Fran Braga Meininger writes personal narratives about the years beyond youth, a time in a woman’s life that can be vibrant, fulfilling, and wonderful, despite – or perhaps because of – all that comes with age. She lives in northern California where she hikes, bikes and lives life in big bites. You can visit her website at https://www.theyearsbeyondyouth.com

Latest Posts By Fran Braga Meininger

2 weeks ago

The Dreaded High School Reunion and the 5 Things I Discovered Preparing for Mine

I graduated in 1973 from a small Catholic high school. I was young for my age, ill prepared to be rubbing elbows with girls who drove Jaguars and brand new Camaros to school, had streets named after their fathers and felt little to no use for me…

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1 month ago

Cultivating a Sense of Wonder by Opening Up to Curiosity

Do you remember what it was like to be a curious child with such an insatiable appetite for new experiences, you rushed into your day with boundless energy and enthusiasm? Perhaps it’s not always that way now. I know, it’s changed…

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2 months ago

Addicted to My To-Do List

A prolonged rainstorm trapping me indoors and the arrival of a three-month-old puppy, who required my attention to securely settle into her new home, presented me with weeks of unscheduled time – time that would otherwise have been spent…

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2 months ago

7 Ways to Foster Honest Conversation in Troubling Times

We’re programmed to face chin up and cheerful into whatever life brings. The etiquette of our upbringing in the 50s and 60s warned that people don’t want to hear our problems, only to exchange pleasantries and move along…

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3 months ago

Mature Women Are More Than Just Skin Deep

As a writer, my audience consists of women of a certain era. Those of us who now occupy the years beyond youth. I am my own demographic, and I write from personal experience about exploring options and deciding what we want…

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4 months ago

Writing through the Slump – Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

I must have a dozen essays sitting in my – To Be Continued – file right now. Some are the beginning of something worth finishing, while others are mere musings and early morning attempts to capture some sort of divine inspiration…

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5 months ago

Road Tripping – Traveling Safely by Car to Explore the World Up Close

There is something very freeing about sliding into the driver’s seat and heading out onto the open road. It offers a chance to experience the world at a slower, more intimate pace than flying over in a plane. However, many women are hesitant…

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6 months ago

5 Evergreen Truths to Mindfully Becoming an Elder

Many people dislike the word elder. I never had a reaction to it because I never really thought of myself in those terms. But a recent spontaneous and heart-warming exchange made me realize…

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7 months ago

Growing Older in a Stronger Body

Like many women my age, I had noticed a distinct difference in my muscle mass and strength. It was obvious my usual workout was not keeping pace with the age related decline and a pain in my left hip was taking the joy out of the long…

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7 months ago

6 Tips for Cooking Deliciously in Small Servings

While restaurants have adapted and re-adapted to the “new” safety standards, many people still choose to cook at home, leaving us faced with how to make nutritious, creative, and inviting meals for one or two people…

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