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Author Patti Clark has been described as a cross between Elizabeth Gilbert and Julia Cameron. Patti is an award winning author, accomplished speaker and workshop leader. Her own experience as a middle-aged woman in recovery is deeply reflected in her books: This Way Up and Recovery Road Trip. Patti can be reached at: patticlarkwriter@gmail.com.

Latest Posts By Patti Clark

3 months ago

Dick Van Dyke: On Reaching 100 and Staying Connected and Playful

I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. And Dick Van Dyke was a mainstay on our TV. He was one of my favorite actors. I loved his TV show with Mary Tyler Moore. And of course, he was wonderful as the sweet chimney sweep in Mary Poppins…

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6 months ago

Book Review: From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks

Arthur C. Brooks’ From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life is a compelling guide for navigating the challenges and transitions of life as we age. Drawing upon a rich tapestry of personal stories, psychological insights…

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6 months ago

SuperAgers: Research Shows That Two Particular Things Make a Difference!

Many of us expect to decline as we age: walking more slowly, memory starting to fade, energy dwindling. But then there are the SuperAgers: people in their 80s, 90s and even Centenarians who are as sharp, vibrant, and engaged as folks decades younger. They remind us that aging…

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7 months ago

Staying Sharp: What I’ve Learned About Focus as I Grow Older

I’ve always been interested in brain health, especially after reading more about neuroplasticity. But I never worried about my brain much. It was just there – ready, reliable, always on call. But as I got older, I noticed little shifts: forgetting why I walked into a room, forgetting names…

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7 months ago

The Power of a Pause: How a Simple Pause Can Enhance Our Lives

In a world that prizes speed, productivity, and constant connection, the idea of pausing can feel counterintuitive, even ‘bad’ – not just bad behavior, but that I’m a bad person. And as I age, I fear that if I pause, I might just stop all together. But I keep reading that pausing…

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9 months ago

Let It All Hang Out (Or Why We Should Journal, at Every Age, But Especially as We Age)

When I was 16 years old, my mother died of alcoholism. I didn’t know what to do, I was lost and afraid and life felt impossible. So, what did I do? I drank a lot to feel nothing, to numb out. And I also started journaling, every day. I wasn’t sure why, it just felt like something…

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10 months ago

‘But I Feel More Open and Creative When I Drink or Use Drugs’… And Other Damaging Myths

As I mentioned in a previous article, I would like to take a deeper dive into the damaging myth that drinking alcohol and/or taking drugs enhances one’s creativity. Before I gave up drugs and alcohol, I thought the only way I could be creative in any way was to be high on some substance…

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11 months ago

Aging Women Are Still Drinking Too Much – And It’s Killing Us!

I wrote an article for the New York Weekly last October about the Rising Alcohol Use and Health Risks for Women aimed at women in their 30s and 40s. But research shows that excessive alcohol use among older women is rising and the risks for women over 50 are even greater…

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11 months ago

Creativity Is Important, Especially as We Age! And Yes We Are ALL Creative!

My friend and I used to run workshops for women in New Zealand entitled FIGJAM Workshops (Fresh Insights Give Joy and Meaning). And in our workshops, we focused a lot on creativity and its importance in our life. In these workshops, the one sentence we heard over…

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11 months ago

We All Need a Little CPR (Creative Positive Reframing)

Do you ever feel like your inner voice is not your best friend? Do you find that voice telling you that whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it wrong? My inner chatter is often telling me that I’m not doing ‘it’ right. It doesn’t matter what ‘it’ is – doing a task, helping someone…

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