age of elegance,” which is 60. All the contestants automatically become Cameo Sisters and members of the Cameo Club. Every month they meet and celebrate the birthdays of the women who have birthdays in that month.
They also have a group of dancers called the Seasoned Steppers, who rehearse at least once or twice a week so they can entertain the elderly, veterans, and whoever – anywhere they are asked to go. They have a singing group as well. All these groups keep these women active and connected socially.
Some of them have been in this group for 20 to 25 years. They have helped each other usher in widowhood, held their hands while they battled cancer, and shared the joys of grandparenting!
In October Nancy represented New York in the Ms. Senior America pageant at Resorts International Casino in New Jersey. She was rewarded with the title of second runner up
“The women in this pageant,” she said, “were from 40 different states, and they exemplify the quote, “Be the kind of woman who will straighten another woman’s crown without letting the world know it was crooked.
“My guests at the pageant thought that it was not only immensely entertaining, but also enormously inspiring. They told me that they felt that they had witnessed something remarkable at a time in a woman’s life when some women think there is nothing remarkable about them.
“I entered because I’m a 63-year-old comedian, and I am always looking for more traction in my career. When this opportunity came up I thought, ‘It can’t hurt and it might help.’ Since then I have been in every local paper, got my own YouTube channel, and appeared on The Rachel Ray Show, and it’s only been four months.
It’s been a lot of fun and has added to my life in so many ways. So my advice to any woman over 60 is to be brave, be bold, and say YES and watch the magic happen!”
It probably won’t come as any surprise to you that Nancy was also named Ms Congeniality in the New York competition. In her speaking engagements, she communicates her enthusiasm to inspire other women to be open to life and to live with zest.
To bring her vim and vigor — to any age audience — give me a call at 503-699-5031 or email: barbara@speakwellbeing.com.
You can see her performing her song, “Talk to the Younger Me,” at the pageant by clicking here.
Thanksgiving Togetherness
We had a full table this Thanksgiving. Family came in from Colorado and California – all three daughters, their children (except one, who is in Berlin), and my husband’s first wife, with whom I’m friends. They all stayed at Air B&B’s, and that cut down on the daily chaos. But I missed those early morning conversations, when either a little one or one of their parents and I have sometimes shared an intimate moment over a cup of coffee or glass of orange juice.
Nevertheless, there was lots of cooking together, lots of eating and conversing, and sharing. We baked and decorated the sugar cookies – and the little girls were thrilled because that’s what they remembered from earlier times at Grandma B’s house. It’s always fun to share one of my favorite activities with the kids. Messy, but fun, just like any family gathering. (Or should that be fun, but messy? Whatever. You get the picture.)
It was all over in the blink of an eye, and now it’s tucked into our stack of family memories, duly recorded on social media and in the iPhoto library. We even ate up the leftover turkey together.
I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with the people, food, and experiences that brought you joy, fulfillment and gratitude. Until next time, take care of yourself for your well being and those you love.
Yours truly,
Barbara
For Your Well Being is published with the intention of bringing you insider speaker reports, exclusive stories about special events around the country, meeting planner tips, and fun stuff from the worlds of health and well being. Be well and be in the know!
The Speak Well Being Group is a specialized speakers bureau, focusing on speakers for hospital-sponsored community events, healthcare organizations, nurses, conferences and women’s groups. Our speakers are hand-selected. They are not only experts in their fields, they connect with their audiences while bringing them life-changing information, smiles of recognition and ultimately a sense of well being and hope.
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