We all have two lives. The second one begins when we realize we only have one.

—Confucius

Eugenie was telling me how wonderful she felt. This was unusual and unexpected because she was in her early 70s and had several health challenges, but on this day she told me:

“Something has shifted, and it’s all because I did something I’ve been putting off for a long time.”

“What’s that then?” I enquired, my curiosity growing.

A Shift in Mindset

“I found courage I didn’t know I had, and instead of ignoring the fact that my Mum died at age 74, which I will be shortly, I faced the possibility that I might die then too. It was scary, but I have similar health challenges to her, and it felt important.”

“And what happened?” By now I was listening intently.

“It was as if I turned around and faced this fact head on, instead of shying away from it. And when I did that, I discovered that, actually, it was okay – more than okay. Yes, if I died next year, I would be really sad to have missed seeing my granddaughter grow up, and how my garden develops, and not be able to travel to see my latest grandson. But I also realised that in facing this fact my fear had dropped away. So, although my preference is still to live as long as possible, now it’s okay to admit that one day, I will, in fact, die.”

“That sounds like it was a really momentous moment,” I said.

Taking Care of Business

“Yes, because what then happened was that I made a list of things I felt would be a good idea to attend to in this next year, so that it will be easier for my family if I did die. I could never do that before because it made me think I might be almost obliged to die!”

We laughed at that together.

“But in fact, once I had accepted that all life, everywhere, always comes to an end, it was as if I had given myself permission to go, when the time is right for that.”

Living Life on Purpose

And then Eugenie realized that with the fear having lessened considerably, her eyes were opened to “where I am now, what I can do now, and what I’ve got around me now. It opened me up to living life right here, right now.”

That sounds so refreshing, doesn’t it? Somehow, in facing the fear, she could look at life afresh. She still has her niggly health challenges, she still finds it hard to believe she might never see her new grandson in the flesh, but if that is the way it has to be, then she has accepted that possibility.

“And that has brought me a peace of mind that I never knew existed. It is wonderful, because I’ve had a very busy mind all my life, always dotting around looking for the next new shiny thing to distract me.”

And by facing this one thing she was terrified of, Eugenie has discovered it’s not so terrifying after all! And in fact, it has given her a new lease of life of an entirely different sort.

Getting There

“Wow.” I was awed by this wonderful woman’s story, and couldn’t help but ask, “Was there anything you did that helped you to face that fear?”

Her answer was simple: A book on end-of-life planning.

“There was something so practical about it, that the process of reading it and answering the questions somehow lessened the fear. It was really odd, as that’s the last thing I would have expected.”

But, half-way through, Eugenie realised her fascination with the practicality of planning for her later life was greater than her fear. That’s what gave her the courage to continue reading, and to implement the tips as she read along.

Eugenie is far from being the only person afraid of death and dying. Seeing how at peace she had become made me want to share her story. Because indeed, it is very important to admit that 100% of us will die. That is just a fact, no matter how you look at it.

So consider this: if you had died yesterday, would the evidence that you had lived be ordered and easily understandable for your family and/or friends to take care of? Because if that’s not the case, then maybe it’s time to dig deep, embrace your own courage like Eugenie did and find your own way to a new lease of life.

Are you scared of the thought of death? Does this fear stop you from pre-planning? Have you found any tools that helped you conquer your fear of death?

When pumpkin spice everything fills grocery store shelves and the grandkids beg you to take them to the corn maze, you know that fall has officially arrived.

Summer has unfortunately come to an end, and now it’s time to jump into your rain boots, grab your trusty trowel and put those garden beds to rest. While fall certainly isn’t the most exciting time to be gardening, your plants will appreciate you for your year-round dedication.

Taking care of those fall gardening tasks and prepping your garden for the long, cold winter ahead ensures that your crops will have their best chance of providing you with a bountiful harvest.

Plus, you’d rather battle weeds in an empty garden bed before they try to attack your tomatoes, flowers or cucumbers!

