WISHES FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE YEAR AHEAD

I hope you live lightly and shine brightly in the year ahead

MY CHRISTMAS WISHES

I can't believe it's Christmas in a week's time! Where has the year gone?! That being said, it's been a wonderful year for me. I feel like I got my "groove back" and each month has just made me appreciate Midlife even more.

I came across a quote that summed up my #WOTY (Live Lightly) and it's what I wish for myself and for everyone who pops in here for a visit....

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LOOKING BACK AT A YEAR OF LIVING LIFE LIGHTLY

Living life lightly means moving on from the scars of yesterday, releasing what weighs us down, and embracing light and grace.

WHY DID I CHOOSE TO LIVE LIGHTLY?

If you've been following along with my Word(s) of the Year for 2023 you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" to guide me through the last several months. I'd actually decided on a different #WOTY and then changed my mind at the last minute on my way home from a mini-vacation.

I'd realized that I was weary from all that had been happening in the previous few years, and I felt the need to be kinder to myself. Today I'm looking back at that choice and how it's played out...

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FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES, AND FRACQUAINTANCES IN THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE

There is a place in our lives for those people who are more than our acquaintances, but not quite our true friends.

FRIENDSHIPS AND OTHER INTERACTIONS

Recently I was thinking about my friendships and how things have changed over time. I used to have many, many friends - close friends, work friends, church friends, mum friends, etc. Looking back at those friendships, and at the friendships I have now, I've realized that there are three categories of "friends".....

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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH NOVEMBER

Choosing to live life lightly. And how that looked throughout the month of November.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up November, I'm sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards an interesting month....

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WHAT IS SOFT LIVING? AND HOW IT FITS AN UNBUSY RETIREMENT

What is a "soft girl era" and how does that lifestyle apply to those of us who want an unbusy retirement life?

WHAT'S THE SOFT GIRL LIFE?

I saw a quote on Facebook recently that referred to moving into "my soft girl era" and something about the term resonated with me and my choice to live an Unbusy life. For so long we've had the "Girl Boss"/Fierce Fifty hustle culture sold to us as the lifestyle of choice, but when we all re-surfaced after the covid lockdowns, a new way of living slowly emerged where women were rejecting stress and choosing a more gentle way of living.

After some research, I thought I'd share what "soft living" looks like in Midlife....

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THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATING KINDNESS

It's time to include small acts of kindness in our day to day lives - to speak into the hearts of ourselves and others.

NOVEMBER 13TH IS WORLD KINDNESS DAY

The World Kindness Movement started World Kindness Day in 1998 and has spread to 28 countries. I thought that seeing today is World Kindness Day I'd share a little bit about why I think kindness is so important in our hurting world....

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3 FABULOUS THINGS TO CELEBRATE IN NOVEMBER

This month I'm celebrating 3 fabulous life events - a birthday, a milestone, and an anniversary. Life is full of blessings.

LET'S CELEBRATE!

My Word Of The Year for 2022 was "Fabulous" and I just about wore it out... but, I think there's one more Fabulous post to write, and so I'm borrowing it for today. November this year has brought 3 Fabulous things to celebrate and I'm sharing them today - there's a birthday, a milestone, and an anniversary - so here we go.....

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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH OCTOBER

Choosing to live life lightly. And how that looked throughout the month of October.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up October, I'm sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....

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IS CHOOSING A SLOW RETIREMENT COUNTER-CULTURAL?

Our society worships "doing" over "being" but let's be counter-cultural and live more slowly and intentionally.

CHOOSING TO LIVE SLOWLY

I love it when I receive comments on my blog posts, and I love it even more when someone takes the time to send me an email to share their journey and to let me know that what I write about encourages them to live life more slowly or more intentionally.

Recently an email arrived in my inbox from Michelle to tell me she was about to retire, and that after working so hard, she was going to choose a slower pace and find her identity in something other than working and being busy all the time. Her words made me pause for a moment and think how our society worships "doing" over "being" and how it's almost counter-cultural to want a gentler way of life when we stop working.

Today I thought I'd share three ways to counter our culture of busy-ness.....

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DOING MY BEST TO LIVE LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME

Life gets so much simpler and more peaceful when you live it one day at a time. Being present in the present moment.

LIVING LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME

I used to be a planner and a worrier - well, I'm still a planner and a worrier....but I'm getting better at not being controlled by those two traits. I remember reading how living in the moment - being present in the present so to speak - reduces stress and worry exponentially. And the more I practice living one day at time, the more relaxed I'm becoming.

