Does the World Need Another Diet Book?
Terry Gross interviews a Harvard professor on Fresh Air. He has written a new diet book. But I wonder, does the world need another diet book?
A Pithy Party
I think I like words more than most people. I decorate my life with them! Come along as I share over three dozen pithy quotes I live by.
Taking Time to Think of Rose Along the Way
I love jigsaw puzzles and my mom’s name was Rose. So when I found a puzzle by RoseArt called Rose Motel you can be sure I bought it!
Banana. Sunrise. Chair.
After accidentally throwing my passport away, I shared my tale of woe with friends, and was heartened. Many had a similar story to share.
Pixar’s Take on Grieving
This Pixar movie about grieving contains one of the greatest opening sequences of a movie, especially an animated movie, of all time.
Fifth Tuesday Report – June 2026
I am sharing my six favorite novels from the last several months. Five of them are the new books of well-known authors. Check it out!
Lorie Laughs A Lot
Floundering emotionally or laughing as I go out into the world to recreate myself – still again. The choice is mine – I’m choosing laughter.
Regarding Grandgirls and Dragonflies
There is a great lesson to be learned from the high school careers of two of my granddaughters who are newly minted high school graduates!
My Dad Married Well
Family was very important to my dad. But the older I get, I wonder if family isn’t the end all and be all of life?
Travel Notes: Three Things About Three Things
Three best sights. Three best travel tips. Three best takeaways. All from a recent “Tulip Cruise” in The Netherlands.
Important Themes of Life
I just read two books that were astoundingly similar. I am not suggesting plagiarism here, but the use of universal literary topics instead.
Self-Exploration & Getting to Know You
This story can be read two ways, as a means of self reflection or as a getting-to-know-you exercise, even when you know the other person well.
A New Variant of Gratitude
I recently realized that “it could always be worse” is a kind of gratitude in and of itself. Let me tell you all about it.
The Great Un-Own
I am not trying to divest myself of my house and everything in it, but perhaps a little spring cleaning is in order. Here are my thoughts…
Robert: A Beacon to Baby Boomers
Robert’s Active Retirement is a popular YouTube channel. It has a viral episode called “10 Harsh Realities of Being a 77-Year-Old Man.”
What the Heck Is Podcasting?
At the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in January, a Best Podcast was awarded for the first time. What is podcasting? Why is it so popular?
Finding a Treasure Chest
A desk in my basement had three drawers that I hadn’t looked in in a long time. It turns out each drawer held a treasure.
I Have Trouble Putting My Phone Down at Night
I did a Google search: Why do I feel like I can’t put my phone down at night? Here are the topics that popped up: brain rot, doom scrolling…
What a Stupid Question (Or Not?)
Is it stupid to ask a seventy-three year old woman where she sees herself in ten years? (Or: When do you stop having a 10-year plan?)
Honesty, Self-Awareness, & Hard-Won Truths
This book’s for everyone. Depending on your age, it’s validation, previews of coming attractions, or insight into loved ones who are older.
It’s Hard to Be a Woman Getting Dressed for a Party
It was twelve hours and three minutes before the event, and my daughters and I were still figuring out what to wear!
The Why and What of Reading
Reading is not only good for us, but it can be transformative. For those wanting a bit of personal growth, I offer some intriguing books.
I Did It!
Worrying about solo travel to Portugal, I thought to myself, I can do this. Then I thought, I AM doing this. And now I can say, I did it!
Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backward
As we approach the winter holiday season, I offer up this little ditty on the stress of being the head cook for a family feast.
What Financial Lessons Would You Teach?
It’s important for kids to understand how their spending habits can affect their lives over the long term.
Margot and My Gutters
A home has lots of systems to maintain and often something needs fixing. It is definitely a challenge. But I am indeed capable of handling it.
Fearing Willard Scott
I have a half dozen friends who are caregivers for loved ones right now. This is a pep talk and a pat on the back for them.
888 and Other Causes for Celebration
For National Daughters Day I am not celebrating that I am the mother of daughters, but instead, that I am the daughter of a mother.
Boredom Busters
If long weekends get you down, the solution to the problem is to get a routine in place so they won’t feel so L-O-N-G.
Two Movies and Lee Ann Womack
I’m thinking about the meaning of life through the lens of The Life of Chuck, Pirate Radio, and Lee Ann Womack’s hit song.
Goodbye to the Blahs and the Blues
I find comfort in the fact that a case of the blues can be “normal” as I negotiate a recent funk and find my way back to smiles.
Past, Present, and Future Me
I’ve had two episodes of seeing the past, present, and future me all at the same time. First, it was Volunteer-Me. Then, it was Workout-Me…
Life: The Great Equalizer
My week as a reader, conference attendee, and concert goer leaves me feeling equal – even to the amazingly successful Neil Diamond!
