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“And the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves
to sleep and autumn was awakened.”—Raqeul Franco (poet)

In the mid-‘90s, Staples started running a back-to-school commercial accompanied by the Andy Williams song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (which normally doesn’t get airplay until the holiday season). When my daughters were in school, my husband would joke that come the end of August, I was like that dad in the commercial, skipping along and joyously tossing school supplies in the shopping cart and then, come September, sprinting home from the bus stop for some “me” time
(which, now that I think of it, consisted of a lot of “me working” time).  And though it’s been a long time since bus stop runs were part of my daily routine, the fall continues to be a time of renewal, new beginnings, and new projects for me. (Not to mention a welcome reprieve from summer’s humidity.)

Speaking of new beginnings, fall is a great time to switch up your routine. In this issue’s Wellness Wisdom, I’ve got a challenge that I hope you’ll happily accept. And once you have, reward yourself with a cozy blanket, your favorite sweater or a pumpkin spice latte if that’s your jam, because fall is here in all its colorful glory, my friends. Enjoy it.

Be well,
Christine

Wellness Wisdom:
The Power of Social Prescribing

One of my go-to podcasts is “The Good Life Project” with host Jonathan Fields. Over the summer, I listened to an episode in which he interviewed Julia Hotz, author of  The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. They discussed the concept of “social prescribing,” which, Hotz says, is “the prescriptive power of reconnecting through movement, nature, art, service and community.” The idea is that meaning, joy, and belonging are the essential ingredients for a life well-lived. Sounds good, right?

My challenge to you this season is to pick one category that you’d like to focus on (I’m working on movement) and gradually incorporate more of it into your life. Over time, you’ll begin to see small, yet impactful changes (for example, walking regularly can equal better sleep). When you’ve got your first one mastered, move on to the next.

Don’t know where to start? Here are some suggestions:

Movement:  Walk. If possible, do it outside and save the treadmill or stationary bike for a rainy day. If neither of these options is accessible to you, take some time each morning and evening and just stretch. YouTube has some great videos, and I highly recommend the Calm app’s Daily Move with Mel Mah.

Nature: Walking outside checks the nature box as well!  But cultivating a plant also counts as connecting with nature. I started cultivating pothos plants and succulents several years ago and find that they are low-maintenance ways to bring some of the joys of the outside inside.

Art: A friend of mine takes a drawing class that she loves. If that’s not for you, maybe treat yourself to a day at a local museum, grab some friends for a painting night, or kick it old-school with a coloring book. There are many ways to be creative; find one that resonates with you. 

Service: I could fill the page writing about the benefits of volunteering. At the very least, it gets us out of our own heads and into the world around us and making a difference in people’s lives. Think about your special skills and how they could benefit a local organization, then search your area for those looking for volunteers. The pre-holiday season is a great time to get started. (Volunteering also checks the “Belonging” box—see below!)

Belonging:  After the 9/11 attacks, I formed a book club in my new neighborhood to help foster a sense of community (and I went on to facilitate book clubs for the next 20-plus years). Belonging to a group or organization can decrease feelings of loneliness and lead to increased life satisfaction. If you belong to a church, start there, or check out local Facebook groups or cultural organizations that reflect your interests. Whether your passion is knitting, reading, wine-tasting or the ever-popular pickleball, there’s a group for that!

Listen to The Good Life Project podcast episode on social prescribing here: The Good Life Project

My Latest Obsession:
The Golden Bachelorette

I’m obsessed with The Golden Bachelor/Bachelorette spinoff but not for the reasons you might think. Allow me to explain.

I was never the little girl who dreamed about her wedding day or got caught up in fairy tale endings but rather the one who grew up and took a college lit class to dissect the psychology behind fairy tales (aced it!). I then became a young mom who easily found fault with the popular princess movies—The Little Mermaid giving up her voice to gain legs and live on land (happily ever after, of course) with Prince Eric? Please.

For me, The Golden Bachelor/Bachelorette is not so much about the potential for romance as the opportunity for women and men “of a certain age” to feel seen, not only by younger generations but by themselves and each other.

