Todd Davis reminds us of the importance of listening in his book Get Better—15 Proven Practices to Build Effective Relationships at Work. “One of the most profound gifts you can give another human being is your sincere understanding,” he writes. “To do so requires clearing away your mental clutter, suspending (at least temporarily) your agenda […]
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What does love look like?
by resolutewoman on February 13, 2018 in families, holidays, love
Matt de La Pena wrote a children’s book titled Love. He wants his child to know there is more to the world than the divisiveness he sees every time he turns on the television, he told The Dallas Morning News in an interview for its January 21, 2018, issue. Every page shows visual examples of […]
I am wealthy
by resolutewoman on February 10, 2018 in families, friends, holidays
On Valentine’s Day, I will be thankful for my husband—and my children—and for my big circle of friends and family. “I am wealthy in my friends,” Shakespeare once wrote. And, I am wealthy because I count many of my family members as friends, too. And, many of my friends are like family! –Joy
What a privilege
by resolutewoman on February 8, 2018 in families, friends, holidays, love
“When you arise in the morning, think what a privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” What a great quote from Marcus Aurelius. Valentine’s Day is coming. It’s time to show how much you love your family and friends.
Minor problems
by resolutewoman on November 11, 2017 in families, happiness, Uncategorized
It’s a family tradition. When the four of us visit Eureka Springs, we check into our cabin in the afternoon, visit a favorite restaurant—and then stop at the grocery store for supplies. Stopping at the grocery store always takes longer than expected. I pick out the mustard for sandwiches, but Jay puts it back and […]
The Three Ts
by resolutewoman on September 26, 2017 in children, families, friends
Dana Suskind lists the three Ts for interacting with a child in her book Thirty Million Words—tune in, talk more and take turns. I think her three Ts apply to successful interaction with children and adults. Here is Suskind’s brief explanation. “In order for the necessary serve-and-return of conversational interaction to be successful, there has […]
No cell service
by resolutewoman on August 15, 2017 in balance, families, happiness
While we were in Maine, my daughter sent us a text message with a photo of our dog, Ginger—who was happy staying with Mary Elizabeth. She didn’t miss us at all. I tried to reply, but I was in a cabin on a lake with lousy cell service. I finally wrote: “I have not had […]
Advice from a lobster
by resolutewoman on August 12, 2017 in advice, families, friends
“Don’t be shellfish,” proclaims my “Advice from a Lobster” t-shirt from Maine. I followed that advice while we were on vacation—except when I was eating my blueberry pie. I was selfish when I picked the biggest piece. My lobster t-shirt also suggests: • Don’t get yourself in hot water. • Be a good catch. • […]
Why are you unhappy?
by resolutewoman on July 29, 2017 in families, happiness
I have a tendency to be happy and optimistic a lot of the time. My mother was usually a happy person. But, I also sometimes have a tendency to be negative and depressed. My father had a tendency to be negative and discouraged. “Unhappiness is an avocation,” says Margo Jefferson, author of Negroland: A Memoir. […]
Happy Fourth of July!
by resolutewoman on July 4, 2017 in families, food, holidays
Remember why we celebrate this holiday—and be sure to eat some ice cream! Here’s a gift–part of a poem–by Nikki Giovanni. One of the reasons I like this poem is that we always ate homemade ice cream on the Fourth of July when I was a child. Usually it was peach ice cream. Joy I […]
What’s this site about?
We wrote our book and we’re writing our blog because we were frustrated. We were frustrated with experts who try to tell people how to lose weight, raise their children and improve their marriages—and be a success—in 10 easy steps. In three weeks. In one book.
Our self-help book and blog are for grownups—for women who know that there are no easy answers to life’s complex problems—that finding solutions requires some self-knowledge and self-searching and hard work.
We want to help women discover their own answers and live with them as their guide. We want to help you and other women Help Yourself!
We write about making changes and also about many other issues important to women, including families, friends, work and food.
