Month: July 2025

Hello, GLOW.

As a dating coach, I want to give you the best chance at healthy, lasting love, and that means giving you the lowdown on the most common sex issues older couples face.

When you think about dating again, one of your biggest worries might be about sex. You are not alone. For women over 60, a partner’s erectile dysfunction (ED) can feel like a sensitive, confusing subject – but it doesn’t have to be.

Erectile dysfunction isn’t just about performance – it’s about emotional connection, health, and communication. If you know how to talk about it, support your partner, and keep intimacy alive, you’ll not only improve your sex life – you’ll become a more confident dater and a more attractive potential partner.

Let’s talk about how to do this with grace, humor, and heart.

Understanding What Causes Erectile Dysfunction

When a man experiences ED, it’s rarely just one thing. Poor blood flow is a huge contributor, and conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes can play a role. Other common causes? Low testosterone, side effects from medications, prostate cancer treatment, or lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking, and inactivity.

But let’s not forget the emotional stuff: anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and low self-esteem. All of it matters – and all of it can impact your relationship.

That’s why this isn’t just his issue. It affects both of you. And thankfully, there are ways to face it as a team.

The First Step: Open, Shame-Free Communication

ED thrives in silence and shame. So, let’s cut that off at the pass.

Start by gently opening the door to conversation. Try something like, “Hey, I want to talk about something a little awkward, but I care about you and want us to feel close in every way.”

Your job isn’t to fix the problem. It’s to make it safe to talk about. Men often aren’t taught to talk about sexual dysfunction, so keep the tone warm, supportive, and shame-free.

Instead of asking how he feels, ask what he thinks. That’s often an easier entry point for men. As he opens up, you’ll naturally get closer – and intimacy improves when anxiety drops.

Encourage Medical Help – with Compassion

Sometimes the problem won’t resolve with emotional intimacy alone. This is where healthcare comes in.

Encourage him to get a physical exam. Treatment for erectile dysfunction starts with understanding what’s going on – whether it’s a blood test, medical history review, or trial of ED medications. Some men benefit from a vacuum pump. Others might explore penile implants or hormone therapy.

Therapists – especially sex therapists – can also help with performance anxiety, relationship dynamics, or deeper emotional blocks.

And if he’s nervous? Offer to go with him. Your support can make all the difference.

Healthy Lifestyle = Healthier Sex

What’s happening outside the bedroom has everything to do with what’s happening inside it.

Support each other in making lifestyle upgrades. Take walks. Cook healthier meals. Cut back on alcohol. Quit smoking. Aim for a healthy weight. These choices improve blood flow, boost energy, and help with sexual function.

Even better? They increase connection and well-being – for both of you.

Redefine What Sex Looks Like

If you’re hung up on penetration, you’re missing out.

Sex is about so much more than an erection. There are many ways to experience arousal, pleasure, and orgasm that don’t require one. And guess what? Plenty of men enjoy amazing sex without an erection.

Now’s the time to get curious. Explore sex toys. Try sensual massage. Play with fantasies. Focus on touch instead of goals. Let go of the idea that “real” sex looks a certain way and reclaim your sex life as a space for creativity and connection. This course helped me.

The key to better sex? Playfulness. That, and the willingness to try new things.

When It’s Time for Professional Support

If you’re feeling more distant or discouraged, and nothing is improving, don’t wait. Reach out for help.

A sex therapist or relationship coach can help both of you navigate the emotional impact of ED, deal with deeper relationship issues, and create a plan forward.

If you just want more help in general, to feel confident about dating check out my free gift to you: “3 Secrets to Finding and Maintaining Healthy Love.”

There is no shame in needing support. The real loss happens when you suffer in silence.

ED Isn’t the End – It’s a New Beginning

Erectile dysfunction doesn’t have to be the end of your sex life. In fact, it might be the beginning of a more honest, connected, and satisfying one.

This is your chance to slow down, tune in, and build intimacy in a whole new way. Your sex life in your 60s and beyond doesn’t have to look like it did in your 30s – and that might be the best news yet.

ED is not a failure. It’s an invitation – to grow, to get closer, and to try something new.

You are not alone. You are not done. And you are 100% worthy of a deeply connected, fully satisfying romantic life.

If this didn’t answer all of your Sex Questions, there’s more here.

Additional read, The Post-Menopausal Bedroom: Navigating Sex and Dating After 60.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How satisfied are you with your sex life? Has your partner experienced dysfunction or any bedroom difficulties? How do you support him?

