THAT'S A WRAP AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

As the year draws to an end it's time to pause and look back, wrap up the loose ends, and celebrate the season of Christmas before we head into a new and exciting year.

IT'S A WRAP FOR 2020

Well, Christmas is just around the corner and the end of the year will be upon us before we know it. 2020 has crawled by at times, and flown by at other times. One minute we were in February and hearing about Coronavirus, then we were in March and completely locked down. Before I knew it, Easter had gone by without family or Easter eggs for the grandgirls.

We settled into our new normal here in Australia as Covid was kept to quarantined returning travellers in their hotel rooms, and life pretty much returned to normal. My heart broke for those who were living with huge numbers of new community cases, and those who lost family or friends from the virus. Things have certainly been uncertain and unsettled.

SUPER EASY LEMON MERINGUE PIE

A super easy lemon meringue pie - light, creamy, sweet and delicious.

INTRO

After reading and giving up on all the tricky, interesting, exotic recipes I see shared on blogs everywhere, I decided to work from the other end of the spectrum and share some of my super easy recipes that are guaranteed to taste good, be easy to prepare with basic ingredients, and they always turn out well.

Today's recipe comes from the back of a condensed milk tin that I saved from my early married days. Lemon meringue pie is one of my favourite desserts - and it has to be a creamy lemon filling - not those strange versions that are sour and more like a jelly. I make this dessert when I'm upping my "chef" game but it's still really easy and foolproof (win/win!)

HOW DID YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR PLAY OUT?

Choosing a word of the year gives a different focus to a New Year's resolution - why not give it a try?

CHOOSING A WORD OF THE YEAR

Every January for the past five years I've chosen a word to focus on rather than getting tied to New Years resolutions. I love that it's more general and it prompts me to think about how I'd like to grow in the 12 months ahead of me - rather than pledging to do things that I might not achieve. 

As far as previous #WOTY's go, the first year I chose Release (so many things I needed to let go of), then it was Embrace (so many new things to open myself up to), then I moved on to Enough (being enough and having enough). I changed track with Rise (rising up from a difficult year) and followed that with More (becoming more rather than fading away to less). This year I found it really difficult to settle on a word - nothing felt right and I nearly gave it all a miss. Then at the last minute I stumbled upon this quote....

HEADING TOWARDS MY SIXTIES WITH SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND A SMILE

What is the one thing worth working on over the year ahead? For me it's self-acceptance and the freedom it brings.
 

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN THE NEXT DECADE?

It was my birthday last month, and it was the last one in my 50's - yes.... I am now officially 59 and looking at finishing out another decade of life. I've been asking myself over the last few weeks, what it is that I want to set in place in preparation to embarking on my sixties. Basically, what ongoing issue do I need to finally get sorted?

I keep circling back to words like self-confidence, self-love, self-worth, and self-esteem, because I feel like I still haven't attained that inner sense of self-assuredness that I see in so many other women of my age. I can put on the mask and pretend to be confident, but underneath there's still that little voice in my head that tells me it's not real and I'm not comfortable in my sense of "self". I'm not sure what's lacking, but I'm planning on doing something proactive over the next year to finally step into being relaxed and confident in who I am - no more pretending.

SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - WHAT'S MAKING ME HAPPY #4

In times of uncertainty it's good to focus our thoughts on the things that bring joy and remind us of how blessed we are.

IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY

It's the end of November already and time to share some "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" ..... Sunshine - what's been happening to make me happy, Lollipops - silly things and memes that gave me a smile, and Rainbows - what I'm grateful for this month.

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE MUM WHO HAS EVERYTHING

Do you have a family member who's impossible to buy for? If you're in Australia I have the perfect place to browse and buy an experience they'll love.

GIFT SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO

I think a lot of us have been feeling a bit low with all the restrictions that COVID-19 has placed on us since February. I can't believe an entire year has gone by with very little happening to make us smile. Travel is almost non-existent, and a lot of the little luxuries we enjoyed were also curtailed due to the social distancing requirements. As Australia has slowly opened up again, we can start enjoying a few little treats that we're sorely in need of and I can't wait to share some here on the blog.