Read on to learn more about some gardening tasks you should start now to prepare for the winter ahead.

Clear Those Garden Beds of Pesky Weeds

Weeding is arguably the most important gardening chore there is. Aside from providing your plants with the right amount of water and sunlight, there is no other task that ensures the health of your plants and soil more. Fall provides the perfect opportunity for you to set your garden beds up for success.

By clearing out weeds now, you allow for your soil to build up and save nutrients for your spring plants, rather than wasting them on weeds. If you’re all about sustainability, you can even save some of your ‘weeds’ for culinary or medicinal uses!

Aside from eradicating existing weeds, taking preventative measures will ensure that your garden beds remain weed-free for the spring ahead. Companion planting, applying your own homemade mulch and spraying down any sneaky weeds with a homemade, organic herbicide are all ways to keep weeds at bay.

Keep Your Winter Vegetables Nice and Warm

Spoiler alert: most of your plants really don’t like freezing temperatures. If there are any plants that you intend to grow over the winter or start in the early spring, consider investing in cold frames.

These handy little greenhouses can be placed over your garden beds and ensure that your plants won’t fall victim to death by frost. And they sure beat having to bring plants inside for the winter.

Rake Up Fall Leaves (or Use Them as Mulch)

When it rains, it pours, and the same concept applies to fall leaves. Before you know it, your front lawn and garden beds are completely covered in the stuff. While your grandkids may find jumping into piles of leaves a fun fall activity, raking them up is usually less exciting.

So though you could rake them up into neat piles, another option is to spread them out and use them as fall mulch! If you’re feeling like you want to take this idea to the next level, another option is to skip the store-bought mulch and make your own vegetable garden mulch out of your fall leaves.

Turn That Dead Stuff into Compost

If you look around, you’ll notice that as fall progresses, garden beds start to turn more and more into shades of green and brown rather than the bright foliage we become accustomed to during the summer.

While all that dead stuff may not look like much, by composting it now, you’ll have a nutrient-rich soil enhancer come spring time!

Fall leaves are some of the best brown materials for compost, and you don’t get those nutrients if you wait until the spring!

Test Your Soil and Act Accordingly

Fall is the best time to check out your soil’s pH balance and quality. You can avoid a lot of heartache of dying plants by addressing any soil issues now rather than when your seedlings are already in the ground.

While understanding soil science can be a bit overwhelming, there are plenty of resources out there to help you learn more about your soil and what you can do to improve its quality.

The important thing to keep in mind is that all of your plants require a soil that has a certain pH level range in order to thrive. One of the best ways to test this is with an at-home soil pH meter.

For a more in-depth look at your soil, you can have a sample tested at a lab. Your local county gardening extension can direct you to a lab in your area.

Kick Back and Relax with a Good Book and Some Tea

While this gardening task is optional, I recommend it! And though gardening does provide you with plenty of benefits, it’s hard work, and you deserve to relax!

If you don’t want to totally disconnect from gardening, there are a ton of great books you can read to educate yourself in the off season. Some of my favorites are The Backyard Homestead, Gaia’s Garden, and of course, The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac.

And as for the tea, start a mint plant indoors, and you’ll have plenty of fresh tea right at your fingertips all winter!

What’s your favorite fall gardening chore? What are your tricks for making sure your garden beds survive a frost? Let us know in the comments. Your tips can help out your fellow gardeners more than you know!

It’s nice to know that we’re living in a time where getting cosmetic procedures done like plastic surgery is no longer looked down upon (It shouldn’t be! Do what makes you the most confident! Especially if it’s safe and done by a medical professional!) But for some, going under the knife isn’t in the cards, and finding alternatives that work similarly is like finding a needle in a haystack—nearly impossible to do, but glorious when it occurs.

So, we’re overjoyed to say that one of those needles is on sale. It’s the L’Oreal Paris Collagen Moisturizer, and thanks to Amazon’s huge Holiday Beauty Haul event where so many beloved products have slashed-down prices, it’s discounted for just $13. Now, this nearly 35% discount is no joke, and it’s clear the retailer knows this, because the markdown only lasts for the day.