Who says summer is just for kids at camp or 20-somethings with backpacks? This 2025 summer bucket list for women over 50 proves that the best memories can still be ahead of you. Are you craving a new adventure? Some overdue me time? Or a chance to reconnect with old friends? These ideas are tailored to your stage of life, energizing, meaningful, and totally doable.

Use this list as a starting point, a nudge, or even a full-on summer challenge. You can pick one idea or try them all. Most importantly, make space for joy, spontaneity, and stories worth telling long after the sunscreen wears off.

Top 5 Summer Bucket List Ideas for Women Over 50:

1. Take a Solo Weekend Trip – There’s something liberating about packing a small bag and hitting the road on your own. Solo travel gives you the freedom to do exactly what you want, when you want.
2. Host a Backyard Movie Night – Turn your yard, patio, or balcony into a magical outdoor theater. Hang string lights, grab cozy throws and cushions, and project a favorite film onto a blank wall or sheet.
3. Try a Dance Class You’ve Never Taken Before – Always wanted to learn flamenco, belly dance, or ballroom but never got around to it? Now’s the time. Many studios offer beginner classes, and you don’t need a partner, just comfortable shoes and an open mind. 
4. Start a Container Herb Garden – You don’t need a huge yard to feel connected to nature. A few pots on a sunny ledge can hold basil, mint, rosemary, and lavender. Not only will your home smell amazing, but you’ll also have fresh herbs for cooking, cocktails, and even DIY spa treatments.
5. Plan a Multi-Generational Getaway – A vacation with your children and grandchildren doesn’t have to be chaotic; it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your summer. Rent a lake house, visit a national park, or take a cruise with fun for all ages.

Continue reading to discover more bucket list things to try this summer. 

What Are Some Fun Summer Activities to Try This Year?

Learn to Paddleboard or Kayak

Gliding across a calm lake or bay at sunrise is an experience unlike any other. You don’t need to be athletic to enjoy paddleboarding or kayaking. Many locations offer stable boards and beginner-friendly instructions. It’s both peaceful and empowering, offering a full-body workout that feels like play.

Read more: Soft Adventures for Women Over 50 – Hiking, Kayaking, and More!

Book a Train Trip Across the Country

Train travel has a certain romance to it. The clickety-clack of the rails, the ever-changing scenery, and the gentle sway of the car. Amtrak’s routes through the Rockies, Pacific Northwest, or along the California coast are especially scenic. Bring a book, sip a glass of wine, and watch the world unfold outside your window.

Read more: 8 USA Train Trips for Solo Women Over 50.

Go to a Summer Festival or Outdoor Concert

Let music carry you away. Whether it’s jazz in the park, a Shakespeare play on the lawn, or a weekend folk music festival, there’s something magical about enjoying live performances under the open sky. Pack a picnic, wear something flowy, and sing along like nobody’s watching.

Start a Journal or Photo Diary

Capture the moments that matter: sunsets, shared meals, and morning reflections. You don’t need to be a writer or photographer. Use a simple notebook or a photo app, and let yourself record the real and the raw. Years from now, you’ll be glad you documented how this season felt.

Read more: Journaling for Clarity: 6 Prompts for Self-Discovery and Growth.

Host a Clothing Swap With Friends

Bring a few gently worn pieces that no longer spark joy and swap them for something that does. It’s sustainable, budget-friendly, and a great excuse to get together. Add wine, music, and lots of mirrors. You might leave with a vintage kimono or a great pair of sandals, and lots of laughter.

Read more: How to Host a Clothing Swap Party.

Take a Cooking Class Featuring Global Cuisine

Learn to roll sushi, bake French pastries, or master homemade pasta. Taking a cooking class opens the door to new cultures and new flavors. Bonus: You get to eat your creation. Look for local classes or join a virtual session with a glass of wine from your kitchen.

Explore Your Local Farmer’s Market Weekly

Support small farmers, taste fresh produce, and discover seasonal delights you won’t find at the grocery store. Chat with vendors, try the samples, and maybe even strike up a new friendship. Bring a reusable bag and a sense of curiosity.

Spend a Day at the Spa – or Create One at Home

Book yourself a luxurious treatment or turn your bathroom into a mini oasis. Think soft robes, eucalyptus oil, a soothing playlist, and your favorite face mask. Close the door, put your phone away, and unwind. Sometimes the best vacation is the one you take in your tub.

Try Sunrise or Sunset Yoga Outdoors

The light, the stillness, the birdsong, it’s an entirely different experience than studio yoga. You don’t have to be flexible or experienced. Follow a YouTube video in your backyard or join a free community class at the park. Just breathe, stretch, and take in the sky.

