If I accept the Oxford-Webster definition of success, which is “achieving wealth, respect, or fame”, then I can count the successes or the near successes in my life on one hand. In high school, I won my school’s public speaking contest. I proudly wore the first-place ribbon on my sweater throughout the evening after I announced to my family at the dinner table, “I’m going to regionals.” I could hardly

Not long ago, I spent an overnight at a swanky hotel in the city. Does anyone use the term swanky anymore? Anyway, it was a nice place. The rooms overlooked the harbor. A fluffy robe and towel were provided for the spa, the swimming pool, or the hot tub. Since I had some time before my dinner engagement, I decided to change into my swimsuit and go for a soak.

It was a last-minute decision to grab a coffee at one of my favorite coffee shops. I parked and walked briskly inside. Oh, no! There were 10 people in line with probably the same thought I had. While waiting my turn, with the person in front of me ordering six drinks for her pals back at the office no less, I sighed and looked around at the crowded space. Every

Throughout history, there have been many dark and difficult times. In 1346, the Bubonic Plague killed about 30 – 50% of Europe’s population. Because the mortality rate was around 50%, people were often buried alive if they were too sick to be moved. Ouch! 1918 was also a difficult time. World War 1 had just ended. The Spanish Flu broke out claiming about 50 – 100 million lives. Some historians

A meditation teacher once asked me, “How are you feeling these days?” I thought for a moment before answering. “To be honest I’m not feeling much of anything. I’m not sad but I’m not jumping for joy either.” I wondered what else to say. “I guess I’m pretty much neutral about things.” He clapped his hands. “Oh, that’s wonderful.” He smiled broadly. “You see. Neutrality is the finest state of

The Webster-Merriam definition of “blocked” is to be obstructed or to make movement slow or impossible. Creativity is typically defined as the ability to generate new ideas or novel associations. Writer’s Block is usually associated with writing. Often an author is unable to produce new work or experiences a creative blackout. It can vary in severity from a few days to several years. The common reason is fear of imperfection

I can hardly believe this is the 17th Tuesday of 2024. It’s also National English Muffin Day, Spanish Language Day, World Book Day, National Email Day, Table Tennis Day, German Beer Day, International Creator Day, Cherry Cheesecake Day, Impossible Astronaut Day, and I kid you not –National Nose Picking Day! What? Who knew? It’s also the 36th day of spring with only 59 days left till summer. In the past,

Eucalyptus are iconic Australian trees with distinctive bark, leaves, and striking foliage. There are over 700 species that are highly valued for their oil. Several large eucalyptus trees lined the eastern side of our rental, and I never tired of gazing at their magnificent trunks and branches. The more mature ones looked like works of art, with round beige, gray, brown, and black dotted patterns. I learned they are fast-growing

The first thing I noticed when we arrived at our coastal rental was a little black and white picture frame with the words: Paris New York London Tokyo and the name of the small town nearby. I laughed. The place we chose to stay at was not Tokyo or Paris but a quaint, out-of-the-way spot with a population of about 3,000. Pristine beaches, spectacular blue lakes, inlets, rivers, and mountain

For many years, I’ve aspired to run a half-marathon and a full marathon. However, there was always something that got in the way: a significant family event, an injury, not enough training, the timing was wrong, an illness, and then there were the times when other activities took priority. Traveling to a foreign country or a cultural immersion program are two examples. A race cancelation due to a large wildfire

A snowbird is defined as someone migrating from the colder parts of the northern hemisphere to warmer, southern locations. In North America, many snowbirds travel to Palm Springs, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Costa Rica, or Hawaii. This year I have also participated in this snowbird exodus. But I’ve traveled much further and spent most of my winter in Oz, a nickname for Australia. When my son first went to Australia in

If you’ve read my memoir, Wandering …a long way past the past, you may recall that my relationship with my now-deceased mother was not particularly a loving one ‘nor a healthy one. In my book, I did not mention much in the way of positive reminiscences, as there weren’t many. However, there was a special day in my childhood. I was eight years old. It was snowing outside. The snowflakes

My blogs end with the caption “Enjoy the passage of time.” For most of us, enjoying the passage of time is usually easier when things are pleasant. Appreciating a sunrise after a good night’s sleep. Feeling safe and secure. Delighting in going out for dinner with friends. Grateful for the kindness someone showed us. A heightened thankfulness for nature on a beautiful summer day. It is harder to enjoy the

Last year I participated in a neuroscience workshop regarding how yoga affects the brain. I learned that the natural aging of the brain accelerates between the ages of 70-80 and increases significantly after 80. Fluid cognition, such as remembering names or visual attention, declines more quickly than crystallized cognition like long-term memories or cultural norms. Music, yoga, and engaging in new activities can help improve fluid cognition and recent research

I learned a lot in 2023. I learned how to play pickleball and American Mah Jongg, though I am quite a beginner in both. I learned how to prepare delicious gluten-free meals with the help of oat flour, a cup of patience, and heaping tablespoons of trial-and-error experiments. I learned that I must work out twice as hard as I used to if I want to stay fit or at