I have collaborated with the Australian company RedBalloon who is the heartland of enriching experiences. They offer a range of amazing experiences that build meaningful and memorable life moments, perfect to gift at Christmas time. On top of their bucket-list worthy experiences, they also offer a range of indulging, relaxed gift ideas for mum that caught my eye.

TAKING TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES

Are you busy rushing towards the next new thing, or returning to old habits? Maybe it's time to pause and allow yourself to smell the roses.

FINDING INSPIRATION

One of the things I love about blogging is that it introduces you to new people and new ideas. So many women in Midlife are exploring interesting concepts and Michele Vosberg recently shared a post where she recommended some great books to help with achieving our dreams. I'm not a big dreamer, but one book sounded particularly interesting and I thought I'd download it and see what it had to offer.

HOW TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS ONLINE

If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.

INTRO

Today on the blog I have a collaborative guest post with an interesting discussion and general overview of what it takes to start your own online business. It seems like everyone has an idea or two about what they'd like to do to earn an income from home, but sometimes it takes a little bit of a push to take it to the next stage.

Today might just provide another paving stone in the path to doing something you love - whether it's starting a blog, starting a business, or just dipping your toes in the water.

ADVICE FROM A SUPERMODEL ON REASSESSING LIFE

When you're doing some soul searching, advice can come from many different sources - this is what I learnt from a super model's Instagram post.

REASSESSING AND MOVING FORWARD

It was my birthday last week and it's my last one in my 50's. I feel like it's bringing up some thoughts on how I want to prepare myself for the decade ahead when I enter my sixties next year. I've been doing a bit of reading, thinking, and drilling down deeper, and I'm planning on  2021 being the year I devote to discovering how to live life on my own terms - and finally getting rid of the underlying (and soul destroying) need to earn the approval of others.

Because this has been on my mind a lot over the last few weeks, I see little snippets of inspiration all over the place. One surprising source of wisdom that caught my eye came from a model and influencer. Those of you who read my blog would know that I'm not a fan of the whole social media "look at me and my perfect life" scenario, so I'm not on Instagram and I don't follow anyone who projects a shiny image likely to send me off down the compare and despair path. But this time it was different.

RECEIVING A MIDLIFE WAKE UP CALL

Let's celebrate the second half of life - don't sit back and watch the world go by, stay vibrant and relevant in your second act.

A MIDLIFE WAKE UP CALL

Midlife is a turning point for a lot of us, and I know when I reached 50 I started thinking about what the second half of my life would look like. I wasn't overly thrilled with the images that floated through my imagination - I saw a middle aged woman who was a little world-weary and who seemed to have nothing much to offer. I saw myself plodding through each day until I was old, grey and even more boring. It was a very dis-spiriting thought. But it wasn't the only choice open to me and that's when my wake-up call began.

SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - WHAT'S MAKING ME HAPPY #3


IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY

It's the end of October and time to share some "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" ..... Sunshine - what's been happening to make me happy, Lollipops - silly things and memes that gave me a smile, and Rainbows - what I'm grateful for this month.

LEARNING THAT GROWTH CAN BE A DANCE

No matter how much work you've done on yourself, you can still snap back sometimes. So be easy on you. Growth is a dance.

FROM THEN TO NOW

Life is a journey - I think we all know that, and I hope we're all progressing in a forward direction (even if it's two steps forward and one step back at times). I've shared quite a lot about my life journey here on the blog and last year I spent several months working my way through the trauma of my awful job imploding on me, my subsequent resignation, and the journey to finding myself again.

One thing I realized the other day is that we shouldn't expect ourselves to completely recover from a major trauma overnight. It can take months or years before we feel like it's finally behind us - we think we've moved on, but then we encounter something (or someone) and we're reminded that it's a process and not a done deal.

SUPER EASY 2 EGG PAVLOVA

An easy two egg pavlova that you can whip up in no time.  No fuss and one bowl to prepare.

INTRO

Last month I began my super easy recipe sharing with lemon/orange drizzle muffins. I'd been wanting to bake some for a while and when I mentioned it here on the blog, others asked me to share my recipe. I'm a very basic "chef" so it was safe to give my friend's recipe away - guaranteed no-fail - because if I can make it, then anyone can! 

