As women we are faced with a unique set of challenges. Often, we are juggling work, family, and other responsibilities, which can leave little time for personal growth and development. However, investing in oneself is essential for personal and professional growth, and it’s never too late to start today!

I will be sharing why it is important for us to invest in ourselves and provide some ideas, while including a success story of someone who invested in herself and how it enriched her life!

The Benefits of Investing in Yourself

Investing in oneself can bring about numerous benefits. Firstly, it can boost self-confidence and self-esteem. When you invest in yourself, you are showing yourself that you value your own growth and development. This can lead to a more positive self-image and a greater sense of self-worth.

It can also improve your overall health and well-being. This can include physical, mental, and emotional health. When you invest in your physical health, for example, by exercising regularly or eating a balanced diet, you are not only improving your physical health but also your mental health.

Investing in yourself can lead to greater career success. Whether you are looking to advance in your current job or switch to a new career, investing in yourself can help you acquire new skills and knowledge that can make you more competitive in the job market.

Ideas for Investing in Yourself

Here are some ideas for moving forward towards investing in yourself!

Attend a Workshop or Conference

A workshop or conference is a great way to learn new skills and connect with like-minded individuals. Look for events that are relevant to your interests or career goals.

Take a Course or Class

Taking a course or class can help you acquire new skills or knowledge. This can be anything from learning a new language to taking a cooking class.

Read Books

Reading books can help you expand your knowledge and perspective. Look for books that are relevant to your interests or career goals.

Join a Networking Group

Joining a networking group can help you connect with other professionals in your field. This can lead to new career opportunities or collaborations.

Hire a Coach

Hiring a coach can help you identify and overcome any obstacles that are holding you back. A coach can also provide you with guidance and support as you work towards your goals.

Overcoming Obstacles

Investing in oneself can be challenging, but there are ways to overcome these obstacles.

Make Time

Make time for yourself by scheduling it into your calendar. This could be as simple as setting aside 30 minutes each day to read or exercise.

Prioritize

Prioritize your goals and focus on the ones that are most important to you. This can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and allow you to make progress towards your goals.

Get Support

Get support from friends, family, or a coach. Having someone to hold you accountable and provide encouragement can be incredibly helpful.

Stay Positive

Finally, stay positive and focus on your progress, rather than any setbacks. Investing in oneself is a journey, and it is important to celebrate the small victories along the way.

Some Success Stories!

Meet Sarah

Meet Sarah, a 45-year-old woman who had been working as a customer service representative for the past 20 years. While she enjoyed her job, she felt stuck and was eager to try something new. Sarah had always been interested in photography but had never pursued it seriously. After doing some research, Sarah decided to invest in herself by enrolling in a photography course at a local community college.

Over the next few months, Sarah spent her evenings and weekends learning about the art of photography. She practiced with her camera and experimented with different techniques. She even started a photography blog to share her work with others.

At first, Sarah was nervous about pursuing her passion for photography. She worried that she was too old to start a new career or that she wouldn’t be good enough. However, with the support of her family and friends, she continued to push forward.

As Sarah continued to learn and grow, she became more confident in her skills. She started to apply for photography jobs and landed her first gig shooting a friend’s wedding. From there, her photography career took off. She started getting more and more job offers and eventually decided to quit her customer service job and pursue photography full-time.

Sarah’s decision to invest in herself and pursue her passion for photography was life-changing. She found a career that she loved and was able to support herself doing something that she was passionate about. Sarah’s story is a great example of how investing in oneself can lead to new opportunities and a more fulfilling life.

Meet Catherine

Meet Catherine, a marketing executive, who had always dreamed of starting her own business. Despite having a successful career, she felt unfulfilled and longed for more control over her professional life. Catherine decided to invest in herself and pursue her dream of entrepreneurship.

Catherine started by researching different business ideas and found that there was a gap in the market for high-quality, sustainable fashion. She had always been interested in fashion and had a keen eye for design, so she decided to start her own sustainable clothing line.

