What I’ve come to realize is that my routines are what seem to save the day when I’m in a transition. I have certain non-negotiables within my routines that help serve as guardrails or act as a compass to provide direction and keep me from getting lost in the chaos of the day or life circumstances.

This Isn't Retirement, It's My Next Chapter: Why Women Are Redefining Their Later Lives.

Before you know it, you’re stressed out with all the things on your list, just like December when you have gifts to buy, parties to plan, wardrobe choices, and worries of how everyone is going to get along and how you’re going to fit it all in. Hence, Maycember.

Just like children during their "why" stage, when we embark on behavior change, we're essentially exploring the "why" behind our actions.

What I’ve come to know is that in the context of luck, mindset is key. While luck plays a role in everyone's lives to some extent, mindset shapes how individuals interpret and respond to it. What we think. What we feel. What we focus on and the meaning we attach to it is what gives it substance.

Intentions are not goals, they are meant to be a gentler, actionable way of focusing on something you want and plan to do, that’s in alignment with your values, personal development, and your best-self journey.

Friendship is something we never outgrow. No matter our age, life circumstances, or what is happening, close, healthy relationships give us a sense of belonging that’s irreplaceable. As people enter middle age, they tend to have more demands on their time that are often more pressing than friendship.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day and love, I’m stepping into the abyss of romantic, long-term relationships, and I encourage you to re-assess the status of your love relationship and the habits you have established to maintain and improve this partnership.

As humans, we all have mental health, which requires the same level of attention and care as other aspects of our lives. Not something you can just ‘snap out of’, our mental health can be complex with a range of positivity and negativity.

It’s important to highlight the connection between nutrition and mental health. Food plays a significant role in not only our physical health, but our mental and emotional health as well.

February is traditionally considered the “heart” month, mainly due to Valentine’s Day falling in the middle of the month. In honor of the theme of American Heart Month, combined with the focus of relationships, I have put together a list of suggestions of things you can do to nurture your relationships and your health! These two themes are so closely aligned, it’s a no brainer, and a great way to enjoy another month of winter!

I am trying something different for this new year. Rather than setting the same “New Year’s resolutions”, I am setting monthly intentions. An intention is a chosen theme that allows you to create alignment in your life. Whereas a resolution can be a hard and fast goal for a desired outcome you wish to attain at some point in the future. Intention setting is less about achieving a specific goal, and more about a shift in mindset to achieve a goal. My hope is that this monthly approach will help me be more reflective, allow for a keener focus of my energy, and create flexibility with my actions.