Balancing news and social media while staying sane It can seem as if society is in a never-ending downward spiral and we are all at each other’s throats. No trust. No tolerance. No grace. It’s hard not to want to speak out. To stand up for what you believe in — to want to make a […]
There’s an old saying “make new friends, and keep the old,” but how often do we really make the effort to curate new friendships? I was listening to a Mel Robbin’s podcast about why it’s important to be open to new friendships. In it, she declared, “you may not have met your best friend yet.” […]
Where would we be without friends to share life’s ups and downs? I personally can’t imagine not having the “girlfriend brigade” to call upon when words of encouragement are needed or when there’s good news to share. Is it any wonder that the ladies’ lunch hasn’t lost its timeless appeal? There are many sub-categories to […]
This column was written for Braver Angels of East Central Illinois as part of their series in the News-Gazette. For more information about this non-partisan organization, visit http://www.braverangels.org We often talk of free speech when defending the right to say whatever we want. We can utter just about anything without fear of punishment. Still, it’s hard to understand why people intentionally […]
I was having lunch with a new friend recently. She’s a widow in her 70s and we’ve gotten close as we are also neighbors. As we chatted, she brought up her husband who had died about two years ago. She felt she was starting to come out of the grief, but mentioned that shortly after […]
Most women I know have a love/hate relationship with their closet. Same goes for clothes shopping. We dream of a perfectly curated wardrobe full of stylish, comfortable clothes that we can select with ease when we need to dress for an event. We long for well-made, well-cut clothes that accentuate the good and downplay the […]
Heard any good podcasts lately? I started listening to podcasts a few years ago. I just sort of stumbled upon them as an alternative to reading or watching a show or listening to an audio book. I can easily get distracted and lose my place while “listening” to books and end up having to rewind. […]
One of the less desirable consequences of getting older is not being able to eat as much as we used to without packing on the pounds. Something happens in those decades post 30’s or 40’s that necessitates cutting back on favorite foods or paying the price of a pudgier waistline. It’s normal to want to […]
There’s a skill to packing a suitcase efficiently, effectively and with a nod to practicality. I haven’t yet perfected that skill. Oh, I try. I spend days mentally curating my wardrobe. I make packing lists. Chargers, sunglasses, hats, toiletries, pajamas, etc. Things that are easy to forget but absolutely essential. The stress of packing typically hits women harder than men. […]
A few weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. I popped in my earbuds to listen to a podcast, hoping that I’d be dozing off again soon. I’d selected an episode of “The Drive” hosted by Peter Attia, a physician who’s written a bestseller called […]
Midlife Musings 