New Boots with Love from Mom and Dad
Instead of aiming for detachment as the end result of grieving, what if we choose to find ways to continue the bond with our loved one?
The Three P’s of Freedom
Great idea! Give a freedom holiday a personal twist by using the day to explore personal emancipation from whatever might be “enslaving” us.
Bearing Witness to the Atrocities
People ask me about my recent trip to Poland. After visiting many concentration camps and mass graves, speechless doesn’t quite cover it.
A Promised Return to Poland
I am soon traveling to Poland, the place where my extended family perished in the Holocaust. I go there to bear witness and to make a promise.
March, 2025 – Quarterly Newsletter
Since many people want to write a book someday, I will talk about the process that gets a book from manuscript to bookstore shelf. Come along!
Words: From Skibidi to Tough Toenails
Lots of research on words including Skibidi which is defined as, “a word used to start a convo, specifically a convo filled with brain rot.” (Huh?!)
Toilet Paper Technology and Sport Socks
I am GRATEFUL to report that I have two really dumb things to complain about – toilet paper technology and sport socks. Say what?
Resolutions for 2025 – Have YOurs Gone Kerflooey?
It’s the end of January, 2025, thus most people’s resolutions for the new year have fallen by the wayside. Let me help you plan for 2026 now.
The Great Treasure Hunt of Life
In my search for the answers in life, I have found many hints in books. These quotes are gleaned from 22 years of reading and 664 books.
Potassium Nitrate & Other Gifts of 2024
Instead of writing a wish list to Santa Claus or Chanukah Harry, I pause to think about all of the gifts I have already received in 2024.
National Ding-a-Ling Day and More!
Learn about National Ding-a-Ling Day, National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, and National Humbug Day in Lorie Kleiner Eckert’s Newsletter.
Applauding Jesse Eisenberg for Not Forgetting
When we meet the victims of the Holocaust in the great beyond, we need to be able to tell them, “I didn’t forget you.”
Want a New Addiction?
It’s easy to get bitten by the genealogy bug. One little success in finding info about an ancestor makes you want to find a little bit more.
Ordinary Days that are Wonderful but Easy to Forget
After spending a wonderful but ordinary day with my grandkids, I wonder what they will remember of it – and of me – when they are grown.
The Answers in Life
A recent novel, Julie Andrews, coffee, and a trip to Scandinavia all teach the same lesson – the importance of the small things in life.
A September to Remember
September! Beyond autumn leaves, it brings us National Potato Month, Self-Care Awareness Month, and National Library Card Sign Up Month!
Travel Affirmations
Since the things I worry about rarely materialize, I’m going to look to positive affirmations instead. Especially in regard to traveling!
Three Cartoons & What They Tell Me About Retirement
I will use three cartoons to address the topic of what to do in retirement, intended for those who feel like something is missing in life.
Food for Thought About Food
Choosing cottage cheese at the grocery store: do you want three clean ingredients or thirteen ingredients, some questionable?
Poopy Face
There are three adult versions of name calling – unsolicited negative comments, negative self talk, and labeling people – even with positive labels.
Easily Distractible
As I sit reading my newspaper on my laptop every morning, the world wide web is at my fingertips, making it very easy to become distracted.
7431
Wanting to send a letter to my much beloved but long-deceased father, I sent it to my childhood home though our family moved away in 1970.
JUNE BRINGS MORE THAN SUMMER
My Newsletters are packed with images and short on words. You can breeze through this report quickly and pick up some fun facts just as fast.
My Brain at 72
Memory issues at age 72 make me wonder what is normal for a brain at this age, and what can I do to keep this brain as young as possible?
A Handful of Thoughts
My swirling thoughts are about aging, death, and dying. But hooray! There’s a little bit of happily ever after too, the perfect takeaway!
A Thimbleful Of Italy
After ten days in Italy, here are my impressions from the trip – and in some cases, I’ll even tell you about the famous things we saw!
Green
This is a Rorschach test without an inkblot. What do you think of when you see the color green? Is it the color of spring? Or Kermit the Frog?
I Will Now Presume to Give Some Tips on Nutrition
If your weight control plan is to eat only twice a day, you may not be getting enough protein. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is a problem!
March Brings More Than Spring
My Newsletters are packed with images and short on words. You can breeze through this report quickly and pick up some fun facts just as fast!
Meeting Up With The Three Sisters
A Three Sisters meal has been called “the best diet humans ever invented,” by Dan Buettner, best-selling author of books on longevity.
