For those of us who struggle to keep singing after the kids are grown and gone. — Music danced in my head for 20+ years. Melodies swirled in my mind and swept me off my feet while song lyrics filled my home and fed my soul. The familiar tracks varied from year to year. Babies crying. Siblings fighting. Crowds roaring and friends calling. Gradually and without warning…

Navigating everyday life while watching the world in turmoil. — Nothing makes sense. I’m sitting in my family room, thinking about people in faraway places. I turn on my television and think about people suddenly without electricity. I drink a cup of hot tea and thirst for the people without access to fresh water. I take a deep breath and…

A few takeaways from a recent interview with The Rolling Stones. — If you missed Anthony Mason’s interview with The Rolling Stones that aired October 16th on CBS Mornings, please go back and find it. You won’t be sorry. …

Connecting with others with similar interests — regardless of what they are— can change your life. — The friendly-looking woman beside me leaned over and whispered, “We should’ve been sitting in this room 20 years ago, right?” I looked around. She was referring to the fact that we were surrounded by people who appeared younger than we did, many of whom were aspiring authors at some point…

A bittersweet view from the bleachers. — High school football holds a special place in the hearts of many parents and communities. The Friday night lights. The camaraderie of the crowd. The thrill of what’s undoubtedly more than just a game. I live close enough to our high school stadium to keep tabs on what’s happening during…

And what technology has to do with it. — “Stranger danger!” We’ve all heard the term. But I’m not talking about the warning we learned as kids, cautioning us to stay away from people we didn’t know. I’m referring to how technology has impacted our interpersonal relationships, especially with random folks we cross paths with while navigating life. Take…

The complexities of parenting a twentysomething. — As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your children’s future, especially when they’re in their twenties and transitioning into adulthood. This is when they make important decisions that will shape their lives, like choosing a career path, finding a partner, and establishing their identities. You want the best for…

Happiness is a practice worth mastering — Some people LOVE to complain. Ever know someone who seems to thrive on finding fault in everything? I sure do. The weather. The news. The political climate. You name it, and Negative Nelly is going to gripe about it. Chronic negativity is brutal to be around. And I’ve worked in…

Whether you like it or not. — Nicknames typically represent some element of truth. They run the gamut from funny to cruel, well-deserved, or seemingly random. Ugly Naked Guy from Friends leaves very little to the imagination, and when someone calls you a Close-Talker, the Seinfeld reference speaks for itself. I recently encountered someone I met years…