I wanted to share a few quotes and thoughts about that today because I think we all need to be reminded now and then that yesterday's been, tomorrow hasn't come.... we just have now...

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LET'S ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK

With age comes wisdom and the ability to choose what we say to others, always remember it costs nothing to be kind and gracious.

DISCERNMENT IN MIDLIFE

One of the many gifts of Midlife is being more self aware and discerning. I think we learn to slow down a little and think about how our words and actions impact others, and adjust them accordingly. It seems like such a natural thing to me to not want to hurt others by saying something insensitive or by being passively critical. 

But maybe that's not the case for every woman hitting her 50's or 60's.....

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SELECTIVE IGNORANCE AND WHY IT MAKES SENSE

Selective Ignorance is all about intentionally choosing what to pay attention to and what to ignore. It gives us the power of choice.

CHOOSING TO BE SELECTIVELY IGNORANT

In January I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word of the Year because I had a deep desire to simplify my life and to focus on what was important - while screening out all of the background noise. I wanted to shed some of the weight/baggage that I carried around with me, but I also realized that I wanted to be more selective about what I allow into my thoughts and what I give my time to.

Recently I discovered a concept that really appealed to me, it's an effective way to intentionally choose what to give my attention to. That concept that resonated with me is "selective ignorance"....
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH SEPTEMBER

Choosing to live life lightly, And how that looked throughout the month of September..

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up September, I'm sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....

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THE FERTILE VOID AND HOW IT RELATES TO TRANSITIONS

The Fertile Void is a time to lean into change and the transition process. It makes the "in between" stage a time of growth and clarity.

THE FERTILE VOID

As I've moved into retirement and this next phase of life, I've been struggling with the "what's next?" question, and with how to move forward in a meaningful way. It's a time of transition and I recognize that, but what I've had difficulty with is resting in this new space and waiting for things to unfold. 

Recently I read about the "Fertile Void" and it resonated with me. I'd never heard of the term up until now, but there were a lot of correlations with what I'm experiencing. Today on the blog I'm diving into what the Fertile Void is and how all of us can embrace it....
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THE SEVEN STAGES OF MARRIAGE

What are the 7 stages of marriage? Will your marriage go through them and survive - or will you lose your way?

DO YOU EVER COMPARE YOUR MARRIAGE?

We've been married for 40 years and there have been plenty of highs and lows along the way. When I'm pushing through one of those "messy moments" - usually caused by a miscommunication from one of us - I often wonder if we're the only ones who fluctuate, and if others have perfect and harmonious marriages from the time they say "I do" until death they do part.

I came across an infographic from The Pleasant Relationship the other day that summed up 7 stages of marriage and as I read it, I could tick each one - and even in the same order. It was reassuring to think that maybe we're not alone in going through different marital phases, so I thought I'd share it today along with a summary of each phase.....
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FINDING DELIGHT IN DABBLING - IT'S ALL ABOUT ENJOYING SMALL PLEASURES

Retirement doesn't have to be filled with big adventures. There are so many little pleasures to dip your toes into and dabble.

BECOMING A DABBLER

It took me a while to realize that retirement doesn't have to be a competition, or about getting a big "bang for your buck". For some of us it can be all about the little things....dabbling in this and that, and exploring small interests that catch our eye. Today I'm sharing a few of the little delights I've been dabbling in now I have more time to invest in what brings me joy....
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH AUGUST

Choosing to live life lightly, And how that looked throughout the month of August.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up August, I'll be sharing quite a few little highlights (there's been more going on lately) that contributed towards a lovely month....

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WHAT I'M LEARNING IN MY SIMPLE AND UNBUSY RETIREMENT

Retirement doesn't have to be about compare and despair. It can be simple, unbusy, and very satisfying.

RETIREMENT IS NOT A COMPETITION

I wrote a post a while back about not competing, or comparing your life with other people's highlight reels on social media. There will always be someone living a bigger and better retirement life. My Facebook feed is full of people I know who are super busy chasing their dreams and ticking things off their bucket lists. Sometimes I feel exhausted just reading what they're up to lately, and I wonder if I should be doing more now I have the extra free time?
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LIVING WELL IN THIS CURRENT SEASON OF LIFE

Transition between life's seasons can be difficult. How do you live well as you move from one stage to the next?

DO WE ALWAYS NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S NEXT?

I have a confession to make....I like to have a plan (I like to have lots of plans), I like to know what lies ahead and to be ready for it. That's been my modus operandi all my life. 

