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The year contains many fun and unusual holidays and celebrations. I know because I check frequently as I create my monthly blog and social media posts schedule.
Somehow though I’ve missed this one for February 1, Spunky Old Broads Day. In fact, the whole month of February celebrates outrageously fun older women with Spunky Old Broads Month.
The wild woman within stirred as I read about this unique holiday. I’m grateful we get more than one day to relish it.
Origins of Spunky Old Broads Day
This day, and the whole month, celebrates women aged 50 and older who refuse to grow old quietly. They enjoy living a full, authentic, “no regrets” life.
The founder of the holiday, Dr. Gayle Carson, serves as a life coach and advisor to entrepreneurs around the world. Check out her podcasts HERE. She primarily focuses on helping older women. Dr. Carson felt that the words “spunky”, “old” and “broad” presented negative images about aging. She chose to string the words together, creating Spunky Old Broads Day, also known as SOB Day.
This fun holiday encourages others to show appreciation to the older women in their lives. And for those of us who ARE the older women in others’ lives, Spunky Old Broads Day and Month gives us opportunity…and dare I say permission…to shine as our quirky, beautiful, outrageous selves.

Defining Those Words
I love the study of words so of course I looked up spunky and broad, as they relate to women.
Spunky is an adjective that means “courageous, spirited, feisty and determined”. And I LOVE this next bit. The word originates from the 1530s Scottish word spong, meaning “a spark”. It was first used in the sense of courage and mettle in 1773.
Someone who displays spunkiness is spirited and brave and not afraid to try new things or set off on an adventure. It takes a spunky traveler to cheerfully explore a city without a map.
And broad is a dated word used to describe a woman in an informal way. It’s an Old English word with Germanic origins. The term came to mean a woman in the 1930s. It’s derived from the fact that one of the most defining characteristics of a woman is her hips, which are proportionally broader than the hips of a man.

Women Who Are Wonderfully Spunky Old Broads
Over the last couple of days, I’ve thought about well known older women who exemplify spunkiness. I came up with quite a list. Here are several and words of wisdom from them:
Alice Walker – American Author and Social Activist
This amazing writer published The Color Purple in 1982, winning the National Book Award for Hardcover Fiction and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
” I think writing really helps you heal yourself. I think if you write long enough, you will be a healthy person. That is, if you write what you need to write, as opposed to what will make money or what will make fame.”
Helen Mirren – British Actress, Model and Naturalist
Helen excels on the stage and on the big screen. She’s considered a Triple Crown of Acting winner in the US for winning an Oscar for Best Actress in The Queen, a Tony for The Audience and four Emmys for television limited series and movies.
“It’s ridiculous to pretend we can stay young forever.”

Lyn Slater – Accidental Icon, Blogger and Professor
At the age of 64, Lyn became an “accidental” style icon. When she started a blog and Instagram page, she had no intention of creating an age busting agenda, hence the accidental part. However, she is now known for her oft times eclectic fashion sense and her empowering promotion of women over 50. Check out her fun Instagram page.
“This project is me saying: ‘I’m not twenty, and I don’t want to be twenty. But I’m pretty cool, and here I am.'”
Maya Angelou – American Poet, Memoirist and Civil Rights Activist
This talented woman, who passed away in 2014, published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry in addition to appearing in plays, movies and television shows. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
“We carry accumulation of years in our bodies and on our faces, but generally our real selves, the children inside, are innocent and shy as magnolias.”

My Spunky Legacy
I have an amazing legacy of spunkiness in my family, woman who live out loud, who pursue their dreams, who travel and explore the world.
Great Grandma Cynthia
My great-grandmother, whose first name I share, traveled the US until she was well up in years. I remember her amusing stories and her cackle of laughter as she told them. She possessed a penchant for getting lost or going beyond and loved the experiences. Grandma Cynthia once insisted on walking down into the Grand Canyon, against the advice of guides. When she couldn’t get back out of the canyon, a ranger went in after her. She rode out on a donkey. And telling the story, she remarked on how cute the ranger was!

Great Aunt Pearl
Aunt Pearl was actually Greg’s great aunt, however I adored her as well. This accomplished, beautiful woman traveled the world. She went on safari, rode a camel across the desert and enjoyed a hot air balloon ride…in her 80s. She possessed boundless energy and once literally raced Greg across a parking lot, to get to the Wichita Zoo entrance ahead of him so she could pay!
Aunt Pearl’s home featured intriguing items from her adventures and the dear woman always brought home souvenirs for me and my children. I’ve often said I want to be just like Aunt Pearl when I grow up.

My Mom, Pat
I couldn’t write about Spunky Old Broads without including my incredible mom. No one has better shown me how to live a big, authentic, adventurous life.
Mom is an author, with several published children’s books. She’s creative and artistic, owned and operated businesses and traveled extensively around the US and the world. Mom continues to join me and my sisters in new experiences. One of our greatest shared adventures was a trip to Ireland, Scotland and England in 2017. I’ll never forget it.