She started small, designing and producing a few pieces of clothing on the side while still working full-time. She attended fashion events and networked with other entrepreneurs to gain insights into the industry.

Over the next few years, Catherine’s business grew steadily. She invested in herself by taking courses on fashion design, sustainable sourcing, and e-commerce. She also hired a team of designers and production managers to help her scale her business.

Eventually, Catherine’s sustainable clothing line became so successful that she was able to quit her job and focus on her business full-time. Through her investment in herself, Catherine not only found a more fulfilling and rewarding career but also became an expert in the sustainable fashion industry.

Catherine’s story is a testament to the power of investing in oneself. By identifying her passions and interests and taking actionable steps towards achieving her goals, she was able to experience personal and professional growth, a more fulfilling career, and financial independence.

What’s Next for You?

Now, it’s time to reflect and ask yourself, “How can I invest in myself?” Whether it’s signing up for a course, joining a networking group, or pursuing a passion, there are numerous ways to invest in youself. The key is to identify what is important to you and take actionable steps towards achieving your goals. What’s holding you back? I have created this worksheet for you to download for free.Take some time to reflect on how you can take those first steps towards your own growth and development!

Remember, investing in oneself is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey towards personal and professional growth.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How are you investing in your future? Have you taken a course that has changed your life forever? What was it? If you have a passion, have you thought about expanding it? Share in the comments below on how you are investing in your future!

Austin, Texas. What do you associate this deep in the heart of Texas city with?

It’s a destination people think of as bachelor or bachelorette parties, the ubiquitous SXSW Film, Music and Tech festival, ACL – the live music event spread over two weekends and various conferences. Of course, those of us over 60 visit Austin to see our children and grandchildren, many of whom relocated here from across the country during the pandemic and before for the booming tech industry.

Welcome to the ATX TV Festival

Then others like adventure and culture, like me. I’m a film and TV nut, and the ATX (abbreviation for Austin, Texas) TV Festival was something I couldn’t miss out on. It has become the largest festival of its kind in the USA, if not the world.

Surprisingly, and to my delight, I noticed more senior women than I had in previous years attend the Festival. I made friends with women from California, NYC and upstate NY, and Miami. Clusters of two or more ladies enjoyed themselves at the opening and closing events, panels, previews, and whooping it up from June 1 through June 4.

Those ladies were living it up at the ATX TV Festival, now in its 12th year. Founded by two local women, Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson, the Festival’s humble beginnings were in 2012 when attendance was 700 to over 3,000 people. The organizers describe it as having “the functionality of a traditional film festival” while blending industry and fan events.

The Paramount Theater on one of the main drags, Congress Avenue, near the Capitol, was home to the opening night festivities, including a red carpet world premiere of the FX TV series Justified, City Primeval. Cast members Timothy Olyphant, Boyd Holbrook, Adelaide Clemens, Vivian Olyphant (daughter of Timothy), and executive producer Sarah Timberman took the stage after the premiere for a Q&A on the series.

Trivia Night was a hoot for everyone. In addition to the fun prizes, including the grand prize of an at-home projector, pizza, and flavored popcorn snacks were plentiful.

Badges for the whole experience cost $535.00 and decrease from the Camp Badge, which includes access to General Programming, Marquee Programming, Exclusive Camp Events, a TV Camp Welcome Bag with Camp-exclusive swag, Drink Tickets, a Virtual Pass, and more! Camp Badges receive five (5) Fast Passes and access to exclusive Camp-Only Programming, including micro-programming and roundtables.

Driskill Hotel

Most panel discussions were held at the Driskill, the oldest hotel in Austin, built in 1886. If that is their only claim to fame, here’s another: anyone will undoubtedly remember the stench upon entering the musty lobby and rooms. It smelled as if no one had cleaned the entire interior since 1886.