But, now I find myself at a crossroads in the journey of life, where I don't know what's next, I have no plans! Normally this would be doing my head in, but this time around I'm approaching it from a different perspective.....
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INTENTIONAL RETIREMENT - ORGANICALLY GROWING INTO A NEW PHASE OF LIFE

I'm approaching retirement intentionally - allowing it to organically unfold in its own time. Finding interests that engage my heart and mind.

CHOOSING TO GROW ORGANICALLY

I mentioned in my July post about finding my self-worth in something other than productivity and busyness, that, as I venture into being fully retired this time around,  I won't be beating myself up and desperately looking for a "Grand Passion", or for an "Ultimate Purpose" -  instead, I'm hoping to replace that driven approach with something more fluid, more organic....
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH JULY

Choosing to live life lightly, And how that looked throughout the month of July.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up July, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....

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FINDING MY SELF-WORTH IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN PRODUCTIVITY

It has taken me 60 years to unravel my self-worth from the need to be constantly productive and busy. It's time to measure my worth differently.

CHANGING MY PERCEPTION OF MY WORTH

In my half-year review of my Word(s) of the Year - Living Lightly, I mentioned that I had been shedding some weight......not physical weight (although a few kilos in that area would be nice...) The weight I was referring to was mental, emotional and spiritual; and a lot of it was from burdens I tended to lay on my own shoulders.

I've come to see that for all of my life, I've tied my self-worth very tightly to being productive. The busier I was, and the more commitments I juggled, the more 'worthy' I felt. 

It's taken me until the grand old age of 60 to realize that busyness is a pointless measuring stick and it's time to replace it with something more meaningful.....
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DISCOVERING A POET WHO SPOKE TO MY HEART

12 poems that spoke to my heart - from Ullie-Kaye - a poet I discovered recently and who I now love.

DISCOVERING A NEW POET ON PINTEREST

I find Pinterest to be a great place to browse for pretty pictures, gorgeous couture gowns, quotes, and so much more. Recently I was cruising around my Pinterest feed and stumbled upon a quote that I loved. It was actually a poem and when I clicked on the link it took me to an Etsy site for Ullie-Kaye - and to many more lovely poems she'd written....
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GIVING UP WHAT WEIGHS ME DOWN

As I strive to live life more lightly, I've discovered that I need to give up the commitments and burdens that weigh me down.

LIVING LIGHTLY - THE HALFWAY MARK

I can't believe that we're already more than halfway through the year! Back at the beginning of January I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) of the Year, and it's time to check in on how that's going. At the end of each month I've shared how life is going, but today I thought I'd do an update on something I've discovered I needed to do to truly begin living a lighter life.....
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WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A PARATHYROIDECTOMY

My journey through hyyperparathyroidism, surgery, and recovery afterwards.

HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

Three months ago I had never heard of hyperparathyroidism or a parathyroidectomy .....fast forward to two weeks ago, and I was being rolled into surgery to have one of my parathyroid glands removed. Somewhere along the way that particular gland had decided to "go forth and multiply" and turned itself into an adenoma that pumped far too much hormone into my blood (hyperparathyroidism), causing the calcium to get leached out of my bones and into my bloodstream.

The only fix was surgery (a parathyroidectomy), and seeing that one in 50 women over 50 is likely to get hyperparathyroidism, I thought I'd do a brief overview of my journey in case you ever have a blood test that shows an elevated PTH (parathyroid hormone) level, or if you get diagnosed with high blood calcium or osteoporosis down the track......
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH JUNE

Choosing to live life lightly, And how that looked throughout the month of June.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up June, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....
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I'LL BE BACK! A SHORT POST AND A LITTLE UPDATE....

I'll be back next week after my parathyroid surgery

A NEWS UPDATE

A surprising thing happened a few days ago. I had a phone call from my surgeon's rooms asking if I'd like to have my parathyroid operation a couple of weeks early. Needless to say, that rattled my cage big time, but once the dust settled, I thought "why not!" and booked myself in for the new date.

That new date is today! So as you read this I'll be going in, or under, or waking up from having my throat cut (as I refer to it) and my right parathyroid gland (and its tumour) removed. I'm a little nervous (to say the least) as I type this and would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as I go through this and come out the other side - it's exciting and daunting at the same time.

I'll be back next Monday with my end of month wrap-up post and will do a little update there - with a bigger update to follow I'm sure! Until then...... see you on the other side! 

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5 STEPS ON THE JOURNEY TO A MORE MEANINGFUL MIDLIFE

Thoughts on navigating through life transitions. 5 truths to keep in mind when you doubt yourself.

