-
I’m on the radio tonight
I never know which posts or column links will hit home when I hit “Publish.” So I’m always surprised and happy to hear from readers who follow this blog. Earlier this week, I received an email from radio personality Marie Osborne, who is guest-hosting the Mitch Album Show on WJR (AM 760 on the dial) with Steve Courtney. Marie read my recent Oakland Press column about family heirlooms and why millennials don’t want to inherit them. The topic resonated with her and she invited me to discuss the topic on her show. I’m honored to be asked — and looking forward to it. Tune in to WJR this evening at…
-
A tourist in your hometown
“Home is everything you can walk to.” ~Jerry Spinelli Remember when taking a summer vacation wasn’t considered a risk? There’s no denying that COVID-19 has changed how and where we travel. And with another variant of the virus on the rise, many people are opting to hang out on their own deck or patio. It’s a good time to rediscover the attractions of your hometown — and reboot your sense of community. Is there an outdoor cafe, farmers’ market, boutique, bakery, park, or nature trail you haven’t visited near your neighborhood? A small change of scenery will do you a world of good — and benefit your local economy. ~CL…
-
Looking for happiness?
“Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.” ~Greg Anderson No matter how beautiful the day is, and no matter how well most things are going in my life, sometimes I’ll ruminate on the awful “what ifs.” A recent example: During the past two weeks, I wasted too many precious hours worrying about the pending results of two follow-up medical tests — which ultimately turned out fine. The real key to happiness is linked to what we choose to dwell on. Most of us live charmed lives, after all, and most of our garden-variety stress is within our control.…
-
Emotional baggage or timeless treasure?
“If a gift has come to you wrapped in obligations and tied tightly with a ribbon of guilt, then it’s not really a gift at all.” ~Peter Walsh, professional organizer Organizing an estate sale is probably one of the toughest things we have to do after our parents die. If your folks collected as many family heirlooms as mine did, you’ll face the emotionally loaded task of deciding which items to keep and which ones to sell or give away. And what happens when your grown kids don’t want to inherit the family treasures? For starters, it helps to learn and understand the generational differences in what we value. My…
-
The road ahead
“People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it. Better yet, build it. Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you breathe, and predict more of the same. To hell with more. I want better.” ~Ray Bradbury, Beyond 1984: The People Machines As we age, we map out the course of our own future. We plan for retirement and organize our personal finances. We might start thinking about who will care for us if or when our health declines. At the same time, we need to consider the…
