Welcome to my Blog, and thank you for taking the time to explore my thoughts and feelings about how important it is to continue to grow and evolve as we age. Not only is it important for our health and wellbeing, the effort we invest in growing and actively engaging in the multiple dimensions of our lives will reward us with new pleasures, insights, and joy.

Most of what I’m comfortable sharing with you about myself you will eventually be able to figure out on your own from reading my entries. Clue alert – I’m an introvert by nature, and like most introverts, you learn about who we are by observing and paying attention to what we choose to share. We’re typically not comfortable answering direct questions; we’re much better at sharing who we are In less direct ways.

So, in my case, you’ll get to know me best through reading what I write, but since this section is labeled “bio,” I’ll provide some information that I think has helped shape my outlook. First of all, I’m a woman which I think you could pretty easily figure. I can usually tell gender in fictional characters by their choice of language, their thinking and the feelings they choose to share, although occasionally I’m fooled. I’m in the second half of my life and over sixty years of age.

My roots are in the Midwest but I now live in the Boston area and am very happy and content to call this home. I think my soul and spirit were meant to live here. I relish the natural beauty of the area and I am energized and encouraged by the liberal politics in the area. I appreciate the diversity of cultures we’re fortunate to experience – there’s nothing quite like hearing multiple languages being spoken on the subway or in a local restaurant.

I am drawn to settings where learning is valued and appreciated for how it can help us become better equipped to accept and value those who are different from us in some way. I associate Boston with its willingness to take a stand on controversial issues and to push and fight for a more equal opportunity for all. We haven’t always gotten it right here, but we’re getting better at learning from our past mistakes.

I’m a first generation college graduate who went on to complete a master’s and doctorate degree, and I’ve had the good fortune to work in educational settings throughout my career. That’s my formal learning; my informal, individual and communal learning experiences don’t come with degrees but I would say the insights I’ve gained through these less formal pathways have equaled or surpassed what I learned in formal settings.

I’ve always been drawn to a reflective, contemplative practice as part of my life. Initially I don’t think this inclination was a choice as much as it was a necessity. Introverts have to have time to withdraw and quietly process their experiences. My contemplative nature and the work I’ve done to nurture and grow that part of myself has helped me build a spiritual practice that feels authentic, real, and ever-present in my daily life.

I like to have fun as well, and when I look around my home, I have been acquiring reminders about the elixir of joy available to us in our lives. Looking back, I’ve been using the word joy since I was a teenager, and I’ve been clear from that early age that I wanted to experience joy in life.
I strive to have balance in my life and to honor the priorities and intentions that are allowing me to continue to evolve.

I hope you’ll consider joining me on this journey. I’ve set up a form for you to make comments, and I am hoping that you will share your experiences, ideas, feedback, and questions so that we can explore together how we can reverse our country’s image of aging as one of darkness. Like the season of Fall, the later phases of our life can be vibrant and glorious as we work toward integrating our lives and composing our narratives that celebrate what we’ve learned, what we’ve contributed, and what we hope to give back to those who will follow in our footsteps. Namaste!