When I read my friend Nicky Mendenhall’s December 4th blog post, I knew I had to ask her permission to repost it on WomanPause. I am grateful she said yes. We talk a lot about fear on WomanPause. I often borrow the title of that oldie-but-goodie book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway and…

This week, I’m veering away from my scheduled blog post. Usually on the third Monday of the month, you’d see an interview on these pages. And I have a really terrific interview ready to go! Yet, given the horrifying events of the last two weeks, I feel the need to share my feelings about where…

So … just 4 days ago, a difficult year for the world, our country, our cities, towns, our families has finally been put to bed … and, in its place, another year born.   January 1, 2021 couldn’t have come a moment too soon!!!   This time of year, for me, has always been one…

I rarely put up guest posts–in fact, since WomanPause’s inception, there’s only been one. But when I read Sherry Danner’s post on her website, I immediately reached out. Judgement. A loaded word. And Sherry handles all the implications with such great care, humor … and wisdom. I’ll let her take over from here. Thank you,…

It will be November 2, 2020 when this blog posts. One day before possibly the most important election of our lives. Many of us have already voted by mail, by drop box, by early in-person voting. Some of us have made phone calls, rung doorbells, asked anyone and everyone about their plans to register and…

We’ve all been having some difficult conversations lately. And between COVID, the divisiveness in our country,  the fires raging in CA and in our hearts, it’s hard not to feel anxious and depressed.   This week’s newsletter may not seem uplifting—at least on the surface. This week, I’m writing about trauma.   Trauma is possibly…

Hate. Anger. Violence. I don’t know about you, but when I hear, see, smell any of these, my fear index flies off the charts. Whether it be physical, verbal, or emotional—hate, anger, and violence trigger me–deeply. That’s when the fight or flight reflex kicks in. I most often choose flight. Or I freeze and shut…

This weekend, the United States celebrated the 244-year anniversary of its independence. Gone (with one notable exception—at Mt. Rushmore) were the huge gatherings of people watching fireworks displays. Gone (mostly) were the overcrowded beaches and the holiday-sale-stocked malls. Some of us had smaller social distancing bar-b-ques in our backyards. Others watched the exciting debut of…

100,000 deaths. 100,000. 40,800,000 unemployed. Almost 41 million!   Numbers, number, numbers. Relentless, ever-climbing, numbers. They’re like drumbeats that won’t cease. It’s easy to get lost in all those numbers, and sadly, to become numb to them. You don’t need me to remind you of all the stark numbers out there.   So, this week,…

COVID-19 incites fear. The mixed messages, the uncertainty, and the tangible changes to life as we’d known it stokes the flames. Unfortunately, when people feel fear, things often get ugly.   Ageism, though not a new phenomenon in our country, has most recently been given a new voice—and new airwaves. I’ve included below a little…