My guest on this episode is someone you would call a Super Ager. At 94, Elaine Jo is still enjoying a lush career as an executive master instructor of ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of floral arranging, which she has practiced for half a century. She travels all over the country doing demonstrations, writing about ikebana and teaching. She takes road trips with her husband for work and pleasure, and spends time visiting her three children and five grandchildren. Elaine, who also happens to be my mother-in-law, is a force of nature and a role model for aging beautifully. In this episode, Elaine and I chat about life, love, loss, regret, the secret to aging well and embracing your passions for a long and healthy life.
We also discuss:
- How a trip from Elaine’s hometown of Moline, Illinois, to Japan in her late 20s set her on an unexpected path
- How she discovered ikebana and what it’s taught her about life and its seasons
- The lifestyle factors and mindset she attributes to her longevity
- How everyone can learn to tap into their creative side—and why they should
- Elaine’s advice for younger women—and those navigating midlife
- Elaine’s secret to staying active and sharp well into her 90s—and staying happily married for six decades
- The benefits of living a long life—and what she still wants to accomplish in the years to come
Plus, Elaine talks about the power of beauty and nature and how they can enrich your life, and she tells you what you absolutely must do as soon as you wake up in the morning, in order to set the tone for the rest of your day. If your goal is to live a long and happy life, you are going to enjoy all of Elaine’s pearls of wisdom!
About Our Guest
Elaine Jo has practiced ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of floral arranging, for more than 50 years and is the highest level master with the Japan-based Ichiyo School in the United States. She lived in Tokyo, Japan, for 25 years and received her degree and certificate from the Ichiyo School during that time. After moving back to the United States in 1989, she began teaching, traveling and giving workshops and demonstrations. She was the founding director and president of the Ichiyo Art Center in Atlanta between 1994 and 2005. She appeared twice as a guest demonstrator on the national television program Lynette Jennings Design and has been published both in Japan and in the United States. In 2018, she self-published At home With Ikebana, a book featuring ikebana placement arrangements for the home.
Elaine is an active member of Ikebana International. In 1998 she was awarded an executive master degree by Iemoto Akihiro Kasuya, head master of the Ichiyo School, and in 2009 was appointed president of the newly formed Atlanta chapter of the Ichiyo School, a position she held until 2021. Elaine continues to teach ikebana to a range of students, as well as demonstrate at conferences and exhibitions. She enjoys arranging both classical and contemporary ikebana, but she particularly enjoys contemporary as it allows for freedom of self-expression.
About More Beautiful
Founded by journalist Maryann LoRusso, the More Beautiful Project is a podcast, online magazine and community for women navigating midlife. Join Maryann and her guests on the More Beautiful Podcast as they strive for a life that’s more joyful, more fulfilling and more beautiful than ever before. Because this is not your mama’s midlife.
Check out more episodes of the More Beautiful Podcast.
Additional Show Notes
You can learn more about the Ichiyo School of Art and ikebana here. You can check out Maryann’s Instagram page with her ikebana creations here.
