thanks for sharing! we need more of these stories. i say that i don't have enough examples of happy CFBC people in my world, and that's true, but the ones i have are amazing. my aunt is the best example, but i think i'll share about her in another post, but it's hard for me to not write a book about her. she is so amazing and one of the most influential people in my life. but, that's for another day.
one other example is this 61 year old woman who is in my nia classes (nia is a movement form that combines 9 other forms: 3 martial arts, 3 dance arts and 3 healing arts. it is a dance class, but also a spiritual practice, therapy, great exercise, etc.). anyway, this woman never had kids and is one of the most fun, vibrant people i know (including people my age!!). she dances, runs and does yoga (makes me feel so out of shape!) every week, is an avid gardener, is always going out with her husband (to see live music, to art galleries, to the theater, to great meals), travels, and works, but not more than she has to. her life seems perfect to me. she also lived abroad for many years (in spain) and seems to have had many adventures. she is who i want to be. she said she has never regretted not having kids and said in some ways, "i am the kid i had to raise." she talked about not always getting to just be a kid b/c of certain limitations of her parents, and how she often had to take care of them (not physically, but emotionally). she feels like as she became an adult, it was her turn to raise herself and have the permission to have fun and do as she wished. she is a great spokesperson for the CF lifestyle!