INTRO

Today on the blog I'm doing something a little different to my usual post. I follow Krista from A Life In Progress on Facebook and she shared a picture of navigating a life journey that resonated with me on many levels. When I clicked through, she'd also included some encouraging thoughts.

I figured if the picture and what she had written were meaningful to me, they might also be helpful to others. I reached out to Krista to ask if I could share her post and she very generously agreed. So, without further ado, here's the picture and what Krista had to say about it, with a little note from me at the end.....
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EARLY RETIREMENT, UN-RETIREMENT.... NOW IT'S TIME FOR RE-RETIREMENT

Retirement can be fluid - we retire, then change our mind and un-retire, and then finally re-retire when we're ready for the next stage of life.

RETIRING, UN-RETIRING, AND RE-RETIRING

A few weeks ago Lydia, a fellow blogger, left a comment on my monthly wrap-up post that said "Winds of change? Do I detect a restlessness - or something else?" and it was very insightful because (although I didn't realize it at the time) there was definitely change in the air and a sense of being ready to move onto the next phase in my life.

I'm not sure if it was restlessness, but I was feeling weary and I had a need to prioritise my freedom and flexibility again - my two top core values. I was ready for change and a few weeks ago this is what I decided to do......
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH MAY

Choosing to live life lightly. And how that looked throughout the month of May

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up May, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....
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TRYING THE NEW ZUVI HAIRDRYER - WOW!.... JUST WOW!

Reviewing the new Zuvi hairdryer. It uses technology to mimic sunlight and a gentle breeze to dry your hair beautifully. I loved it!

WHEN YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED SOMETHING

Today's post is a little different. I very rarely blog about a product - I don't sell my soul on here to promote stuff that gets offered to me in my email box........unless it's something super special that I can't resist. And this is one of those rare occasions.

Several weeks ago I was contacted by a company called Zuvi who make very expensive hairdryers. Those of you who know me will be aware that I'm very frugal with my money - I couldn't understand what this product would do that my good old dryer wouldn't. I wasn't sure whether I should say "Yes" and put it to the test. Here's what happened......
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HAVE YOU EVER ASKED WHAT MAKES YOUR SOUL HAPPY?

We rarely talk about our souls and what that deep, inner self needs to feel truly at peace and content. Today I'm asking "what makes your soul happy?"

WHAT MAKES YOUR SOUL HAPPY?

In today's day and age we rarely talk about our souls. With spiritual discussions kept to a minimum (for fear of causing offence) we tend to stick to conversations about our more physical and temporal selves. We chat about what we've been doing, or what we've been thinking.....but we rarely talk about what that deep, inner self needs to feel truly at peace and content. 

So today I thought I'd change that and ask "what makes your soul happy?"....
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ARE YOU NICE OR ARE YOU KIND? ARE YOU BOTH? OR ARE YOU NEITHER?

Often people use the words “nice” and “kind” interchangeably. But these two words have very different intentions behind them.

SOME PEOPLE ARE NICE AND SOME ARE KIND

I was reading a novel by Sangu Mandanna that I found through an online recommendation, and in it the main character says:

I don’t pretend to know much about people, but one thing I’ve noticed over the years is that some people are nice and some people are kind.

For some reason that comment struck a chord with me - I think it was due to the fact that I know a lot of very nice people, but very few of them are naturally kind.
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3 LOVELY BENEFITS OF A REGULAR "DO-NOTHING" DAY

The key to a balanced life is to include a regular "Do-Nothing" Day - a space of time to chill out and step away from the busyness of the world.

FIGURING OUT A NEW RETIREMENT LIFE

When I retired a few years ago I was burnt out from weathering a toxic job and having my boundaries disrespected. I was emotionally drained, and felt tired and defeated. The sheer relief of being home and not dealing with drama and stress was delightful....but I couldn't sit at home looking at four walls for long before realizing that I needed more in my life.

As my days filled with new activities, I needed to figure out a way to balance it all so that I didn't find myself busier than I'd been when I was working. It's so easy for our calendar to fill with all manner of events, and to lose that sense of being peacefully at home. This is how I found my balance....
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH APRIL

Choosing to live life lightly, And how that looked throughout the month of April.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up April, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....
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WHAT IS HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND WHY IS IT A CONCERN?

Are you over 50? Have you had your parathyroid hormone levels checked? A simple blood test could save you from a future osteoporosis diagnosis.

WHAT ON EARTH IS HYPERPARATHYROIDISM?

