This summer did not go well. In July, I lost my mother to a brutal disease, and thus inherited her responsibilities: keeping her home, caring for my father, and the minutia of wrapping up her “paper existence.” At the same time, my own family expanded. Our grandson moved in for the summer and our son… Read more »
Indie Lee was like many of us, an executive woman who worked hard, enjoyed life and paid great attention to what she put in her body. A native New Yorker, she had a large greenhouse in her back yard filled with organic herbs and vegetables and led a health-conscious existence. Then, in 2008, a string… Read more »
Almost daily, we witness ‘stick-to-itiveness’ and perseverance expressed as “true grit.” Personally, I am attracted to the word “grit” which suggests to me courage, resolve, firmness of character, and an indomitable spirit. These are all lofty personality traits to pursue. The elusive mystery resides in how we achieve the qualities of this simple, yet weighty,… Read more »
“Dogs need just you and love, that’s all.” – Jennifer Westfield Two yellow Labradors took our senior neighbor for a walk every morning and evening. We waved and smiled but never met. With sadness I noticed lately, one dog was missing. Surely because of the dog’s age, the owner had to come to the mournful… Read more »
If you don’t have a disability (or at least won’t admit to having one) or you don’t work in the disability industry, it is unlikely this is a topic of conversation you are likely to have over coffee and a croissant. But it is a discussion to be held across our valley if we are… Read more »
“The question is not how to survive, but how to thrive with passion, compassion, humor and style.” — Maya Angelou Are you just surviving at work – caught up in the day-to-day doldrums of your job? Life is too short to tolerate any sense of dread on Sunday evening as you think about going to… Read more »
Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person and channel energy with the goal of facilitating the person’s own healing response. It is based on an Eastern belief in a universal energy that supports the body’s innate or natural healing abilities. Although the therapy… Read more »
It is a common belief that as we age, our minds and bodies decline and life inevitably becomes less satisfying and enjoyable. Cognitive decline is inevitable, and work is less productive. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, we are all wrong. Certainly life gets better in many aspects as we get older. Our… Read more »
Most baby boomers will face seven key events in their last stage of life that will color their finances and investments. Prepare for these events by thinking about them now. Unlike earlier, happier events such as getting married, having children, and moving up the career ladder, some of these events may be dreaded. For this… Read more »
A change now affecting us all is the onset of warmer desert temperatures which narrows the window of opportunity to enjoy outdoor exercise. Our habits must alter in response to the seasons, and a productive habit we desert dwellers can take at this time is to alter sleep and wake schedules. Maybe getting up early… Read more »
I don’t know when I finally awoke and decided, “OK, enough thinking about it, it’s time to act.” A kidney transplant was a big personal commitment and would create the chance to make a huge difference. Patients that are candidates for kidney transplantation have already used up all their options and the end of the… Read more »
Are you a “stuff-aholic”? Many people collect stuff. Some even pay for storage units to house their extra stuff. Answer this honestly…when you walk into your home, is there a sense of overwhelm and frustration as you see piles of clutter from papers, magazines, clothes, gadgets and dishes? Don’t feel badly if this describes you.… Read more »
Working in the spa and fitness industry has definite benefits. It is an environment that allows one to feel inspired by individuals focused on health, wellness and personal motivation. I am constantly feeding off the energy of four personal trainers and other health professionals at Toscana Country Club where I work. It is with motivation… Read more »
“Knowledge is powerful and self-education is the only education there is.” — Isaac Asimov We have all benefitted from the unprecedented advances in technology, planetary exploration, and medicine that have taken place during our lifetime. Between 1945 and 1971 there were many breakthroughs, and the progress has accelerated ever since. For us seniors, it is a… Read more »
“Look!” my mother said in 1937 at the Berlin Zoo as she pointed to a huge flying object in the sky shaped like an enormous cigar. “This is a Zeppelin and it can fly to America.” Indeed, it was like a rigid airplane 420 feet long capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean with passengers, sleeping… Read more »
Something swept over me recently. Suddenly I felt a compulsion to step away from Facebook and the avenue of social networking. I realized that I was habitually checking Facebook every morning and evening. Conservatively, this equated to 10 minutes per day or 56 hours a year posting my life, prying into other’s lives, and vacillating… Read more »
This summer I had the opportunity to travel to France for the first time. When asked what the most impressionable aspect of my trip was I always mentioned the food, or what I like to call “haute cuisine.” Food in France is taken seriously. The way the French eat reflects their heritage, and most foods… Read more »
Desert Health® was honored to bring Terry Wahls, MD, to the Coachella Valley in May as part of the Eisenhower Wellness Institutes Speakers’ Series. The free presentation attracted over 525 people eager to hear how Wahls is beating progressive multiple sclerosis through nutrition and exercise. She has helped hundreds suffering from MS and other autoimmune… Read more »
The desire to write can emerge in any phase of life, and it deepens as the years advance. As the decision to write is made and the process evolves, memories become a catharsis of remembrance and feelings. The experience is wonderful and expanding. Writing is a powerful tool for self-discovery and for learning in general.… Read more »
Facing challenges and problem solving are strengths that Madelina Agawin has relied upon since she was a young woman, and they have formed the complex mosaic of who she is as a person today. Early on, Madelina’s father instilled in her the importance of education and being disciplined in her approach to achieving her goals.… Read more »
