Month: August 2025

The prequel we’ve all been waiting for.

The prequel we’ve all been waiting for.

The first thing I know for sure is there is only one way you can fail and that’s if you believe you don’t deserve to win. The second thing I know for sure is that positive thoughts require energy and negative thoughts require no effort at all.

Moving One Block Can Cause the Whole Tower to Tumble

There is a myriad of reasons why a woman in mid-life and beyond might find herself in a state of emotional or financial crisis. It could be a messy divorce leaving bank accounts drained, worthless investments being found to be scams, or personal problems or health issues depleting life savings. It could be as simple as being laid off, with no one wanting to hire a 50-plus woman to their management team.

You may be struggling with feelings of irrelevancy, stress, hopelessness or lack of a sense of purpose. Are you in limbo, waiting patiently for that perfect moment to bloom?

If you’re 50 or older, you may feel redundant. Our youth-oriented society’s yardstick has measured us past our prime. Our allotted time to shine, be relevant and successful is over. We had our chance; if things didn’t work out, well, it’s too late now. Roll yourself out to the curb with a sign pinned to your chest that reads Past Due Date and wait for the refuse collector. What could we possibly have to offer this late in the game of life?

As It Turns Out, Quite a Lot!

It’s time for us to reimagine and redefine our purpose later in life. Your entire adult existence has been taking care of others: your children, spouse, a corporation’s board of directors. Everyone has had a piece of you to reach their dreams and goals while balancing on your shoulders.

Ideas and visions of who you are, what you want and where you want to go are fluid and constantly changing. Whether you had the good fortune to follow your vision or stored it away for later, something happened to bring life to a halt, and you are at a crossroads.

“I’m Too Old to Start Over”

If you’re not satisfied with your life to date, change it. What are you waiting for? You’re still standing, perhaps tilting a bit like a tree that’s experienced too many storms.

You are not alone. If you’ve lost your compass and feel you no longer have the strength and tenacity to chart your course, it’s time to reach out to a new tribe to help you on your journey.

Society may think we’ve fallen through the cracks and have no place to go but down – no money, no hope, no future – but I’ve got news for them: we have no place to go but up. We are looking forward to an exciting, albeit different, second half of life.

Just like a grand old house that’s seen better days, transform yourself into a brand-new design, a magnificently renovated, imposing mansion that no hurricane of challenges can blow down.

A Life That Is Enough for You

What are you looking for? Encouragement, income ideas, resources, friendships, the story of someone who has shared your circumstances? Has a new idea sprung to life in your imagination, or are you considering revisiting a dormant dream that’s ready to bloom?

A community of many voices with an abundance of courage and grassroots ideas is waiting to hear from you. What are your goals? Happiness, friendships, financial security, travel? Just what is it that YOU desire?

What Are You Prepared to Do to Achieve the Life You Say You Want?

Tell God, the Universe, Mother Nature or just yourself what you want. Say it out loud, write it down, post it on the wall, and believe you deserve it. If you have faith, the Universe will immediately start the process of rearranging things to make it happen. Be very specific: this is your Magnum Opus! Believe it, plan for it, keep moving forward with grit and purpose, and voila, it will appear.

Beware the Good and Bad News

The good news is that if you open your mind, stop dismissing new ideas and stop making excuses, you will get everything you want. The bad news is you don’t get to choose the timeline. But I can tell you this from my own experience: if you are willing to forge ahead and have unwavering faith in yourself, you will get everything you want.

We all know the first step is the hardest. But then it gets easier. Inspire yourself, and others will be inspired by your actions.

Send me an email at hello@wendyrichards.ca to receive the full Introduction: What I Know for Sure from my debut book A Life Postponed – so you too can discover joy and purpose in mid-life and beyond!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What needs to change in your life so that it turns in a direction that you want? Are you prepared to make those changes?

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Originally posted at: Tamra Judge’s White Poplin Bodysuit

My mother was ahead of her time when it came to nutrition. She introduced salads early. Iceberg lettuce and tomato wedges, topped with orange Catalina dressing. For lunch, my mother mixed 2% cottage cheese with fruit cocktail or canned peaches (rinsed and drained to remove the excess sugar). When I traveled to Zagreb, I couldn’t get enough Strukli, a Croatian comfort food, made with cottage cheese, eggs, and sour cream in a thin pastry.

Culinary experts created this national dish in 1951 at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel. Today, you can find Strukli at breakfast buffets, in rural kitchens, and at trendy restaurants. But it’s not the only Croatian delicacy on offer. I came to Croatia with my big appetite, ready to try traditional foods.

Gregada

Gregada is a fish stew created to use smaller fish, like white fish, that couldn’t be grilled. The stew was most likely brought to the region by Greek settlers circa 380 BCE, as gregada is said to be the oldest way of preparing fish in Dalmatia. Traditionally enjoyed by fishermen along the Dalmatian coast, this dish combines fish with potatoes, garlic, and onions.

Pro Tip: Try Gregada at Konoba Luviji on the Island of Hvar.

Wild Boar

Croatia is one of Europe’s top destinations for wild boar hunting. Some areas host hunting festivals or game-themed dinners. Hunting is offered year-round, with peak times at night. Wild boar is often slow-cooked in stews or with herbs and root vegetables, and served with local wines.

Pro Tip: Try Wild Boar at Konoba Menego on the Island of Hvar.

Dirty Macaroni

Dirty Macaroni, known locally as Šporki Makaruli, is a traditional dish from Dubrovnik, originally enjoyed by servants after the elite had eaten. The name ‘dirty’ describes the appearance of the pasta, coated with the rich meat sauce. Servants got less meat and more sauce. Makaruli refers to the tube-shaped pasta similar to its Italian cousin, ziti.

Pro Tip: Try Dirty Macaroni at Trattoria Carmen in Dubrovnik.

Best Bureks

According to historians, the Burek (or börek, as it’s known in Turkish), a savory phyllo pastry, originated in the Ottoman Empire. Popular fillings include ground meat (beef, lamb, or a combination of the two), cheese (feta, ricotta, or cottage cheese), vegetables (spinach, potatoes, or carrots), and even sweet fillings like apples or cherries.

The fillings create a wide range of flavors, from the spicy paprika to the tangy feta cheese. Bureks make a perfect breakfast, a snack, or late-night comfort food across the Balkans.

Pro Tip: Try a Burek at Pekara Dubravica in Zagreb.

Njoki

Njoki is the Croatian word for gnocchi, a type of soft, pillowy dumpling popular in Italian cuisine. They’re typically made from mashed potatoes, flour, eggs, and salt, and are boiled until they float. Njoki is served with sauces such as butter and sage, tomato, pesto, or cheese blends.

Pro Tip: Try Njoki at Adio Mare in Korčula.

Pašticada

Pašticada is braised beef with a combination of sweet, sour, and savoury flavours. The marinated beef is cooked in a rich sauce of red wine, sweet wine, root vegetables, dried fruit, herbs, and spices. Its origins trace back to Dubrovnik in the 15th century.

Every family from Split to Dubrovnik has its own version of pašticada – so there’s no single “authentic” recipe.

Pro Tip: Try Pašticada at Adio Mare in Korčula.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What was your diet like growing up? What foods did you eat as a child that you still eat today? Which Croatian foods would you like to try? Are there dishes you’ve tried abroad that you loved? Can you find comparable dishes at home?