West Winds Blowing
My birthday is in February. I’m seventy-two! Not surprisingly, I have some thoughts on the subject. They fall into three categories…
My New Brand of Lateness
What does lateness say about me as a person? Am I rude, disorganized, or just a normal human being? Whatever the case, I’m going to try new brand of lateness!
CountDown to Number One
Fifty years ago, these were the top five Billboard hits in the nation. Where are these artists now, and are their songs still relevant?
Friend-Centric Travel
For those without a travel bucket list, here is a friend-oriented way to choose vacation spots. I recommend it!
Thank Goodness for Cameras!
Looking back on photos from the year to remember the fun, the lessons learned, and to set the course for the new year.
Definitely Try This at Home!
Here is a meaningful way to spend 25 minutes this holiday season. And the first 10 minutes include relaxing with a cup of your favorite brew!
How to Parent
Pointers on “how to parent” as borrowed from two novels, a song, a school psychologist, and my son. That said, here’s everything I know on the topic.
The Crocodile Rock Method of Handling Distress
Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change thinking patterns & alleviate distress when doing all those things you don’t want to do, but have to do.
Scroll Less. Live More.
If you are addicted to your smartphone, it’s not your fault! This is an unfair fight between you and sophisticated designers vying for your attention.
Self-Care in the Season of Holiday Stresses
This is the time of year to think about that horrible H word, holidays, and a perfect time to think about doing things differently this year.
The Day I lied to My Apple Watch
Here it is, a simple test for longevity that involves the ability to get up off the floor without using your hands. Try it!
How to Write a Blog and Maybe, How to Stir Natural Peanut Butter
I’m stuck on what to write this week, so I will follow the most basic writing advice and write about what I know – how to write blogs.
Following in Hoda’s Footsteps
Hoda’s book shows us that aphorisms are like a Rorschach test & make great writing prompts. You read a few words & see what they evoke in you.
The Wisdom of Holding Your Tongue
In a discussion about holding your tongue, let’s talk about why it is ok to be like a Chatty Cathy doll, but not ok to be a chatty Cathy.
Driving Around with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jane Fonda
It is terrific to listen to – and learn from – podcasts while driving in the car. Let me tell you about Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ new show!
I Envy Volodymyr Zelenskyy
What to wear each day is a dilemma. That’s why I envy Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his ever-present sweatshirt, cargo pants, and work boots.
Happiness in the Sunshine Season
At Harvard and Yale, there are classes on happiness. Meet a couple of the professors now, Arthur C. Brooks and Dr. Laurie Santos.
Eat. Sleep. Take the Kids To Sports. Repeat.
In honor of Mother’s Day & Father’s Day, I thank my kids for all the driving and planning they do to give the grandkids so many opportunities.
My Neighbor, Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer was my neighbor. I will leave it to others to eulogize him, judge him, talk him up or down. I choose to quote him instead.
Celebrate Good Times!
Darn! You missed it. March 13th was National Napping Day! Check out this Newsletter for upcoming celebrations you will not want to miss!!
How Beautiful it Is to Do Nothing and Then Rest Afterward
One of the pitfalls of doing nothing is that nothing gets done. On the other hand, sometimes doing nothing is actually doing something…
The World Is Mine but not the Matzah Ball Soup or Mashed Potatoes
In the post-Covid world, a trip to Morocco teaches lots of lessons, including the fact that travel is still possible.
Fitness Classes for Those Who Flunk the 10-Second Balance Test
The inability to pass the balance test is associated with a twofold risk of death within ten years. But, it is never too late to start working on balance!
Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor
Bill Nighy, the British actor guy, is ubiquitous in his career yet many Americans confuse him with Bill Nye, the science guy. Let’s fix that!
Don’t Run Screaming from the Room
Don’t run screaming from the room as I tell you about a terrific exercise. It takes 5-15 minutes to do, but you’ll find it intriguing!
Did She Want to Go to the Beach One More Time?
A broken hip for a friend’s ninety-five year old mother causes reflection on what it’s like to have to move and to leave home behind.
Flipping My Switch
Flipping the ON switch in life is always a possibility. We can choose to be out in the world with the best version of ourselves.
Today I Am a Toy Car
As 2022 draws to a close, I look backward in order to move ahead. Surely experiences of 2022 will inform the new year.
A Great Happiness Hack – Kindness!
I have a great happiness hack for you this holiday season – kindness! Learn what social scientists have to say on this topic.
Going to Missouri Without Leaving Ohio
It’s not always possible to go home for the holidays. However, a stroll down memory lane can be the next best thing.
No Yawning Allowed!
Learn about gratitude as a Positive Psychology Intervention that can enhance happiness and sustain it for the long term.