Volunteer for a Cause You Care About

Giving back is a powerful way to feel purposeful. Whether it’s helping at an animal shelter, mentoring a younger woman, or planting trees in your neighborhood, volunteering connects you to others and adds meaning to your summer.

Read more: How You Can Volunteer as an Older Adult.

Organize a Themed Potluck With Friends

Missing your social circle? Throw a themed potluck, Greek night, backyard BBQ, or a retro 70s party with fondue and vintage tunes. Everyone brings a dish, and no one carries the full load. Don’t forget to take lots of photos.

Take an Online Art or Writing Workshop

Tap into your inner artist. Sites like Domestika, Skillshare, and MasterClass offer everything from watercolor painting and poetry to digital drawing. Whether you want to write your memoirs or paint a garden scene, the tools are at your fingertips.

Spend a Night Stargazing

Drive away from the city, lie back on a blanket, and look up. Summer skies are perfect for spotting constellations, satellites, and even meteor showers. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring, and all it costs is your time and attention.

Make a Summer Playlist and Dance to It Weekly

Revisit the songs of your youth or discover something fresh. Blast it in the kitchen while making breakfast or use it for a midweek mood boost. Move your body without judgment, just for the joy of it.

Read more: How Many of These 1960s Dances Do You Remember? (Including Vintage Videos!)

Go on a Vintage Treasure Hunt

Spend a lazy Sunday exploring estate sales, vintage boutiques, or flea markets. You never know what you’ll find: an art deco brooch, a mid-century chair, or a forgotten photograph. Treasure hunting is less about shopping and more about story-seeking.

Plan a Cruise With Friends or Family

Cruising offers relaxation with the bonus of travel. You can do everything, or nothing at all. Lounge by the pool, try new foods, take dance lessons, or explore new ports. It’s a floating resort with no driving required.

Visit a Botanical Garden You’ve Never Been To

Let nature refresh your senses. Botanical gardens are full of inspiration, from fragrant roses and towering trees to butterflies and fountains. Many offer summer tours, yoga classes, or even live music.

Read more: 10 Flower Festivals and Gardens to Visit Around the World.

Try a New Hairstyle or Color

Been thinking about bangs? Highlights? A sleek bob or a daring silver? Summer is the perfect season for a fresh look. Book a consultation or bring inspiration photos and let your stylist work their magic.

Read more: Spectacular Hair Color Options for Fabulous Older Women (Photos).

Bake a Seasonal Pie From Scratch

Start with a visit to a local berry farm or farmer’s market. Choose ripe peaches, strawberries, or rhubarb and channel your inner baker. Don’t worry about the perfect crust, just enjoy the process and share your pie with someone special.

Create a Vision Board for the Second Half of the Year

Mid-year is a great time to reflect and realign. Use clippings from magazines, inspirational quotes, or photos of your dream vacation. Whether it’s wellness, relationships, or creativity, visualize what you want to invite in.

What Makes a Great Summer Bucket List for Women Over 50?

The best lists are a blend of:

• Small joys and bold dreams
• Personal growth and playful fun
• Stillness and adventure
• Time alone and time with others

At this stage of life, you’ve earned the right to say yes to what delights you and no to what drains you. Use your summer to feed your soul, not just fill your calendar.

Read more: 10 Steps to Help You Plan to Achieve What’s on Your Bucket List.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What’s one new thing you’re excited to try this summer? Which bucket list ideas sparked something in you? What Would You Add to the List? We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

Bookmark me!

Diversity is the theme for these nine books – not in terms of race or gender, but topics. The one I enjoyed most was Kate Atkinson’s latest, followed by Dog of the North. Both light reading and a refreshing change of pace. None here I did not enjoy. I learned from your feedback that I should not speak ill of a book; I just won’t comment on those. And I do appreciate your taking the time to comment on my “comments.”

I’ll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman (Counterpoint, 2024)

A sad, lovely little book about the “modern” family – the term used on the book’s fly leaf. Here, modern appears to be synonymous with the tangles of divorced parents, divorced friends, and divorced siblings. But the book also deals with reawakening. A stoic Boomer lovingly holds the grandchild of his romantic interest. A son and his mother rally around their father/husband as he seeps into dementia.

I had a warm feeling when I finished the book. Recommended.