If you think guns are art, you’ll appreciate the restaurant’s similarity to a set of “Yellowstone.” Cowhide covers the tables (otherwise known as taxidermy), visible through glass, while paintings of cowboys, guns, displays of real guns, and sculptures of cowboys with guns adorn the interior.

Don’t come here for the coffee because this so-called iconic hotel doesn’t even serve a Café Latte. Several other hotels within walking distance offer much better options and higher standards.

I interviewed the pop-documentarian Billy Corben, a kid wonder who, at 20, became the youngest filmmaker at Sundance in 2001. Raw Deal, his first film, generated enormous controversy and ended up on the cover of the New York Post. It was the dawn of DV, digital video.

“Reasonable people disagreed on whether or not this video was, in fact, a consensual act and became a scandal. This is all before the age of ‘fake news.’ It was incredible,” Billy recalls.

He’s since created the wildly successful series Cocaine Cowboys about drug dealers from South America and how they infiltrated Florida to become the biggest cartels in the world.

Many of us remember the Cuban diaspora to South Florida, Noriega in the news, and the TV series Miami Vice. Cocaine Cowboys was so successful, in 2024 the fourth in the series will be released.

Many actors, producers, directors, and showrunners are accessible and willing to speak or take selfies (for a few seconds) with badge holders. Unlike other film festivals, the vibe at ATX TV Festival is chill and friendly. Meeting others in the queue and chatting about your favorite TV personalities, shows, and trivia is the most fun.

While finishing up a panel, I grabbed J.J. Duncan, the Executive Producer and showrunner for the Peacock TV series The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, presented by Universal Studio Group, on her way to another gig.

“The title got me when I first saw the script. I thought, ‘What on earth is Swedish Death Cleaning?’ Americans have a morbid relation to death, and the word death is hardly used in society. I learned so much by working on this film; about the Swedes and their relation to death. Death cleaning is more about life and how you prepare for death than about the dying process. It’s about downsizing and how important it is for the family who would inherit ‘stuff’ from the deceased to clean out all the extraneous items before a loved one’s death.

“The message of preparation is told through the lens of three Swedish characters who bring a body, mind, and spirit to all aspects of the death-cleaning process. Many people have told us their stories about the death of a loved one and how hard it was to get rid of unwanted belongings or how memories of someone’s life through material objects impacted them. We chose stories to tell on this show based of real people’s experiences with the death of a loved one and ‘how they wished they would’ve cleaned up before a person died’.”

Transportation

Getting to and from the airport and around town, in case you want to see other sights, is best by Lyft or Uber since there is no public transportation. As the festival is typically held in June, weather conditions can be hot and in the 90s, so be sure to bring a sun umbrella, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and long sleeve cotton shirt to wear over a tank top.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What film festival would you like to visit? Why? Have you been to ATX TV Festival or a different film event? What can you share about it?

Originally posted at: Amanda Batula’s Green Lace Asymmetric Skirt

Do you enjoy cruises? Have you been on several cruises over the years or are you planning your first-ever cruise? Cruises are undeniably a great way to unwind and have fun, so I’ve pulled up a selection that looks really exciting.

Here are our top 5 new cruises for solo women over 50:

1. Most Affordable Cruise – Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos, and Croatia, 9-day/10-port cruise starting from Italy aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship the Norwegian Viva.
2. Most Adventurous and Fun Cruise – Eastern Caribbean Antilles cruise, 8 Nights of island hopping in the US Virgin Islands with adults-only Virgin Voyages.
3. Most Relaxing Cruise – 14-Day Britain, Scotland, and Ireland aboard Holland America Line’s newest ship, The Rotterdam.
4. Most Luxurious Cruise – Vancouver to Seward (Anchorage, Alaska)  aboard the soon-to-be splashed Silversea ship, Silver Nova.
5. Most Elegant Cruise – The Norway and Northern Lights Cruise, a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the northern lights on Cunard Lines’ newest ship, The Queen Anne.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a cruise for solo women over 50, such as the itinerary, the ship’s size, and the cruise line’s amenities. Look for cruise lines that cater to solo travelers and that offer social events and activities that may appeal to women over 50.