Today I have my favourite super easy Christmas dessert to pass on to anyone who's interested in trying their hand at a classic Aussie favourite.

CRESTING THE HILL AND ENJOYING THE VIEW

What's in a blog name? Is it important to spend the time choosing well?Here's why I chose mine and how it's panned out over the years.

CLIMBING THE HILL

A few weeks ago, some blogging friends and I were discussing hiking and how you approach those difficult hill climbs. My friend Jo from And Anyways commented that the secret is to tackle the climb with a positive attitude because you know it's going to be hard, but it will be even harder if you're complaining and miserable every step of the way. Her example was pushing through a challenging section by singing "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" (a great Meatloaf flashback there for those of  us who loved "Bat Out Of Hell" in the 70's - and that darn song was stuck in my head for weeks after she mentioned it!) with a fellow hiker and being able to laugh about it later when they'd conquered that section.

Her story reminded me of a quote that I often think about when I look at our journey through life:

FINDING PEACE IN THE BEAUTY OF BECOMING

When life turns out differently than expected, we can fight it or we can embrace the uncertainty of becoming someone new.

WAITING AND WONDERING

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about how unsettled I was feeling. Since then I've been trying to figure out what it is at the heart of things that's causing me to feel this way. I've dithered back and forth trying to dig down to the crux of it all and to try to bypass all the little distractions that seem to be the reason but are just symptoms rather than the cause.

SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - WHAT'S MAKING ME HAPPY #2

In times of uncertainty it's good to focus our thoughts on the things that bring joy and remind us of how blessed we are.

IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY

Last month I decided to change my end of month catch-up from a virtual cuppa to sharing some  "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" ..... Sunshine - what's been happening to make me happy, Lollipops - silly things and memes that gave me a smile, and Rainbows - what I'm grateful for this month. So without further ado - here we go with September's Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.

SAVOURING THE HIGH NOTES

Life is a constant cycle of ups and downs - it's up to us to choose the positives in every situation.

HIGH NOTES AND LOW NOTES

This year I chose "SYMPHONY" as my word of the year. I thought it was a wonderful way to sum up the idea of making the most of the years that lie ahead. Creating my Midlife Opus - and encouraging others to share their stories about making the second half of life great. Then on top of all of that came COVID-19 and all it brought in its wake.

LIFE AFTER A MID-CAREER MALAISE

You're not alone if you're feeling fed up with your job - here's three ways to respond and move forward.

CAREER CHOICES IN THE 1970's

I really admire people who choose a career in their teens and then stay the distance until they retire in their mid sixties. I'm not one of those people. Originally I had plans to be a teacher.  For a lot of young women back in the 70's, teaching, nursing, or office work were the main choices - but teaching didn't pan out for me because my parents didn't want to support me for those extra years of university - after all "women just get married and have babies, so it'd be a waste of time and money" (my dad's words). Fortunately times have changed for the better these days and young women can be whatever they choose.

SUPER EASY ORANGE DRIZZLE MUFFINS

 Super easy muffins - with a lovely sweet citrus drizzle - perfect for afternoon tea.

INTRO

I don't know about you, but a lot of the recipes I see online these days are waaaay out of my cooking comfort zone. They all seem to have mile long ingredient lists - usually including things I've never heard of, or that are hard to source (ie: freshly whipped butter from the milk of a himalayan mountain goat - churned at dawn on a Thursday......)

CANVAS PRINTS FOR A SUREFIRE EMOTIONAL BOOST

Easy on the wallet, simple to order and quick to arrive, photo canvas wall prints are a great way to create a positive Spring vibe.

INTRO

I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels like COVID has sapped little bits of my peace and happiness, and the only place I feel truly safe and calm is in my own home. Keeping my surroundings peaceful and lovely soothes my soul, and I've found myself looking for little extras to reinforce that feeling. I'm a minimialist at heart, but one new item can really lift my spirits and give me a little boost for the week.

Recently I was approached by a company who make beautiful wall art out of photos - your own or those you love from elsewhere (I particularly love the copyright free sites like Pixabay and Unsplash). Today's collaborative post is about their beautiful products and includes some lovely examples and how to create your own.

