I love people who have the spirit of adventure and those who are searching for something different to do. Life for people like this can truly be full and challenging. I have sailed many thousands of miles in the ocean, hiked difficult trails, moved into unknown situations and much more. If you think about it, we all dream of having out of the ordinary experiences and adventures. My current adventure is spending two days a week with a six-year-old. What a thrill this has been, believe it or not! 

I don't actually mean I hate any time of the year, especially spring. But, here is my situation: There are three times a year I am moved to get stuff done—a lot done! New Years Day, my birthday, and spring just get to me. On these three occasions I overwhelmingly feel everything I own has to be rearranged, repaired, organized, culled, donated to charity or thrown out. This might be hormonal, but I know that kind of thinking is out of date nowadays. Hormonal or not, I feel the uncontrollable urge to purge coming on, so I thought I would share some of the tasks I plan on tackling this spring.

I don't actually mean I hate any time of the year, especially spring. But, here is my situation: There are three times a year I am moved to get stuff done—a lot done! New Years Day, my birthday, and spring just get to me. On these three occasions I overwhelmingly feel everything I own has to be rearranged, repaired, organized, culled, donated to charity or thrown out. This might be hormonal, but I know that kind of thinking is out of date nowadays. Hormonal or not, I feel the uncontrollable urge to purge coming on, so I thought I would share some of the tasks I plan on tackling this spring.

 “I am called by Nature
in so many different ways. Are You?” 
– The Uphill Skater –

As spring emerges, our life rhythms change and reflect the many shifts this can bring. I like to look at this time, especially now, as a challenge. Newness, even though it is recurring, is new, nonetheless. It is time to see what this year’s newness means to us at that deeply personal level where we all function. 

“If you cannot hear your heart song, maybe you need to pay more attention
to your surroundings.” – The Uphill Skater

Happy Feet is a movie I have watched with my grandson more than once. It is about a little penguin who has no heart song. We know, of course, that all penguins have a heart song, right? Anyway, this little guy opened his beak to sing like the other penguins and sounded like a dying toad. But, boy, could he dance! He is ostracized because he can’t sing, but in the end, he is accepted and embraced because he stuck with it and was true to himself.

My first job when I went to back to work after 11 years home with my two children was as a substitute teacher. I lasted about three months and hated it. It was the worst thing I had ever done. There are some things you just can’t substitute and teachers are one of them. Either I fell in love with the class and then had to leave right away, or I really did not like the class and the teacher was out for weeks. I couldn’t win. I feel the same about many things we call substitutes. It’s not the real thing, and that’s a fact. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it just doesn’t.

As many of you know, I subscribe to a variety of magazines, and I’m not liking what I’m reading. Both this and last month almost all of them are advising what I call shutting down, even from my very special favorite people Joanna Gaines and Dr. Oz, for heaven’s sake! Be quiet, snuggle up, curl up by a fire, long winter’s nap and on and on. How absolutely depressing! If you think you are going to get that kind of advice from me, think again. I am advocating just the opposite.

I love December, Christmas and all that goes with it, and I intend to keep as much of it as I can. My Husband and I had planned a gathering for a group of us who all volunteer at a thrift shop, but it got canceled. We had two other parties—also canceled. Just so you know, I am putting up all of the decorations I had planned on anyway. We were the first people in the neighborhood to have our lights up, and the day after Thanksgiving we went out and got our tree. And, I am wearing my Santa hat instead of one of those grey knit things, too. I need to keep my ears warm and this works just fine. Bah and Humbug are not welcome this year!

I have been writing and talking about emotional, physical and mental health for quite a number of years, and you might think those things would be pretty constant. I mean good eats are good eats, right? Also, if you are on the ball and can do a cross word puzzle, you are pretty okay. If you don’t cry at the drop of a hat, and you aren’t hoarding automatic weapons, you should be pretty stable too, yes? Well, not so much.

First of all, food advice seems to change regularly with each new book that comes out, or every time Dr. Oz appears on the cover of a magazine. And, we all know from standing in line at the grocery how often we see him on the cover of everything! Spinach used to be really great for you, but now it has too much acid. Oranges are all right, but… acid! An apple a day used to keep the doctor away, but now it has to be an organic apple grown on a sustainable tree. I grew up on a farm, and we ate eggs. Now there are so many different kinds of eggs, it boggles the mind. Cage free, gently raised, vegan diet, vegetarian diet, more Omega-3s, and on and on. Honestly, and you know this, eggs range in price from less than a dollar a dozen to more than five dollars. It’s all a lot to keep up with.