Call Me Butter, I’m on a Roll!
This is a story for my newly widowed friends and for my newly retired friends about how to bounce back from loss. You can do it!
Adulting: Like Folding a Fitted Sheet, No One Really Knows How to Do It
This is the history of the word “adulting” when used as a verb. Funny quotes abound: “You is stressed. You is tired. You is adulting.”
I Didn’t Hear That. Can You Say it Again?
After a decades-long hiatus in my yoga practice, I went to a class. The hour of exercise was very taxing – not to my body, but to my hearing!
Newsletter – The Fall Fun Edition – September, 2022
The fall FUN and GAMES Newsletter with secret messages to decode, a crossword puzzle, and a word search + websites to create your own!
Two Experts on the How-To’s of Happiness
Arthur Brooks, a PhD from Harvard, and my nine-year-old grandson, Dylan, are two experts on happiness. Here are their how-to’s of happiness.
The Facts of Life – Mathematically Speaking
A little bit + a little bit = a whole lot. This math-fact-of-life applies to every area of life and is the pathway to a rich life!
Do You Have a Bottomless To Do List?
For those with a bottomless to do list, I suggest the creation of a new type of play list – and instruct you to schedule play into your life.
Shrunken Heads vs Inflated Ones – In Praise of PRaise
Do you swell someone’s head if you praise them? I don’t think so! Thus I stand firmly in praise of praise for others and for myself!
High School Reunions – Love ’em or Loathe ’em?
Here are three little words that evoke lots of emotion: “high school reunion.” Where do you fall on the love ’em or loathe ’em spectrum?
JUNE, 2022 – Quarterly Newsletter
As school graduations take place in June, change is in the air for the new graduates and for those who love them.
Why William Faulkner Would Not Be a Successful Writer Today
Writers today are advised to use short words, short sentences, and short paragraphs. How would William Faulkner fare with these stipulations?
If You Don’t Know What Introspection is, You Need to Take a Long, Hard Look at Yourself
After two+ years of the pandemic, introspection seems warranted as we think about possibility, abundance, strength, compassion, & faith.
Celebrating WOW Women
For the May holiday, let’s celebrate the WOW women of our lives – the aunts, teachers, etc. who were there for us and became our role models.
How Did I Screw Up? Let Me Count the Ways.
I can be critical of myself in lots of situations, counting all the ways I screw up. Interestingly, there is research to explain this.
Are You Sick of Cooking?
If you are sick of cooking, I offer viable options for VERY EASY meals. Read this for five great suggestions and one warning!
50 Years ago
Preparing for my 50th high school reunion, I’m looking back 50 years to remember the news, books, music, TV shows, and movies of 1972.
Why Female Friendships are Worthy of Envy
It’s a no-brainer. Women do better on their own than men. Here are funny, serious, and even more serious reasons why this is true.
Victory Lies in Making the Journey
A letter to my 16-year-old self with previews of coming attractions and several bits of advice for handling life’s twists and turns.
Worrying About Field Sobriety Tests and Other Aspects of Aging
As a soon-to-be 70-year old woman, I take this opportunity to see how things measure up for me at this milestone.
Go Ahead, Make My Day
Famous movie quotes from the American Film Institute’s top 100 are used as the basis for a getting-to-know-you type game.
My Need to Be Successful
Columnist Carolyn Hax offers advice to people like me with the crazy need to be the all-caps-version of SUCCESSFUL.
Leave ’em Laughing
Today I share seven funny tweets I have collected from the online newsletter, Need2Know. As you will see, I have illustrated each rib-tickler.
Aging Parents Present Challenges for Children
It is shocking to realize that when newspaper articles talk about “aging parents,” they are talking about me!
Doing Splits at Thanksgiving
I wrote this Thanksgiving story 20 years ago. Though all the details have changed, the lesson is 100% unchanged. This is rock-solid advice.
In a Billy Joel State of Mind
Read along as I use Billy Joel’s, “Big Shot,” as a springboard to discuss anger and forgiveness. Carly Simon’s, “You’re So Vain,” is included.
Five Sinatra Songs, Five Reflections
Recently, I listened to a CD, Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years. Each song had something to tell me. Here are my five favorite lessons.
30 Reasons to Be Grateful at My Granddaughter’s Soccer Game
I am not a confident driver or parker. So, when I survived a recent parking challenge, I was grateful in thirty (30!) ways.
Playing Jeopardy with My Mom and Dad
My folks had a running gag when watching Jeopardy. If they didn’t know the correct question they always said, “Who was Ralph Waldo Emerson?”
Pluck It and Chuck It – Getting Rid of a Lifetime of Stuff
To trash it or not to trash it? That’s the question. This story gives five tips to help you sort through a lifetime of stuff.