During Gerry Turner’s Golden Bachelor season, it was refreshing to see the female contestants make friends, have a good time, and live in the mansion with little drama (with the exception of maybe “Zip It Kathy” tangling with Jersey girl Theresa). I think I’m even more impressed with the gentlemen on Joan Vassos’ current Bachelorette season. As of this writing, I’m only a few episodes in but for the most part the men seem like good sports, they’re willing to support each other, and several of them are really tapping into their emotional sides. Plus, watching them try to live together in the mansion amongst all their aches, pains, and middle-of-the-night shenanigans, is hilarious.

It's clear that Joan still has a lot of life left in her (as do her suitors), and if it’s romantic love she’s after, she deserves a chance to pursue it. Midlife can do a number on your self-confidence, and it takes guts to put yourself out there and take chances once you’ve hit a certain age; it’s even gutsier to do it on national television. Plus, after experiencing tremendous heartbreak, there are worse things in life for a woman in her sixties than going on a reality show, getting dolled up for dates and—dare I say—be treated like a princess, at least for a little while.

On the Nightstand

Stay: A Story of Family, Love, & Other Traumas
By Julie Fingersh

“We don’t have to be anything other than who we are.”

That’s only one of the insightful notions shared in Julie Fingersh’s memoir, Stay: A Story of Family, Love, & Other Traumas. Her family story of both mental and chronic illness, her quest to find the “Meaning of Life,” and her poignant thoughts on savoring the finite amount of time we have with those we love make this one of the most heartbreaking yet heartwarming books you will read this year. Whether she’s coming to terms with the “Year of Lasts” (having a college-bound kid ready to flee the nest), struggling with what it means to be a “real” writer, or experiencing distressing life circumstances, Julie takes the reader on a journey so raw and personal you can’t help but feel that you know her and her family by the book’s end. “Stay is for readers who want to think, feel, laugh, cry, and really think about their own life’s trajectory,” Julie says. I did all of these things. No pun intended, but Stay will stay with you long after its conclusion.

Learn more about Julie and her book here: Julie Fingersh: Stay

You Are Not Broken: Stop “Shoulding” All Over Your Sex Life
By Kelly Casperson, MD

Casperson, a board-certified urologist, educator, and podcast host, dismantles the myths women have learned about sex, intimacy, midlife, and hormones and discusses—among other things—how society and the media get sex all wrong, the two types of desire, and the importance of timing and communication. With helpful journal prompts and advice such as “Compromise but beware of ‘mismatched shoes,” (it’s not what you think!) and “Allow yourself to be vulnerable,” Dr. Casperson reminds women that good sex doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and how “when we change our thoughts and feelings, our actions and results follow suit.”

Learn more about Dr. Casperson here: Kelly Casperson, MD: You Are Not Broken

I’ve Tried Being Nice
By Ann Leary

I met Ann at a CoveyClub event in NYC in September shortly after finishing her hilarious yet heartwarming essay collection. Having been a fan of Ann’s writing for years, it was a real treat to meet her and spend some time with her during a breakout session to talk about our goals for the remainder of the year. Whether she’s writing about taking dance lessons with her husband (actor Denis Leary), the joys—and heartbreaks—of being a dog owner, or “trying to be nice,” as in the title essay, Ann gathers up all of her midlife musings for readers, ties them together and lets readers know they are not alone on their journey through this bittersweet time of life.   

Learn more about Ann and her books here: Ann Leary

Somehow: Thoughts on Love
By Anne Lamott

I had the privilege of taking a virtual writing class of Lamott’s during the pandemic and there’s something about her voice (never mind her writing) that always soothes my soul. In this, her twentieth book, she riffs on all things love. Lamott found love late in life and married her husband, Neal, when she was 65. (She’s been known to joke that she married just a few days after she started receiving Medicare.) Whether she’s talking about forgiveness, wonder, or giving ourselves grace when we make mistakes, Lamott always manages to make readers feel less alone. I highlighted so many passages in this book but will leave you with just one to ponder: “Life delivers the unbelievable so often that you might as well believe.” See what I mean?

