These two images are from my favorite restaurant in Cocoa Village, Florida.

Paisley Vegan Kitchen.

​Whether you are vegan, or not, the food is delicious and the attitude matches.

The first one speaks for itself.

The second, which is a bathroom note, I especially love:
Don't flush your hopes and dreams!!

The best things I have seen in a while!

You may think that these two gentlemen have nothing in common. BUT both of them have very definitive ideas. 

AND

I believe those ideas inform us about positive aging. 

HAVE A READ!

Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, essayist, social critic, political activist, and Nobel laureate.

​Jonathan Frid was best known for playing Barnabus Collins on the very popular series "Dark Shadows" from 1966 to 1971. He may be known as the best vampire ever played but he was also a consummate Shakespearean actor. 

Here are quotes by two very different men that hit home with me!

"To me, horror is when I see somebody lying. I mean a person I know. A friend. And he's telling me something that I accept. And then suddenly, as he or she is telling it, there's something that gives them away. They're not telling me the truth. And I discover it myself, just in the way they're not telling it like it should be told. They're slipping. You see somebody slip. And they know that they're lying to you. That sends chills, shivers, right up and down my spine! It's horror!  It's horror!  In the cold light of day. To me, that's horror. To see two people who are ostensibly in love, and they are. He keeps saying, 'I love you, but I can't help looking at the girls.' But to me, that's horror. That's the horror of life. To make a marriage work. To make friendships work. Make relationships in life work, and see where they go awry, is horror. I don't need monsters, for God's sake. I don't need vampires and werewolves to enthrall me with the mystery of life. The mystery of life is all around us, all day long."
Jonathan Frid


“Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn”

​“No one ever gossips about the virtues of others”

“Happiness is not best achieved by those who seek it directly.”

"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted."

"Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric."

"Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of skeptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of the dogmatists to prove them."

Bertrand Russell

It's pretty common knowledge how much I love animals. I have a long history with feline and. along history with the Buddha. Here is Buddha Kitty being adored by a REAL kitty. Doesn't get much cuter than this!

Whether it's human family and friends or furry family and friends having companionship and community is VERY Pro-Aging. 

Here is a Chicago fan getting their good sports vibes from the Buddha Kitty. 

I am SO excited to announce that this prose is being read at the Eve Ensler, V-Day - One BIllion Rising Women's event in Cincinnati, Ohio on 21 February 2020. 

A gathering for women, by women to embrace our womanhood and to support women who have dealt with abuse, are refugees, experience physical and mental health challenges, struggle with identity, expression, ageism and the fact WE are STILL the most discriminated against group in the world.

This isn't a victim's story.

This is the story of survivors and those who are thriving -  
​
NO MATTER WHAT!

It's NO secret to anyone I know that I'm not a fan of social media.

GASP!!!

Horror!

What's wrong with you?

NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ME!  

(Nor, evidently, with Stephen King who just quit Facebook.)

And if YOU are using Facebook and Instagram you are being watched This is not a conspiracy theory, this is an actual fact.. Even when you are off of these platforms they are still monitoring your off Facebook activity. I'd think twice if I REALLY, REALLY needed these platforms. Not if you WANT them, are addicted to them or think you can't live without them. If you truly NEED them.  

Think again.  

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/01/28/off-facebook-activity-page/

People behave as if social media is the end-all and be-all to communication.

I disagree.

Vehemently.

So many creative, employed, valuable, acknowledged individuals I know, work with, collaborate with, and love DON'T use social media.

They do just fine staying "in the loop" with friends, colleagues, their careers, events, and more, without social media

I am thrilled to be in that group.

No Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram...none.

Call me a lone wolf.

Call me a pariah.

Just call me instead of trying to contact me through social media. 

I've tried my hand at every single one of these platforms and have come up wanting.

Wanting LESS!!

I WILL say that one platform has my attention both as a participant and a watcher:  YouTube.

The article attached at the bottom expresses my sentiments about social media. It also shines a light on YouTube and its value in the grand scheme of things. (It's FAR from perfect, BUT it does have merit and value.)

I have no need to announce every aspect of my life on social media. To show what I've eaten, where I am at the moment, who I'm with, what we are doing, how I'm feeling (that's what I have a website and publish writing for) or the what, where, when, why, how, who...

I understand and support if a person is a shut-in, ill, or needs help that these platforms may be useful

BUT...

they have become runaway freight trains with a monopoly on communication and an eye on everything you do, see, buy, wear, think and feel in life.  

That's scary to me.

Some things I wish to stay private or between me and my nearest and dearest or my physicians and healthcare professionals when and if I need them.


It's also disheartening that when I want to communicate professionally with a group, organization or business that many ONLY have a Facebook page. Not even an inexpensive website. Charities use Facebook liberally.  If that is the only way for me to connect with them, then we just won't connect. That's sad for both of us.

I'm not looking for 5, 15 or a million hours of fame.

Fame is fleeting and, in the end, a goal that is a complete waste of time.

I've known quite a few famous people and they are no happier than I, as a matter of fact they typically have more issues and problems than I do.  

More, more, more, leaves us wanting more, more, more and still hollow inside in so many aspects of our lives.

Cultivate your friendships/relationships one-on-one, and face-to-face , if possible. Make a phone call, schedule a video chat, write an email, OR at the very least send a text.

We have replaced real relationships with quick tweets, posts, thumbs up and remarks, responses, rebuttals, opinions, arguments and trolling. 

Those aren't real relationships and no one is going to ever convince me otherwise.  I've lived through not having social media. 

The compromise I can live with is YouTube, websites, email, texts, video chats and good, 'ol fashion  RING RING!!!!

SOOOO, without further ado here is the latest article from Cal Newport, my hero, leading the way for those of us who know not having social media isn't a disease.

​www.calnewport.com/blog/2020/01/27/the-platform-exceptionalism-of-youtube/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StudyHacks+%28Study+Hacks%29

For me there is NO place like nature to find my center, peace and calm.

​Walking is excellent exercise and it’s an excellent way to reach a meditative state.

Give me a path, a breeze, plants and animals in their natural habitat, and I’m all set!

The effects last for days.

​I’m sure there is a local park, preserve, reserve, trail or path near you.

You never know what can happen.

Happy trails!! (I’ve got to come up with something better than that.)

(Always try to go with a buddy or tell others where you are if you decide it’s safe to venture out on your own.)

Happy to be contributing to The Pro-Age Network by Pro-Age Woman.

I will even forgive not spelling my name correctly.

It's not an affectation or something I invented.  The spelling of my name has a beautiful story attached to it.

I'll write, podcast or video about it sometime!

It's K-a-Z for a very good reason. ;)

​Salut!