Getting My Affairs In Order – My First Three Steps
When was the last time you reviewed your important estate papers? Do you need a do-over of documents? This story will help you start.
Five Life Lessons from Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton recently celebrated 50 years at the Grand Old Opry. Looking back on her vast career, I glean five life lessons from it.
It All Adds Up
If you have a collection of something, you know that it grew one small addition at a time. There are important implications to this fact.
Loving Anne Lamott Frizzy Hair and All
Anne Lamott’s sometimes-messy life becomes fodder for her writing. Life lessons abound in the nineteen books – fiction and non – she has written.
Two Recipes: One for Cake and One for a Meaningful Summer
The recipe for a meaningful summer is simple: Take a walk; read a book; make a friend. The recipe for a simple cake? That’s included too.
A Writing Contest – The Inside Scoop
Writing contests – a way to monetize your writing. Read stories by contestants Annie Wood, Barb Dalton, Christine Rains, Tonja Betts, and Teresa Lynn.
Help! I Like Zoom Better than Face-to-Face Meetings
There are lots of perks to Zoom meetings including these: You don’t have to drive anywhere, and you don’t have to put on pants.
Getting Out of Bed – a Moaning and Groaning Affair
I love to sleep in on weekends, & have to coax myself to get up the rest of the week. But one day, gratitude got me out of bed.
Upbeat!
The publisher of a newspaper I write for said to write an upbeat story. What the heck does it mean to be upbeat? Will this be Mission Impossible for me?
I’m a New & Improved Granny
Thanks to the pandemic I am a new and improved Granny. I learned how to play with the kids and how to engage them in meaningful conversation!
Do You Check Your Phone Before You Pee in the Morning?
In the documentary, The Social Dilemma, we are asked: “Do you check your smart phone before you pee in the morning, or while you are peeing?”
SPRING It On!
After the suffocation of a COVID winter in Ohio, my soul is bubbling in anticipation as Spring 2021 approaches. All I can say is, SPRING it on!
Can You Use Sarcophagus in a Sentence?
Merriam-Webster’s website features a Word of the Day. Here I try to use all 31 words from January 2021 in one cohesive story. Will I succeed?
How To Be Rich In Friends
Since a sense of isolation is a reality during the coronavirus, it’s important to actively think about and foster friendships.
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do – the Parent and Teen Version
Two novels about teenagers remind us of these dual facts: It’s hard to be a teenager; it’s hard to have a teenager.
The What Can I Do Now Dilemma
A mental health wellness tip for quarantine: Find fun activities and do them. Here are some ideas now! Genealogy, crafts, reading, and more.
Too Much Time on My Hands
Currently, “Nap on the Sofa,” is my lack-of-activity of choice. What can I do instead? Here are lots of options to chase away boredom.
The Pandemic Marathon…and more
A seasoned marathon runner offers tips that are strangely helpful for all of us who are trying to get to the finish line of the pandemic.
So Much Has Changed! I Will Too!
A catalog came in the mail recently. It had a two page spread of this year’s little-black-dress. Huh?! Has this company NOT heard about the pandemic?
Let the Good Times Roll!
Thanks to FaceTime, Zoom, and the ideas suggested here, you can win the game of togetherness with your loved ones, even during the pandemic.
My Holiday Plan: One Something
The holiday season is always a challenge. It’s even more so due to the pandemic. I have a simple resolution to this problem – One Something.
With a Song in My Heart
Do you need extensive therapy, Prozac, and a lobotomy to get current day bad thoughts out of your head? Try music therapy instead!
I Don’t Want to Do This Myself!
As a single woman, my inner voice had something to say when my basement had water damage. This was it: I DON’T WANT TO HANDLE THIS MYSELF!
Managing Our Losses During COVID-19
To manage our loss during the pandemic, we need to name it and claim it. Then we need to go on and grieve it.
A Wonderful Thing Called Experience
Experience is a magical thing. It often allows us to salvage unsalvageable projects. This is true for quilters, writers, engineers, and you!
Ice Cream Reveries
As we manage the losses brought to us by COVID-19, it is important to cherish those things we still have. In my case, eating ice cream tops the list.
Influencers Are Everywhere, Not Just on Social Media
You become who you hang out with, or put more humorously, “funny how much better we understand the Jell-O when we’ve seen the mold.”
Reading Time Versus TV Time
Call me silly, but if my grandkids were binge watching TV, I wouldn’t be boasting about it, I’d be finding great books to suggest to them instead. I offer that same help to adults now. For anyone wanting to increase their reading time, here are five books to consider.
