A Warm Welcome for Nana By Sondra Forsyth blogJanuary is drawing to a close, yet the indelible memories of Christmas with my daughter, son-in-law, and two young grandsons continue to buoy my spirits. Not only that, but those dear little boys, flesh of my flesh, are a powerful incentive to do everything I can to give myself the best chance possible of celebrating many more Christmases to come. This must be why social scientists, in study after study, have shown that strong family ties are one of the most important keys to enjoying continuing vitality as we age.
Why Is My Husband Depressed and How Do I Help Him? By blog What we call depression has likely been around since before recorded history and has been recognized for thousands of years. Aretaeus of Cappadocia (circa 81-138 AD) is credited with the first clinical description of depression. Hippocrates, the Greek physician of antiquity, was well aware of the disease of depression and called it melancholia. Whatever we call it, depression is becoming an increasingly significant problem for men and the women who love them. Women can be frustrated and wonder why is my husband depressed?
Why I Hate Exercising in the "Great Outdoors" By Sondra Forsyth blogI recently ran across yet another article extolling the virtues of working out in "nature." The author made gushing references to the wonders of sunshine, fresh air, gentle breezes, and a change of scenery. She did not, however, mention dangerous UV rays or ragweed or pollution or disease-bearing bugs or sudden thunderstorms or blistering heat. As far as I'm concerned, the list she ignored is a very good argument for sticking with indoor exercise – mall walking, dance classes, Pilates, the gym, or simply exercise videos right in your own home.
The Secret to Getting Your Man to Become More Loving By blog George and Henry are cousins, but their behavior in love and at work couldn’t be more different. Here’s how they are described by Paul, a person who knows them both well. “George is a stand-up guy,” says Paul. “He gets along well with others and he always looks for the peaceful solution to conflict. He is loyal to his mate and shares in the housework and childrearing. He is a good provider and loves to give to his family and friends.”
Grandparents Day: A Reminder to Live a Healthy Lifestyle By Sondra Forsyth blog As Grandparents Day 2012 approaches, I am renewing my annual vow to keep living the healthiest possible lifestyle so that I can, with some luck in the bargain, stick around to see my precious grandsons reach milestone after milestone. This all started the year the elder of the two was 15 months old. His eyes welled up with tears when I kissed him good-bye at the airport after a visit. I hugged him fiercely and then I said, as brightly as I could muster, "Bye bye!"
Your Man and Stress: Saving His Sanity and the Only Brain He'll Ever Have By blogAlthough we have known for some time that stress can cause damage to the heart, the gastrointestinal tract, and other parts of the body, we have recently learned that stress can actually damage the brain. J.
Once a Mother, Always a Mother By Sondra Forsyth blog Years ago when my firstborn was 14, I wrote an essay for "Ladies' Home Journal" about my maternal angst when he left for a two-week Outward Bound wilderness adventure. I called the piece "Letting Go." What I didn't know then was that mothers never really let go. We are attached for life to our offspring by a phenomenon I have come to think of as the emotional umbilical cord. Unlike the physical cord that is severed after we give birth, the invisible one is never cut. As the years go by, we may feel the tug less often.
The Great Ballets 101 -- Part I By Sondra Forsyth blogWhen I was a young ballet student, I read "The Complete Book of Ballets," by Cyril Beaumont, many times over.
An Epiphany That Changed My Life By Sondra Forsyth blog I rang in 1967 in Ierapetra, a village that hugs the shore of the Mediterranean on the island of Crete. I had landed a job as an English teacher after earning a TOEFL certificate in London and my students had told me that although the New Year's Eve festivities were exciting, the real action would happen on January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany. In the Greek Orthodox religion, that day celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Magi. A procession led by the Bishop winds through the town and ends at the seashore for the Blessing of the Waters.
Of Mincemeat Pies and Memories By Sondra Forsyth blog I knew I had reached a milestone in my life this year when I was able to walk past jars of mincemeat in the supermarket during the weeks before Thanksgiving without having tears well up in my eyes. Some of my fondest memories of the years when my children were growing up are of the hours we spent together in the kitchen baking treats for birthdays and holidays. Chief among those bake fests was the annual creation of the lattice crust mincemeat pie for Thanksgiving.
Parlez Vous Ballet? By Sondra Forsyth blog 'Tis the season when rehearsals for myriad annual productions of "The Nutcracker" are underway across the country. If the beloved holiday ballet is coming to a theater or high school auditorium near you and you're not a regular balletomane, here's your chance to bone up in advance with my Q&A about the history and lore of the liveliest art's classical dance form.Q. Why are all the ballet terms French?
How the Pumpkin Patch Photos Stole Nana's Heart By Sondra Forsyth blog I wasn't planning to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons for Christmas this year. Plane fare from NYC to Phoenix isn't cheap, and I have a heavier workload right now than usual. I just didn't see how I could spend the time and money for the trip. Also, holiday travel is never my idea of a good time what with bad weather, overbooked and overpriced flights, cranky children, and wailing babies. So I told my daughter we would just schedule a Skype session for December 25th. She sounded disappointed, but she understood.
What's The Matter With Him? By blog "He used to be the nicest guy you could imagine, now he's become moody and mean." I hear this bewildered concern from women all over the world. "She used to be gentle and caring, now she treats me like her worst enemy." Men are equally frustrated and confused. Millions of women and men are finding that something strange is happening to them when their relationship moves into midlife.
I Walked My Daughter Down the Aisle By Sondra Forsyth blogOn a blazingly beautiful July afternoon in 2003, I walked my daughter down the aisle. Well, actually, it was a hill since the ceremony was on the grounds of a lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park. The point, though, is that she was on my arm and not her father's.
The Irritable Male Syndrome And Male Menopause By blog "He used to be the nicest guy you could imagine, now he's become moody and mean." I hear this bewildered concern from women all over the world. "She used to be gentle and caring, now she treats me like her worst enemy. Men are equally frustrated and confused. Millions of women and men are finding that something strange is happening to them when their relationship moves into mid-life.
Memories of 9/11 in NYC By Sondra Forsyth blog On September 14th 2001, three days after 9/11, I posted "Attack on New York: Report from the Front Lines" on DanceArt.com where I've been "The New York Dance Scene" blogger since 1997. Here is what I wrote when the tragedy was still so fresh:
Wild Cat By Sondra Forsyth blogOn summer Sundays near my apartment in Manhattan, volunteers from Kitten Little Rescue bring cages full of captured feral cats and set up camp. When I walked by one afternoon in 2010, I spotted a white kitten doing its winsome best to attract attention by sticking a paw through the bars and letting out plaintive meows that seemed to say, "Pick me! Take me home with you!"