Safe and Sane?

Greetings! I hope this letter finds you staying safe and sane. Seems like both are sort of moving targets these days. For me, the heat of summer tends to set off more hot flashes, add in the stress of the pandemic, and I certainly have some roller coaster days!

I have to admit, when I limit my news and social media intake, I feel so much better! I live in a beautiful setting, in a lovely home with my wife, kids, and furry family members. I can still do many of the things I enjoy, like cooking, playing games with my family, walking the dogs, doing art, watching movies and reading. When I focus on being present in my life — there I am! Happy and doing well. I hope the same for you.

Here are a few articles you may have missed over the past couple of weeks, and below them are some thoughts about the opportunities of reinvention in midlife.

Menopause in the Time of Coronavirus

There are days I wonder if being menopausal increases the fear and depression caused by the pandemic, but also, if it increases my appreciation of life’s simple pleasures….(more)

How to Cope with the Overwhelm of Current Events

Some weeks are more overwhelming than others. This was one of those weeks. With nerves already on edge from quarantine and coronavirus fears, the murder of George Floyd by police officers and the aftermath left me feeling pretty raw…(more)

It’s About Being Human

Understanding My Own Wisdom in the Covid Crisis

You know when you know the right things to do, but then you don’t do them?A colleague suggested I write a piece about lessons learned while coping with the pandemic. I think most of us have read plenty of “how to cope with the quarantine” articles. A lot of the advice is common sense — stick to a routine, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy foods, get exercise, and socialize in a safe manner…(more)

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I am adding this article that I thought I sent out last Round-Up but my stats said nothing was sent. Technology glitch or user error? Not sure. Oh, well!

Are the Quarantines Good for Our Teenage Daughters?

About three weeks into our coronavirus quarantine, someone from the high school called to check on how my two kids were doing. We had received a fair number of emails from the school, but this personal outreach was nice. I eagerly shared the possibly unexpected news that my daughter, a freshman, was absolutely thriving! …(more)

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Reinvention?

Midlife is often a time for self-reflection and new priorities. Kids require less time or are even leaving home. Jobs change, or cease to exist, or maybe life circumstances mean you don’t need to keep working in the ways you have in the past. We also tend to worry less about what other people think. This can provide space and opportunity to try some things that felt too risky before.

I have found myself doing new and fun things in my 50’s. I finally started writing books — mostly children’s “slightly spooky” chapter books, and during the early days of the quarantine, I created two video courses to help people overcome struggles like procrastination and perfectionism to become the writer they’ve always wanted to be. I have learned about these things first hand, so why not share my knowledge?

If you’ve always wanted to write, check out the resources on my webpage, it includes a link to get your first video course free.

What kinds of interests have you put off that this might be the time to try?

Peace,
Dakota Duncan
dakotaduncan.com