Death at the Sign of the Rook: A Jackson Brodie Book (Jackson Brodie Series) by Kate Atkinson (Doubleday, 2024)

What an enjoyable book! Kate Atkinson made me laugh out loud – and I don’t ever recall laughing at her books before. IMHO, she’s read Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club Series and decided to lighten up her characters a bit.

Jackson Brodie is aging. But he still outwits his clients and his young police cohorts. The plot concerns art theft, always a head scratcher, because most stolen art disappears into the hands of wealthy hoarders who may have paid for the heist. Highly recommended for delightful reading.

Realm of Ice and Sky by Buddy Levy (St. Martin’s Press, 2024)

Airships occupy a small space in the history of aviation. Who would have thought that they played a major role in Artic exploration? Levy studies three explorers who saw the possibility of flying over the pole rather than slugging behind dog sleds. And it worked, but not without much drama.

The exploration time is the first quarter of the 20th century. All the participants are brave beyond our understanding, especially the crew members who stood to gain so much less money and fame than the captains. Marconi’s new electronic communication system plays a big role. (Thunderstruck by Eric Larson is an excellent book about Marconi.)

International cooperation is a big theme – prescient of the International Space Station. And I could not suppress my horror as the Germans became involved. They used airships throughout their bombardment of London in WWII. Recommended for history lovers.

Big Breath In by John Straley (Soho Press, 2024)

You know the book will have a quick denouement when the protagonist sets the stage that she is leaving chemo behind to have her last fling with life. In Big Breath In, our heroine is a marine biologist who often assisted her PI husband solving cases that benefitted from her scientific skills.

Her husband is now dead, but his former colleague approaches our frail scientist to help with a case taking place right under her nose in Seattle. It involves child and female trafficking, motorbike gangs, old friends, and family. I’d almost label it a “cozy” mystery except that our heroine keeps speeding up and down the Washington highway and byways on an old Harley. Enjoyable mystery.

Eclipse by Keiichiro Hirano (Columbia University Press, 2024)

Five hundred years ago, in France, a young priest studying philosophy in Paris takes leave of his studies to trace down a copy of an ancient text in the city of Lyons. On his journey, he stops in a village and falls under the spell of an alchemist, who owns a copy of the book. Our young priest is interested in introducing some pagan philosophies into contemporary religious philosophies, so the alchemist is a good information source.

Keiichiro Hirano was a college student when he wrote Eclipse. He became an instant literary hero in Japan. It’s an interesting little book, but I didn’t see much difference between Eclipse and the original Grimm tales.

The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie (Penguin Press, 2023)

An enjoyable romp featuring a woman living in California to whom things happen. Her sister, living in Australia, is a woman who makes things happen. Their parents disappeared in the Outback seven years ago. It’s time to wrap things up, sell the house, get on with life.

This hits just when our passive California sister goes through a divorce and attempts to assist with the complicated lives of her mother’s parents, now her divorced grandmother and grandfather. McKenzie creates intense, fun characters, including the grandmother’s accountant and his ramshackle van, The Dog of the North. It’s a fun ride, enjoy it.

Selling Dead People’s Things by Duane Scott Cerny

How can you not love a book with this cover and title? Cerny is a Chicago antique dealer (mid-Century modern) who purchases estates of the deceased. The stories are fun and build from the start of his career. We rise with him to become one of the largest dealers in Chicagoland.

The short essays reveal tales of his clients (dead and alive), other dealers, career angels, and career killers. You will enjoy this book if you’ve ever known the thrill of finding a “treasure” in the shadowy confines of an antique sale barn.

All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books 2024)

Ah, life of the privileged LA Millennials! I might have enjoyed it more if I read it at age 40 rather than age 81. July is a good writer – the book flows along smoothly. I loved her description of people as The Drivers and The Parkers. Our protagonist is a Parker, content where she is, and wants to be a Driver, looking for adventure. Immediately, when she attempts the switch, she cowers back into the shelter of a Parker. And from there she creates her imaginary new world.

The first half of the book is devoted to building an imaginary world. The rest deals with how that imaginary life affects real changes in a couple who cannot communicate well with each other. There is a good deal of emphasis on lesbian sex, non-binary children, and non-traditional marriage. Be warned.

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue (Summit Books, 2025)

Short enjoyable historical novel about a passenger express steam train from Granville to Paris that crashed through the barriers onto the street below Montparnasse Station in 1895. Donoghue takes the passenger list of known travelers, fleshes out their backstories, and invents a few characters to fill the train. The Author’s Note at the end (I read it first) gives the historical details and the denouement of the lives she could trace.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are you reading this month? Have you heard of any of these titles? What new books would you recommend?