“Let’s talk about building.
I don’t mean a house, I mean ourselves!”
– The Uphill Skater –

Let me tell you something you probably already know: We have all been through, and in many cases are still going through, a really bad time. All the things that have come together in the last months have not melded gently, they have collided, basically smashing into each other with a boom heard around the world.

What does this mean for each one of us in our own little worlds? I like to see everything as an opportunity. Can we try to look at it that way? Read on and let’s think about building, rather than burning, creating rather than destroying!

“Okay, so here is a question for everybody:
Are we ready to get back to basics, or what?”
– The Uphill Skater –

I am willing to be the one to ask about all of this. Are we ready to let things be what they are? Are we ready to begin to come back in ways that are comfortable for each one of us? Can we finally, or for just right now, not be bitter and angry when we talk about politics? Can we still love our friends and somehow agree to disagree without being disagreeable? Can we just shut up and wear our masks and not make this simple thing into a huge deal?

“An anchor is something that provides stability
or confidence in an uncertain situation”
– The Uphill Skater –

As I sit down today to write this article, I am very aware of the fact that one of you may be reading it on August 31, and that by the time August 31 arrives, the whole country may have turned upside down, yet again. Life may have changed significantly between then and now. Sometimes I think I should have stayed with writing this column about good food and a healthy diet instead of veering off into the realms of a total healthy life style, which involves much more than food. Mental health and physical health are so intertwined that science tells us that we can no longer separate them.

“Change your (your word here) and change your life!”
– The Uphill Skater –

I’ve heard it, you’ve heard it. Any number of magazines, self-help books and websites all hold the magic promise. Change your diet, change your life. Change your spending habits and be wealthy. Change your job and change your life, and so on. Well, I am here to add one, so get ready to listen to the REAL thing that can actually change your life if you actually want to do it: Change your attitude, and change your life, and boy, do I really mean it.

We are bombarded daily, hourly, if not minute-by-minute by people trying to tell us what to think and what to do. We are told what to wear, how much to weigh, how much money other people have and how we can get it. Worse yet, we have to look at pictures of the “rest of us” whether we want to or not. The last time I watched network TV, I saw a total of 14 commercials in the one hour time frame. I am not going to put up with it anymore, and I am advising you not to put up with it either.

“Summer 2020 may be different, but we can
make the best of it!” – The Uphill Skater

Summer 2020 may kick off with a bang, or with a fizzle, and it may continue locked down, or burst full bloom into the kind of summer we all know and love. This month may or may not tell the tale either. As you read this article, you may be thinking I am a forecasting genius, or I am just another nut case, who thinks she can predict the future. I do not know any more of this story than anyone else, and most likely, neither do you!

“I have been telling you for years to be yourself,
but now I am upping the ante.
Yourself is no longer good enough.”
– The Uphill Skater – 

For years I have been pounding the fact that being yourself is the only way to go for better or worse. Yet, today I am going to eat my words. We are in very troubled times no matter how you look at it, and it is time for all of us to see where we may fit in the new “normal.” Not just you, but “YOU,"  as the very best person you know how to be. The times call for it, and we need to do it for our own emotional and physical health. We are all a part of these unprecedented times, and I have done as I am advising you to do. In this column after all of these years, the only time I have ever given advice that I have not taken my self involved chocolate, so I am not doing badly.

“#GoPlay gives us permission
to do exactly that, right?”
– The Uphill Skater –

I love this month’s theme, #GoPlay. It makes me feel empowered by the sheer intention of not only implying permission to play, but also encouraging play to be an important part of our daily lives. I will GoPlay now until my heart’s content, and what better time than the beautiful, colorful spring month of April. It is not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy, and not too dry. It is just perfect, which inspires me to offer a few suggestions. (My husband says I am never without suggestions, but I don’t believe that is a bad thing.)

“It’s time to get up and out!”
– The Uphill Skater –

Spring has sprung and all of that glorious stuff. The temperatures are in the 70s and azaleas are competing with new spring daffodils for the big color award. In case you have not noticed, it is time to get out of that jacket, get off the sofa, and check out the world. Our publisher, Elizabeth Millen, was spotted walking at Harbour Town without a coat and having a gin and tonic, the ultimate summer drink. So how about the rest of us? That cold-stay-inside weather is over, ladies. It’s time to open windows, open minds, and let the sun shine in!

Let’s figure out what we can do about coming out of hibernation to return—or start—living a healthy, active life and not be sad watching HGTV all day, longing for other people’s houses and decor that seems way better than ours. I have done that, and don’t pretend you haven’t.

