Like many women in their 60s, I often hear myself saying that my life would be happier and so much better if only I had:

• more money
• a more understanding partner
• one designer outfit for job interviews
• more time for myself
• a new house
• different friends
• more energy
• a handsome partner
• a flat stomach
• more blog followers
• a long vacation
• better _______ skills
• more time with my grandchildren, etc.

The list is endless. We keep looking for that greener grass ‘over there’ or for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We think, “If only… then my life would be perfect!”

How long does your satisfaction last after reaching one of those greener pastures? Not very long, I assume. How often have you looked behind you to assess the myriad of things you have accomplished? When have you looked carefully around you to see what you have in your now?

I used to think it was a lot of claptrap when folks talked about ‘counting their blessings’. I am not a religious person, and counting blessings did not resonate with me at all.

Like many before me, as I’ve aged, I have taken the time to really look into myself. I have tried to understand the biology of my being. I am fascinated with how my brain works. And I am beginning to really understand the mind/body connection. It is so powerful.

Connecting with the Present

Today I am getting acquainted with the core me. Like your core muscles need to be strong to keep your body powerful and balanced, your core mind/body connection needs to be strong to give you the strength to deal with life changes and the flexibility to adapt.

Appreciating what you have and where you are in the now is critical to building that core mind/body connection. If I spend too much time thinking about the greener grass ‘over there,’ my mind and body become out of sync. I am not over there. I am here.

Every day I work at living in my now. I make myself stop several times to listen to my internal chatter. Am I feeling ancy or discombobulated? Why am I frustrated? Am I enjoying what I’m doing? Am I even thinking about what I am doing?

So, I stop and focus on some deep breathing. I look around and start listing all of the things that are right in my life. It takes less than a minute.

Reviewing My Gratitude List

Today I can say that I am thankful for:

• a beautiful home
• very loving friends
• a relationship with my daughter that grows stronger each year
• two new knees that don’t hurt
• a very curious mind that keeps learning
• a restless spirit that keeps searching
• a four-legged friend that makes me laugh every day
• the time to reflect on my life
• the ability to look forward to the future.

Making the Most of My Own Green Grass

Oh, there are many things I would like to have, and some things I would like to change. I am not an aesthetic, but I try to put ‘wants’ into perspective. Rarely do any of them count as ‘needs.’

Yes, I would like to spend a month in the South Seas and take a long photo safari in Africa. Not in the budget for this year, but a trip to visit my daughter in Utah is in the budget.

Yes, I would like to have a flat stomach and more energy, but my 21-year-old body is long gone. Still, maybe I can keep this one going for a few more years if I take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Yes, designer clothes would be a grand luxury, but I am learning new knitting techniques to make myself a fabulous sweater. And maybe I’ll bring out the sewing machine.

My greatest realization about myself is that in the core of my being I am a flexible person. I do adapt to the ebb and flow of life. And that is what makes the grass around me very green… and full of flowers.

Is your own grass green? Do you often think the grass is greener somewhere else? What do you do to make your grass the greenest of them all? Please share your insights and experiences below!

Ramona Singer’s Pink Knit Confessional Dress

Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 1 Fashion

Ramona Singer’s pink knit dress that she wears in her Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip confessionals is the perfect dress for both work and play. And while we’re sorry to tell you guys that it’s sold out (forget Ramona being “the apologizer,” it’s us lol), we’ve included some Style Stealers below that will definitely be the talk of the “cool water” water cooler in no time. 

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to See Her Sandro Dress

Click Here to See it in Green

Originally posted at: Ramona Singer’s Pink Knit Confessional Dress

Why is it that when I wear my hair in a throwback hairstyle similar to the one I wore in high school in the early aughts, I look silly as hell? But when Jennifer Lopez pulls out the Y2K hair, she looks cool. It’s the magic of J.Lo. Late last month, Lopez performed at the 36th Annual Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in celebration of her friend LL Cool J’s induction at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The duo hit the stage and it truly felt like 2002 again.

J.Lo and LL Cool J performed their 2002 hit song “All I Have” on stage. Lopez wore a sparkly bra top and low-rise pants. (Yes, they’re really back! And yes, you can ignore them.) She also wore her bronde — the perfect combination of blonde and brown — hair up in two high ponytails with the ends curled. It reminds me of the beginning of the “All I Have” music video.

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.

YouTube.

