Every December, I notice something in myself and in almost every woman I work with.

We forget.

We forget the good we created.
We forget the moments that made us stronger.
We forget the ways we showed up with courage when no one else saw it.
We forget the quiet obstacles we climbed, step by step, all year long.

And we forget something else that matters deeply when we’re reviewing our year.

We forget how many people we helped.

Even on the days when we felt tired, stretched thin, or unsure of ourselves, we made an impact.
We supported, listened, encouraged, guided, and held more people than we realize.

This year has been heavy in a way that’s hard to even articulate. Every day, it feels like there is another sucker punch headline... rising prices, policies that harm vulnerable people, families torn apart by ICE, entire communities living in fear, protections being dismantled, and discrimination aimed at women, transgender people, and people of color. Stories of violence, cruelty, and...

A few weeks ago, I boarded a long, grueling flight to the South Pacific to visit five of my eight grandchildren who live on a small island in Vanuatu. It took almost 20 hours of flying, four airports, an overnight stay, and more than one sleepless night.

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

Because this is what I mean when I talk about aging boldly. Not skydiving or climbing Everest (though if that’s your thing, go for it). But staying curious. Saying yes to adventure. Doing what brings you alive, even when it stretches you.

And believe me, I said yes to a lot on this trip.

Headstands on the Beach

We did our traditional headstands, something we’ve been doing together since they were tiny and needed to be held up by a parent or the nearest wall. This time, we lined up on the beach, the girls flipping upside down beside me. Little Louise watched with wide eyes, then insisted on trying her own wobbly version, me holding her upside down. Seeing all of us upside down toge...

Last weekend, Thom and I packed up our Tacoma truck and headed to the Lost Coast of California—one of the most remote and pristine places on the California coast, where Highway 1 had to turn inland and where waves crash fiercely. 

We joined four other Jeep/off-road adventurers, people who tackle trails like the Rubicon (a beast of a route, from what I’ve heard). These are serious folks. Rugged, skilled, and thankfully also warm and fun.

We camped at Usal Beach, fog drifting around us, damp air clinging to everything. I bundled up with blankets and jackets, my knit cap pulled down tight. Even as I sat around a beachside campfire wrapped in layers, I felt something start to shift inside me.

That something was a reset.

Because even in the cold, in the wet fog, even with news from the world swirling in my mind, I could hear the ocean calling me back to myself. Pelicans dove for fish. The sea roared. And I remembered how important it is to get quiet.

The next day, we caravanned along a...

In just a few days, I’ll be 75 years old...and honestly, that number still surprises me.

Not because I feel old (I don’t), but because there were so many things I didn’t know about getting older. There are so many things I wish someone had told me.

Here’s what I know for sure: Aging is not something to fear. It’s a privilege. It’s a time of stepping into your power, shedding old expectations, and finally...finally...living for you.

I wish more women knew that. I wish we didn’t waste so much time doubting ourselves, waiting for permission, or holding back our voices.

Because at some point, whether you’re ready or not, a switch flips.

It’s the moment when you realize you are done with being spoken to with disrespect, swallowing your words just to keep the peace, and staying quiet to avoid looking “difficult.”

And here’s what I wish more women knew: People respect you more when you start speaking your truth.

Damn, I wish I had known this sooner.

1. Know how to say no. And don’t gi...

Summer is the best time to feel like yourself. It’s a perfect time to savor every day.

Summertime has the potential to help you:

1. Rejuvenate and reset
2. Embrace joy and laughter
3. Unleash creativity
4. Prioritize ultimate self-care

When we're having fun, we put aside the worries, the goals, the stress, the have to’s. We can look at where we’ve been and where we’re going. 

Let's start with what you want 

Sometimes, we're so busy, that we don't even know what we want and we don't take the time to figure it out.  

Ask yourself these questions:

What would make this an unforgettable summer? 

What if it was the first summer I got to ________

If I had all the free time I wanted this summer, I'd ________

The best summer I ever had was _________.

These questions can give you clues to what you're longing for and what makes you happy. 

Sit down right now and write it out. Get out your journal and dream. 