If you're like me, you've heard of a thyroid gland and know where it is, but you're probably not aware that you have four parathyroid glands, each the size of a grain of rice, that sit behind it. You may also not be aware that one or more of those glands can get a tumour (adenoma) on it that probably isn't cancer, but still has far reaching consequences for your body if left unchecked.

Here's what I learnt when I accidentally discovered I had primary hyperparathyroidism - and what you might like to get checked sometime in the not too distant future.....
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IS IT EASTER ALREADY? WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!

I can't believe it's Easter already! Here's a few little things that remind me of why Easter is so special to me.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S EASTER ALREADY!

I think I'm becoming one of those people who comment on how quickly the year is passing. It's already April and I feel like Christmas was only a few weeks ago. Now we've just ticked Easter off the calendar and before we know it, we'll be halfway through the year.

I thought I'd share a few little highlights that Easter holds for me - it's such a special time of the year.
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WHY DO WE SECOND GUESS OURSELVES?

It's time to stop second guessing ourselves and to give up listening to your inner critic. We're capable of so much more than we know.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO SEE OUR STRENGTHS?

I'm 60 years old and I still listen to the little voice in my head that doubts I can do something new. Whenever a new challenge arises I immediately think of all the reasons why it won't work out, or why it would be too difficult, or why I'm not "enough" for it. That little voice has been yapping in my ear all my life, but Midlife has woken me up to its meanness and how it limits me.....I still hear it loud and clear but I'm getting better at having a go anyway.

There's a great little quote from Erin Hanson that says: 
"What if I fall? Oh but my darling, What if you fly?"
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH MARCH

Choosing to live life lightly. And how that looked throughout the month of March.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up March, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....
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HOW I UN-RETIRED IN MY 60'S - AND BALANCE MY BUSY AND UNBUSY LIFE

You can work in your 60's without it taking over your life. It's possible to create a balance between busy and unbusy.

BEING UNBUSY BUT NEVER BORED

When I left my old toxic job I decided that I'd never work myself into the ground again. I looked for another job but just couldn't bring myself to risk repeating the issues I'd faced in the last one. I slowly found a new rhythm of living - choosing to retire early and to be Unbusy, letting life unfold at its own pace.

My days were filled with a mixture of activities and at-home time, and I was quite content with that, I never felt bored - just pleasantly occupied... Then my hip failed, and I had to drop most of my more "active pursuits" and Unbusy-ness started to slide towards laziness, dis-connectedness, and like I was living Ground Hog Day over and over again. It knew I needed something to change, but what?
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3 TYPES OF CLUTTER YOU NEED TO CLEAR TO LIVE LIFE LIGHTLY

It's not just physical clutter that clogs up our minds and lives. If you're feeling overwhelmed there might be other clutter that needs clearing.

DE-CLUTTER TO LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

Have you noticed that stuff can weigh you down? We can be surrounded by so much physical clutter that it makes everything a little bit harder to get on with. Or it can be that our heads are so full of clutter we struggle to think clearly and make decisions. Or it can be emotional clutter where we carry past hurts and unforgiveness around with us, and feel like we're constantly living under a dark cloud.

Today I'd like to clear a little of that clutter so that we can cast off some of that excess baggage and begin to truly Live Lightly.....
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HOW TO RE-IGNITE YOUR CREATIVITY IN MIDLIFE

So many of us strongly believe we have no artistic ability. Here's a free mini-course to re-ignite your creativity.

INTRO

Today on the blog I have Faigie Kobre as my guest. Faigie approached me to ask if I'd allow her to share her passion for re-introducing creativity back into the second half of life. So many of us strongly believe we have no artistic ability (I'm one of them!) and we miss out on the joy that being creative brings with it because we don't know where to start. When I discovered a few alternative areas of art to explore it was an absolute eye-opener, so of course I was happy to share something like this.
Faigie has created a free mini-course, and today I'm giving her the space to share why - and there's a link at the end if you'd like to take the plunge and explore a little of what she calls "art improvisation". So I'll hand it over to Faigie from here.....
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH FEBRUARY

Choosing to live life lightly, And how that looked throughout the month of February.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up February, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....
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LIVING AND LOVING FOR THE LONG TERM

What 40 years of marriage looks like in four decade long snapshots.

WHERE DID 40 YEARS GO?

This week my husband and I will pause for a moment and celebrate 40 years of being married. It messes with my head to think that we've been together for so long......maybe it's because most of the time I don't even feel like I'm 40 years old, let alone the idea of having been married for FOUR decades! 

