As you know, travel is often a high priority for those of us who are looking forward to retirement or who have already started this transition. SmarterTravel.com has a fun list of “The World\’s Worst Tourist Traps.” Feeling a big smug, and considering myself fairly well-traveled, I scanned the list and was mortified (elated?) to see I\’ve visited 9 out of the 10 places -and the 10th one is on my to-do list! So, here is the list from SmarterTravel.com. What “Tourist Traps” do you feel are missing? And, so you agree that these sights are tourist traps? (My own vote is for South... Read More

For too many of us throwing a party is just that … throwing a number of elements against the proverbial wall and hoping enough of them stick to make the party a success. Let\’s not, as they say, go there. Take a few minutes to answer some questions in your Zen Organizing Journal. Do you like to entertain? If the response is ‘yes,\’ when was the last time you gave a party? Was it a success? What were the key elements that made it successful? If the answer is ‘no,\’ where did you fall down? Are these correctable mistakes? We all learn through trial and error. Do you do... Read More

College is over. High school is over. Faded memories for everyone. Summer weddings and new families joining. Boot camp and service. Parents are asking me, now what? How do I have a good summer with my adult children and enjoy it when I know they will leave? Who am I? Transitions will never end, so don\’t you think it helps to practice enjoying the life you have now? When you jump ahead what value is given to you? Does it help you build a plan? Does it ask you how you are doing with trusting yourself and your adult children? Are you good at asking for help? Are the feelings of sadness appearing... Read More

“You\’re getting to be more like your mother every day!” Whenever I do something weird or funny (like talking with total strangers at another table in a restaurant), that\’s what my sister tells me. Well . . . the other day I caught a look of myself as I passed a store window. OMG – I couldn\’t believe what I was seeing. There I was, wearing a photography vest that had been my mother\’s. It\’s khaki colored with pockets for everything a photographer would need (with a diagram inside each side panel so you know what every pocket is for!). So practical and yet... Read More

Want to know my favorite business building secret? Focus on transformation. The true way to create positive change in the world is to focus on the transformation of others. When you help other reach positive results in their lives and businesses, you also win. Money is actually not the reason at all that people do or do not buy something. Money becomes relative in business when you focus on transformation. Said another way, when people really want the transformation you are selling, the price melts away. They will actually pay whatever you tell them to pay if they need the transformation you provide. Most... Read More

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies (Psalm 34:13 niv). An elderly woman has been in the news today. She got in big trouble for spouting off and making very controversial remarks to the media. Her comments could not be interpreted as anything but small-minded and bigoted. Because of the uproar, she resigned from a long-held position as a newspaper columnist. I was offended by this woman\’s views, but joked with some friends that the older I get, the more apt I am to let loose and opine with abandon on almost any subject. My friend, Georgia, said, “Some people... Read More

In 2004, the U.S. Center for Disease Control published the top ten leading causes of death in females. The good news is that many are preventable with a healthy, active lifestyle. What are the major risks for women, and how can you prevent them? You are taking an important first step in enjoying a long, healthy life by taking a look at the answers to these questions. Here are the three biggest health risks and some solutions to prevent them. First, heart disease is responsible for 27.2% of deaths in females. According to the Women\’s Heart Foundation, 8.6 million women worldwide die from... Read More

…or One that Will Put Food on your Table? You\’re not Alone. As a career coach, I have noticed an uptick of women who are re-evaluating their career focus and paths due to a scarcity of job opportunities or feeling unfulfilled in their current occupations. They are experiencing a conflict between pursuing their career dreams or accepting jobs that match their strengths and experience but are personally unfulfilling. Perhaps you can relate to this experience. I am currently working with a client who has 20 years of experience in administrative support. Her passions, however, are all... Read More

My lust for tarnished treasures, coupled with the sheer thrill of the hunt, became an obsession that held me tight within its steely grip. I was fascinated with Bargain America and succumbed to its relentless, beckoning finger, its promise of secondhand booty … and a better life. Over time, and despite the occasional rip-off or bargain blooper, my homes became living testimonies to the fabulous riches I uncovered. The enterprising thrift venues and motley garages that hawked their sordid wares enthralled me, capturing my attention and every spare moment. The many resourceful, veteran thrifters... Read More

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