The Second Agreement and the Freedom of Carrying Less “What other people think of you is none of your business.”— Regina Brett What makes that sentence unsettling is not its bluntness, but its accuracy. Most of us have spent a lifetime tending to other people’s opinions—anticipating
The quiet ritual beneath the holiday Thanksgiving arrives each year with its own mix of emotions. The calendar says “holiday,” but what we really gather around is ritual—familiar dishes, repeated stories, the same seat at the table. These small returns tether us to one another. They
When a smile restores our sense of worth “I’m an old woman now, and smiles are so appreciated—especially when they come from younger people. So often as we age, one can feel invisible, not of much value in this busy, impersonal world. Being acknowledged in that
Planning with love begins before it’s needed—at the kitchen table, with calm voices and clear hearts. Begin small, at home. Pour tea, say what helps you live well now, and name one thing you’d want honored later. If you missed our related post, read Saying the
A Gentle Guide to End-of-Life Conversations These talks don’t begin in an ICU. They begin in a living room, on the couch, with the people who matter, before decisions are urgent. Most of us say these conversations are important. Far fewer of us have them. The gap
The spaciousness, where introverts find strength within. Introverts—the quiet majority—remind us that not everyone experiences community the same way. Some of us lean into the joy of being surrounded by people. Others find that same closeness overwhelming. Both are true. Both are human. And both belong
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” — Kahlil Gibran To live long is to become a witness. A witness to births and weddings, to laughter bouncing off kitchen walls — and to the long, slow fading of voices we once
Embracing Impermanence in Later Life To surrender is not to give up—it is to let go of what was never ours to hold forever. Embracing impermanence in later life often begins as an ache, disguised as loss. We release roles, routines, and identities that once anchored us.
“I retired just about a year ago and now find myself volunteering on a level that’s pretty much like the job I left. No wonder I’m miserable. I didn’t really retire—I just changed jobs. Retirement is supposed to be about nurturing your authentic self. Letting
Some people boast about needing only four or five hours of sleep. They treat it like a badge of honor, proof that they’re tough, efficient, indispensable. But when you reach a certain age, the joke isn’t about getting by with too little. It’s about waking