Menopause and joy aren’t two words that can commonly be found together in a happy little headline. I’m here to suggest that sometimes they just might go together just fine. Maybe not as nicely as peanut butter and jelly. Perhaps not as great as apple pie and vanilla ice cream. And maybe not right...
Continue readingCan you teach an old dog new tricks? Midlife and learning new things
We are older and we have a young dog. When my husband signed us up for a two-day carting workshop (my dog, Niko the Landseer Newfoundland, my husband and me), I was hesitant. I didn’t see why my dog would embrace the strange skill of actually pulling a large cart. I thought things like:...
Continue readingSuddenly fearful about flying: Would you book a flight on September 11?
I had to book my flight. So I finally took care of the details. I made my flight arrangements for an upcoming work retreat in California. I was so excited. I love California and whenever I “have to go,” I’m over the moon! Except this time. As I was booking my flights, that little...
Continue readingFamily vacations, sailing adventures, hurricanes and midlife stress
Can you still be a good mom if take your family on a sailing trip with a hurricane or two? I was super excited for our family vacation this year. We would be flying to the Caribbean to board a catamaran to go sailing for a glorious week filled with fun, sun and aquatic...
Continue readingThe case of the missing cheese grater—and midlife memory
The mini cheese grater is missing. Midlife memory? Or something else? It’s been missing for a week now and it’s driving my husband and me crazy. This cheese grater was not kept in the kitchen. It was the cutest little green MINI grater that’s used for things like garlic and spices. Or for grating...
Continue readingThe long-term job—a blessing and a curse
Who knew that my long-term job could be both a blessing and a curse? I never even imagined I would be the type to have a long-term job. Seriously. It didn’t seem like something that would have my name on it. I landed my first professional job in 1989. I remember it well. I...
Continue readingLosing my job and rediscovering myself: My two year dream-aversary
Not all anniversaries are created equal, like when it’s related to losing your job. I never thought about losing my job and anniversary in the same sentence. It seems like one of my most prevalent thoughts in my 50s is, “where does the time go?” It was two years ago this week that I...
Continue readingWhen the solution to the problem means you escape
Have you heard about these escape rooms? It’s a cool new way to have some good, clean fun with teenagers. Well, I hadn’t heard of them but my kids sure did. They are actually called “escape rooms”. Essentially, they are games where real people go into a real room and try to get out...
Continue readingWhen we don’t do what we really, really want to do
It’s hard to admit that sometimes we don’t do what we really, really want to do. Sometimes we think we know why. Sometimes we have no clue. Sometimes we aren’t connected to our thoughts or feelings at all, and answers seem so far away. Sometimes, however, it’s clear. It’s fear. Plain ol’ sick to...
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