One of the most exciting and fulfilling things I recently did was complete my very first half-marathon. I never like to use this so-called midlife as an excuse not to do or try something new, but I must admit that I was a just bit wary that I might not be able to do it. But... I did it! And what a feeling of accomplishment that was. So now I'm anxious to spread the message that you can do it, … [Read more...] about Fitness Expert Joel Harper: How To Train for a Half-Marathon
Midlife
What Does it Take To Be Happy?
Happiness is such a loaded emotion. Some days I wake up feeling happy. Others, not so much. Especially in this so-called midlife, when so many things around me are in flux. But since it feels so much better to feel happy than to feel unhappy - not to mention the health-enhancing effects of happiness - throughout "those" days when I am inexplicably cranky, moody or just plain unhappy, I try to … [Read more...] about What Does it Take To Be Happy?
When Nothing is Sure…Everything is Possible
Yesterday, I eavesdropped on Dame Judy Dench and Maggie Smith. “How many new lives can we have?” asked Ms. Dench. She answered her own question with the best five words I’ve heard in a long time: “As many as we’d like.” Lest you think I hang out in such royal company, I don’t. That question comes from the movie, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Have you seen it yet? I haven’t – my efforts … [Read more...] about When Nothing is Sure…Everything is Possible
Remembering to Give Thanks: 12 Things I’m Grateful For
I thought that this year would be different; that I wouldn't be posting the usual "I'm grateful for X." But somehow, this morning, with Thanksgiving Day approaching, I've been hit with a sentimental moment. So I'd better strike while the proverbial iron is hot! Thanks for being here and for reading my blog. Being a writer sometimes feels like I'm yelling into the great unknown black hole. I'm so … [Read more...] about Remembering to Give Thanks: 12 Things I’m Grateful For
Why We All Need to Strength Train (and a giveaway, too!)
Having celebrated a big birthday recently has made me more sentimental about aging than normal. But with sentimentality comes complaints. Granted, they're not in a a "woe-is-me" kind of way- but with a bit more humor and irony attached to them. Humor? My feeling is that if we don't laugh about creaky joints, gray hair, diminishing eyesight, hearing and skin tone, then all that bitching becomes … [Read more...] about Why We All Need to Strength Train (and a giveaway, too!)
Keeping Up is Hard To Do
If you’re old enough to remember that old saying “Keeping up with the Joneses,” you’re old enough to understand how hard it has become to really keep up. But I’m not talking about the Jonses any longer. That’s old news. I’m talking about keeping up with the wild pace of technology. My father (may he rest in peace), at 89, taught himself to use a computer. But then again, he was always handy … [Read more...] about Keeping Up is Hard To Do
The Test That Saves Lives
If you knew there was strong evidence that colonoscopies save lives, would you be more encouraged to go and get this feared and sometimes dreaded test? Only about half of people recommended for colonoscopies go ahead and actually get them. (You know who you are.) March is colon cancer awareness month. And just as I've procrastinated about writing about it (got in just under the wire!) you … [Read more...] about The Test That Saves Lives
Is Surrender and Acceptance the Same?
Seems that in this so-called midlife I've been fighting surrender on a lot of fronts. But lately, I’ve been at the losing end. For instance, I have a bum left knee. I first realized something was wrong a little over ten years ago, while visiting Paris. It was my first European trip and I was determined not to let anything ruin it. Not the torrential rain we had. Not the record cold … [Read more...] about Is Surrender and Acceptance the Same?
Finding the “Right” Gym
Since moving to a new town, I've been on a mission. I'm in the market for a new gym. Yes, my building has one (that's one perk of living in an apartment). But sometimes it's not enough (since I work from home, I need an excuse to actually leave the building otherwise I fear I'd never breathe any fresh air or see the outside world. Besides, staring out the window into a courtyard while you're … [Read more...] about Finding the “Right” Gym
Menopause and Anxiety – A Connection?
Note: I'm bringing you this post from my other blog, MidlifeMatters, which runs on healthywomen.org. It first hit the website in 2011, and attracted lots of eyeballs and comments. And a lot of women were relieved and comforted, feeling like "it" was not all in their head. (Midlife Dictionary: It (used to represent a vague sense of unease, only understood by women of a certain age, about to be … [Read more...] about Menopause and Anxiety – A Connection?