I give you full permission to dream. 

Want to go to Hawaii? To some exotic loca...

Traveling to other countries will always fire me up. 

There's something about the journey that leaves you with a refreshed perspective on life. And when it comes to certain trips, you know they'll be filled with adventure and the thrill of the unknown.

Our excursion to Baja was just that. 

It was rocky from the start; tempers flared and anger hung over us. We weren’t in the best place as a couple to begin this journey. 

We went anyway. 

I'll admit, the idea of traveling to Mexico left me uneasy. My imagination ran wild from tales of the cartel capturing us to being innocent bystanders caught in a crossfire.

When I mentioned our plans to my son Andrew, his imagination went into overdrive.

“Mom, really... you're going to  Mexico?” 

He painted a dire picture of us held captive, me, in the back of a pickup truck tied up, dehydrated, and Thom with a gash on his forehead from being hit with a gun. We laughed about it while I tried to calm my nerves and reassure him that everything wo...

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."   Albert Einstein 

This quote has always been one of my favorites. I'm all in for option #2 as we step into this new year. I'm also committed to helping you make it your best year ever. 

Picture this: Thom and I packed up our truck the day after Christmas and headed to Southern California.  If you’re like me, camping in the wintertime does not sound fun, but we chose Anza Borrego desert, about 40 miles from the Mexican border. Trust me, I have no regrets.

This trip was pure magic.

Photo taken at 1:00 am...completely untouched

We're big fans of dispersed camping, where you can set up anywhere on BLM land without reserving a campsite months in advance. Anza Borrego, although a state park, lets you camp almost anywhere. Want to build a fire? Just use one of those cool round metal containers. We did build a fire every night. 

Our little fire became a source...

Do you feel your life could be headed in a better direction? Are you wondering what steps you can take to make something happen and take control of your future? 

The power of manifestation can work wonders for anyone wanting to create lasting, meaningful change in their lives.  As empowering as manifesting is, it can be difficult to understand if no one has previously guided you on how the process works. 

If you’ve spent days, months, or even years trying to manifest your dreams and find yourself missing the mark, then it's time to turn things around with the power of manifestation. 

Manifestation allows us to access our innermost creativity and wisdom so that we can bring about amazing changes in our lives. 

Whether it's manifesting more money, having the relationship of your dreams, traveling around the world, or having more energy to keep up with your grandkids, when you learn how to correctly harness the energy of manifestation, anything is possible. 

Manifestation can help us...

It wasn't the clean air or the clear starry sky nights that were the most nourishing. It wasn't the fact that I got to spend 5 days camping with my best friend or that I hiked on smooth flat rock with gorgeous views that made me feel alive. 

All of those things made my heart sparkle and glow. 

But what surprised me the most was the quiet. The stillness. 

It was startling in a way to be in complete soundlessness. I had forgotten about being out in the middle of nowhere how quiet life can be. 

I realized that living in a city or town, the sounds from the freeway are running in the background, even though for me, my house is nowhere near the freeway. 

It was the stillness and deep quiet without the background noise that soothed me the most. 

Canyonlands with Dear Friends

We started in Canyonlands, Utah, with 5 other couples. Now a delightful annual affair, we hiked, ate together, talked and laughed, did yoga up on a rock, and listened to Dave Van Manen play his guitar, Helene Van...

When it comes to taking the next step in your life...whether that’s starting a new career, taking the trip of a lifetime, having a hard conversation with someone you love, or something else entirely...many of us suffer from procrastination.

We tell ourselves we'll do it “one day,” when the timing is just right. But what if now is the perfect time for you to make your dream a reality?

What if this moment holds infinite possibilities and you can't afford to wait any longer? Don’t listen to the self-doubt that holds you back. Trust yourself. 

Living your best life means taking risks and it means not waiting for the right time.

Not waiting to go for your dreams and live on your own terms involves pushing past fear and doubt.

It's scary to think that we can actually get what we want, which is why it’s so common for us to allow our inner critic or saboteurs to convince us to wait for the right time to do what we want.  

There are so many reasons why you shouldn’t wait

Missed Opportu...