(A short story by Irene B.) “T-minus three hours!” Popped up Denise’s text, breaking my once chill morning of scrolling. That was how much time I had before I was supposed to bake my very first loaf of sourdough bread. This is what I get for trying to support a friend… a mate. This is what I get for greedily eating every piece and version of the delicious offering my mate, Krissy, makes. Now here’s me, enrolled in a five-plus-hour class. I blame my stomach. Then Denise adds, all casual and shit. “Who’s excited to make bread?” Immediately my stomach dropped, and a loud “fuck” slipped past my lips, but I hearted her comment. Nikki: “Wait, so we’re starting…
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Stillness and Growth: Why Slowing Down Isn’t Lazy
Lately, I’ve been paying attention to people who seem to find calm—not perfectly, not permanently, but intentionally. Not people who have it all figured out.People who are actively choosing it. They still have trials and tribulations in their own lives but are intentionally managing their responses to them. And no, it’s not easy—but looking for and choosing calm rarely is. They commit to enjoying the simple things without dismissing their real problems. So they don’t spiral over what they can’t fix single-handedly.And that means they move through life with a little more caution, slower, even—not because they don’t care, but because they do. And I’ve realized I don’t need to become someone…
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My 2026 Word of the Year Will Pull Me Forward
Because it has to! I thought choosing my Word of the Year for 2026 would feel easier, clarifying even with my word of 2025 working out so well–COMPLETE.Well, truthfully, it was my word for 2024 because, as you can guess, I didn’t COMPLETE it. Instead, trying to choose my word feels… revealing. I keep bouncing around words in my head that still keep asking me to step even more forward, and not pull back or chill for a second.None of my words are about becoming someone new—I like to adjust and edit as I go along now that I’m solidly in my Big Age. But they seem lockstep in fully…
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How a Simple Gratitude List Can Go a Long Way
Out of nowhere, a friend recently sent me a text message that wasn’t one of the usual hilarious memes we share — we have a thing about people falling. And, honest moment here, I’m actually part of a small group chat where we share all kinds of crazy, epic falls… I know, I know — your judgment is warranted, but we always assume no real injury occurred. We’re not a bunch of psychopaths, honestly. However, this time, my friend’s text began with this one sentence: “Do you know how many of my thoughts, wishes, and prayers have been answered?” Prepping me for what she was recently grateful for — a…
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The Truth About Bad Titles and Your SEO Score
Got a problem being succinct? Love a melodic, lyrically infused blog title? Or a mysteriously clever promo header? I know I do. Well, guess what? SEO doesn’t love it as much. BOO! I know, I know. “Hands up, ‘Chatty Cathys’” Another thing to admit: I have a teeny-weeny tendency to… waffle on. I’ve been told this affliction is a bit more common in those of us over 40. Rude, but probably true. We (I) have a lot to say, learn, and share. And while that can work, to a point in your main blog content, it’s an absolute SEO killer, and leaves all your juicy content floating-in-the-wind-dot-com. Completely unnoticed. And…
