I have an embarrassing Thanksgiving Day confession. My daughter, husband, and I were heading to a dear friend’s home to join her family for the Thanksgiving feast. I felt relaxed from a long morning hike, grateful (more accurately thrilled) that I did not have to cook…
This article was published on October 14th as a guest blog on the Modern Elder Academy’s Wisdom Well. “I just talked to the neurologist,” my brother, a doctor, said in a crackly voice. “She’s got Alzheimer’s.” His words hit me like a truck, even though I…
Did you know there is an International Menopause Day? Until recently, I didn’t even though it has been around since 2009. This is not a hallmark holiday. It was established by the International Menopause Society and the World Health Organization to raise awareness about menopause and the support…
When my mother Jackie started developing dementia, I did not want to accept that this was her reality. She was a tireless leader, wife, mother, grandmother, and beacon of her community. I was pained even thinking about my mother being confused, uncertain, or dependent….
“I know it would be good for me to meditate so why is it so hard to get myself to do it?” This is one of the top three questions I am routinely asked by clients and friends. So, if you are wondering this, you have…
Living and grieving co-exist. I was reminded of this yet again, in a palpable way, while on a recent trip to Scotland. I was visiting my daughter, Maya, who is studying in Glasgow for the semester. It was the second morning of my trip. I awoke…
It was the night before our long-awaited 25th anniversary trip to Costa Rica. I left an acupuncture appointment with eight sexy (not!) cupping marks on my back, which would be in full display on my bathing-suit-laden vacation. I didn’t care. I finally felt well after two weeks…
There is incredible darkness in the world right now. It is a darkness of humanity, which surpasses our political and cultural beliefs. And while there is always darkness, the events of the world right now are hitting especially close to home for me, and for millions…
Greetings from Lisbon. I am here with my daughter Tara, who started her first post-college, “real” job last week. I joined her a few days later, to help her move into her apartment, and get settled. It is an exciting, rite of passage time for Tara, as…
At my recent “Day of Embracing the Middle,” I asked the participants to bring along symbols of their current midlife experience. You know, things like reading glasses, wrinkle cream, or an empty nest image. When the women arrived, I had them place their objects on…