Change is Inevitable – Happiness is Optional
I’m certainly not the type of person who would encourage any individual to stop reading or watching the news, but sometimes the information is so negative that I believe you have to put on a filtering cloak of optimism to make it through each day’s news cycle. I need a balance of unbiased, solid-reported, real news (and I’m aware that sometimes it is...
Continue Reading
What A Year!
I made a simple decision last year. I wanted to resolve to do something interesting and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a January fleeting moment — after all it was my 40th year on the planet. It was time to reach out of my comfort zone. Now, I’ve had resolutions before, and like many of you, I didn’t quite complete the quest. Whether it was to...
Continue ReadingFrom The Publisher: A Year of Powerful Personal Lessons
This has been an exciting year on so many levels and in so many areas of my complicated life. I really feel like I’ve learned a few things through the many ups and downs. To recap this year, I decided to jot down a few “aha moments” I’ve experienced in the following areas. Family life… Well, as many of you are aware, I was understandably anxious...
Continue ReadingFrom The Publisher: The Capital Area Provides the Perfect Place to Hold Myself Accountable
There’s a lot to be said about Lansing, isn’t there? I’ve always called it the biggest small town. I grew up in the Detroit area and although I would never put down where I came from, it simply doesn’t have the connectedness that I’ve come to really love here in our Capital city. I love that I can go almost anywhere and see someone I know. It’s...
Continue ReadingNonprofit: Shared Pregnancy
Worried. Confused. Lost. That is what many women are feeling when they arrive at the center. When someone walks through the door of the house-turned-center on Walnut Street in downtown Lansing, she sees bright colors, baby items along the wall and friendly faces willing to help. The Shared Pregnancy Women’s Center has been helping pregnant women in the greater...
Continue ReadingPersevere Under Pressure: Chaos can show your strength
Have you ever had something go wrong – terribly wrong? And, to top it off, it wasn’t your fault. You had no control over the situation, timing, others involved and the ultimate outcome. Let’s face it: things do not always go the way you plan. Most of the time, you don’t even see it coming. On really stressful days, when more than one problem occurs,...
Continue ReadingMy Responsibility as a Woman
“All energy is only borrowed and one day you have to give it back.” – Avatar I recently watched the movie Avatar and whatever you think of James Cameron’s film, I found some of the messages very profound. Obviously, we should take care of our planet, but the message of interconnectivity is just as moving. It’s so important to remember that we’re...
Continue ReadingRoutines … not so bad after all
I think it’s fun that I can still have self-revelations at my age. I’m not talking about the physical ones. Yes, those are happening too, but I’m really talking about changes in behaviors, how I view the world and how I spend my time. I have always had obsessive tendencies. It’s not the obsessive nature of Monk or anything like that, but interesting...
Continue Reading
I’m changing — not jumping — in July
The days are flying by. It took me a while to begin writing this column — and not because I didn’t have anything to say (When does that happen?). It was more about the silent protest I was making regarding the fact that I already have to write a column for July. July? Seriously, it feels like I just jumped into the icy waters for the polar plunge in January...
Continue ReadingRestaurant Review: Mama Bear’s Café
Old Town is known for the quaint little restaurants that line the streets of Grand River and Turner. Although I hadn’t been to Mama Bear’s before, I was sure I would be in for a treat because many individuals had recommended it to me. This small unassuming restaurant can easily be missed if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. When driving down...
Continue ReadingSummer Fun Abounds in Lansing — Let’s Go!
Well, we’ve been waiting and waiting. And, it’s finally here … summer. You would think that the people of Michigan would be tops in patience. We have been waiting for a lot — especially lately. We wait to be seated at our local restaurants (why can’t we do reservations anymore?), we wait for politicians to fix our economy (well, that’s what they...
Continue ReadingPractical, Proactive & Protective: Olson is Eco-Chic
It could be that tiny fairies or Mother Nature herself dropped a little “green” dust on our budding environmentalist when she was just a baby. Whatever the case, Tonia Olson has been doing what is right for the world around her since she was a young girl. The proverbial apple didn’t fall far from the generational tree. Olson was preceded first by grandparents...
Continue Reading