It’s important to research and compare cruise lines and itineraries to find the best fit for your preferences, budget, and interests.

What Makes a Cruise Solo-Friendly

Are you planning on traveling solo? Cruise companies are now more accommodating to single cruisers. These are some of the things to look for to make sure that a cruise line is accommodating to solo travelers.

Solo Cabins/Staterooms

Many cruise lines now offer solo cabins or staterooms specifically designed for solo travelers. These cabins are typically smaller than standard cabins but provide all the necessary amenities and are priced for solo occupancy.

Reduced Single Supplements

To make cruising more affordable for solo travelers, many cruise lines have reduced or eliminated the single supplement fee, which is an additional charge that solo travelers typically have to pay to compensate for the cost of an empty bed in a double occupancy cabin.

Social Events and Activities

Many cruise lines offer social events and activities specifically for solo travelers, such as meetups, mixers, and group dinners. These events provide an opportunity for solo travelers to meet other like-minded passengers and make new friends.

Various Dining Options

Cruise lines are offering flexible dining options that allow solo travelers to dine when and where they want, with the option to dine alone or with other passengers.

Shore Excursions

Many cruise lines now offer shore excursions specifically designed for solo travelers, such as small group tours or activities that cater to solo travelers.

Cruise lines are recognizing the growing demand for solo travel and are adapting their offerings to accommodate solo passengers and are making it easier and more enjoyable for solo travelers to explore the world by sea.

New Cruises Perfect for Solo Women Over 50

Just to be clear, I am not referring to “singles cruises” that many cruise lines offer. The cruises referenced below are for everyone (or adults only) with no specific theme. They all are accommodating to solo travelers and offer some of the advantageous factors that I mentioned above.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is a great option for single women over 50 for several reasons. The Cruise Line has studio staterooms that are specifically designed for solo travelers. These staterooms are smaller in size, but they come with a full-sized bed and a window or virtual balcony, providing a comfortable and affordable option for solo travelers.

They offer a variety of events and activities that are specifically designed for solo travelers, including meetups, happy hours, and group dinners. These events provide an opportunity for you to meet other solo travelers and make new friends.

They also offer a variety of dining options, including traditional dining, flexible dining, and specialty restaurants. This allows solo travelers to choose when and where they want to dine, and they can choose to dine alone or with others.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a great combination of affordability, flexibility, and social opportunities, making it a great choice for single women over 50 who want to travel solo and have a fun and memorable cruise experience.

Their newest ship on the fleet is the Norwegian Viva and they offer several new itineraries like the 9-day/10-port Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos and Croatia starting from Venice (Trieste), Italy.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages is the shiny new kid on the block. The cruise line launched in 2020 and is aimed at adults aged 18 and over. They offer a unique experience that is different from traditional cruise lines, with a focus on “rebellious luxury” and a “no kids, no nickel and diming, and no stuffy cruises” policy.

The atmosphere on Virgin Voyages ships is very social, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make friends. The ships have multiple bars, lounges, and restaurants, as well as organized activities and events, all of which provide a great opportunity for solo travelers to mingle and socialize.

While the brand may be marketed towards a younger demographic, women over 50 can still have a great time. In fact, the company’s mission is to create a fun and adventurous atmosphere where adults of all ages can come together to have a great time.

Some of the cabins on Virgin Voyages ships are designed with solo travelers in mind. Each ship has a number of “solo” cabins that are specifically designed for single occupancy, featuring a comfortable bed, a private bathroom, plenty of storage space, and modern amenities like smart TVs and mood lighting. The company also prides itself on its sustainability efforts, with a focus on reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of their cruises.

The Virgin Voyages cruise line offers a program called “sailor-made mates,” which pairs solo travelers up with a compatible roommate of the same gender, so they can split the cost of a double occupancy cabin.

