Advice
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“WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK”–COLERIDGE
Recently, a water pipe burst under my kitchen sink causing a flood. I discovered this when I got up to pee in the middle of the night and began treading water. I spent the next 4 1/2 hours sloshing it outside with mops, mats and rags. Yesterday, a restoration team arrived, knocking out baseboards and… Read more
Advice, anxiety, Commentary, Fire, Flood, health, Humor, Inspiration, life, mental-health, Philosophy, stress -
I’D RATHER BE LONELY ALONE
The World Health Organization says we are presently experiencing a loneliness epidemic. Studies show that men spend seven hours in front of the TV for every hour they spend with someone outside their home. Women with pets spend more time caring for them than in face-to-face contact with companions of their own ilk. Teenagers have fewer ‘real’… Read more
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GET OUT OF THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE!
Recently, a woman emailed me saying she loved my book about Alzheimer’s, but thought it needed ‘more attention.’ She said she was a marketer and had a 6-step plan that would boost “Kissing Tomatoes” in the ratings. She even quoted passages from the book along with snippets of actual reviews from my readers. I was… Read more
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ACT YOUR AGE-NOT YOUR IQ
Look closely, and you’ll see that my friend, Raven, is shoeless, even while playing pickleball in 100-degree heat! He says it keeps him grounded and it must work because he’s a phenom on the court. His reckless abandon reminds me of the kid I saw at the grocery store who tossed grapes into the produce weighing scale… Read more
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FINDING THE SWEET SPOT
Recently, a player saw this paddle and said, “Wow, that guy sure hits the sweet spot.” I checked out my own and realized it’s not nearly as defined. Finding the ‘sweet spot’ (“The optimal point that produces the best possible result.”) takes focus, practice, consistency and a relaxed approach. You can’t just hit one great… Read more
Advice, Commentary, fiction, Humor, Inspiration, life, Nature, Philosophy, Pickleball, SPORTS, Sweet Spot, travel, writing, Zen -
DON’T FENCE ME IN!
From Paris to Poughkeepsie, this is a common sight: upheaval in sidewalks due to tree roots. Each time I stumble over one, I wonder why anyone would plant a tree in such a tiny spot, surrounded by cement. If you take something wild and confine it, expect problems. The same goes for people. If you… Read more
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in
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LOVE IS BLIND
I just helped my 65-year-old client set up his first, online dating profile. Sadly, he stayed long past the expiration date of his marriage and is now starting over. Meanwhile, my youngest daughter has attended more weddings this year than I’ve been to in my lifetime. Statistically, 45% of those unions will end in divorce. That’s why… Read more
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by
in
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PLANTS GROUND US
I’ve had my hands in dirt since I was 10 and planted my first cactus garden. It took weeks and multiple thorns in my fingers to complete. When we moved, it was the only thing I was sad to leave. In the years since, I’ve planted bottle brushes in Sarasota, crape myrtles in Nashville, a… Read more
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magical thinking
I have a friend who cleans his sunglasses with paper money. He swears, “It keeps them cleaner longer.” However, the science says that’s not true. Paper, which is made from wood pulp, scratches lenses. So why is he convinced otherwise? Beats me. What matters is what he thinks—not what is. Neither truth nor science affect our decision making.… Read more
AGEFULLY AGING 