LEARNING THE ART OF SAYING "NO" GRACIOUSLY

We all have to learn to say "No" for our mental and physical wellbeing. Let go of people pleasing and look after yourself.

WHEN YOU SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS

A friend shared a link to another blogger's brand new blog the other day with the thought that I could leave an encouraging comment to help start her on her new journey. It was no problem at all to pop over and read her beautifully written post, but I find that life can sometimes show us a little bit about ourselves when we least expect it  - and this was one of those occasions.

SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - WHAT'S MAKING ME HAPPY #1

In times of uncertainty it's good to focus our thoughts on the things that bring joy and remind us of how blessed we are.

IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we have to find the positives in life and the more we turn our eyes towards the good stuff, the less impact the bad stuff has on us. I feel like there's so much antsy-ness in the world right now with all the worry with coronavirus, and then the civil unrest, and such a generalized feeling of unsettledness everywhere. 

It's time to share some sunshine. So, instead of a virtual cuppa (which we've been drinking together every month for the last three years) I thought I'd have a change of pace and do something just a little bit different for awhile - because a change is as good as a holiday - or so the saying goes.

WHEN LIFE FEELS A LITTLE OUT OF KILTER


AM I THE ONLY ONE FEELING UNSETTLED?

Is anyone else feeling a bit unsettled and antsy lately? I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling like my world is a little out of kilter at the time being. I've been thinking about it on and off over the last few weeks and I'm wondering if a change is in the air? A blogging friend told me that when you're feeling generally unsettled it can mean that you're preparing for something new to come into your life - and I'm hoping she's right.

FOUR SCORE YEARS AND TEN - THE 5 STAGES OF LIFE

Life can be divided into five stages and each stage holds challenges and growth if we choose to approach them with positivity.

THE 5 STAGES OF LIFE

There is a bible verse in Psalm 90 that refers to the average lifespan back in the days of olde: 

The days of our years are threescore years and ten...

Things have changed a little since then and we probably average four score years and ten these days. What I noticed is that this can be divided into five life stages based on each of the four scores and the ten, and today's post is all about the five "F"s of life - and I thought I'd include a few throwback photos along the way for fun.

IT'S TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STRENGTHS

Why do we find it so difficult to acknowledge our strengths? How do we begin to own our good qualities?

OUR STRUGGLE WITH SELF-WORTH

Why do we find it so hard to acknowledge our good points and the positive qualities that others see in us - or even that we see in ourselves, but don't feel we can talk about? It's so easy to discuss our faults and failings, but so very difficult to talk about what we're good at.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

If we were having coffee here's a few things I'd be sharing about what happened during the month. I hope you'll sit and enjoy a virtual cuppa with me.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

If we were having coffee these are a few things I'd be sharing with you from July. Winter has well and truly set in here in Western Australia and the days are cold and wet - the perfect weather for sitting for a while with friends. There's nothing like a virtual cuppa and a chat, and I have lots to share from the last few weeks, so here we go....

WHAT DID TURNING 50 MEAN TO YOU?

How are your 50's looking? Are they what you expected?

INTRO

I was asked a while ago about what turning 50 felt like now that I look back on it all. The person who asked me also gave me a few questions to answer. So here's what I think about in hindsight when it comes to turning 50.

3 WISHES FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

We've been living in strange and unsettling times with pandemics, protests, and politics. I'm wishing for  better times ahead.

OFF WITH THE OLD AND ON WITH THE NEW

We're more than halfway through the year already and it's been a doozy! I’m not sure where the last 6 months or so have gone but I am sure of one thing – they've given me a greater appreciation for what life is all about, and for the things of the heart that really matter.

We've been living in strange and unsettling times with pandemics, protests, politics, and social media throwing it all in our face every time we take a look. I'm hoping that we're on our way out of the tunnel and that life for the remainder of the year is going to be more positive and more enriching.

3 KEY CHANGES FOR FINDING BALANCE

Three key changes that led to a balanced life with a fulfilling career in a new country, and a sense of peaceful acceptance.

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Anne (from Anne's Happy Cluesis sharing today about a change in career that led to a change in the country she lives in and the lifestyle she leads. Midlife has finally brought her some balance.

