Articles
Swell stuff about midlife
It Took My Mom’s Death to Lift the Burden of Being the Responsible One
I'm in good company with this bunch of badass women: Beyoncé, Oprah, Hillary, and Taylor Swift. Why? Because I’m the #1 child, and #1 daughter in my family, just like them. Birth order, which is not an exact science but has been researched for decades, shows that us...
Invisibility in Midlife: Why I’m Comfortable Being Invisible and Unseen in Middle Age
Hey middle-agers. Feeling invisible? Unseen? Did you notice the representation of your age cluster plummet when you turned 50, or even 40? For example, cars, beverages, beauty products, clothes, tech; brands and ad agencies intentionally bypass middle-agers when...
Why Madonna is the Perfect Catalyst for Discussing Midlife Beauty
Here are 4 things I know about Madonna. She is one of the most successful and influential recording artists of all time holding multiple Guinness World Records. Throughout her 40+ year career, she has reinvented herself over and over again from club kid to material...
The Bittersweet Nostalgia of Visiting Home and Going Back in Time
Going home. I’m not far. I live in southern California, and grew up in northern California. I have family and friends in the bay area so I visit a few times a year, but when I’m home my heart is weighed down by wistful reminders. I’ll visit my mom at the cemetery, and...
Thinning Hair: Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) and What I’m Doing to Shut it Down
Long, pin-straight, and parted in the center; my hair’s been the same since the 70’s when I was in elementary school. Think my idol Cher circa the Sonny and Cher Show. Except for a tragic perm in the 80’s, a bob in college, and going short after a couple of seismic...
What to do if you Want to Exercise but Hate Working Out
We all know there are tremendous physical and mental benefits for working out - especially in middle age- so what should you do if you want to exercise but hate working out? Here is a quick and straight-forward game plan to get your body moving. DO A MINDSET...
Emma Thompson Gets Sex Positive, Body Positive, and Naked on Screen
Note: this article has spoiler alerts for the film Good Luck to You Leo Grande currently available on Hulu. I was listening to an interview with Ali MacGraw, the star of the 1970 hit movie Love Story. I loved her sass and luscious brunette locks in that movie....
You’re Getting Older, What Are You Waiting For?
Hey friend. Um, you know that thing…the dream or desire you always wanted for yourself? Maybe you started it, but pushed it aside because life got in the way. Or you buried it because you didn’t think your parents, friends, partner, or ______ (fill in the blank) would...
How to Grow Old? There’s No Owner’s Manual but You Probably Fall Into One of These Categories
Youth to adulthood…we know where we’re going because it’s mapped out for us, and the transitions are clear. 🎒 school 😬 puberty 🎂 birthdays 🍸 21! 🎓 graduation 💻 career 💖 wedding 🧸 baby showers Some of us take different offramps and detours, but the lines on the...
And Just Like That…It’s Somber In The City, What Sex and the City Gets Rights About Middle Age
*And Just Like That...episode 1 and 2 spoiler alert* There’s a moving box in my garage filled with clothes: a ruby red satin cape from the 60’s, a quilted Jeanne Marc matador length jacket with big round shoulders, a polka dot crepe jumpsuit, jewel tone sweaters...
Ageism in Marketing and the Media: When Your World Becomes Distorted After Age 50 and What You Can Do About It
In 1980 I was in my high school English class taught by a teacher I’ll call Mr. Pizza. I’m not sure why he disliked me, but I suspect it was because of the Doritos and Dr. Pepper I snuck into his 10 am class most days. I let the chips soak on my tongue before chewing...
What Does ‘Aging Gracefully’ Even Mean?
Aging gracefully… That’s a head-scratcher for me. Beauty articles, skincare marketing, 50+ sites, health blogs, how-tos, fashion mags. Why does everyone want us to age with grace? When I think of grace, ballet dancers come to mind. Also videos of falling cats landing...