RELATED: Jennifer Aniston Uses This Tatcha Lip Product To Get Her Plump Pout

Making timely decisions is tough, but we’re here to help you. Here’s a bit more about this beloved moisturizer: The day and night cream was generated to feed your skin “intense hydration” that will, according to the brand, “fill in the appearance of lines and wrinkles and helps restore moisture for smoother, plumper skin.”

Now, we know that marketing lingo can be a bit overstated, but reviewers seem to back up all of the above claims. In fact, more than 4,000 shoppers have given the product a perfect five-star rating.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

L’Oreal Paris Skincare Collagen Face Moisturizer

Courtesy: L’Oreal Paris.

In fact, one reviewer who used to rely on botox to minimize the appearance of their wrinkles, said this moisturizer replaced their need for the procedure entirely.

It’s nice to know that we’re living in a time where getting cosmetic procedures done like plastic surgery is no longer looked down upon (It shouldn’t be! Do what makes you the most confident! Especially if it’s safe and done by a medical professional!) But for some, going under the knife isn’t in the cards, and finding alternatives that work similarly is like finding a needle in a haystack—nearly impossible to do, but glorious when it occurs.

So, we’re overjoyed to say that one of those needles is on sale. It’s the L’Oreal Paris Collagen Moisturizer, and thanks to Amazon’s huge Holiday Beauty Haul event where so many beloved products have slashed-down prices, it’s discounted for just $13. Now, this nearly 35% discount is no joke, and it’s clear the retailer knows this, because the markdown only lasts for the day.

RELATED: Jennifer Aniston Uses This Tatcha Lip Product To Get Her Plump Pout

Making timely decisions is tough, but we’re here to help you. Here’s a bit more about this beloved moisturizer: The day and night cream was generated to feed your skin “intense hydration” that will, according to the brand, “fill in the appearance of lines and wrinkles and helps restore moisture for smoother, plumper skin.”

Now, we know that marketing lingo can be a bit overstated, but reviewers seem to back up all of the above claims. In fact, more than 4,000 shoppers have given the product a perfect five-star rating.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

L’Oreal Paris Skincare Collagen Face Moisturizer

Courtesy: L’Oreal Paris.

In fact, one reviewer who used to rely on botox to minimize the appearance of their wrinkles, said this moisturizer replaced their need for the procedure entirely.

It’s nice to know that we’re living in a time where getting cosmetic procedures done like plastic surgery is no longer looked down upon (It shouldn’t be! Do what makes you the most confident! Especially if it’s safe and done by a medical professional!) But for some, going under the knife isn’t in the cards, and finding alternatives that work similarly is like finding a needle in a haystack—nearly impossible to do, but glorious when it occurs.

So, we’re overjoyed to say that one of those needles is on sale. It’s the L’Oreal Paris Collagen Moisturizer, and thanks to Amazon’s huge Holiday Beauty Haul event where so many beloved products have slashed-down prices, it’s discounted for just $13. Now, this nearly 35% discount is no joke, and it’s clear the retailer knows this, because the markdown only lasts for the day.

RELATED: Jennifer Aniston Uses This Tatcha Lip Product To Get Her Plump Pout

Making timely decisions is tough, but we’re here to help you. Here’s a bit more about this beloved moisturizer: The day and night cream was generated to feed your skin “intense hydration” that will, according to the brand, “fill in the appearance of lines and wrinkles and helps restore moisture for smoother, plumper skin.”

Now, we know that marketing lingo can be a bit overstated, but reviewers seem to back up all of the above claims. In fact, more than 4,000 shoppers have given the product a perfect five-star rating.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

L’Oreal Paris Skincare Collagen Face Moisturizer

Courtesy: L’Oreal Paris.

In fact, one reviewer who used to rely on botox to minimize the appearance of their wrinkles, said this moisturizer replaced their need for the procedure entirely.