Celebrating Spunky Old Broads Day and Month
I’m thrilled to discover this month long holiday. It perfectly meshes with my desire to release my inner wild woman and live as my most authentic, spunky self. I’m old enough and I’m brave enough to embrace it all. Plus the Scottish root word for spunk, meaning “a spark” connects to my song for the year, Girl on Fire. This feels like an invitation to go deep and go far.
Are you a spunky old broad? How can we celebrate?
I have some suggestions.
Try new experiences. Go beyond fears, limiting beliefs and comfort zones. Do something we’ve always wanted to do. Dress the way we want. Or don’t dress up at all. Get out into nature. Unleash creativity. Play. Explore. Shake things up. Speak up. Plan a trip and when restrictions ease, GO.
And finally, a thought of my own:
“With age comes confidence and freedom and strength. I no longer concern myself with what others think about what I’m doing. I’ve worked hard to become who I’m supposed to be. I’m not shrinking back now.”
Sisters over 50, join me in this Spunky Old Broads Sisterhood. Share your thoughts below. Find me on social media and share your photos.
And tell me about your favorite spunky old broads.

Fun Spunky Finds from Amazon:
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I have known a lot of spunky old broads in my day and have been told I am one. I take it as a compliment.
Yes! It is definitely a compliment.
I have never heard of this day, but I love it! What great spunky old broads you have in your life. I love the photo of your Aunt 🙂 She’s beautiful!
Aunt Pearl was an extraordinary woman! And she was beautiful.
This is the first time I have heard for this day. I’m not quite in my 50’s yet but I know that I plan to travel and get out more when I am an empty nester. My kid is a homebody and doesn’t like to go ANYWHERE!!
I look forward to reading about your adventures!
Your mom gets the award with that snake!! I was thinking yeh I’m spunky, but no, she is the spunkiest!
She’s such a great example to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren!
Happy to be part of this club. Great read and a wonderful showcase of some special ladies. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by! We spunky old broads cheer each other on.
I love everything about this post! Thanks for sharing. You get two thumbs up from this spunky old broad! <3
Thank you! I love “meeting” other spunky old broads.
I want to be the one they say what is she up to now!
I love that!
Oh my goodness I love this “spunky broads “…I would hope we are the Three Sisters…Im the youngest 66 in a couple of weeks eek…the eldest is 78 this year and the middle sister eek must be 72 this year…Yes we fit the spunky broads…Love the picture of your mum def the spunkiest..Helen Mirran well she breathes spunk! #SeniSal
You are your sisters are living the spunky life!
I love it! I plan on living this way! Bring on 60.
Yes! Welcome to the sisterhood!
Such a wonderful article. What a fun celebration. I love to see people be who they want to take life and live it. How awesome. You sound like you have had some amazing people in your life. What a wonderful blessing.
I truly do! And now I’m modeling spunkiness for my children and grandchildren.
Yesssss! I’m sitting here loving you and all older women who refuse to be boxed and put on a shelf! Yessss! Spunky old broad badass!
Yes! Thank you for the AWESOME encouragement. ❤️
I went to my first rave at age 50 and found out that I loved it. I have been going to one every year since, except this past year. It was canceled so we planned our own. I also stopped coloring my hair last year. That was a leap of faith, but I am so happy with it. It is very freeing to learn to live for myself instead of being afraid of what other will think.
It is very freeing indeed! Love your spunkiness!
LOVING all of this! Enjoying life at this stage now, and cannot wait to thrive in this stage later!
Yes! That’s the key…enjoying life at every stage!
Coming from a family that almost exclusively pumped out Spunky Women, I very much appreciate this article!
Thank you Jason! Sounds like you have amazing women in your family.
What! How did I not know about Spunky Old Broads Day! Love the quote about this is the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you will ever be.
Yes! Love that one too.
Being a part of this prestigious group now, you have given a couple of my favorite quotes here! I consider my job well done when I can get an eye roll from my 24 year old, lol!
Haha perfect!
What a wonderful family you come from full of adventurers…Love it!!
Me too! So grateful for the legacy.
I absolutely love this! I haven’t been very spunk of late, but I miss it. Need to get my spunk back!
Yes you get your groove back!
What a great post! I hate how society doesn’t seem to respect older generations anymore. I love the quotes you included too. And your hair is just stunning! I hope you have an amazing SOB Day haha.
Thank you! I’m grateful for opportunities to show that older doesn’t mean no longer useful or fun.
What a fun post! I hope to be a spunky old broad one day!
You will be!
Cindy this is the coolest thing ever. I already have a group of women who’ll be celebrating this with me in a decade or so! And your mom sounds like a pretty special lady! As do the other women in your family. I’ve ridden on a donkey in the Grand Canyon and can attest to some pretty attractive guides. 😉 Thanks for sharing this day/month with us! I’m so glad your wild woman can let loose all month long!
Thank you! I’m enjoying this unique way to express my authenticity.
Okay, I had to go back and look at the snake 3 times before I read the caption and realized it was a costume. Wow.
I have never heard of this before! What a great read! I’m not quite there yet… but someday! LOL
I love this! My 6th grade teacher is my friend on facebook. She just hit 70 years old and she lives the mostly lively amazing life, constantly traveling, camping and just living it up. This whole blog post made me think of her.
I literally lol’ed at the title!