Laughter as a Catharsis for Grief By thirdAGE blogLife can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards — Søren Kierkegaard Even when we are grieving, there are some things in life that can make us laugh. I’ve listened to clients who have a sense of guilt if they are having fun or are laughing rather than crying. Both crying and laughing are a catharsis for our emotions, all of which need to be expressed so that we heal.
Getting Rid of the Apostrophe By blogI was recently invited to a party I was fearful to attend,because I didn’t think I knew a lot of the guests. So when the host, who happens to be a special friend asked, if I would be coming, my response was “I’ll try my best to be there.”
Make a Date with Yourself for Valentine's Day By blogWhether you’re married, single or divorced, the Valentine’s Day’s emphasis on romance and the expectations it sparks can create more stress than joy for many people. There can be pressure on Feb. 14 for anyone. The happily single may begin to have doubts; spouses may question the quality of their marital relationship; and for someone who recently experienced a breakup, the holiday can bring nothing but heartache.
6 Little Known Secrets For A Lifetime of Passion and Love By blogEveryone wants a great sex life, but few people know how to achieve that goal and even fewer know how to maintain it in a long-term relationship. Couples try new positions and look for “sexy” things to wear. They try to improve their communication and relationship skills. But to really have a great sex life you have to know the secrets of what it means to be male and female.
Watch Out for These Destructive Types By blogLike so many Americans, we changed health care plans this past month. Mike and I shared a terrible experience this week when we went to meet a new doctor It was truly the worst behavior I have ever witnessed from a trained professional.
Re-Emerging By blogOne definition of the word re-emerge is to once again make popular. Life has a way of going full circle and dreams from our past at times re-emerge. I found this to be true when my husband completed an improv class a few months ago. As a child, Kevin enjoyed entertaining his family by putting on silly shows and making them laugh. Many times things we are passionate about are things we did when young. If we are lucky and smart when grown we allow ourselves to let them re-emerge.
Parents without Children By blogWhen my mom was still alive, my sister and I often visited her in assisted living and later in memory care. Many times, we would be the only outside visitor. In fact, there were many residents whose family didn’t visit them. Sitting hour-after-hour in the lobby, these aging seniors would watch the front entrance intently. They looked as though they were constantly waiting. Waiting for someone who rarely or never came to visit. Their waiting and obvious loneliness made me incredibly sad.
Love and Intimacy By blogDid you know that over 50% of Americans over age 50 are single? And according to the latest research, those who choose to find a significant other, will find the person online. That may all be true, but I believe that how we meet isn’t half as important as where we are in our lives when we meet. The truth among us human beings is our tolerance for human closeness or intimacy will determine what kind of partner we choose next, and how far that relationship can go.
Frayed: Adventures on the ACA Trail By blogThe following is a journal of my experience with the Affordable Care Act and specifically my application process with Covered California. In the spirit of “sometimes you just have to laugh” I have taken a humorous approach. However, the many problems of enrolling in a health care plan were frightening and filled with frustration. I know I am not alone with these thoughts and feelings.
Why the Next Big Frontier in Medicine is Energy Medicine By blogI first heard about Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2000 when I was writing my book The Whole Man Program: Reinvigorating Your Body, Mind, and Spirit After 40. Dr. Oz was one of the top heart surgeons in the world at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center. I wanted to find someone with the best scientific credentials to help me better understand heart disease so I could help other men. Dr. Oz was a wonderful resource. He is still one of the best surgeons in the world but he has since expanded his view of what constitutes good medicine.
What Is Love? By blogI heard a great quote recently that defines love very well to me: “Love is the difference between loving the idea of who you need someone to be for you, and loving who they really are.” This is a concept that usually trips us up when we are young. We feel so needy and desperate for someone else to save us from ourselves that we give ourselves away far too easily. We do not yet value ourselves and what we have to offer others.
Midlife Bloggers Want a Seat at the Table By blogIt is that time of year again. Almost daily, I receive an invitation or update in my inbox about upcoming blogging conferences. Since I started blogging three years ago, I’ve attended my share of blog events, from small gatherings with only a handful of attendees to huge conferences with thousands of bloggers from far-flung locations. However, last year I opted out of blogging conferences and this year doing the same.
Home Health Care: Navigating Racial and Cultural Differences By blogRoz, now 95 years old, spent all her life in Westchester County in the company of Jewish people like herself. She was not strictly religious, but she grew up in a time and place when, as she said, "like associated with like." She still recalls one evening, some 70 years ago, when she went on her first and only date with a non-Jewish boy. "I felt like the whole town was watching and judging," she said.
The Joys of a Birthday Morning on Facebook By Sondra Forsyth blogWhen I booted my computer early on the morning of January 14th 2014, I went straight to my Facebook timeline. Sure enough, the birthday wishes had already begun to arrive. What a joy to be in touch with such a diverse group of people! I had long since lost touch with many of them before I started to use Facebook at the end of 2008. In a very real sense, the hundreds of people who are my Facebook friends give me the invaluable benefits of social support -- the buzz phrase for having frequent contact with people you care about and who care about you.
Reiki 2: Taking Your Healing to the Next Level By blogWhen I started my Healing journey in 2001, I found that most people hadn't heard of Reiki, let alone experienced it. Nowadays, I find this has changed. Most people I run across have at least heard of Reiki and many have even given it a try. Because anyone can learn Reiki, the number of practitioners in the world is growing by the day.
Don't Be the Ex Who Won't Go Away By blogBreakups are excruciatingly painful, especially if the breakup came out of nowhere. It puts us into total shock and disbelief, which are two very difficult emotional states to harness. As sad, confused and upset as we are, there is nothing more unattractive then when we are not able to have some modicum of control over our emotions after a breakup when dealing with our ex. Never be that ex, you know the one, who will not let go or go away. Think about the future: What do you want your ex to be saying about you at the dinner table with friends or family?
Why I Will Have Norah Jones Playing at My Funeral By blogBuddhist tradition says that when an enlightened one dies there’s an opportunity for enlightenment for all of those present. In my personal opinion, when anyone dies, there’s an opportunity for enlightenment for those remaining.
Make This Your Year for Change, 2014 By thirdAGE blogThe reality of life can be painful and widowhood is a harsh reality. I remember feeling sad about another year coming, identifying myself as a “widow”, and rather than being excited about what I could create in the new year personally, professionally, physically, or spiritually, I just stayed in my “widowhood”. That had to change, and it did.