Perfectionism can be the secret to your success, or the saboteur of your sanity. It can be a healthy motivator to achieve more, produce higher quality work and approach every project with meticulous planning. But on the flip side, when it becomes an obsession, it can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life, causing more »
The month of May is first connected with Mother’s Day. It is a time for us to celebrate what our mothers have done for us, and to soak in the praises of our children. But for some of us, it brings mixed emotions. For me, I spend the week leading up to Mother’s Day thinking more »
This week I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of Office Associates who had gathered from around the state for an annual personal development conference. The room was filled with women, and a handful of men, who were busy professionals trying to balance their work life with their personal responsibilities, and I spent more »
One recent morning, when I was scanning through the overnight influx of emails that contained promises to make me rich, thin and content in just a few easy steps, I ran across one headline that stopped me cold. “Are you a hypocritical coach?” OUCH. Those of us who are professional speakers, trainers and coaches make more »
I had a wonderful interview with Susan Rich of “Susan Rich Talks,” on Women for Women, All Women’s Radio. We talked about the joys of growing older, and I shared some ways to say “I’m done” to the things that may be holding you back from living fully in your life after 50. Susan and more »
Recently, I conducted a survey through Flourish Over 50 to find out “the state of the community.” The questions included topics of interest, social media interactions and life-stage happiness. One of the highest rated statements about life was “I feel stuck in a rut, and would like to feel excited about life again.” I hear more »
If you had told me three years ago that motivational speaking would be part of my future, I would have laughed! I’d had a real “trial by fire” with my first speaking engagements, giving graduation speeches for five years to audiences of up to 3,000 people as a School Board President. To say I was more »
One thing you may not know about me is that I am adopted. Over the past 22 years, I have searched for my birthmother several times, and have not yet made the connection. Her name on my birth certificate and all legal documents is Suzy Dodd. She was living with her brother in Snyder, Texas more »
Today I visited with Keri Bellacosa on Fox 7′s “Good Day Austin” and we talked about the value of loving yourself. Before you go out and buy gifts for others this Valentine’s Day, say “I love you” to YOU!
Today I am battling self-doubt. Yes, even for me, the one who teaches other women to embrace and celebrate their immense value, that shameless self-critic sometimes speaks so loud and clear that I can’t focus on anything else. I have allowed myself to sink in to the “What are you doing wrong?” mentality instead of more »
February, the Month of Love. This is the time when we traditionally spend extra time and effort telling special people just how much we love them–our husbands or “significant others,” our children, family members and friends. But for women: how often do you tell yourself that you love you? Loving yourself means giving yourself permission more »
In my coaching, friendship and internet-world circles, one thing is constant: women over 50 sabotage their own dreams and plans with their own inner self-critic. They succumb to believing nasty little thoughts like these. “You’re too old.” “You’re not smart enough.” “It’s too late for you to follow your dreams.” “You’re being selfish by putting more »
This year, I have chosen the word SHINE as my “theme.” I have worked diligently over the past three years building Flourish Over 50, becoming a life coach, writing my own personal development program, speaking and allowing myself to grow beyond my past vision for myself. Now, it is MY time to SHINE! As more »
One of the most difficult things women face is loving ourselves. To look in the mirror and say “I love you” is scary. To say to someone “I am an amazing woman with so much to give the world” is terrifying. Practice saying these affirmations to yourself, looking in the mirror. Then grab a friend and more »
The New Year has begun, and I have so many things racing through my head! I am ready to take the new blank 2013 canvas and begin painting a beautiful masterpiece that portrays my life. Truthfully, there is so much I want to accomplish that I see an entire mural ahead! What will you create this year? more »
Christmas is just around the corner and, for me, that generally means busy days filled with family, cooking and shopping. The season can also be a time of stress, when exhaustion takes over, replacing the joy that should be present in every day. My coach (yes, even coaches have coaches!) recently shared some tips with more »
Are you already overwhelmed with the holiday rush? Every year, we approach the season with a bit of dread, expecting that we will be stressed out more than we are blissful, and hoping that we can just make it through the month of December. Here are a few tips to help you actually THRIVE in the more »
The holiday season is upon us, and that means family gatherings, cooking, shopping and hosting parties. But oftentimes, in all the frenzy and frivolity, we end up so tired and grumpy that we feel like the Grinch. Here are a few things you can do to keep the “PEACE” in your soul while being the more »
The holiday season has officially arrived, and for those of us in the United States, this week we will celebrate a very early Thanksgiving Day. This is a time when we gather together and focus on the things we are grateful for, such as family, friends, our home, our freedom and our abundant provisions. Around more »
Happy Birthday to Me! Today is my birthday, and this year I will enjoy it fully. Last year, I totally missed the celebration because I was too focused on being a perfect Facebook party hostess, re-launching my website with a new design, and rolling out a new program, all on my 55th birthday. After weeks more »
I recently had a delightful radio interview with Stacey Hall, CEO and Founder of The Hall Institute of Intuitive Wellness, who is saving the lives of people stressed to the snapping point! Stacey is dedicated to helping people be energized and powerful so they can achieve their ultimate “B-all” in life. more »
The past week has been a flurry of activity, with a trip to San Diego for some professional development, and then the Texas Conference for Women on Wednesday. I am glad that they happened in that order because I learned a very valuable lesson during my San Diego workshop: I must value myself in a much more »
I just had a phone call with a Flourish Over 50 community member, and it turns out she is one of my biggest cheerleaders! Thanks to Claudia for sending me a note of encouragement that led to a most invigorating conversation for me. Hearing that my blog posts have helped her take that giant leap more »
Vaginal atrophy—a really ugly name for a condition that affects almost 50% of women over 50—is the medical term for the thinning of the vaginal walls as cells break down and dry up. You may know it as dryness, itching, pain and odor that gets worse as you get older. What you may not know more »
Last week I participated in a Social Media Roundtable discussion about women’s health. Novo Nordisk, a leading pharmaceutical company that is a pioneer in diabetes treatment, growth hormone therapy for children, and hormone replacement therapy for women, brought together a group of what they consider to be some of the most enlightened and powerful menopause more »
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