CHECKING IN ON MY WORD OF THE YEAR - SYMPHONY

How my Word of the Year - Midlife Symphony - played out over the last six months.

6 MONTHS OF A MIDLIFE SYMPHONY

Well, it's been a bit over six months since I introduced my Word of the Year "SYMPHONY" and shared how I wanted to make the second half of life as authentic, and real, and wonderful as I possibly can. Life's short and we need to be living it in a way that brings contentment and a sense of joy and gratitude.

To summarize what I was feeling when I chose my #WOTY I quoted William Henry Channing:

AN UNEXPECTED MIDLIFE RELOCATION

Sometimes our plans are turned upside down and we're surprised by how well things work out.

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Amanda (from A Home By The Seais sharing today about a house move that turned into an unexpected lifestyle change that's brought her into a new and lovely season of life.

BALANCING YOUR LIFE - HOW DO YOU SLICE YOUR PIE?

Living life well comes down to balance and working out the perfect number and size your pie slices need to be.

BALANCE AND LIFE PIES

Recently I was interviewed by Sue on her Women Living Well After 50 youtube channel and she asked me at the end, “What does living well mean to you?” It really got me thinking. 

For me, it always comes back to balance and getting our priorities in order. But life balance at our age isn’t one or two things on a set of scales, it’s more complex than that – I think of it more like a pie, where it’s made up of all the different things we give time to (the slices of the pie). Too many slices and you risk over-extending yourself and burning out, not enough slices and you risk becoming too narrow and boring.

FUN OUTDOOR GAMES FOR SENIORS

fun outdoor games for seniors

INTRO

Today I'm sharing something a little different as we come out of lockdown and social isolation and start seeing our families again. A lot of us have been desperately waiting to see our adult kids and our grandchildren, but there's the other people in our lives who we're also finally able to spend some time with - our parents.

I have a collaborative guest post today on some great ideas for games  for the whole family to participate in after we've shared a meal and caught up on the family news. Getting together as an extended family is back on the agenda again if we're careful about looking after each other and with the weather being so lovely it's the perfect opportunity to spend some time outside in a park - plenty of fresh air and sunshine and the space to still keep ourselves safe. 

THE 4 SENTENCE EULOGY CHALLENGE

How do you want your life to look? What is the legacy you'd like to leave? Try this great challenge to determine how you'd like to be remembered.

WRITING YOUR OWN EULOGY

I know it sounds morbid, but a while back I read about a really interesting concept where writing your own short eulogy was a great way to narrow down your thinking about what was important to you, what you'd like to be remembered for, and what type of legacy you'd like to leave. 

THERE'S ALWAYS A RAINBOW AFTER THE RAIN

Life teaches us some interesting lessons and they often come from unexpected challenges.

LESSONS FROM A TOUGH TIME

Tough times come and go throughout life – some of us seem to be visited by them more often than others, but I find that they always teach me something when I face them head on and learn the lessons they bring with them. Today I thought I’d share my most recent challenge and what I learned from it, in the hope that I can encourage those who are struggling with their own difficulties.

4 WAYS TO FINANCIALLY PREPARE FOR AN EARLY RETIREMENT

4 ways to financially prepare for an early retirement

INTRO

Today I have a collaborative post with Olivia from Mozo, and she's sharing some great advice on a how to set yourself up for early retirement. Being prudent savers and keeping our spending under control has meant that I didn't need to wait until I was 67 to retire and today's tips tie in really well with what's worked for me to be enjoying life out of the workforce. So, I'll hand it over to Olivia....

EARLY RETIREMENT

Whether you work to live or live to work, an early retirement is an appealing prospect. You could use your Monday to Friday freedom to ditch your routine and hit the open road, or finally tick off those projects your 9-to-5 life ground to a halt. Whatever you explore during your golden years, you don’t want it hampered by financial stress. Becoming an at-home expert in managing budgets, savings and investments will help you safeguard your retirement options.

So, get motivated about your money and consider these tips to help kickstart your post-work life sooner.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

There's nothing like a virtual cuppa and a chat, and I have lots to share from the last few weeks, so here we go....

