Being Grateful

Women of a certain mature age carry a quiet archive of courtesies – small, beautiful habits that once stitched communities together. We learned them from mothers and grandmothers who believed that kindness wasn’t something you felt, it was something…

Some seasons arrive quietly and undo us.
This November has been one of those months for me. At the beginning of the month, I lost a long-term friend unexpectedly. My 93-year-old mom, who has been slowly disappearing into Alzheimer’s for four years…

Last week, I attended a reading in my hometown by author and intuitive Laura Lynne Jackson, who is on tour for her latest book, Guided: The Secret Path to an Illuminated Life. I was introduced to her via her former book, Signs. In fact, that book inspired me to write…

When good things happen to us, we feel grateful. We’re thankful for our family, a comfortable home, caring friends, purposeful activities in retirement or paid employment, health, life in a free country, a pretty sunset, and more…

The ability to be thankful for life’s ugliness as much as for what uplifts us is one lesson that I learned from certain characters which came to life via the talented imagination of Larry McMurtry. The author rode into his own Western sunset this past week at 84…

It’s that time of the year when many of us are making lists. Sometimes, we’re enumerating things to do, while other lists may include loftier goals for the coming year or names of people or events we appreciate…

Why is it so hard to buy gifts for grandma? Perhaps it’s because, as women in our 60s, or older, we simply don’t feel like we need anything anymore. Or, maybe the traditional gifts of knitting sets, customized mugs, bath salts and jewelry simply…

My father was a Holocaust survivor, and every day of his life he expressed gratitude, so at an early age I, too, learned to be grateful. This is probably one of the reasons why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Its focus is on gathering together with loved ones for food and…

The holiday season is always an appropriate time to take a few minutes, pause, and reflect on the gifts you’ve been given, the people you love and cherish and the opportunities you are afforded in life. It is my experience that giving gratitude…

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to celebrate family, friends and those you love, and what better way to show your appreciation than to give them a thoughtful gift? Don’t just bring wine to the feast; surprise your host with a special…