Does Memorial Day launch your summer barbecue season? Try these ideas for a barbecue Mother Nature herself would love. In the Market for a New Grill? Go solar. A solar stove cooks more slowly and won’t get you the grilled flavor you expect from the barby. But it can\’t be beat for a clean-cooking cookout. (Models start at less than $200.) Choose gas or electric. Most grills use either natural gas, propane, charcoal, or electricity. Of these options, charcoal causes the most trouble, emitting more carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and soot than any of the others. If you already use... Read More

I will never forget former Texas Governor Anne Richardson telling Larry King why she decided to finally start working out after years of self-neglect. With sadness in her voice, she recounted how she\’d watched her mom literally break up in painful pieces from her osteoporosis. Hunched over with collapsing vertebrae, her mom eventually died from the consequences of this inexorable bone thinning. Richardson took this whole experience as a wakeup call. She saw in her mom her own destiny. So, she cleaned up her diet, stopped alcohol consumption, and concentrated on calcium-rich foods. Every... Read More

Most people are looking for happiness and long for that true feeling of success, peace and serenity. It\’s what we all strive for in our “fast-paced, get-stuff-done” type of lifestyle. Being happy is a choice you face every day of your life even if you are facing many challenges including divorce. Your life will always be filled with challenges. It is best to accept and admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway! The pursuit of happiness begins with learning to slow down and have fun. Taking just ten minutes a day to take care of you or self care can make a huge difference... Read More

Chances are you never thought you needed to be rescued from romance. In fact, you probably feel you need more romance in your life, not less. The truth is that most hearts are broken in the painful difference between the possibility of real romance, and the insistence on the fantasy of romance — with the real thing taking the loss. Recovering from romantic fantasy is based on your willingness to accept who you and your partner are — without deceit, without drama, without all of the false puffery so many of us put around our images of love, relationship and intimacy. Recovering from romantic... Read More

If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. – I John 3:14 NLT Do you have a favorite restaurant? What makes that particular eatery different from the rest? Each restaurant specializes, whether it\’s a hot dog stand or a fancy French restaurant. You won\’t get a fantastic piece of fresh salmon by going to a local pizza place, but you can probably order lasagna with homemade sauce or thick crust pizza piled high with the ingredients of your choice. I added a new place to my... Read More

“I don\’t like to be kept waiting,” he responded when asked by the travel-study professor why he delayed the entire group for a third straight day. “Next time,” the professor warned, “we won\’t hold the bus.” The following day the bus left as scheduled, returning to the hotel late into the evening from a full day of learning and exploring. It also returned to an outraged man who was left behind when, once again, he was late for the designated departure time. “That cured him for the remainder of the trip,” our travel-study professor shared... Read More

By Wendy Reid Crisp Editor in chief, GRAND magazine A remote branch of the maternal side of my family recently compiled a genealogy and forwarded the report to my mother and me. The first thing I noticed were the errors: sons with names similar to fathers\’ and grandfathers\’ were confused; multiple marriages were tossed into bizarre salads of names and lineages. The second thing I noticed was that my grandmother was born in 1872. Two of her children, one of whom is my 94-year-old mother, are still living, as are my sisters and I, my sons and my grandsons. The math on this is what drew... Read More

The Laws of Unattraction: Top 10 Appealing, Eye-Catching and Attractive Tips On How to STOP Being Unattractive from Janice Taylor, Beliefnet Blogger. Chances are you\’ve heard about the Laws of Attraction. The basic concept is that you attract into your life whatever you think about. Positive thoughts and beliefs create a positive life; negative thoughts and beliefs attract negativity. One sure way to get those positive vibes swirling out there is to be attracted to yourself, in a healthy and self-affirming way (not in a narcissistic, oh my goodness, I\’m the greatest ever, where\’s... Read More

Worldwide, “the number of older persons has tripled over the last 50 years; it will more than triple again over the next 50 years,” according to the United Nations. In the United States, people over 65 already represent more than 12% of the population; this percentage will increase to 20% by 2030, according to the Administration on Aging. Below are more than a dozen suggestions that communities can implement (some already have) to be better equipped for a mature population: 1. Age-appropriate fitness and recreation centers 2. Walking trails and benches throughout community 3. Free shuttle... Read More

Over and over I am reminded that what gets us through painful times is a friend. We know that, but when we are hurting we isolate. We don\’t pick up the phone and ask a friend for help. We want to be the strong one. So I suggest you make a list of who you feel uplifted around? Who are you yourself with? Who is cheering for your happiness? Most of us play the role of supporter. We feel vulnerable when we reveal ourselves. Surprise is, we become closer to the friend who we speak our pain to. Being vulnerable and even sharing a “secret,” bonds us. Here\’s my take. We are already... Read More