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

If we were having coffee these are a few things I'd be sharing with you from June. Winter is beginning to set in and life is picking up as the restrictions continue to be lifted. I'm back at my exercise class, and Tai Chi, and coffee dates - and appreciating the freedom of being able to get out and about again. There's nothing like a virtual cuppa and a chat though, and I have lots to share from the last few weeks, so here we go....

HOW "SLOW LIVING" WORKS FOR ME IN RETIREMENT

Retirement is the perfect time to slow down and step out of comparison and competition. This is how it works for me. #retirement #slowliving

THE SLOW LIVING MOVEMENT

Emma from Simple, Slow and Lovely defines slow living like this:

"I believe that slow living is a lifestyle. And it’s so much more than that. It’s a worldview, a mindset and an anchor....Living at a slower pace of life means saying no more. It means putting up boundaries where there haven’t been any before. It’s being intentional and purposeful with my time. But it’s also leaving enough white space on my calendar for spontaneity."

This summed up how retirement is looking for me - slow and delightful. But it doesn't just happen, it comes from choosing to be content with what we have and choosing to step back from the hurley burley of our consumerist society.

WHAT IF I'M HAPPY WITH A PLEASANT LIFE?

In our dynamic society where everyone is chasing their dream, is a "pleasant" life enough to aspire to? It is for me.

A MEDIOCRE OR PLEASANT LIFE?

Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui wrote a post a few years ago that asked "What if all I want is a mediocre life?" I love that concept and even wrote a post about it myself ages ago, but I'm not sure that mediocre is the exact word I'm looking for when describing the life I want to live these days. 

MIDLIFE AND SETTING NEW SECOND ACT GOALS

Is Midlife our time to be braver and make some changes and set some new goals? I'd certainly like to think so. #midlifegoals

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Susan is a soon-to-be-blogger and is testing the waters a little today by sharing a guest post here on my blog. She confesses to being a bit of an overthinker and that's delaying her pushing the "Publish" button - I've told her to take the plunge, and after reading her post today I'm sure you'll be encouraging her to do the same.

So here's Susan sharing some Midlife induced thoughts and goals.

DISCARDING OBLIGATIONS IN THE RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE

Just because you've "always done it" doesn't mean you have to continue to do so. The new normal we're embracing allows you to make new choices.

DISCARDING OBLIGATIONS

I wrote a post a little while ago about choosing to focus on what "Sparks Joy" in retirement. There were many commitments that I had been maintaining to distract myself from how unhappy and unfulfilled I was in my job, and once I'd processed my way through resigning and recovering, I found I could let some of them go.

TIOSEBON WALKING SHOES REVIEW - I'M LOVING THEM!

Trying out the new Tiosebon walking shoes and finding they were the perfect go to shoe for exercise and for casual wear.

BUYING TIOSEBON SHOES ONLINE

A few months ago - before COVID-19 stopped the world in its tracks - I was approached by Tiosebon, an online shoe company, to see if I'd be interested in reviewing some of their walking shoes. I've never bought shoes online before because it always seemed easier to visit my local shopping centre for the occasional shoe purchase. But, I'm always open to trying new things, and seeing we were all safe/stuck at home, it seemed like the perfect time to accept their lovely offer of a gift of their shoes and to see what was available for those times when we can't get to the shops for various reasons.

MASTERING SELF DIFFERENTIATION - THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

What is self differentiation and how  we begin to develop it  through finding our validation from within.

WHAT IS SELF DIFFERENTIATION?

The other day my husband was annoyed at something and immediately I began to take it onboard - asking all the usual questions that go through my head......"what could I have done differently?" "how can I fix this?" "what can I do to make him happy?" and the list went on, churning through my head and making me feel a little bit sick inside.

FINDING SERENITY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD

How moving across the world brought acceptance, peace and serenity into the this woman's second half of life.

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Cheryl (from Born In A Car) is a fellow West Aussie who now lives on the other side of the world to me. Her life and adventures leave me dumbfounded at times - it takes a lot of courage to pack up and leave everything that's familiar to start a new life in a foreign country.

