“It Ain’t Gonna Happen Unless You Make It Happen” - Three ways be a better you in 2019 Move Your Body – Stretch, walk, dance, or vacuum with a purpose. Just move! I’m a big believer that sitting still for too long is not good period. Check...
“Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin “Skylark” – Lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael “Respect” (1967) – Recording of a piece by Otis Redding “Amazing Grace” (1972) – John Newton “My Country” Tis of Thee.” Samuel Francis Smith – Aretha Franklin sang at Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration ceremony (2009). Oh my, she...
Wisdom is our gift to the world. Using effective communication enhances our wisdom words in conversations. We own the right in our longevity to cherish our values and beliefs. When we communicate our values and beliefs, sometimes the conversation may feel uncomfortable or contentious. It's challenging...
My mother and both grandmothers were major influences to create a meaningful life while getting older. Living unique lives with faith in God helped me imagine a life worth living. Mother received her Master's Degree in Gerontology at age 60. She was Director of a Senior...
I did not write my blog for December because I wanted to take a break from any external chatter like smart phones, Facebook, texting, and TV shows that didn’t comfort me. I needed to rest my brain from all incoming information. I remember an idea that...
Not long ago in the airport, while waiting for my flight, I overheard a conversation between two women seated next to me. One woman was looking through a magazine and commenting on how all these new face lift procedures are very intimidating. She was trying...
I met a lovely lady while eating dinner in Hilton Head, S.C. Waiting for our dinner we shared a few thoughts about getting older. Before she left the restaurant she put this note in my hand, “Growing old is natural. Growing up is spiritual.“ I...
Retirement: time to relax, rest, pursue new hobbies, travel and potentially, argue! Argue? Perhaps, arguing during retirement seems far-fetched to you? However, married couples have different expectations as they face retirement which can lead to tension. Many things change; identities are shifted; work life is...
I recently went to Harlem, New York, to see the wonderful musical, “Alive! 55+ and Kickin” performed at the Dempsey Theater. The play is a musical conceived and written by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro. I was thoroughly entertained and inspired! In April, 60 Minutes aired...
“Strong Like Bull” is a diverse, aging, funny, and active group of friends that meet at our local Y. We move our bodies, well, any part of our body that is willing to participate. There is no scheduled time to meet. It’s great when two...
I once met a woman after speaking at a conference who thanked me for removing the “shackles” from her wrists. What a powerful word. My presentation, It's Your Turn: Find Your Authentic Self, made her realize that all her life, she felt she was living someone else’s dream. She...
A major fear of aging women is being alone. Staying engaged is one of the major predictors of living a healthier, longer life. According to the Administration on Aging, 37% of women in the U.S. over 60 live by themselves. Are you lonely? Are you fearful...
A woman was unfortunately laid off from her job. She did not receive a severance package, just a goodbye and a thank you for her 15 years of service. She needed to pay her bills and rent. Survival was her main goal. This woman loved baking...
When I first discovered Facebook, I was not "feeling the love" to connect on Facebook (fb). Why was it important to have a minute-to-minute update as to what people were doing and feeling? I couldn’t imagine how people found the time to write on fb....
[caption id="attachment_15554" align="alignnone" width="300"] [/caption] After I retired, I explored several options on what to do next — teach graduate school, consult or write my first book. My daughter suggested modeling. She was attending law school in New York and modeling herself at the time. She said her...
One day on a train to New York, I engaged in a conversation about aging with a woman in her mid- to late-50s. We started by sharing our common connections on getting older. We laughed about the sudden pains that have appeared in places not...
One day I was waiting in line at the Post Office. The line was so long, I was tired and stressed out. I wanted to just leave, but I needed to get an important document in the mail. I thought, "This is not working for...
A cardiologist once told me that speaking what’s in your heart creates a healthier heart. It is also an act of loving yourself. You may have noticed that’s it’s been awhile since I launched my blog in May. Life kicked in with a major health crisis...
Tony Robbins once said, “There is no such thing as failure, only results.” That quotation hit close to home at midlife when I tried photography and failed. Or I should say, I realized photography wasn’t a natural strength. During a difficult time in my life, I enrolled...
I met a wonderful woman at a crafts show who was knitting the most beautiful hand knitted scarf. Her hair was strikingly gray with the most peaceful and gentle smile. She looked like she was enjoying her knitting craft. People passing by were taking a...