 “February is the month of love, so how about we give some love to ourselves?”

– The Uphill Skater –

Yes, ladies, I am putting self-love out there for your consideration. We are so conditioned as women to love and serve others, that we frequently forget ourselves. In fact, I was sharing a Bible story with my Sunday school class last week, and we were talking about the miracle when Jesus healed the mother-in-law of Peter. After she was healed, the Bible said, she got up and began to serve them. What is that? She gets up from a sick bed and starts to serve the people just sitting around? Okay, you might think this not a good example and maybe from another time, both of which are correct, but have you ever known anyone who did not feel well, or was really sick and made dinner before collapsing into bed, or limped around getting the house clean before finally lying down to rest? I know I have not only heard of it, but I have been that person! Haven’t you?

“Is there such a word as ‘unmotivated?’
I’m just wondering!”
– The Uphill Skater –

2019 was very up and down for me. I do not mean just weight either. A week or so ago, I was so unmotivated to look to the future that I took my 2019 resolution list, and made the 1 into a 2 by putting a little curl on the top, and made the 9 into a 0 by filling in the empty space up the side. Can you picture it? It now looks like I have brand new resolutions for 2020 on the totally unmodified 2019 list, and I still have them shamelessly up on my fridge.

“The theme of this month’s issue is #BeTheDifference—
a variation of a quote by Ghandi. His quote verbatim is
‘Be the change you want to see in the world,’
which actually makes it MUCH harder!”
– The Uphill Skater –

Honestly, Elizabeth Millen, our darling editor/publisher, comes up with the best themes for Pink. What a challenge to actually bring home something as broad, yet right to the point, as one person being the difference in the world; and then to think that person is perhaps you. Fact is, it’s each one of us.

I love the old saying “Blessed to be a Blessing”
as it has a special meaning to me.
– The Uphill Skater –

We all know that living a healthy lifestyle has as many pieces to it as a big jigsaw puzzle, and one of those pieces, without which nothing else goes together, is gratitude. Yes, actual data-driven studies have shown that people who are grateful for what they have, be it a lot or a little by the definitions of others, live lives that are less stressful, happier, and less driven by acquisition of goods or wealth. Being a grateful person brings many life benefits, but perhaps equally important, it also brings health benefits.

If we embrace the wonderful piece of the puzzle called gratitude, it reflects the way we interact—both outwardly and inwardly— with our loved ones, co-workers and all we encouter. “Blessed to be a Blessing” has tons of implications when you think about it.

I have been advocating a healthy lifestyle in this column for years, and I hope you understand that creativity, newness and imagination are not only a part of a good health formula, but essential to the whole picture. Having the same old thoughts, the same old food boredom and the same old drudgery of a daily routine are not only sworn enemies of creativity, but also of good mental and physical health, too.

How can we avoid the unimaginative rut and use creativity to work toward being our best selves? I tend to substitute, or define the word creative in two ways: I like to use the words change and imagine.

With that in mind, let’s look at some things
that are very easy to change...

Hey, new season! Better weather, fall clothes and no more summer reruns… and I don’t mean TV! Let’s get revved up to bust out and get inspired to move toward some better goals and different daily living. General good health and that desired, sought after healthy life style might need to be taken out and dusted off, right? Let’s try some ideas that may resonate and lead to a much better Fall.

My first suggestion is one that has really worked for me. Try (nothing radical) to do something you already do, but do it in a different way. This takes many forms. It could be something as simple as trying different tops with the same pants, or doing your hair in a different way without color or a cut. This is one I picked: I have stopped coloring my hair (gray is in) and I have put up a different style with my old cut. Yes, it worked, offering just a bit of a different look. But, if you really want change, enlist your hairstylist for help.

Old wisdom told us to age gracefully, but not anymore. I recently saw an advertisement in a magazine about a face moisturizer (OLAY) that the new thinking is not to age gracefully, but to age successfully. Doesn’t that seem way better? I like this new spin and the positive vocabulary. But, what does aging successfully mean, and what do we have to do to accomplish it?

Well, I have a few thoughts on the subject:
First, I have people of all ages around me all the time, and it is easy to pick out those who seem to be a success not just at aging, but also at simply living their lives. One of my church friends is 89 years old, and she is a hoot. Her health is not the best, but every Sunday she is dressed to the nines with matching bag and shoes—even earrings. I asked her how in the world she did that so well, and she told me she picks her activities—the ones important to her. Knowing she is unable to do everything she used to, she evaluated what she really wants to do and how she wants to spend her days with her now limited strength. Many things were cut, leaving only the activities and habits that make her happy and fulfilled. She wishes she had done it sooner, rather than wasting time and energy on things she didn’t want to do—so simple and so brilliant.

