the juicy years

Your heart is like a compass, it speaks to you moment by moment. It is your wisdom bank, and is much more than an efficient pumping machine.   S cience has shown us that the heart possesses its own intelligence, has its own brain. In fact, the HeartMath Institute has identified that the electromagnetic field of the heart is 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain. And the heart and brain work together. It's believed that our emotions play a huge role in the health of our hearts, and they can positively impact our state of health more than all the vitamins, exercise and organic food combined. So feeling and expressing all of our emotions is good medicine! By intentionally attending to them we can rewire the neural circuitry of our nervous system, and the stress pathways begin to atrophy.  In our culture women have been socialised to keep the lid on their anger which then gets internalised, causing stress.   Yes, its OK to be angry!...

I 've been lacking a good dose of oxytocin lately!   That feel good hormone that primarily reduces stress and makes one feel loved.  A woman's vitamin pill! In writing up this blog, it's become clear that friendship and loneliness can be explored together, so I began researching how other women felt, and had long phone conversations with a couple of these 'old' friends on this topic. Had they ever lacked deeply meaningful friendships at one time or another? How did they feel re the ending of some? And others they may have avoided contacting in case another flare-up happened. I don't think there's a woman alive who hasn't experienced a challenge with a female friendship. In a Melbourne writers group, the following writers and academics - Maya Linden, Christie Nieman, Maggie Scott, Natalie Kon-Yu and Miriam Sved, also discussed female friendships, and discovered that they had all been "dumped by a female friend" at one stage in their li...

I don't think I fully embodied ACCEPTANCE until recently. I could have.  Lately it has risen up organically, from a deep place within me. It's not a conscious feeling but one that settles in my being like a knowing. Enveloping me like a favourite, winter coat. I've wondered whether other people recognise acceptance, or do they live it without question?  I've been subtly drawn to notice this state because it has been a gentle gift. I don't believe I could live my life as it is now, without this feeling of acceptance. Does it unfold as one fully surrenders to life? Or is it a result of growing older? Of mellowing into my bones despite my circumstances. Or perhaps it's because I've travelled this road for so long that it transcends any fear.  And said Yes to life, whatever it is. In the past I usually had my eye on the future, even though I did my best to be present to the moment. I still have goals for the future, but know that there is a grea...

It IS possible to grow older without losing your sparkle ! Though I have previously posted 5 tips to juicy ageing, I have updated them.  Yes, they're now 10, and here they are ! Tune into your HEART daily and CONNECT with your loved ones regularly. Heal any wounds that may still be festering. This is healing for your heart, emotionally and physically. At least once a day whether its via phone or in person, actually have a conversation, or connect via the internet or FB. Feeling lonely can lead to depression. Never stop LEARNING - a language or new leisure activity. Challenge your beliefs or ways of doing something. Research suggests that people who do this, stay mentally alert. My mother did cryptic crosswords all through her 3rd chapter and could even remember her ATM pin the night before she died at 95 years! LOVE your life NOW, and remember to feel the JOY (Joy increases your level of DHEA and has been studied by longevity researcher, Ellen Langer ). Make...

How do we sustain ourselves in times of change and uncertainty?                                                                                                                                                               Some of my followers would know about my challenges of late, so I'll share how I've come to this place now, of surrender.   Surrender doesn't mean weakness, or giving up. It's a space where you let go of pushing for an outcome, or wanting to know why, or how things will turn out. When my life made a roundabout turn, I had to remind myself daily to be so very present. I was...

The title of this post has been sitting here for some time, and only this morning did I feel inspired to post something today.  Life nudged me! In the last two months I've relocated, been hospitalised, and now as I am regaining most of my vital juice, it is time to inject some into this blog! As I listened to Charlotte Campbell-Stephens this morning on our LIFE MATTERS  Radio National program, speaking courageously about her 7 year long legal battle for justice after her gang-rape experience in Kenya, and then expressing her joy at her educational work with women, and especially young boys, I thought to myself "No, I have not done enough!".  I CAN do more. When I read about the numerous acts of violence and torture of people as well as animals, and the rape of our planet, there is plenty for us to do. I can get more involved to help effect change for anyone, or animals, who experience violence or oppression.   Michael Gurian talks about my post topi...

Today I'm taking a creative diversion from my usual topics of discussion as I  was invited by the lovely  Asrael Zemenick , an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Karma Yoga Instructor and Jyotish Astrologer, to join a “Blog Tour” (sponsored by  Sheri and Carly at  IC Publishing - follow via #ICBlogTour).  Until now I hadn't really thought too deeply about my writing process, so it's been a n ideal opportunity for me to reflect on this. Here are my insights. How do you start your writing project(s)?   My writing projects - whether a post on my Blog or post on my FB business page, are always prefaced by an urging from deep within, an intuitive ‘flash’, or a response to something I’ve read or seen.  At other times I’m inspired by an article that I may have bookmarked for research purposes.  As I’m passionate about sharing my experiences, my ideas for creative and juicy ageing with other women, this is a motivating factor for me to write. I am inclined...