About Noelle Nelson

The phrase, “Follow your bliss,” was famously said by the author, Joseph Campbell. It seems like one of those New Age truisms that we respond to with, “Sounds nice, but who can afford to do that? Rock stars? Celebrities? Very rich people?” Read More

Smiling contributes significantly to your happiness, health and longevity, so the research tells us.

Yeah, right, I’m thinking, when my dance teacher commands us to “Smile!” even as I am contorting my body into a completely unnatural position. If this choreography doesn’t kill me first – sure, I’ll smile! Read More

One of my favorite TV ads these days is of two ladies, grey and white haired respectively, who walk into Walgreen’s and purchase a variety of sunscreen ointments. Read More

You know how some people absolutely radiate happiness? How just being around them, even for a minute, can make you happy too?
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Ah, the month of love!

As February rolls around, Valentine’s Day is in the air – literally. You couldn’t miss the coming of Valentine’s Day if you tried. Between the TV specials, stuffed bears and candy for sale everywhere you look, love-songs on the Internet and the ever-present jewelry commercials, the month of love is categorically upon us. Read More

It’s hard to tell with rescue pups, but my vet figured that my beloved Ringo was about 2 years old when he came into my life. This makes him now about 12. Read More

According to psychologists, we go through various stages of life from birth to death. Rich or poor, whatever our ethnicities, religions or culture, we share this passage through distinct phases of life. And the years after 60 or so are considered the years of giving back. Read More

If you ask me how old I feel, I’ll tell you “40.”

Why? Because I didn’t start to feel my uniqueness, my strengths, my true self, until I hit my fourth decade. Now, I am almost at level 7.0 (that’s a story for another day). As I turn 69, I have a degree of gravitas, of self-confidence, of utter joy in being-ness that utterly eluded me in my 20s and 30s. Read More

You’d think that with increasing age would come increasing misery. After all, isn’t that what TV ads and the like would have us believe?

Depression, anxiety, fear, insecurity and not to mention the worry of cognitive decline, debilitating physical changes. We are bombarded with these gloomy messages almost daily. Read More

You know that awful moment when you’re standing in the middle of the living room, wondering, “Why am I here?” No, not the existential “Why am I here?” as in your reason for living, but the more ordinary “Why did I just walk into this room?” Read More