Every now and then, if we are lucky, we encounter a person or an organization that inspires us and gives us hope. Such is the case when Thom and I discovered Tucson Village Farms here in Tucson a year ago. Started as a dream in 2009 by two women, Leza Carter and Elizabeth Sparks, the goal was to build an urban farm where kids could be out in nature and see for themselves where food comes from other than grocery stores. From an initial dream that began with a one-acre plot of raw dirt, these women created an amazing facility that now, in 2024 alone, reached 11,000 youth and 8,000 adults through 491 year-round programs. One of their mottos is, “Changing the world one carrot at a time.”
10 Life Lessons At The Edge of 70
One of the advantages of being a writer for many years is that you have decades of writing to look back on as your age creeps upwards. I have been writing for over 40 years now and putting out articles on this blog for nearly 15. Through the years I have shared hundreds of ideas and curiosities with anyone who wanted to read along. Some of those thoughts I even put into books. At the same time I have been journalling for at least 30 years now so if anyone wanted to blackmail me, there is all the evidence they would need to judge me for my thoughts and actions. Fortunately, what’s most interesting at least to me, is that I can see how I have gradually grown and evolved through the years. So here are the top ten bits of wisdom I think I’ve gained the most. [Read more…]
Choosing Bliss Over Busy
A few days ago as I was beginning my morning walk, my mind began churning through all the things I needed and wanted to get done that day. At the same time, I also remembered what I had neglected getting around to doing the day before—not to mention the week before. Then I knew it my thoughts began spiraling down that rabbit hole that many of us know too well. So, to distract myself, I grabbed my iPhone and started searching for a podcast to listen to as I walked One popped up on my screen titled something like, “Slow down and go with the flow in troubling times.” Just a few words into the podcast the author being interviewed said exactly what I needed to hear. He said, “We need to choose bliss over busy.”
Living Rightsized in A 55+ Community
Getting together with just a few of our friends at RCW.
My husband Thom and I never planned to live in a 55-or-older community. When a person is younger, those neighborhoods seem like a step away from entering a nursing home. Who wants to be surrounded by old people? Then when we hit our 60s we began seeing some of the benefits. Plus, when combined with our decision to “rightsize” our life nearly 15 years ago, we discovered it was a way to combine the two lifestyles—and suddenly it became the perfect solution for our current wants and needs. And no, we have discovered they are much more than just a place for old people!
My Christmas Letter for 2024
Eating dinner dressed in Kimonos.
In 69 years, I have never once written a “Christmas Letter.” Decades ago, I dutifully sent out Holiday Cards and did my best to include a personal message. But as Thom and I eventually gave up the ritual of giving gifts, I abandoned the chore of writing and mailing those cards. When friends and family realized that I had stopped sending them out—most of them stopped too—or dropped us from their lists. Then several days ago, while waiting in line at the post office, I saw a woman proudly hand over 20+ cards to be stamped with special holiday stamps. Without warning, that quaint act reminded me of more connected times. It also reminded me of holiday letters. And while oftentimes corny or boastful, in some ways they still offered a peak into lives separated by miles and busy schedules. That prompted me to sit down and write a blog post updating anyone (who might be interested) in what we’ve been up to in the last couple of months, mainly our trip to Japan. So please forgive me—in some ways this post is my version of a Christmas letter.
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Don’t Wait Until The End to Discover What’s Most Important
Last spring a neighbor here in Tucson recommended a book. This neighbor, Jeff, told us that it was one of the most important books he’d ever read. How could we not be intrigued? Thom read it first and then through the summer I took my turn. What book? Written by a man named Frank Ostaseski, this book is titled The Five Invitations. What is most captivating is the subtitle—Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully. And while that might seem to be an unusual topic to take along with us on a summer vacation, it really wasn’t. As the book makes perfectly clear, if you aren’t making the most of your life in every moment—right now—how will you do it when your time is over?
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Why Critical Ignoring Is as Important as Critical Thinking in Today’s World
How many times in the last few months (or years) have you heard someone make a statement that was so bizarre and outrageous that you could barely believe anyone could think that true? I have—more than once. It’s tempting to just roll my eyes and try to run in the opposite direction. That, or silently accuse them of (among other harsher judgements) not being able to think critically. But unfortunately, those actions don’t seem to be isolated. In today’s world it seems that such declarations and behaviors are everywhere—in the media, online and out of the mouths of people we meet at the grocery store. We can’t run from everybody who lies and/or makes up wacky assertions. Instead, maybe we ought to learn, and to teach each other, how to critically ignore that input. Or, as William James, the author of The Principles of Psychology wrote, “The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.” [Read more…]
My Facebook-Fast, Other Adventures & A Few Great Bike Rides
I have been noticeably absent from both this blog and Facebook for the last month, but I haven’t just been sitting around doing nothing. Like many of you, I’m sure your summer has been busy and full doing things you enjoy. If not, why not? Plus, now that Thom has turned 70 and I’m close behind, our focus is on making the most of every day. And with our pledge to go off social media for the month of July, those of you on Facebook might have wondered just how well that particular experiment has unfolded. So, for those of you interested in what we’ve been up to, here are a few of the highlights. [Read more…]
Are We In a Comfort Crisis Or Have We Just Gotten Lazy?
I’m the first to confess that I like my conveniences. I love having both a laptop and a desktop computer so I can write or research anywhere I want. I can’t imagine living without my hearing aids being able to connect to my iPhone so I can take calls or listen to music anytime I want (not to mention hear well!). Speaking of my iPhone, knowing the temperature today and for the next 10 days anywhere in the world seems important, doesn’t it? Or what about Google Maps telling me where I am at any given point day or night? I don’t know about you, but without those comforts (and I didn’t even mention air-conditioning, televisions, a washer/dryer and a thousand other household items) my lifestyle would seem antiquated. Clearly all those things and so much more make my life comfortable. But are they necessary? And is it possible that taken all together there are unforeseen costs that are making me lazy?
Breaking the Cycle: How to Avoid Doomsurfing and Combat the Infodemic
Ever heard the words doomsurfing or doomscrolling before? Not only does the Urban Dictionary online include it, but the well-known Merriam-Webster wrote a blog post describing it as, “the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening or depressing.” What they fail to mention is that many of us do it regardless if the source of the “news” hasn’t been verified and is sometimes untrue. That leads to the other new word—Infodemic—as a “blend of ‘information’ and ‘epidemic’ that typically refers to a rapid and far-reaching spread of both accurate and inaccurate information about something such as disease. As facts, rumors, and fears mix and disperse, it becomes difficult to learn essential information about an issue.” So these days, with the flood of doom issues related to the climate crisis, the economy, the upcoming election, greed and corruption everywhere we look every piece of news carries the potential for both doomsurfing and being a part of an Infodemic. The question is, are we personally adding to or easing the spread? [Read more…]
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