Lifestyle
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A Poppy in his Buttonhole
Grand Uncle Palmer ‘ The poetry above is from the poem For the Fallen, written by Laurence Binyon in 1914 during the early months of World War I. My uncle Palmer served in that war, and this is one of only a few photographs I have of him. My grandfather served as well. He lied about…
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Embracing Retirement: Finding Meaning in Everyday Life
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. Albert Einstein “A quick note before I begin: In last week’s post about music memories and the Columbia House Record Club, I neglected to mention that the piece was inspired in part by a thoughtful post from fellow blogger, writingfromtheheartwithbrian.com I…
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The Quite Grace of Walking
An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. Henry David Thoreau Walking is my one concession to exercise. I’ve tried various classes and gym workouts, but I find them exhausting. Perhaps it’s my French heritage; I’ve heard the French aren’t particularly fond of organized exercise. I do attend a weekly Tai Chi…
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Cultivating Genuine Connections
You make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. Dale Carnegie As often happens with my writing, the universe seemed to conspire to steer me towards this topic. Initially, my friend lent me the book, “How…
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Embracing Aging: A Positive Perspective on Growing Older
One of the great things about being older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been. Madeleine L’Engle As I swiftly approach my seventy-eighth birthday, I’ve decided it’s time to refresh my profile photo. Every time I glanced at the previous one, I felt confined to a different era—a time when my…
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Insights on Staying Young
The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected. Robert Frost I sincerely support the pursuit of staying young for as long as possible. In my opinion, it’s a mindset that can significantly impact our lives. You’ve undoubtedly come across the popular saying, “You’re as old as you feel.” I would like to propose a slightly…
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Finding Serenity Amidst Chaos
Juneberry Tree God, grant me the serenity to accept thethings I cannot change,courage to change the things I can,and wisdom to know the difference.- the Serenity Prayer Next to our terrace stands a magnificent Juneberry tree, a stunning centerpiece that enhances the beauty of our outdoor space. In the spring, it bursts into vibrant green…
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Authenticity: The Key to True Sophistication
Kitchen Montage Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Clare Boothe Luce This quote was in my planner for March. It might sound like a contradiction, but I don’t believe it is. It’s about not trying too hard, not overdoing it, and not caring so much about what other people think. Sophistication, I think, is about being…
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Finding Joy
Enjoy life. There’s plenty of time to be dead Hans Christian Andersen Red Alstroemeria, peanut butter, the ocean, autumn, old books, and crisp white shirts—these are some of my favorite things. What are yours? It would be wonderful to be surrounded by our treasured things, every moment of every day, indulging in their beauty and…
Aging with Grace 