Bonus Book Recs for the Kids
(And those who love them!)

Our Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space
Words by Sue Lowell Gallion
Pictures by Lisk Feng

The folks over at Phaidon Press sent me this smart-looking board book that opens to create a free-standing space globe with a magnetic closure (how cool is that?). The junior astronomer in your life will enjoy the rhymes and rich illustrations, while you can help with the more detailed descriptions of planets, asteroids and the study of space. For children ages 2-5. View this and other Phaidon books here: Phaidon

Tag! You’re It: A Story on Inclusion with Gabby & Nicky
By Jannesy Deleon
Illustrated by Gaspar Sabater

I met Jannesy at a book signing this past summer and we had a lovely discussion about her journey to publication. I was immediately drawn to the colorful illustrations on Tag!’s publicity poster, and being the bookworm/grandmother that I am, left with a copy of each of Jannesy’s books. Jannesy’s inspiration for her debut children’s book was her own children, Gabriella and Nicholas, who have special needs. She often observed them being ignored because they were different and decided to give them a voice to help others understand what it’s like to be left out. This heartwarming story shows readers that there’s more than one way to play a favorite childhood game, and it’s way more fun when everyone’s included. Jannesy is also the author of Not a Shot! A Story of Overcoming Fear with Gabby and Nicky.

Learn more about Jannesy and her books here: Jannesy Deleon

New for Me, Shared With You:
Beauty is Power: The Life of
Elizabeth Arden

You know that expression, “You don’t know what you don’t know?” Well, I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about the woman behind this iconic brand of cosmetics until I listened to an episode of the “I’d Rather Be Reading podcast” in which host Rachel Burchfield interviewed Stacy A. Cordery, author of the book Becoming Elizabeth Arden: The Woman Behind the Global Beauty Empire. Here are some “little known facts” about the woman behind the brand:

• Her real name was Florence Nightengale Graham.

• Her mom died from tuberculosis when she was just six years old.

• She had no high school education but she was passionate about what she was doing.

• Some of her biggest fans were First Ladies.

• She was known to be a generous philanthropist.

• She taught women to be beautiful for themselves (not to land a man) and that if they felt beautiful, they could do anything.

Listen to the episode here: Elizabeth Arden and the Beauty Empire She Successfully Built (I'd Rather be Reading podcast)

Journaling Workshop:
Cultivating Emotional Resilience

There are many benefits to journaling, including boosting our mood and shifting us out of a negative mindset to a positive one. Journaling also helps us nurture our appreciation for life and the people in it. The ability to adapt well to, and bounce back from, hard times—to be resilient—contributes to a healthy and rewarding life.

While this program is ideal for groups, it can also be presented one-on-one. Virtual options are available. For more information—or to bring this program to your group setting—email me at: Christine.Krahling@gmail.com.

Mindfulness and Meditation
for Caregivers

If you’re a caregiver, you’ve probably been told more than enough times that you “can’t pour from an empty cup” and that you need “to put your own oxygen mask on first.”
You also know that it’s not easy to take care of yourself while you’re caring for others but on some level, you do know that it’s essential.

In my program, “Mindfulness and Meditation for Caregivers,” I provide an overview of mindfulness, talk about the myths surrounding meditation and how to realistically weave it into your day, and share three simple meditation techniques that you can call upon during stressful times, or anytime. A fun, mindful eating exercise is also included!

While this program is ideal for groups, it can also be presented one-on-one. Virtual options are available. For more information—or to bring this program to your group setting—email me at: Christine.Krahling@gmail.com.

 Other Ways to Work with Me

I’m a developmental editor who also happens to be a kick-ass proofreader and copyeditor. Have you written a book and need someone to polish up your manuscript and provide feedback? Click here.

Interested in hosting an author for a moderated discussion for your organization’s next meeting or event? Click here.  How about someone to present a session on mindfulness? Click here.