Lifestyle

Have you noticed how some friends love to be around you when times are good but run for the hills at the first sign of trouble? Were they ever true friends? A few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about her experience with cancer. Her husband, who was relatively young, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and given about a year to live. Over the next 12 months, she did everything that she could to keep him comfortable, before he sadly passed away.

Women over 60 are much more technologically savvy than most people give us credit for! But, even if you are comfortable with technology, it can often be difficult to know where to look for people who share your interests. This is especially true at a time when we need to be more careful than ever about our privacy and security online. Read More

If you look at the way that people in their midlife and older are portrayed in the media, you would be forgiven for thinking that life ends at 60. There are exceptions – usually in comedies designed to show the humorous side of aging – but, for the most part, life after 60 is shown to be a time of turning invisible and aging gracefully. Read More

There is something primitive and wondrous about making something out of nothing. Women understand this on a deeply psychological level. Perhaps this is due to the fact that we are capable of creating life. Or, maybe our varied roles throughout history have taught us the value of being resourceful and creative. Read More

If you’re in retirement, or fast approaching retirement age, perhaps you’re wondering about where you want to live during this next stage of life. Many women over 60 are reinventing retirement by working longer, dating new partners, traveling and retiring abroad, and otherwise living life with a new level of vitality and purpose. Read More

Christmas dinner at my house features a symphony of different languages. Over turkey and stuffing, it’s not unusual to hear German, Russian, English and French being thrown around. So, perhaps it’s no surprise that I have come to understand in a very personal way the value of learning a second language – or two or three – after the age of 60. Read More

Retirement is a good time to assess what is important in our lives. By focusing on our priorities and downsizing in retirement, we can make space for the things that really matter. In a literal sense, “downsizing” can mean moving to a smaller house or learning to “traveling light.” For me, it is so much more than this. After a lifetime of accumulating “stuff,” downsizing allows us to create mental space. It helps us to simplify our life on a fundamental level. It all starts with shifting our focus away from “things” and towards experiences and people. Now that I have gone through the process of downsizing my life, I would love to offer some advice to the other women in the community who may want to do the same. Here are a few practical ideas for downsizing in retirement…

If you are winding down your working years and getting ready to embrace life as a retiree, it can often present a surprising blend of emotions. As you approach retirement, it’s natural to feel happy, proud, nostalgic, wistful, and perhaps a bit uncertain or even worried about “what do I do next?” Read More

Everyone has their favorite websites. But, with so many to choose from, finding new places to visit online, while avoiding all the nonsense, can be challenging. Read More

When I was a little girl, I loved to go to school. I used to enjoy packing my little daisy lunch box and satchel before heading off to class. 60 years later, it doesn’t surprise me that I am still passionately interested in learning new things.

Like many older women, it still makes me smile when someone teaches me something unexpected or interesting. In the past, I’ve written about several options for women who want to continue their education online. But, did you know that a record number of older adults are returning to school as well? Read More