Lopez didn’t go all Y2K with her makeup though, so she left the frosty nude lips and heavy smoky eye at home. To be honest, her current makeup routine is really just a modern update from that same look. She knows what works for her and she sticks to it.

AP Images.

Hairstylist Lorenzo Martin is responsible for the throwback pigtails, while Mary Phillips did her glam and Tom Bachik did her nails. You can tell Lopez was feeling herself and loving the 2002-era styles.

Source: Instagram

Somehow she pulls it all off without looking costume-y. Can we get an “I’m Real” reunion with Ja Rule next?

Why is it that when I wear my hair in a throwback hairstyle similar to the one I wore in high school in the early aughts, I look silly as hell? But when Jennifer Lopez pulls out the Y2K hair, she looks cool. It’s the magic of J.Lo. Late last month, Lopez performed at the 36th Annual Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in celebration of her friend LL Cool J’s induction at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The duo hit the stage and it truly felt like 2002 again.

J.Lo and LL Cool J performed their 2002 hit song “All I Have” on stage. Lopez wore a sparkly bra top and low-rise pants. (Yes, they’re really back! And yes, you can ignore them.) She also wore her bronde — the perfect combination of blonde and brown — hair up in two high ponytails with the ends curled. It reminds me of the beginning of the “All I Have” music video.

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.

YouTube.

Lopez didn’t go all Y2K with her makeup though, so she left the frosty nude lips and heavy smoky eye at home. To be honest, her current makeup routine is really just a modern update from that same look. She knows what works for her and she sticks to it.

AP Images.

Hairstylist Lorenzo Martin is responsible for the throwback pigtails, while Mary Phillips did her glam and Tom Bachik did her nails. You can tell Lopez was feeling herself and loving the 2002-era styles.

Source: Instagram

Somehow she pulls it all off without looking costume-y. Can we get an “I’m Real” reunion with Ja Rule next?

“May the gratitude in my heart kiss all the universe.”

—Hafiz

I’ve always considered November to be the month of gratitude. This is not to say that gratitude shouldn’t be practiced every month of the year, but during this month, I believe it’s particularly important to make it a priority.

Those closest to me know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, likely because it is a secular holiday and one that reflects a sense of interconnectedness among people and cultures. Now in my 60s, and having a broad perspective on life, I believe we need to honor and celebrate this day more than ever.

Each year, my children, grandchildren, and often an additional invited guest or two, join us at our family home for a Thanksgiving celebration. We all help to prepare the food, rejoicing that we are together. Some years, we have a memorable honoring, where each person at the table says something special about everyone else. It’s a way to give thanks for those we cherish.

From Celebrating Harvest to Gathering Together

Originally celebrated as a day to give thanks for the previous year’s harvest, Thanksgiving has evolved into a holiday for gathering together and expressing gratitude for our blessings.

For me, Thanksgiving is a reminder to appreciate all the good in life. This can include beloved family, friends, and colleagues as well as fruitful lifestyles, good health, and wellness. The most wonderful aspect about this holiday is how it tends to focus us onto all things positive and away from gift-giving for materialistic motivations.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that reminds me that there’s more to be thankful for than be sad about. My beloved father taught me the power of positive thinking – specifically, to look at the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. After nearly two years of pandemic living, it will be a welcomed relief to gather with our loved ones to celebrate.

We need to continually remind ourselves of the importance of incorporating gratitude into our stream of consciousness. Remember, even if it seems as if we’ve hit rock bottom, there is always hope that we will come out on the other side.

For those who have experienced a recent loss, feeling gratitude might be more difficult. However, there is always something to be grateful for, even when feeling alone and lonely. You may want to be by yourself and that’s okay.

If there might be someone to share the holiday with, maybe you’d consider reaching out to that person. Just know that whatever type of Thanksgiving you decide to celebrate, it will be just right for you.

What Are We Thankful for?

Thanksgiving might also be a good time to jot down all that we’re thankful for. Expressing gratitude through writing produces a sense of appreciation, and also reduces stress and strengthens emotional resilience.

In my book, Writing for Bliss: The Companion Journal, there are a few pages of journaling prompts pertaining to gratitude. Here are a few to consider:

Feeling Thankful: Write about what you are grateful for, even on difficult days.

New-Found Gratitude: Write about something you are grateful for now that you once thought you didn’t need.

Feeling Lucky: Write about one privilege that you’ve taken for granted.

If you’re into poetry, you can find lots of poems online to help you celebrate Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? How do you celebrate usually? What will Thanksgiving look like for you this year?