(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) It is possible I have been infected since birth. I gained a new understanding of this while on a recent trip, even though over the past four decades I have had more than a…
Willing Happiness
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) Epic journeys of a heart’s desire that is propelled by an uncompromising idealism may commence with great hope for arriving: 1) safely at a destination 2) no worse for the wear and 3) with…
ADVOCATING FOR WHOLENESS STARTS EARLY: “American Circumcision”
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) Writer/Director Brendon Marotta’s “American Circumcision” airing on Netflix may elicit mockery or disinterest from those who think they already know all they need to know or want to think about the topic. These attitudes…
Career vs. Life Oeuvre
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) I was sitting at my wooden desk when my 4th grade English teacher began walking around the room handing out graded homework. Miss Benson was younger looking than some of the other teachers, tall…
Going Home Via Fierce Grace
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) In 1997 a stroke brought death up close and personal to author and spiritual teacher Ram Dass and with it an opportunity to self-evaluate how he had approached his own death. One might expect…
A Thing of Great Beauty
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) For me, the easiest way to begin to restore peace is to speak from the heart, even if blunt honesty or a rebuke is what may be required. But speaking from the heart, well,…
UTMI: A Mighty Disrupter
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) Traditional Judaism advises couples to know each other for at least one full calendar year, going through all four seasons of life cycles and holidays, before marrying. This is wise counsel because we learn…
A Decision Worthy of Grandma’s Wisdom
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) Earlier this year I made the decision to have the major surgery I knew for a decade I might one day require, and was again reminded of wisdom my late grandmother Anna Massa told…
Vageegee Atrophy Remedies Come With High Cost
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) By now millions have seen the ads or heard the TV and radio commercials — directed primarily to sexually-active menopausal and post-menopausal women — touting relief for a condition known as vaginal (vageegee) dryness.…
The Hike
Love your life. Love all of your life. Even the challenges that wear you down — like body building — have a way of bringing muscle growth to the tears that in time bulk you up and make you stronger. Love the challenges until they no longer feel heavy because…
Airbrushing One’s Heart
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) If you saw on social media a photo that included you and someone you were once in love with, that had airbrushed away any indication of the major significance you once were in that…
Medical Food
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life. This column was published Nov. 1, 2015 in Edge Magazine www.edgemagazine.net/2015/11/medical-food) Like many who eat to live rather than live to eat, I am joyful about toxic-free, rich-in-calcium-and-omega-3-fatty-acid marvels — and yes, lacinato kale…
A Dose of Understanding
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) To vaccinate or not to vaccinate is frequently the way this controversial topic is framed. I am weary of this “either or” duality, the yin/yang, that attempts to overly simplify a terribly complex subject…
Lotions Potions
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life.) By the time we begin to see the toll aging takes on our complexion, our body has already spent years of considerable effort trying to keep up with the garbage we have exposed it…
‘Tis the Season of Cookies
(From my “A2W Aging to Wisdom” series, explorations of the joyful ways to go through life. This column was published Dec. 23, 2014 in the Daily American www.dailyamerican.com) At about the age of four Kristy Greenwood’s grandmother Rosie welcomed her into the kitchen and began teaching her a special language…