Inspiration

Every morning, before I get out of bed and while I do my hip flexor stretches, I think about my day. It helps me focus on what I have to look forward to. Maybe it’s lunch with a friend, a different walking route to try, or even a new episode of a favourite series. I do this every morning. It helps me get up with a smile. I feel positive about the day ahead, even when there is nothing…

You applaud your friend Mary Jane’s exuberance as she describes her delight with her new-found hobby, tap-dancing. OK, she’ll never be Fred Astaire, but she’s thrilled at what she and her fellow tap students, not a one under 60, are accomplishing. You listen appreciatively as your sister-in-law waxes enthusiastic over the writing class she’s joined. How wonderful…

Have you ever noticed that as we get older, we tend to spend more time talking about what we’re losing instead of what we are gaining? The conversation often centers on wrinkles, retirement, slowing down, or staying relevant in a rapidly changing world. Everywhere we look, we’re encouraged to maintain our youth, preserve…

I’ve always been quite quick and efficient. Quick to understand. Quick to act. Quick to respond. Then the “slow life” hit me full force on a beautiful fall day not too long ago. Not in the form of an inspiring book or a yoga retreat in India, but in the form of Fuji, a little Scottish Straight cat who’s now three years old. Since I didn’t want her wandering around…

Poor Judgment’s been slandered, accused and maligned, As if using good sense were a terrible crime. “Don’t judge!” say some people. “Be spiritual instead!” Yet without a bit of judgment, we’d all bump our heads. We’d wander through life like a cart with no wheel, Or smile at a snake while ignoring how we feel…

Years ago, before the internet settled household arguments in seconds, my then-husband and I had an ongoing disagreement about the lyrics to a song. The song was “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray. I insisted the lyric was, “Give me the beat boys and free my soul.” He insisted it was, “Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul.”

Yesterday was an eye-opener for me. I learned something new, and at 72, that’s something. I was reminded of the many small opportunities for connection that exist in everyday life, and how easy they are to overlook. When I’m out and about, I try to smile, give people the benefit of the doubt, and not take things personally…

What if the media and medical industry got aging backwards? What if our brains and even our creative abilities did not fade as we age, but actually increase? The latest neuroscience studies have proven that your brain does not lose its ability to create your dream lifestyle as you age. It gets…

Last night, I attended a showcase by one of my current female voice students. I’ll call her HN. She’s 29 and quite talented. I brought along one of my former male voice students, who studied with me fifteen years ago as a preteen…

As women, it has almost become a cliché that we take care of the rest of the world but don’t do a great job taking care of ourselves. We’re so busy looking after everyone else that we often place ourselves at the bottom of the list. Then we sense hunger…