Twenty-three years ago, when Paul Murphy received the news he’d been dreaming of, he was working aboard a cruise ship in port in Ketchikan, Alaska. The next three days would determine whether his dream would come true or if he would face a life-changing disappointment. He had been notified that his name had been drawn in a lottery by the embassy in his native Dublin to apply for U.S. permanent residency status—the coveted green card. The challenge was to get to Dublin from Alaska in three days to sit for the interview that would begin the vetting process. No rescheduling, no negotiation—be there at the appointed day and time or forfeit the opportunity of a lifetime.

Film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, Toronto and Telluride and the films they exhibit offer an escape into a world where movies can take chances, contradict themselves and ignore cinema ratings.

Developing friendship skills takes time and experience. The only way young children will learn social skills is by practice, so even though there are plenty of bumps along the way, it’s worth scheduling playdates with other children.

All right, I guess we all know that love is not really all you need. I mean food, clothing, a house, a car, friends, a glass of wine all are pretty important and I could go on and on. Honestly though, love is not a bad place to start, especially in February with Valentine’s Day and all. They say love conquers all, and I think there is a lot to that. However, I would like to dedicate some thoughts to not just love, but also to a few related things that make life better.

STEP ONE, LETTING GO: I met Deborah Monroe at the Heavenly Spa by Westin for a makeover and a day of pampering. After touring the luxurious spa, Deborah was given a soft white robe to change into. We met in the lounge where she apprehensively told me that she’d left her phone in the locker.

The first genuine musical, fully integrating singing and dancing was The Broadway Melody, MGM Studio’s first full-length musical in 1929. Not only was it the first musical film, it was also the first film with sound and first of both to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

According to Health.com, the thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck,
which can have a dramatic impact on a huge variety of bodily functions. Read on to see what two
local physicians have to say about the thyroid and your health:

I know we are all sick of being better people, feeling more confident, losing weight and writing thank you notes, so I will not bore you with any of that stuff. We will also not promise to call mom more often, adopt a rescue pet, or eat kale. Been there, done that and got the T-Shirt. Yes, I promise not to say that any more either. I know it’s old.

The Camino de Santiago is a massive network of ancient pilgrim trails that stretch across Europe and come together in northwestern Spain. The routes converge at The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, an impressive three spired Romanesque Church that has been designated a World Heritage site. Here lies the tomb of St. James, an apostle of Jesus, who was martyred in the year 44 A.D. while spreading the Gospel. Pilgrims have walked the Camino for more than 1,200 years. Today, people from all over the world walk for religious, cultural and social reasons, as well as for sport.

I’m so disappointed! My baby is five months old, and I thought my mom would be so excited about having a grandchild. But she hardly ever comes to our house, and she’s never offered to babysit. Doesn’t she care?

There’s no official nationwide re-release of a Christmas classic planned this year, but instead cinemas are programming a lot of event cinema, such as livestream operas and ballets from swanky, big-city venues. The most seasonal is “The Nutcracker,” from the Royal Opera House on December 8. There’s also “Madame Butterfly” from the Teatro alla Scala in Milan on December 7 and Karija Saariaha’s medieval romance “Love from Afar” from the Met in New York on December 10.

Are sweaters, perfume, the box of candy routine and so forth haunting your gift giving and receiving? If so, try the gift of free advice. All right, I know it is the gift that in all honesty no one wants, but sometimes they really need it. Am I right? Well yes, I am. So, here is some advice that will keep you through the whole year and be usable on literally any occasion.

While it may seem like semantics, understanding the difference between sleepiness and fatigue is important, as the causes of each are often vastly different. As a result, successfully identifying the underlying cause(s) rests upon our ability to understand what ails us.

While it may seem like semantics, understanding the difference between sleepiness and fatigue is important, as the causes of each are often vastly different. As a result, successfully identifying the underlying cause(s) rests upon our ability to understand what ails us.

By the time this column is read the 45th president of the United States will have been elected. Whether your candidate won or lost, perhaps we should start with a deep breath and a relaxing mantra.

“Eyes Closed, I withdraw deep within. I become one with everything that is. Nothing can disturb my peace, for my walls have grown thick with moss. I am cool running water down a clear stream. An Eagle soaring to great heights, overseeing the world. Unchained from the past constant media interruption of my peace.”

BREATHE! I challenged a few moviegoers to choose their top “go to” movie to relax, chill and feel good. (These may also help us after a hard day of Hurricane Matthew clean up.) So tune out the rhetoric of this past year and turn on a good movie from the eclectic list below:

We have spent so much time as readers of “Skating Uphill” talking about what it really means to be healthy and to live a lifestyle of personal wellness. Discussions have also centered around life skills, methods of movement, and things that are not only physically beneficial, but also are in tune with mental health. Yes, it is smart to eat well and exercise. It is also healthy to value one’s self and look for things that boost self-esteem.

Donna Jones and her daughter, Brittany Garber, are the creative duo and owners of Revival Designs & Decor. Creativity has always come natural to Donna, who was a stay at home mom for many years. Brittany’s love of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects was nurtured from a young age as she tagged along with her mom to crafting clubs and helped with family projects on the weekends. After both of Donna’s kids were grown, she discovered a new career in real estate home staging, where she found cost effective ways to help people furnish, show and sell their homes. Together this mother/daughter team scours thrift stores, hunting for pieces of furniture to makeover. The result is magazine worthy rooms that help sell the home every time.

How can I calm myself when I am feeling stressed out?

If you’re like most people, you probably thought you received all the necessary shots when you were a kid. Not true. You never outgrow the need for vaccines. Protection from some childhood vaccinations can wear off over time. And as you age, you can become susceptible to other illnesses.

As someone who’s never read Pride and Prejudice and knew very little about the story line (Since the makeover, I’ve been doing my research. Thank you, SparkNotes!), I can say after spending a little time with these two characters, I am absolutely dying to see the play!

Fall has always been a season that releases stronger, more powerful films, when Oscar attention begins. Here are suggestions from the serious to the not so serious with a couple documentaries thrown in the mix you might consider. See you at the movies!

Someone finally asked me where the name “Skating Uphill” came from and who thought of it in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle column. There is quite a story here, as there are with many things in Pink Magazine. Whenever you find a group of bold, out-there, rowdy ladies, combined with a little wine and a lot of laughs, you are bound to get stories.

I told a friend that my fiancé and I were secretly planning to elope to Las Vegas and that I needed a dress, and her being the truly excellent confidant that she is, she took me to Madhouse Vintage in Bluffton. And that is where I first met Caroline Noble, the owner of the shop and an extraordinary curator of vintage fashion and jewelry.

Am I too old to have a baby?
Although there’s not really an age at which we tell people to not have children, there are a few factors one must consider. As we age, our chromosomes are more likely to have anomalies within them. Thus an aging mother is at higher risk for Down Syndrome and other chromosome abnormalities.  Miscarriage rates are much higher in older women, thus the emotional burden of miscarriages plays a larger role as we age. This is thought to occur because of the chromosome issues.

Let’s talk about substitutes. Not substitute teachers or substitute mah-jong players, but substitute foods. What I mean is interchanging one food, food type, or food brand for another for specific reasons. Often it is a health reason or a calorie issue. Sometimes it is related to allergies or not liking a particular ingredient. For the purpose of this article, I am going to talk about substituting or selecting one food item or personal care item over another mainly for better health. After all, better physical and emotional health is what we are all about, isn’t it?

When you enter Whitney’s world, the phrase that immediately springs to mind is “Well, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!” Just substitute “Hilton Head” for “Kansas” in that phrase and you will be on the right track to understanding this exceptional young lady.