Lifestyle

My relationship with alcohol began as a flirtation, evolved into a love story and then became a toxic relationship. So toxic I had to end it and write a Goodbye to Alcohol letter. We often think of a “binge drinker” as a teenager in a nightclub…

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…

Do you enjoy visiting new cities in the USA? Are you planning on moving to a new city? The safety of cities in the USA can depend on various factors such as crime rates, healthcare facilities, and community support. While no city can be considered entirely safe…

I feel privileged sitting in the small Chicago Greenhouse Theater with an intimate group invited to see the first professional staging of a new play, My Whorizontal Life by Sephe Haven. OK, the title is a giveaway. This is a solo recollection of her life…

My nephew recently called me and asked me to list his home for sale. I have been the “family” real estate go-to person for over 40years, so it was not an unusual request. My answer to his request would be different this time. I have just retired both my…

Recently, a friend told me about the transformative journey she had been on after diving into Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. She applied Kondo teachings to her closet…

One of the most powerful methods of communicating with one another is a through non-verbal language. Whether you’re at a networking event, meeting with a recruiter or in a critically important interview, it’s important that your body…

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…

Autumn falls across my shoulders, wrapping my body up in her golden embrace. The air is cooler, fresher and more demanding of me. The leaves fall from the trees as if they are in love with the earth, nestling once more into her soft and expansive landscape…

“He says there are too many syllables in my name. ‘Ste-pha-nie Pe-zott-a.’ He’s right, Ma. You should’ve picked something short, like Dove.” Arlene clamped her mouth shut as she finished loading the dishwasher while her daughter leaned against…