Today Cheryl's sharing how her move to Moscow was the beginning of a whole new second stage of life, currently more changes are afoot and she's been documenting them on her blog - this is her overview of how her life changed in Eastern Europe.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

Because I always enjoy a good 'Taking Stock' blog post, I hope you'll humour me and sit a while as I share my news. There's nothing like a virtual cuppa and a chat, and I have lots to share from the last few weeks. #ifwewerehavingcoffee  IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

INTRO

If we were having coffee these are a few things I'd be sharing with you from May. We've just finished the third month of staying at home in isolation and being locked down as far as travel goes. But just as I was starting to go a little bit stir crazy and missing the family more and more, some of the travel restrictions were lifted and we got to spend some lovely family time with our son, DIL and grandgirls. Other than that visit, the main person I drink coffee with these days is my husband, so I thought I'd feature that theme in my intro picture. There's nothing like a virtual cuppa and a chat though, and I have lots to share from the last few weeks, so here we go....

HAS COVID-19 KILLED MY BLOGGING MOJO?

Does being isolated from life have an impact on our thoughts, our creativity and our blogging? It seems to have affected me lately.

I'M JUST NOT FEELING IT

I'm not sure what's been happening lately, but I'm just not feeling the blogging love at the moment. I think it's a combination of things that are stealing my blogging joy, but sitting at home looking at my four walls is definitely the instigator of the problem. How do I find inspiration when I'm home all day? How do I think of anything original or interesting when I'm living Ground Hog Day over and over again? I feel like my mind is going a bit soggy from lack of stimulation and that translates into not having much to write about recently.

QUITTERS CAN BE WINNERS

Are you holding on to something that it would be healthier for you to let go? Quitters can be winners and don't let anyone tell you differently. #quitters #winners

WHEN QUITTING TAKES ON NEW MEANING

We've all heard the old saying from Vince Lombardi that "winners never quit, and quitters never win". It's something I've believed to be true and I've used it to motivate myself to push through the rough times - you know....onwards and upwards!, Tally Ho!, stiff upper lip etc, etc. But what if that isn't the case at all? Maybe it's not always the best thing to keep ploughing through and making ourselves miserable. What if quitting something makes you a winner?

LEARNING TO LIVE A LIFE OF SELF-COMPASSION

A divorce can be the beginning of learning self-compassion and finding your personal core values. Life can turn around and be great again. #midlifesymphony

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Allison (from Start A Simple Life) has had quite a tumultuous time over the last six years and today she's sharing the biggest lesson she's learned from it all, and how that lesson is shaping the second half of her life.

HOW RETIREMENT PREPARED ME FOR LOCKDOWN

All the adjustments that are made to make retirement a joy translate perfectly into a pandemic lockdown. Contentment must be contagious.

RETIREMENT 101

Last year I did a lot of thinking, adjusting, and reordering of my life when I decided that I wasn't going to look for another job after leaving the job from hell. It took me time to figure out what was important to me - what I wanted to keep, and what I was happy to discard. My biggest takeaway from the process was that I wanted to have an Unbusy retirement - one where I had the freedom and flexibility to do what I liked when I felt like it - not rushing from one activity to the next without pause.

CHOOSING FORGIVENESS AND MOVING ON

When disappointment and betrayal happen in our lives, we can allow them to make us bitter - or we can forgive and move on. #forgiveness

WISDOM AND CHOOSING TO FORGIVE

As I continue with my Word of the Year - SYMPHONY - I've been thinking about difficult relationships, the damage caused by others, and how we recover from the pain and disillusionment that often results in our lives. 

I think we've all faced situations where someone has done the wrong thing and tested our belief in the trustworthiness of human nature. Most recently for me it was the work colleague who promised me the perfect job, and then failed mightily to live up to that promise. The fallout was enormous for me, but ultimately, the recovery process hinged on my ability to forgive her, and not be caught up in anger and the need for retribution.

4 SIMPLE WAYS WE'RE RE-CONNECTING WITH OUR WORLD

During this time of social isolation we're learning to appreciate the simple things as we look around, make eye contact and smile. #connection

COVID-19 ISN'T ALL DOOM AND GLOOM

Before the coronavirus shut down our world, I'd go for my morning walks, and in the process I'd encounter dozens of other people - school children on foot or on bikes, mums pushing prams, people walking dogs, little children playing in the park, and others like myself who are just out to enjoy the day.