In Praise of Soup
I’m not alone in thinking soup’s a comfort food for stressful times. Thus during the pandemic, I’m eating lots of it. Here’s a recipe for fellow comfort seekers – plus five life lessons regarding soup.
My Personal State of the Union Address
It’s important to take inventory of your life. The President gives a State of the Union address annually. You should too!
Allowing Myself to Feel My Feelings
I am giving myself – and you – permission to feel whatever the heck we feel during the strange, difficult, frightening, challenging times of the pandemic.
Worrying…But Trying Not To
A friend once listened as I explained in detail something I was worrying about. The more I talked, the more dismayed he looked. Ultimately, he tapped me on the temple and asked incredulously, “What’s it like in there?”
When There’s No Plan B
Clearly, there are times in life where there is no Plan B and where we just have to deal with whatever comes our way. The COVID-19 situation comes readily to mind.
My Brand of Decision-Making: Paralysis by Analysis?
An abundance of choices is problematic whether we are buying jeans, or making decisions about education, career, friendships, sex, romance, parenting, religious observance, etc.
Diaper Need in America – Help a Baby Today
Here are some nightmares:
Some parents scrape the solid material out of a soiled diaper and reuse it.
Some parents take a diaper off, let it dry out, and reuse it.
Some parents use plastic grocery bags in place of diapers.
Some parents use newspaper and duct tape in place of diapers.
Some parents leave the child in the same diaper for 2 or 3 days.
All of these options can lead to diaper rash, urinary tract infections, and other severe infections. (An ER doctor states that he has seen diaper rashes equivalent to third degree burns.)
Beyond physical suffering, babies with diaper need have trouble bonding…
Why You Should Quit Reading eBooks and Go Back to Printed Copies
My back’s been hurting lately, and my posture is atrocious. I’m blaming it on the fact that I am ever-bent-over my smartphone. One of the ways I am trying to alter my addiction is by giving up eBooks on my Kindle app in favor of hard copies. As I do this, I notice a lot of articles praising the choice. If you are interested in your ability to sleep, to focus, and/or to keep your memory sharp, you may want to consider ditching eBooks too.
Walking for Good Health – How to Create the Habit
My dad had a heart attack in his fifties. This caused him to make lifestyle changes that improved his diet and added more exercise. He had been a weekend golfer for years, but after his sojourn in the hospital, he took up walking as well. A decade into his new habit, he recommended it to me. While he had a target heart rate that he tried to maintain – carrying hand weights to do so – he told me to forget all that, to just go for a walk four or five times a week. He said I didn’t have…
Would I Have Been a Gracious Receiver of Kindness in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11?
When American airspace was closed after the terrorist attacks, all planes headed for the United States had to go elsewhere. Thirty-eight of them landed in Gander, Newfoundland, where they remained for almost a week. The warm welcome these 7000 “Plane People” received from the 9000 residents of Gander is an amazing tale that I will talk about next. But my question is this, would I have been a gracious receiver of the kindness of strangers or would I have been the “B-word” instead, just needing to get home, now!
We Are Family
I cherish family. I inherited this sentiment from my dad whose one black cloud in life was the fact that beyond his parents and siblings, he had almost no family. Everyone else died in the Holocaust. This fact gives each of us born in the next generations a special significance. We’re it. We’re the family.
Life Lesson: Good Enough is Good Enough
I have a long history of taking something simple and making it hard. Two stories about soup making will prove my point and get us to the epiphany of this tale: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The Inside Scoop on Writing for Those Who Like to Read
A fellow writer on Twitter gave this writing advice today: “Don’t dumb it down. You don’t need to assume the reader won’t understand what you are saying. Assume they WILL understand.” I agree with him wholeheartedly but this advice doesn’t exactly apply for people writing online. My response to him was this: Anyone who uses WordPress for their website is actively dumbing down all they write all the time, or at least they are being encouraged to. In that 34% of all websites are powered by WordPress – including the likes of The Walt Disney Company, Microsoft News, and the…
On Matzah Balls, Legos, and Various Things in Between
This may very well be a reflection on my lack of baking skills, but I often have a helluva time getting a Bundt cake out of a Bundt pan. As much as I grease and flour the pan in advance, there seems to be no guarantee the cake will actually come out of it – in one piece – after baking. For Rosh Hashana my cake fell out of the pan with ease, sending me directly from the kitchen to my bedroom to record the joyous occurrence in my gratitude journal. I could take some credit here and report that…
Should I Bury My Shoes?
It’s interesting that something so insignificant as shoes can be so significant. Thus, as I consider mine, I think I’ll just let them rest in peace in the back of my closet. I walked all over Central Europe seeking out Holocaust memorials, I won’t have to walk far to visit this one.