The cruise line has a “no tipping” policy, which means that solo travelers don’t have to worry about being charged extra for traveling alone. This can be a significant benefit, as many traditional cruise lines charge a single supplement fee for solo travelers. Don’t worry, they pride themselves on paying their employees above-average wages and great benefits.

Virgin Voyages cruises are very solo-friendly with features and policies that cater to the needs of solo travelers.

The Eastern Caribbean Antilles cruise starts in Miami and island hops in the US Virgin Islands for 8 days and takes you back to Miami.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line is another great option for women over 50. The Line offers a Single Partners Program, which matches solo travelers with roommates of the same gender, and hosts meet-and-greet events for solo travelers.

Holland America Line has a reputation for providing a more relaxing and refined atmosphere onboard, with fewer crowds and a focus on relaxation and enrichment. This can be appealing to those of you who want to avoid the party atmosphere of some other cruise lines.

The Line has a fleet of smaller ships, which can provide a more intimate and personalized cruise experience. This can be especially appealing to you if you prefer a more low-key and intimate setting.

They also offer a variety of activities, including cooking classes, art classes, and cultural lectures. Also, the ships have spa and wellness programs, including yoga classes, fitness centers, and spa treatments.

Ever dreamed of seeing Great Britain in its entirety? The Holland America 14-Day Britain, Scotland, and Ireland aboard their newest ship, the Rotterdam, is a unique way to do it.

Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises offers single supplements as low as 25% for solo travelers. They also offer a program called “Silver Sailings” which is specifically designed for solo travelers.

Silversea Cruises is a luxury cruise line that offers a variety of amenities and services that can make it a great choice for women over 50.

Silversea Cruises offers small ships with a high staff-to-guest ratio, providing a more intimate and personalized cruise experience.

The cruise line offers spacious and well-appointed accommodations, including suites with private verandas, which can provide a comfortable and luxurious setting.

Silversea Cruises is known for its exceptional dining experiences, with multiple gourmet restaurants and a focus on high-quality ingredients. This can be appealing to those who enjoy fine dining and culinary exploration.

Onboard, they offer a wide range of activities like educational lectures, wine tastings, and culinary demonstrations. They also have a variety of wellness programs, including fitness classes, spa treatments, and health seminars.

Their newest ship on the fleet is set to launch in August 2023 and has a variety of itineraries available. The Vancouver to Seward (Anchorage, Alaska) sounds like a luxurious way to visit Alaska.

Cunard Line

Cunard line offers a Solo Travelers’ Welcome Reception and a Solo Travelers’ Lunch early in the voyage, as well as a dedicated host to arrange activities and facilitate socializing.

The Line is a traditional British cruise line that offers a variety of amenities and services that can make it a great choice for women over 50.

Cunard Line has a reputation for providing a more formal and elegant atmosphere onboard, with a dress code for certain areas of the ship. This can be appealing to you if you enjoy dressing up and appreciate a more refined atmosphere.

The cruise line has a rich history and heritage, dating back to the 19th century, which can provide a sense of tradition and nostalgia for those who appreciate the history of cruising.

Cunard Line offers a wide range of activities that include educational lectures, literary festivals, and art classes. They also offer a variety of spa and wellness programs that include fitness classes, spa treatments, and wellness lectures.

The Line is well known for its exceptional dining experiences, with multiple gourmet restaurants and a focus on high-quality ingredients.

Cunard Line offers a traditional and refined cruise experience, with a focus on enrichment, fine dining, and a sense of history and heritage.

The new ship scheduled to grace the seas is The Queen Anne, expected to splash in 2024. The Norway and Northern Lights Cruise sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Going on a cruise alone can be a great way to explore new destinations, meet new people, and have a unique and memorable experience.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you like cruises? Have you ever been on a cruise? What can you share about your experience? Are you planning on booking a cruise this year or next?

Photo + Info: @dolorescatania

Originally posted at: Dolores Catania’s Blue Maxi Dress