During Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, then-Senator Kamala Harris asked: “Can you think of any laws that give government the power to make decisions about the male body?” Judge Kavanaugh answered, “I’m not aware—I’m not—thinking of any right now, senator.” I found this quote in the winter 2022 issue of Ms. magazine. –Joy
A decision she must make herself
by resolutewoman on May 12, 2022 in courage, health, sexism
In her 1993 Supreme Court hearing, Ruth Bader Ginsberg explained to the Senate Judiciary Committee: “The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When government controls that decision for her, she is being treated […]
The situation now
by resolutewoman on May 10, 2022 in health, sexism, Uncategorized
Nearly 60 percent of women in this country—about 40 million—live in states that are “hostile to abortion rights,” according to the Guttmacher Institute. That’s the situation now, reports Ms. Magazine in its winter 2022 issue. If the Supreme Court abandons Roe v. Wade, 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion.
Keep walking
by resolutewoman on February 22, 2022 in fitness, health, overwhelmed, Uncategorized
“I have walked myself into my best thoughts and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it,” Kierkegaard once said. “But, by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill.”
Think outside your walls
by resolutewoman on January 27, 2022 in courage, goals, health
I am writing letters for Beto, talking to friends on the phone and smiling at everyone I meet when I take my morning walk. I am tired of this pandemic and tired of hibernating, but I am trying my best to stay connected to the world. As John Ruskin once said, “A man or woman […]
Count your blessings
by resolutewoman on January 15, 2022 in friends, health, peace
A friend died. Another friend has to wait to pick up a new prescription until she gets a check next week. And a third friend has COVID and is afraid he will give the virus to his spouse. I am so tired of this pandemic, but I am counting my blessings. My issues are very […]
Three arguments for women
by resolutewoman on September 9, 2021 in character, confidence, health
I write in memory of my friend who went to a cheap motel to get an illegal abortion back in the 1970s when abortions were illegal in Florida. I quote from Katha Pollitt’s book Pro—Reclaiming Abortion Rights. Pollitt begins: “In this book, I make many arguments, but let me mention three. First, the concept of […]
Texas
by resolutewoman on September 4, 2021 in health, sexism
Where a virus has reproductive rights, but a woman doesn’t
We can do hard things
by resolutewoman on August 31, 2021 in courage, health
When confronted with health issues this summer, I told my husband Jerry: “We can do hard things.” And, we can. And, we have. And, we will. As the writer John Updike once said, “We do survive every moment, after all, except the last one.” –Joy
Are you grateful?
by resolutewoman on July 8, 2021 in balance, character, health, patience
This is a trick question. Somehow, everywhere, we get the message that we’re supposed to be grateful—all the time. The writer Kate Bowler says, “I am here to give you permission. You don’t have to be a permanently grateful person. You can just be you. And sometimes you’ll have good days and sometimes you’ll have […]
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.