Path Partners

Do you ever feel like you’re running in circles, not making any progress forward? Are you stuck in the same rut, day in and day out? Do work and home responsibilities fill your thoughts every day, leaving you no time to ponder your dreams, much less time to pursue them?

It’s the awareness of that void in our lives that frequently serves to propel us into a time of transition, a time of recognizing our need to create changes in our life so that we feel our lives have meaning. We want our lives to have purpose, to know that we’re on this earth to serve a higher purpose than just existing from day-to-day.

I clearly remember the day that I sent my first book manuscript to my editor. I still remember the exhilaration of finally having it completed. I had stayed up several nights in a row – working almost around the clock – to finish it before we left on a much deserved vacation! (more…)

Are you serious about your goals? My husband asked me that question recently with regard to my weight loss goal. Eight years ago, I had successfully worked off (I don’t think “lost” does it justice) about 50 lbs, but over the last several years I’ve allowed my weight to slowly creep back up again. As a result, I have unwanted pounds that I’ve been carrying around. Unfortunately, according to the national average, I’m not alone. Current statistics reveal that over half of our population is above the healthy weight range for their bodies.

When I first heard the question, “Are you serious about your goal?” my natural reaction was, “Of course I am!” But then I stopped to think about it. Am I really? Or am I just giving that particular goal an occasional nod, pretending to be serious about it behind the disguise of on-again/off-again diets and irregular exercise programs?

What about you? What goals have you been putting off for “someday”. Have you fallen into the trap of saying, “I’ll have time to do that when my kids leave home,” or “I can afford that when I get my promotion,” or “My life is just too busy right now!” (more…)

“I just don’t sleep,” says Carol, a 53-year-old public relations consultant. “My 84-year-old mother moved in three years ago after a bad fall and my daughter, who is going through a divorce, moved in last month with her 3-year-old twin boys and a 10-month-old baby girl. I love having my grandchildren around, but with taking care of Mom and trying to run my business, I no longer have any time for myself!”

Carol’s situation isn’t as uncommon as you may think. Nearly one in four US households are now providing care to a relative or friend 50 or older. With the costs of long term care rising and the number of Americans over age 65 almost doubling in the next 25 years, it’s expected that 53 million US households will be caring for one or both parents (or spouses) in their home as well as children.

The “Sandwich Generation” is more than just a cultural phrase. It’s quickly becoming a reality for a growing number of women who, like Carol, are seeing the tides of responsibility turning and the care of their parents falling on their shoulders. Even if you aren’t directly involved in their care in your home, you may still be regularly involved in your parents’ daily needs – trips to the doctor, grocery shopping, cleaning, paying bills, and handling correspondence. (more…)

Does turning 40 have to mean decreased strength and stamina?

Research tells us that around age 40, women start to lose nearly a half-pound of muscle mass and gain the same amount of fat with each passing year. Meanwhile, women’s bodies begin to naturally lose up to bone percent of bone mass a year. At midlife, our metabolism is quicker to convert food into fat and store it – especially in our upper bodies. Think larger breasts, back fat, belly fat, and little fat pouches near your armpits that hang over your bra. Hot flashes and other symptoms triggered by the swoops and dips of estrogen only add to the fun.

But it doesn’t need to be like that! Midlife weight gain is avoidable if you know what to do. (more…)

At midlife, your friendships with other women will make the difference between living a vibrant, fulfilling life and being miserably alone. Every woman longs for someone who will listen and offer a safe environment where she can laugh, cry, and express her feelings. It’s important to take the time now to cultivate meaningful relationships with women that cheer you on while you explore different options, catch you when you fall, and encourage and support you as you endeavor to redefine yourself.

The biggest key to finding friends like this is to be one yourself!

Listen to other women when they’re sharing about themselves. Be attentive. Show interest. Keep the conversation focused on them and not on you. One woman I know has a story for every situation that someone else brings up. I’m sure you’re familiar with the type! They probably mean well, but it almost seems like they’re trying to top your situation with one that is more tragic, or more eyebrow raising than your own.

It’s okay to share a similar situation, but make sure you’re giving the other woman plenty of time to speak and share what’s on her heart before you barge in with a situation of your own. It’s much better to ask questions like, “How did that make you feel?” or “Are you feeling betrayed?” or “You’re probably very angry. Have you been able to tell her how that made you feel?” Questions like these allow the other person to realize that you really are hearing what they’re saying. (more…)

Especially for those of us living in a northern climate, summer is a rare opportunity to spend our days outside, soaking up the sun. For those with school-age kids, summer means a change in our normal schedule. How can you make the most of it?

Here are 12 steps to ensuring that you don’t arrive at Labor Day wondering what happened to your summer:

1. Start a summer notebook! Find a 3-ring binder and put in 12 page dividers (for the 12 weeks between now and Labor Day). Insert blank paper and some page protectors. Find a summer scene from a magazine that inspires you and create a front cover page. You can call it: “My Fabulous Summer – 2011!”
2. Plan fun events. On the first page in each section write the dates for that week. For instance, week one would be June 11-17. Now check your calendar for any fun events that you already have scheduled for each week. Maybe you’re planning a week at the cottage, or camping, or visiting relatives. (more…)

Every week I receive emails from concerned and sometimes distraught husbands who want to know what to do with their once sweet, loving wives who seem to have suddenly morphed into someone they hardly recognize. They’re trying to save their marriages and I want to help. In fact, I wrote an ebook called, “How to Survive Your Wife’s Midlife Crisis!” 

Following is a response to one gentleman’s request for more information and insight into what he has been experiencing with his wife: (more…)

Your alarm clock goes off, waking you abruptly out of a pleasant dream. Your mind quickly races to, “What day is this?” followed by, “Oh, that’s right, Thursday! I have to finish the report that’s due tomorrow, meet with the committee at 2 o’clock, return that client’s phone call, and get a proposal out for Bob.” I don’t know about you, but my days sometime seem like an endless stream of “to do” lists!

We drag ourselves from bed and get ready for yet another day of this game we play called, “Crossing as many items off our ‘to do’ list as possible!” What if life didn’t have to be like that? Do you really believe that we were created to see how much we could get accomplished? I think that perhaps we were put on this earth to see what we could become. Maybe instead of a “to do” list for every day, we should be making a “to be” list for ourselves.

Benjamin Franklin, for instance, placed great value on self-improvement. He believed that integrity and moral responsibility were the backbone of a successful life and a strong community. While in his late twenties, reading and reflection led him to formulate his own list of thirteen personal virtues, which he then attempted to master, one-by-one, noting his progress each day on a chart he carried in a small notebook.

Just for the fun of it, I will share with you Franklin’s 13 virtues: (more…)

Feeling stressed? Burned out? Experiencing a general sense of dissatisfaction with your life? As women, we have a tendency to cram more and more into our schedules at the risk of sacrificing the stuff that keeps us on an even-keel. That’s a sure-fire recipe for losing our balance and what we consider our quality of life.

Balance is achieved through small, daily changes. By weaving these seven ingredients into your daily routine, you’ll soon be living the peaceful, serene life you yearn for. (more…)