I love summer, and getting out in the sunshine. Don’t you love the feel of that warmth on your skin? And yes, I love to get a tan. What I don’t love is to over pay for skincare products about which I know little or nothing. I have repeatedly preached about how we need to read and understand food labels, but we also need to understand what we feed to our skin. The prices of skin lotions and creams can be totally out of sight, and labels can be deceptive. Read on for a quick overview of some things to watch out for as you shop for that special item:

Right away, I will tell you to check out definitions of product types. For example, the term natural is very different from the term naturally derived. Also, the term non-toxic has a funny sort of description, as nearly everything can be toxic if you consume enough of it. This term is practically meaningless unless you take it in the literal sense, which means it is not poison, and who would sell something poisonous anyway?

“May is now officially declared ‘Be Good to Yourself Month!’”
– The Uphill Skater –

I love to change the designation of months. I think some of them are silly anyway. I mean, who really knows (or cares) if it is Dairy Month unless one lives in Wisconsin? Also, I get that April showers bring May flowers and all of that, but we can do better. So now we are going to have a special month absolutely dedicated to ourselves. That may or may not sound a bit selfish to you. My hope is “may not.” Think about how little you actually do just for you, We (women) usually give to others first. However, just for this month, may we try some fun experiments meant for you and you alone?

“I cheer up not only by the bright, warm weather, but also by the prospect of a thorough, deep, spring closet cleaning… and of course, buying replacements!” – The Uphill Skater

Spring is here, which brings change—visually with pops of color blooming everywhere and physically, as we can feel the heaviness of winter slough off which each warm, sunny day. A change in scenery is a good thing. People who are into biorhythms are happy right about now, since the belief is that our bodies respond at an ultra deep level to all things changeable.

“Combining a healthy lifestyle feature with a discussion about
women who give back? Piece of cake, my friends!”
– The Uphill Skater –

I go to the dentist. You go to the dentist. Since we all must do it, let’s discuss the benefits of good oral hygiene as it relates to being in a totally good healthy zone. In this column we have talked about everything from sex to heartburn to ingrown toenails, and now it is time, dear ladies, to talk about teeth. I know it’s boring, but as I researched the topic for this article, I found out tons of things I did not know.

We all know to brush twice a day, but did you know it’s possible to over brush? I did not even know what “over brush” meant until my son was told he had receding gums and had to have tissue grafts to correct the situation. It was expensive, painful, and took weeks to heal. So, twice a day with a soft brush, floss, and rinse with a mouthwash.

“Everything these days seems to be about ‘RE.’
Honestly it’s enough to make one REgurgitate!”
– The Uphill Skater –

All right, I know I watch too much HGTV, but doesn’t everyone these days? It’s all about REmodel, REpurpose, and REdo. I must admit, I love that kind of stuff. Who doesn’t love a REcolor? (I’m talking about dying roots, ladies, and I don’t mean the front lawn.) What about a REupholster? Sure, that old ratty sofa could really use it, right? At the same time, we could RE-wallpaper and RE-carpet, too. How about the REclaimed wood craze? I mean you can hardly tear something down these days without Chip and Joanna Gains hitting you up to buy the wood and RE-selling it for double the price. Okay, so what does all of this have to do with the New Year, and what to do about that self-improvement we are all so desperately seeking? Well, just an idea: Why don’t we consider the idea of a RE-resolve?

Rewriting history, renaming things, redoing old furniture, and so on is on trend in 2019, and I don’t want us to be left out. As such, please join me in renaming February: Checkup Month.

All the magazines and TV shows have featured reorganizing and resolutions in January, and we have all been there, done that, and we’re ready to roll, right? Perhaps, not quite. Therefore, let’s make February a time to do a genuine checkup of ourselves. I don’t mean one of those personality inventories we did in January to find out who we really are; I mean an honest and self-caring health checkup/check out of our personal well-being. This is pretty heavy—and important— stuff to think about it.

I know I always give advice about how to stay away from the buffet table and tell you not to gain ANY weight at all every Christmas, but this year is different! This year I am really into the true spirit of it all and it’s all because I have been in snow.

I have not really seen big, beautiful snow since I left California 15 years ago. We used to ski Lake Tahoe every year for all we were worth. It was fabulous, and somehow not having that snow has put a different cast on the holidays. This year, though, we have been visiting in a place where, just last night, it snowed nearly a foot, and it was so beautiful this morning! So yeah, white Christmas has changed my mood.