The Whole Wide World vs the World Wide Web
The 24/7/365 nature of social media is problematic. Remember when you waited for a snail mail letter? When it did not come, you could be disappointed once a day, six days a week, but never on Sunday. As we wait for people to send us email, text messages, or to “like” our social media post, the responses can roll in at any time. There are 86,400 seconds in every day. That’s a lot of opportunity for disappointment for anyone’s nervous system.
Three Reasons to Write in a Journal
Journaling as a means of talking out a problem: When I tell a friend my problem, I give a piece of it away. The same thing happens when I tell myself the problem by writing it down in a journal. I once had a “friend” state that the problem with me is that I have to talk about every problem twice. This is not true! I actually have to do it three, four, or five times! While I would never dare to burden friends with the same problem repeatedly (I hope), I can go on and on about it in…
Alexander Hamilton and Bill Clinton
With this blog I am using Lin-Manuel Miranda’s take on history. As I tell you what he has to say about Alexander Hamilton, I am going to bring Bill Clinton into the picture. How do their stories coincide? Both men had extra-marital affairs that impacted their careers. The question I ask is this: Is honesty the best policy when it comes to fessing up – or not – about such a dalliance?
In Appreciation of Moms
The May 27th issue of People features an essay written exclusively for the magazine by former first lady, Michelle Obama. It’s called, “What My Mother Taught Me.” Without even reading the story, I was equal parts intrigued and hurt. Sure, I wanted to know what life lessons these famous people had to offer; but I also ached for my mom – and all moms – who were/are equally wise, in spite of the fact they do not have a national magazine singing their praises.
God Dancing on the Ceiling
My house is built on a man-made lake. Every window on the back has a view of the water. While beautiful in itself, the most stunning thing about the lake is that the morning sun bounces off it, sending ripples of light through my mini blinds and onto my ceiling. I like to think of this as God dancing there.
Being the Patient Versus the Visitor in the Emergency Room
“If your heart stops, do you want us to resuscitate you?” Being asked this question at 2:30 AM as nurses got me settled into my newly acquired hospital room was one of the most disconcerting things that happened to me last weekend. Even four-and-a-half hours in the emergency room with symptoms that were suggestive of stroke or heart attack did not rattle me as much as that question.
Rewarding Yourself for Reaching Personal Goals
My granddaughter had difficulty going off to school at the start of kindergarten. To make stepping onto the big yellow bus more palatable, my daughter created a basket of gifts. If Cookie left without a fuss in the morning, she could reward herself with one item when she returned home. I loved the concept and wanted to put it to work in my own life to help with tasks that were challenging for me, like sending my writing to publishers or promoting my new book to reviewers.
Evaluating Yourself – Earning All A’s in Life!
We need to reward ourselves for a job well done. An “A” on a report card always has and always will feel good. Whatever your grown-up version of an A is, give yourself one. You earned it!
Step by Step to Reinventing Yourself
My two-step recipe is intentionally simple. One needs to have a routine and stick to it; and one needs to take one step a day in the direction of a new life.
Reinventing Yourself: A How-To
Most people do not think of it this way, but we are all experts at reinventing ourselves because we have done it countless times in life:
When we graduated from high school – When we graduated from college – Or perhaps after getting that advanced degree – After we got our first job – After we lost that job – After we moved to a new city – When we got married – Or maybe divorced – When we became parents – And then empty nesters – After we reached a milestone birthday – Or maybe we retired – After the…
Odd Life Lessons from the Gym
Here is a life lesson I learned at the gym: When you go to a birthday party, be sure to eat the cake. I am certain this is not what you were expecting to hear, but then you don’t know my personal trainer, Rob Anderson. Yes, he’s taught me how to properly do squats, crunches, presses, and the like, but he has taught me much more than that.
I Accept What Is
PLEASE DON’T RUN when I tell you that today’s column is about how to design a quilt. Instead, be assured that whether I am writing this column, making a quilt, or just sitting at my kitchen table drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, I am always hunting for life lessons to share. In the quilt design process, I promise to tell you a few. Here’s one now: When life gives you scraps, make a quilt. Sew far, sew good? Then come on along!
Trip to Israel
I have to confess that before the Israel trip I was trying to bolster my courage as I worried about various things that might be thrown my way. One thing I did not anticipate, however, were the strong emotions I would feel in this Jewish homeland.
Convincing Myself to Be Courageous
This blog is a parking lot. I am parking everything here that I am worried about as I prepare to travel to Israel with my twelve-year-old granddaughter, Tillie. All the little things that would ordinarily have me nervous when I travel are exacerbated by the fact that my daughter wants me to swallow my fears and project an image of female strength and courage to Tillie. As I prepare to move into Helen Reddy mode – I am woman, hear me roar! – I will try to give away my fear as I write about it here.
