Is There a Right Time to Declutter After You Have Lost Someone?
When we have lost a partner, parent, child, or friend, grief overwhelms us so much that it is hard to make the simplest of decisions. For some, busying ourselves with the practical things that need to happen when a loved one has passed…
Read More6 Useful Tips to Prepare Your Garden for the Winter Season (# 6 is My Favorite!)
Summer has unfortunately come to an end, and now it’s time to jump into your rain boots, grab your trusty trowel and put those garden beds to rest. While fall certainly isn’t the most exciting time to be gardening, your plants will appreciate…
Read More“Stop Talking Like That, Grandma!”
I don’t remember what age it started, but, at one point, the grandma I visited the most started ending each visit, phone conversation or otherwise, with a comment like, “Well, if I’m still around, I will see you next time.” At first, I didn’t give it much thought…
Read MoreHow to Restart Your Walking Habit
It’s happened again. I was walking almost every day. My joints felt loose, and my arthritic pain was minimal. Then I missed a day, then two days in a row. Then we had a few days of rain and I elected not to go to the indoor track. Then a dear friend died…
Read MoreHow to Explore Diverse Holiday Traditions with Your Grandchildren
The holiday season is upon us. Of course, thoughts go to food, gatherings with family and friends, giving, and gratitude. But it is also a time when we share stories – holiday stories, family stories, and just plain good stories. However, we often share…
Read MoreWhat Makes a Woman Beautiful? How Your Home Helps You Boost a Glorious Smile
A glorious smile shows not only in mouth and teeth. It radiates out from your eyes, your posture, your body language, your inner light. The whole authentic you. Did you know that a true, authentic smile needs the cooperation of 43 muscles in your body?
Read MoreWidows Rock! Thriving in Stage 3 of Widowhood
My husband died in my arms right before Valentine’s Day 16 years ago. I soon found a quote by Alan Watts that became my mantra for many months afterward as I moved through the initial phases of widowhood: “The only way to make sense out of change…
Read MoreStop Wishing and Start Doing: A Vulnerable Guide to Achieving Your Wildest Dreams
Have you ever thought, “I wish I could do that?” Write a novel, start a business or a charity, run a marathon, or live in a foreign country for a year? Have you ever longed to create something beautiful, pursue a calling, or have a difficult but necessary…
Read MorePrivate Life: Should Your Kids Read Your Journals When You’re Gone?
My friend’s mother died after a sudden stroke, and among her belongings he and his siblings discovered volumes of journals, going back 40 years. They started reading through these family artifacts and learned a lot…
Read MoreStuck in a Groove? We’ve Been Primed to Create!
I have a confession to make. Writing this essay was painless. I did not have to cloister myself in a cabin in the woods, empty my calendar of obligations, or stay up all night. As a retirement writer, the ideas for most of my pieces…
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