Pause
The first few months are typically a somewhat “slow” time for me. The busy holiday season (Thanksgiving and Christmas) is past, and earlier nightfalls and cold temperatures bring quiet evenings spent relaxing and preparing for the busy-ness of Spring and Summer....
Obstacles or Opportunities?
Over the years, I’ve encountered more than a few quotes about obstacles and opportunities. Quite a few of those quotes remind us that what we see — obstacle or opportunity — depends on our mindset. And I believe that’s true to a very large degree. You may identify...
Nourish
I’m going to be brutally honest with you. Our primetime years are quite often more difficult than the previous stages of our lives. Many of us are already experiencing the physical results of 55+ years of life; the wear and tear on our bodies is beginning to show....
More
If you know me at all, you know that I am a “less is more”, not a “more, more, more” gal. So when, a month or so ago, I first felt drawn to focusing on “more”, I was resistant. If my initial reluctance wasn’t enough, the past few weeks have been filled with even...
What Do You Have to Lose?
Our prime time years are often a time of gain: free time for hobbies & travel, autonomy, grandchildren, etc. It can, and often is, also a time when some of us also have begun to lose or are beginning to contemplate the loss of physical health & stamina,...
A Bundle of Joy
Negativity surrounds us. Don’t believe me? Watch 10 minutes of any news program or read a few front-page articles in your favorite newspaper . . . spend a few minutes wandering around in social media . . . chat with a friend . . . and you will be inundated by tales...
Well! Did You Ever Imagine?
I remember my Southern Baptist grandmother saying, when shocked by something, “Well! Did you ever imagine?” This week, I’m going to ask you a slightly-amended version of that question: “Well! What DO you imagine?” When you allow yourself to dream, what do you...
Hope
Not too long ago I texted a friend, “I hope my flight won’t be delayed”. Unfortunately, airline personnel had already indicated it probably would be, and I was almost 100% sure that I wouldn’t be in a plane readying for takeoff as scheduled. In truth, the vast...
Gifts
The tiny, wrinkled lady sat in an overstuffed chair in the “Gathering Room” of the assisted living facility, surrounded by about 30 people of varying ages. I had stepped out into the hall to give my friend some privacy while an aid helped her change into fresh...
Out of Focus
A few months ago, I asked a group of over 100 adults to commit to doing two things. First, they were to answer one question. A few weeks later, I explained, I would ask them to answer a fairly simple “poll”. I asked that they agree to commit only if they were...