I could use this anniversary date to write "40 Tips For A Great 40 Years Of Marriage" - but I won't..... because - a) I think it's a little pretentious to assume I know any more than the next person about how to have a long term relationship, and b) because it would be a ridiculously long blog post! So, instead I'm sharing this today....
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CHOOSING TO GO WITH THE FLOW


SWIMMING AGAINST THE CURRENT

There are many sayings about life being like a river. Basically they revolve around the idea that a river continues to flow - sometimes fast and sometimes slow, but always forward. You can go with the flow or you can choose to swim against the current - one is productive and the other is just hard work.

I've spent a lot of my life trying to redirect the current (impossible) or looking for ways to control the tides so that things turn out how I expect them to. You might ask me how that's been working for me.......and (finally!) after 60 years, I can tell you that it never worked very well. You can try to force life to conform to your wishes, but ultimately you end up disappointed, stressed, and back where you started. It's far better to go with the flow.....
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WHAT DOES LIVING GENTLY LOOK LIKE?

Living a gentle life includes trusting the journey, not competing to always win, allowing life to unfold and enjoying the process and flow.

WHAT DOES LIVING GENTLY LOOK LIKE?

This year I chose "Live Lightly" as my #WOTY and I mentioned several words that I associate with the idea of stepping lightly through the year. One of those words was "Gentle" and I thought I'd explore what that looks like in my life a little today on the blog.....
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LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH CHRISTMAS AND JANUARY

Choosing to live life lightly. And how that looked for our family as we began a new year.

LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or too fast. I've noticed with my hip recovery that it goes really well.....until I think I can do more than I should, and I end up sore and wishing I'd stepped more slowly. And I think that's what my year will reflect, taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up Christmas and January, I'll be sharing a few little highlights - there may not be all that many as my pace has been fairly moderate (to say the least).....
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WHY DO I AVOID LARGE SOCIAL GATHERINGS?

The desire to avoid social events where I don't know many people stems back to my need for acceptance and fear of rejection.

FACING MY FEARS AND OWNING MY INSECURITIES

When I started this post I dithered over what title to give it. I went around and around because I didn't want to admit to myself (and others) that I have a deeply ingrained insecurity that is based soley on wanting to avoid largish social gatherings. It's embarrassing to be a 60+ year old woman who still defines herself in social situations by second guessing what other people are thinking and feeling when they meet me.
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WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH A SEASON OF LIFE

Sometimes we hit a wall and need to take a step back for our own mental and spiritual wellbeing. Things tend to get better with time.

WHEN PART OF LIFE IS DIFFICULT

I write a lot about positivity here on the blog, but there are times when we need to acknowlege that things aren't all sunshine and roses. Right now I'm going through a bit of a "phase" .....something that's been a part of my life since I was a teenager is just not fitting well lately. No, it's not my marriage - that's fine - it's just one aspect of my life that I've been committed to for decades and I'm feeling very let down by right now (and have been for the last few years).
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RE-DEFINING "LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE" IN MIDLIFE

Living lightly, Laughing often, Loving always - that's what Midlife has taught me to live each day.

RE-DEFINING "LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE" IN MIDLIFE

Last year was a bit of a tough year for me (you can read about my journey with hip dysplasia HERE if you're visiting). As we get older, physical deterioration is a reality - one we do our best to keep at bay, but it's an inevitable part of the aging process. Pain becomes a reality at times and it's wearying (to say the least), it can so easily distract us from the blessings of Midlife. I truly believe we need to pause now and then and take the time to re-focus and remind ourselves that there's also an incredible amount of joy in this stage of life.

Today I'm choosing to revisit the words I have on my car's rear window - Live, Love, Laugh - and how they play out for me as I head into my 60's......
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LEARNING TO LIVE LIGHTLY IN THE YEAR AHEAD

Midlife is a process of unraveling so we can learn who we really are. Let go and live lightly.

CHOOSING A WORD OF THE YEAR FOR 2023

Life is a journey of discovery isn't it? We spend the first half trying to figure out who we are - taking onboard so many labels from other people - daughter, wife, mother, career woman, student, friend....and the list goes on. Then adding labels of our own as we try to fit into what we think life should look like and how we think we should respond. Some of those labels fit comfortably, and others.... well, they just need to be discarded because they've been outgrown or never really suited us in the first place.....they've just weighed us down.

Late last year I wrote about how my 50's were the years where I finally took stock of all those labels and began the process of peeling them off to see what was underneath - it was my decade of unraveling and unbecoming...
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