About
My Philosophy
I believe that it’s never too late to grow! Studies have shown that learning new things about the world and about ourselves is essential to leading a healthy life—and to maintaining our health as we age. When we’ve crossed the 50-threshold, we’re at the perfect learning juncture: we’ve had plenty of years under our belts, accrued a certain amount of hard-earned wisdom—and we’re often visited by a surprising restlessness—a stirring.
It’s that stirring that intrigues me. The voice inside that pushes us to be more, learn more. Rediscover.
Me and my honey
My recent rediscoveries
My 50-threshold was, indeed, life-changing. At age 53, I became a successful solo entrepreneur: I started an English tutoring business (LongIslandEnglishTutor.com). I married a wonderful man at 54 (we met on Match.com), bought a condo in Florida for future retirement at 55, and entered the MFA in creative writing program at Antioch University at 56!
Writing has always been a great love of mine. Putting words to paper has helped me through some tough times, both in my childhood and in my adult life. While I have previously considered myself a “dabbler,” I am currently turning that one around. At 57, I am finally calling myself a “writer” – a tall order and an identity I am thrilled to embody!
I am currently in the middle of writing two books—an action-packed murder mystery involving a grandmother-shaman-ghost, human trafficking, and teen-age love. The other is a work of nonfiction that raises issues close to my heart—issues of social justice and how we treat people on the margins. I could call it a murder story as well, but Coming Home spends more time honoring the life of the deceased, Deacon Patrick Logsdon, and the lives of the formerly incarcerated men whom he helped.
I also write short memoir pieces and guest blog for Lunch Ticket, a literary journal with a social justice mission. I serve as the journal’s lead editor of creative non-fiction.
Especially dear to my heart is this blog, WomanPause, where my focus is on women, who, like me, are ready to rediscover their passions!
I feel the stir, and I am embracing it—embracing my journey, yours, and ours.
Me 2003
My rediscovery past
I have always been a seeker, eager for new experiences and deeper learning.
I married my high school sweetheart. We didn’t go to the same high school—one might even say we came from opposite sides of the tracks. (I was from the more “interesting” side.) We shared three wonderful, creative children, who have all left the nest. While the kids were growing up, I worked as an individual and couple’s therapist, a group leader, and a Mommy and Me coach, putting my M.S.W. skills to work. (I try to put those skills to work in everything I do.)
I started voice lessons at 40 and sang opera—opera!
I went back to school for my masters in English secondary education and also studied Tarot, Reiki, Shamanic healing, and yoga—earning my certification as a yoga instructor. Namaste!
Little did I know that my healing and yoga trainings would help me stay centered and grounded when I was diagnosed with breast cancer—of which I haven’t had a recurrence in 15 years—and when my first husband died in a car accident, leaving me widowed at 42 and my kids without their dad at ages 20, 16, and 12.
So … by the time we are 50, we have learned that life is not easy. But we also know that life is too short to squander a minute. That is why I’ve created WomanPause.
Sometimes, we need to take a step back in order to see where we’re going. I hope you’ll pause with me each week and feel inspired to forge ahead!
With love,
Diane
