By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW I ended my last blog stating that I was going to use the following prompts to set my year of Joy. I hope that they helped you in January and February as they have me. Prompt #1: “What are you most proud of from 2022? Both my daughter (56 years old) and I were with my mother when she took her last breath here on earth. When I put her in the hospital in late December 2021, I was afraid that she would die alone before my daughter and eldest granddaughter (25) would be able to get to California from Washington State. They made it and were able to spend some... Read More

By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW I spoke often about grief and loss in 2022. I also covered journaling and the different types of journaling as the way I chose to listen to my inner self. I used it to figure out what was bothering me and what to do about it. This year I will continue to use my journal for that purpose, while adding gratitude and joy as this year’s focus. Why did I choose gratitude? I chose it because it is my pathway to joy. Joy is going to be my word of the year. For me, the year 2022 was one of deep loss. January 2, 2022, I was with my mother when she passed, and my husband... Read More

By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW In my last post I explained how an ordinary course of events – like traveling and not immediately being able to find something – can create much anxiety, even a panic attack – actually, a “Dyslexic Spin,” is how I label it.  It is part of my lifelong learning disability, with which I’ve learned to cope over the years. Journal writing is one effective tool in this process of coping. In my earlier discussions of journaling technique, I have been promoting unstructured, or free form, journaling. When using this type of journaling, I... Read More

By Shirley Meerson, CHWC, CBT ~ NABBW’s Ageless Wellness Lifestyle Associate Don’t let the holiday season take a toll on your health and wellness.  With the holidays coming up, the next few weeks can bring on unwanted stress.  The pressures and demands can send people into meltdown, and it really isn’t necessary. Don’t buy into the chaos that comes with the holiday season. There are strategies that can help with the stress, grief, and anxiety that many people may feel.  As little as 5 minutes of self-care will go a long way toward your peace and sanity – and can lower your... Read More

By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW   Recently, my husband and I were on our first vacation together in 3 years. COVID and my mother’s heart condition had kept us from traveling anywhere, especially together. So we started planning to go through  Portland, Oregon to Sammamish, Washington, in the Seattle area,  to stay with our son and his family,  and visit with our daughter and hers. Our eldest granddaughter was having a two year wedding anniversary party, which included a vow renewal and a weekend bash over the 4th of July weekend.    I was extremely excited. It was going to be... Read More

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Just 34 miles up sweeping I 70 from Denver lies Evergreen, a popular stop for folks wanting to breathe deeply of crisp, pine-scented air.  Forward-thinking Denver elders forged out huge open spaces for hikers and bikers in this area. A myriad of trail networks lace the hills surrounding the rustic mountain town. I hiked in Dedisse Park on an undulating trail through a forest overlooking the Evergreen Lake. Expect to meet mountain bikers and other hikers on the trails. Evergreen is a hub of outdoor fun and connecting highways to the interior... Read More

Title: Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old? Plan Now to Safeguard Your Health and Happiness in Old Age Author:  Joy Loverde ISBN: 978-0-7382-1963-9 Reviewed for the NABBW by:  Anne L. Holmes This book, published in 2017, promises to be everything you need to know to plan for your own safe, financially secure, healthy, and happy old age. It’s an important theme, because so many of us Baby Boomers have been too busy dealing with the needs of the here and now to have any time to plan for the future.  But, the fact is, if we don’t have a support system in place, the mere thought... Read More

By Carolee Duckworth, NABBW’s Independent Travel Associate OUR JULY ARMCHAIR TRIP: Montréal & Quebec City: A Trip to France without Crossing the Atlantic Are you ready for another Armchair Trip? It’s July, so this time let’s head off to the more moderate temperatures of Northern Canada to visit two historic cities with winding cobbled streets, flanked by seventeenth and eighteenth-century stone houses and churches, graceful parks and squares. Our destinations will be the French speaking cities of Montréal and Quebec City, rich in unsurpassable French cuisine, French culture... Read More

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate The only thing certain about travel in 2022 is that it is uncertain. People are chomping at the bit to travel again but need to remain flexible. Flight schedules are still in a state of flux, car rentals are at historical highs, and Covid-19 guidelines in various countries are changing by the hour. Travel expert, Peter Greenberg, suggests that you contact your travel agent, or better yet, the concierge at a hotel in the area you are planning to visit, to get up-to-date information about Covid-19 requirements. Even the World Health Organization... Read More

I am happy to announce our November 2021 NABBW Financial Podcast featuring Pamela J. Sams, CRPC, MBA, BFA and Trusted Advisor to Professional Women, which takes place this coming Thursday, and YOU are invited.   November’s topic: Year-End Financial Checklist   You will access the presentation  via a Zoom meeting. Nov 18, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)   You will need to register in advance for this one-hour meeting:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArdu2pqjovHtZBOf0NhnVv2RTGKwda99l9   After registering, you will receive a confirmation email... Read More