Essays
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Looking for hope in dark times
“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” ? Kurt Vonnegut Sunset on Silver Beach, St. Joseph / Cindy La Ferle Every day this year, I’ve been reminding myself to limit my intake of news on current events. Despite our ongoing national turmoil, I keep looking for all that’s beautiful, respectful, compassionate, wise, and loving. I try to block out (or avoid) anything divisive, combative, abusive, or hateful. In other words, maintaining my optimism is…
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The anti-aging backlash
“Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” ~Betty Friedan Allure, September 2017 Topping my list of things that make me happy this month is Allure magazine’s resolution to stop using the term “anti-aging.” (You can read the full editorial in the September 2017 issue here.) Women of all ages are applauding the magazine’s stand on this important topic, and it’s time for fashion editors and cosmetic companies to start paying attention.Getting older, after all, isn’t something we can avoid — and it’s not a disease to be cured. Aging is a natural process; our human destiny. Most women, however, are brainwashed to believe that aging…
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How to be yourself
Photo by Cindy La Ferle “Whenever you choose to pull back, say less, or restrain your magnificence to survive in a relationship, this spells trouble. The next opportunity you have to spend time with this person, ask yourself: Will I have to shrink to make this work, or is this a situation where I can grow?” ~Marc Chernoff Today’s quote got me thinking about being authentic in our relationships. Of course, there’s a huge difference between being brutally honest and expressing our truth with tact and diplomacy. But how often do we refrain from saying what we really think in order to keep the peace — or to ensure that others will like us?…
