A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN

A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN

A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN By Joan Anderson I read this book in my early forties, and rereading it in my sixties gave me a whole new perspective about how life experiences offer us a glimpse into the continuous struggles we have to find meaning in our personal relationships. Joan speaks to ALL of us… Our lives are always changing just like the sandy shoreline along the beach; especially during these tumultuous past few years which have affected so many!  Joan’s book inspired me to take the time to rediscover my second half of life potential and hope her unique story will give you the courage to reveal and release the untapped resources inside of you! The Story of Joan Anderson: Joan was a loving wife and a supportive mother, but she slowly and unconsciously replaced her own dreams with

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Tips for Empty Nesters

Tips for Empty Nesters

1. Change is Inevitable. Attitude is Everything! One thing we all know for sure is everything is constantly changing and being uncertain about the future may stir up feelings of anxiety. As our children leave the nest it is our responsibility to learn to access our natural generative energy. Stagnation, despair, boredom, loneliness or indifference leave us feeling lifeless. On the other hand; trying something new, being open and flexible, becoming involved in the life of community allows us to cultivate a more positive attitude as we grow older. Later in life the ego can no longer drive our experience. In his book Shadow Dance, David Richo creates an acronym for the ego’s FACE: F- fear; A-attachment; C- control; E- entitlement.  True wisdom comes when we shift our allegiances from fear to curiosity, from attachment to letting go, from control to trust, and

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The Gifts From the Sea

The Gifts From the Sea

One of my favorite things to do that provides me with peace and serenity is taking long walks on the beach. All the five senses in my body are revitalized by feeling the sand in between my toes as I listen to the waves gently rolling ashore, tasting the salty air as I look for treasures along the way and celebrate the feeling of just being alive. I recently traveled to Florida and had a few days before my husband and two children came down for Easter. This time alone was such a gift!  Solitude is something I cherish and feel it is necessary for me to reconnect with myself. Our family has so many wonderful memories going to the beach and I had time to reflect on how much my life has changed. My children are grown adults now and I was

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Are You Curious About What’s Happening This Fall?

Are You Curious About What’s Happening This Fall?

Wow!!! Where did the summer go? I am amazed and shocked about how fast time flies, but it was even more evident for me this year by having my two adult children home for the past three months. This changed my life in many ways; my empty nest filled up again! My son moved back from Germany and my daughter accepted a local full-time internship, on one hand I felt like our house became the hustle and bustle of the “good old days”, but was it? I had a feeling this was going to be a challenge! Honestly, I felt like they were in high school again with all the meal planning, cooking, and laundry, but of course more importantly being there for them and worrying about them increased dramatically too!  These tasks seemed much easier when I was younger, but now after

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EMBRACE the Empty Nest!

EMBRACE the Empty Nest!

See Maria  on Friday, April 10th on Fox 28 Good Day Columbus at 9:00 am, talking about Embracing the Empty Nest! There are two things people have a difficult time managing and that is change and uncertainty. We feel comfortable when we know what is going to happen next but change is ALWAYS there and something we can’t control, so what do we do about change? We EMBRACE it!!! Nothing “hits home” more about how to handle change and uncertainty when the time comes for a parent(s) to accept the realization that they are officially an “empty nester.”  The fact is we love, nurture, and support our children the moment they are born which becomes a vocation in a way.  We spend an extraordinary amount of our time giving them everything they need in order for them to eventually discover what their gift will

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