MAKING A FEW COURSE CORRECTIONS IN MIDLIFE

Midlife is the perfect time to reflect on whether your work/life balance is all it should be - and to make some changes if you need to. #midlifecrisis

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Pradeep (from bpradeepnairis one of only a few brave blokes who've offered to write a post for me over the years - today he's sharing about the changes in direction that have occured since he reached Midlife - something we can all relate to!

So without further ado, I'll hand it over to Pradeep to share his story...

KEEPING WHAT "SPARKS JOY" IN RETIREMENT

Is retirement all about being busy and filling your days with activities and to-do lists? Or are you cruising through and waiting for joyful moments? #retirement #joy

HOW RETIREMENT LOOKS FOR OTHERS

The other day I was thinking about what "retirement" means for different people. I've noticed that there's quite a lot of variety in the Midlife blogging community in regard to how to approach this new stage of life - and my method seems to be a little different to many of the others I read.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

Because I always enjoy a good 'Taking Stock' blog post, I hope you'll humour me and sit a while as I share my news. There's nothing like a virtual cuppa and a chat, and I have lots to share from the last few weeks. #ifwewerehavingcoffee

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

If we were having coffee these are a few things I'd be sharing from April. It's been month two of "stay home/stay safe" and I wondered what I'd have to talk about with my social life grinding to a halt. Despite all the doom and gloom, it's still been pretty good where we are and so I thought I'd share some of the little rays of sunshine that have been part of my life at home this month and I hope you'll pull up a virtual chair (at a safe distance) and enjoy a cuppa with me today.

HAVING A CHRONIC COUGH DURING COVID-19

What do you do when you have a chronic cough during a pandemic? Suck lozengers, cough into your elbow (not your hand) and stay home so people don't judge you.

THE COUGH THAT NEVER ENDS

I've had a cough for many, many years. No doctor has found a way to fix it for me - and I've had lots of advice from professionals, friends, and Dr Google as to why I cough and how to manage it. I think it's probably reflux related at its core, but ultimately it's a irritation somewhere deep down that gets triggered when I'm in cold air, or when I lie down, or lean back, or when I think about it too much, or when I try not to think about it too much, or..... anyway, you get the idea.

RE-DEFINING AND RESTRUCTURING LIFE IN RETIREMENT

What I am learning about life in retirement is that it can, and will, change and you will change along the way too. Retirement isn't a vacation, it's a life restructure. #retirement

INTRO

Today I have the next guest in my MIDLIFE SYMPHONY series where I've asked others to share what they're doing to make the second half of life the best half of life. Nancy (from Defining Third Ageis sharing today about how retirement is being redefined for her as she adjusts her view on what this stage of life looks like as it opens up and leads into the future.

There are a lot of points that resonated with me here because it's something I've also been pondering a lot lately - all those years ahead and the vast unknown that they encompass - a mystery and a challenge! And now I'll hand over to Nancy:

WHEN LIFE BECOMES ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC AGAIN

When you're happy you listen to the music and when you're sad it's all about the lyrics. It's also true that when you're happy you enjoy positive and inspirational blog posts and you don't need to read quite as many self-help ones. #midlife #positivity

MUSIC AND LYRICS

They say that when you're happy you listen to the music and when you're sad it's all about the lyrics. And I think it's also true that when you're going through difficult times you look for articles that help you find your new direction, then when you're happy again you start to enjoy positive and inspirational blog posts and you don't need to read quite as many of the self-help ones.

WHEN LIFE TELLS YOU IT'S TIME TO TAKE LONG SERVICE LEAVE

Maybe this pandemic is Life giving us the opportunity to slow down and take some Long Service Leave. To relax and to recuperate.

A LIFE OF BEING PRODUCTIVE

I don't know about you, but I've spent 50+ years leading a productive life. It may not be an earth shaking, world changing, productive life, but it's been a full and engaging one for me. I've progressed steadily through all the age appropriate levels and now I feel like life is saying - "take a breath, sit back, rest, and recuperate". Life will go on again, we'll all be rushing around before we know it, but for now it's time to take some Long Service Leave.