Home Archives for Overcoming Challenges

Improve Your Posture – Sit as Though You Had a Tail!

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Do you sit at your desk for hours every day? Do you struggle with trying to keep your shoulders back while you click away at your computer? Or do you just give up and let your shoulders curve forward? If so, your back probably aches or at least twinges. If it doesn't yet, it probably will! Advice to Improve Your Seated Posture This week, my friend Carole passed on to me a wonderful, simple tip about sitting that's transformed my posture. Sit as though you still … [Read more...]

Categories: Managing Stress, Overcoming Challenges, Productivity Tips

Jumping Rope: Learning Something New Later in Life

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I've decided to learn how to jump rope. My daughter Rya has sent me a new, state of the art jump rope -- the kind that boxers use. And I'm excited to try. Trying Something New at 72 To get ready, I did a bit of online research about jumping rope and this morning, when I went to Saint Mary's Park, I started jumping. I pretended I was spinning a jump rope and, on the balls of my feet, I started bouncing. 100 bounces at a time. Turns out that it's even fun to jump … [Read more...]

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Fighting Procrastination: Walking Through Walls of Resistance

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Every time I have a big project to do -- one that take thought and attention and care -- I've got to find a way to walk through a wall. Again and again, I walk right up to the wall of resistance and turn around to do something less stressful. Comfortable Procrastination Rituals I admire people who seem not to be plagued with walls of resistance. People like that (perhaps you are one of those lucky folks) know what they have to do and simply set about doing it. It's that … [Read more...]

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Stand Tall and Power Up, Mentally and Physically

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When my mother got old, her back was bent like the top of a cane. She looked curled even when she stood. Like a drying leaf that's fallen from a tree. Gradually, her body pulled in, shoulders and neck forward. Head canted down. She became smaller and smaller until one day she wasn't there any more. Do you know people like that? People who, when you see them after a few months apart, look noticeably smaller? Shrinking and curling are common patterns of aging -- … [Read more...]

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RESIST: Pussyhats Are Just the Start

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My historian friend, Maria, reminded me yesterday that as Hitler was coming to power, people retreated into their private spaces and communities. Feeling threatened, they withdrew, assuming that the worst couldn't/wouldn't happen in their civilized society. We can't make that same mistake. Uncivilized things can and do and will happen if we let them. And now, with a government that is willing to make up "alternate facts" to justify and sell their misguided ideas, … [Read more...]

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The Anti-Trump Armband Project Takes Shape

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I couldn't shake it from my mind.  And I can't let it go. I'm in mourning for the ideals I hold dear -- the ideals of my 70+ year lifetime. I've gotten lots of thoughts and suggestions from friends and acquaintances.  And I've gotten help.   Help thinking through and designing an image. Help in figuring out the message.  Help in finding a url that'll make sense. The First Prototypes My friend created a preliminary logo in record time.  I've ordered iron-on decals … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Overcoming Challenges

Would You Take a Stand for Your Values?

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Since the 2016 election, I've been vacillating between wanting to put my head down and disappear and wanting to stand up and be seen as someone who believes in inclusiveness and social justice and honesty, kindness and love. One moment, I bury myself deep in a page-turner type novel, hiding from the world. And The next minute, I think about things I might do to raise up the values I so believe in through the years to come. An Idea is Taking Shape.. I, like many people, … [Read more...]

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Should You Be Flattered or Outraged by Unwanted Advances?

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The tape of Donald Trump and Billy Bush talking about groping women unlocked a flood of memories for me. Memories I had stashed into a dustheap of unwelcome thoughts. But this past weekend, they started rising up. These are stories from the time I was a college freshman and through the following decades. Here are just a few that come to mind. Unwanted Sexual Advances Take a Toll There was the college student at Princeton who invited me to visit for the football game and … [Read more...]

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IMPORTANT! It’s Time to STOP Undermining Hillary Clinton

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I'm scared. I'm truly scared that Donald Trump might become the next president of our country. I've been listening to what people are saying, and I find that even my liberal friends and associates have been brainwashed to undermine Hillary Clinton. They criticize her even though they plan to vote for her. The Time is Now It's time that those of us who believe in experience and commitment and passion for a country that celebrates inclusion gather ourselves together … [Read more...]

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See Something, Say Something?

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On my way to Saint Mary’s Park at around 7 on Sunday morning, I had a troubling adventure. As I walked down a block on my usual route to the park, I looked up and saw 6 or 7 men walking toward me. Two or three were on the sidewalk and the others were walking in the street. As I continued toward them, I realized that two more men were entering the street from the playground behind me on my left heading toward the other men. The men paid me no attention. They were … [Read more...]

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