United States
I'm an independent journalist and PR pro who writes about physical health, emotional wellness, and successful aging. After decades of covering these beats for national publications and Fortune 500 clients, I'm using what I've learned to help every person live their healthiest life possible. I'm living my dream through my creative projects and my adventures in the great outdoors.
Mental & Physical Health
Are younger people smarter? Are older people wiser? Living longer affects the brain, but exactly how may surprise you.
The truth is, we need each other. The problem is, we don’t like to admit it.
Not everyone gets sleepy watching the watch swing. Here’s why, and what science is doing to bring hypnosis out of the shadows.
Even if gluten throws you a gut punch, science suggests you may still be able to enjoy bread. The trick is to go against the grain.
Big Food companies have purposely addicted you to junk, creating an unfair fight. Science offers a simple and pleasurable way to win the battle.
While it can’t turn you into a werewolf, the lunar cycle may have real power, modern research suggests.
The brain can generate pain in the absence of injury, but what the brain can learn, it can unlearn.
The last week of the year is the deadliest time for cardiac issues. Here’s the sobering truth on how to stay merry and avoid a Christmas coronary.
In this age of abundance we’re all vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption. Whatever your guilty pleasure, here’s how to break the cycle and bring balance.
Psychology explains why — for so many of us — these stars of kiddie birthday parties and peddlers of good, clean fun are truly no laughing matter
Many seniors suffer from depression and anxiety. Here's how to tell if you or your loved one is just getting older…or if it's something more serious.
To a skeptical health writer, energy healing seemed as fake as a cheap Rolex. But when nothing else worked, she leaned into this ancient mystical practice.
Does this eerie parlor game really give voices to ghostly spirits? While the answer is debatable, scientists envision even more intriguing clinical applications.
Yoga workouts slowed — but didn’t stop — Mom’s disease. New research adds fresh clinical tools that may end it altogether.
Muscle loss increases with age, and can lead to greater weakness and less mobility. But through the right exercise, muscle strength can be maintained.
My in-laws, married for over 55 years, died within three months of each other. Was this a coincidence -- or can you really die of a broken heart?
Strength training does more than fortify muscles. It saved my daughter from an abusive relationship, and likely saved her life.
Research indicates that heat and humidity become dangerous or even lethal at levels much lower than previously believed. Here's how to protect yourself.
Forgetting a kid in a hot car happens only to bad parents, right? Think again. Neuroscience reveals a brain glitch that causes these horrific accidents.
Aging
America’s major party candidates are among the oldest ever to serve as POTUS. How old is too old to lead?
It was clear Dad needed to stop driving, but he resisted moving to the passenger seat.
Scientists have long believed human females are the only primates who go through the “change of life.” But new research throws a monkey wrench into that theory.
I made a list of my biggest worries. The results were astounding.
The U.S. lacks guaranteed paid parental leave, and grandparents are taking up the slack. It's time we did more more to support both parents and children.
Why does the American Dream elude so many young people? Boomers would do well to shift their perspective and acknowledge how lucky they've been.
Whether planned or unplanned, life's transitions as we age can be frightening. But they can also be opportunities for growth and positive change.
Overcoming ageism and sexism, Barbara Walters became a legend in television journalism, paving the way for a more equitable workplace for all.
Retirement
Some retirees thrive, while others flounder. Here’s how to ease into the good life after calling it quits.
Some older workers can’t afford to stay working
Many older workers long to move on, but the timing's just not right. Here are four steps to take to ease your way toward retirement freedom.
If you're stuck between the burning desire to retire and an undercooked nest egg, use these strategies to make the most of your career's final stretch.
When life goes stale, a new retiree tries to shake things up at the roulette table, with unexpected results.
In retirement, some things speed up, while others slow down. Before you take the plunge, learn how to maintain your balance and avoid losing your bearings.
COVID-19 causes a burned-out worker to reexamine her life's priorities and make some life-altering changes.
When the path to retirement is unclear, a burned-out worker tunes into the voice within and finds the courage to build a life of balance and authenticity.
Relationships
Kissing can make a man and a woman feel perfectly connected. It can also set off a full-blown battle of the sexes
The holiday linked to gratitude and togetherness has morphed into a minefield. Experts weigh in on how to lower the temperature and keep your sanity intact.
The prevailing wisdom advises ignoring your regrets. Science calls bullshit. Reviewing your regrets can be liberating…and can be the path to your best life.
After an angry customer tosses food into her face, a fast-food worker discovers tips on civility that are backed by science and easy to adopt.
Estrangements between parents and adult children are surprisingly common, and experts say they're growing. Here's why it happens and how families can heal.
Personal Essays
Tax time is hardly fun. But a shift in mindset can bring surprising rewards
It may sound Grinchy, but it’s not. I’ve embraced JOMO — the Joy of Missing Out — and I’m already feeling merrier
A woman interviews a stranger and learns he's a concentration camp survivor. Years later, she travels to Dachau to honor him and retrace his steps.
Alas, another summer is history. But if you’re willing to brave the chill, autumn offers some pretty amazing perks.
A 60-something woman realizes the best birthday gifts aren't exotic adventures or self-improvement products...but instead family, friends, wine, and dogs.
We all know kissing can be magic. But the question is, why?
By breaking his silence about the Holocaust, Eric Behr left a tribute to the power of speaking up and an example of the resilience of the human spirit.
Dad was the ultimate handyman. But when he left, he couldn't fix our broken hearts.