What Book to Read Next
I love books and find that reading them provides me with three benefits. Books give me conversational currency – stuff to talk about – with friends. Novels take me away from what’s happening inside of my head, giving me the protagonist’s problems to worry about instead of my own. And like a bedtime story for kids, books at night are a sleeping aid, signaling my brain it’s time to rest.
Love Is All Around You
On November 26, 2018, Newsweek.com printed a list of “The Best Christmas Movies of All Time.” On the list, at position #33 out of 50, was Love Actually, one of my favorite movies at any time of the year.
Struggling with the Art of Life…and Finding Success!
The War of Art is a book that is ostensibly for artists, however it really holds lessons for anyone who is struggling with the art of life. The author, Steven Pressfield, lists these strugglers: anyone in the creative arts, anyone launching an entrepreneurial venture, anyone starting a diet or exercise program, anyone trying to overcome an addiction, anyone pursuing education of any sort, anyone pursuing spiritual advancement…In short, anyone pursuing a long-term goal.
Time to Refresh and Refuel at a Retreat!
I was at a retreat last weekend. It was not with a bible study group but yet, to borrow from the bible, it certainly did restoreth my soul. For four solid days I was away from my desk
Life Lessons from My New Fitbit
The Fitbit is a device that is worn on the wrist and used to track activity. At its most basic level, it counts the number of steps a person takes daily.
Jewish Biscotti – Recipe Included!
When I tell you that this is the world’s best cookie I am willing to concede the point that perhaps it’s because it has so many wonderful memories attached to it.
Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Trouble
A traditional holiday dinner for a Jewish family finds the homemaker slaving over a hot stove. It’s astounding how many things have to boil in big pots.
The Shoulds of Travel
Thou shalt not “should” upon thyself. These are wise words that I would love to live by, but gosh, there are just so many “shoulds” in life. One area that is fraught with them is travel. I always feel like I should see all the major sights wherever it is that I am traveling.
Some Traditions are Waiting to be Broken!
At the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony, there is the dramatic moment in which a wine glass (wrapped in a napkin) is placed on the ground. The groom stomps…
Is There a Stigma to Getting Psychological Help? I Don’t Feel It!
I started to see a psychologist when my oldest child was 14. I saw that psychologist, Pam, for 21 years. I would have seen her longer except that she retired six years ago.
A Novel Approach to Self-Forgiveness
The past cannot be changed, forgotten, edited, or erased. It can only be accepted. I believe that these words are true. I also believe that it is easier…
Facing Fear in the Night
My daughters are unhappy about my single status and are often after me to find a new boyfriend. I tell them it’s a very rare moment that I think I need one, but I will confess that on Sunday, April 29th, at 1 o’clock in the morning, I was at that very rare moment. I needed help!
Is Jumping Naked into a Lake the Key to Happiness?
My friend, Marilynn Asch, is known for the funny things she posts on Facebook. A recent post showed an obviously older couple, holding hands, as they jump from a dock into a lake. Adding to the humor is the fact that they are naked and their saggy tushies are in full view.
Destination Denver (A.K.A. Surviving Travel Woes)
I’m in a plane, on a runway, waiting to take off. It’s three hours past my originally scheduled departure time and I’m on a different airline headed to a different town.
Long Story Listener
“Long story short” is a common expression these days as the speaker shortens a SAGA into a SNIPPET. But what if you need to tell the whole long story? For that you need a Long-Story-Listener.
Following Your Passion! (What Does that Mean?)
Lots of people who do motivational work teach this recipe for happiness: FOLLOW YOUR PASSION! But what the heck does that mean? This movie, Maudie, explains the concept vividly.
A Devastating Fire’s Happy Ending
Recently I visited Yellowstone National Park. Among other things, I learned about the HUGE system of fires that took place in the park nearly 30 years ago in July through September 1988.
Life Lessons from Eating Cadbury Crème Eggs?
I am a proud member of the Secret Society of the Cadbury Egg. Actually, along with my two daughters, I am a founding member of the club. Over the years, the purpose of our group has gone from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Writing Love Letters
I am a prolific writer of love letters. I write nine per year, one to each of my grandchildren on the occasion of his/her birthday. In the letter I reminisce about family fun we shared,
When it Comes to Success, Slow and Steady Wins the Race
A little bit plus a little bit adds up to a whole lot. I learned this life lesson 25 years ago when I needed a portrait for the jacket of my first book. I visited a local photographer & was enthralled with his studio.
