Passion. A word one usually associates with romance, and often with youth. But romance is not passion’s only playing field, and passion is certainly not reserved for the young.

Passion is, in fact, a primary factor in keeping one young. At least in feeling young, and decidedly in feeling more youthful. You see, passion is an emotion, a prime motivator, a fire in the belly. Passion is what drives us to be better than we think we can be, go further than we thought we could, and along the way, know greater satisfaction and fulfillment in life.

As Carol Ryff discovered in her study of over 300 individuals, when people are passionately engaged in something, for the love of the activity itself, rather than for any fame or fortune, they report long-term well-being and fulfillment.

Similarly, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, one of the gurus of positive psychology, has famously described being completely involved in an activity for its own sake as “flow.” What athletes and artists often call “being in the zone,” where nothing matters but what you are doing in that inspired, inspiring moment.

Passion Equals Purpose

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be an athlete or a gifted artist to experience passion and the well-being that comes along with it. Passion is about the feeling you have regarding the whatever-it-is you are so ardently engaged in.

For me, it’s competitive ballroom dancing. The fact that I’ll never be a professional dancer and can only go so far even in the amateur world, having started training at 70, is irrelevant. It’s still a driving force that fills me with joy.

For a dear friend of mine, passion is everything to do with genealogy. The thrill of discovering human connections. She comes back from genealogical conferences floating on air. I’d be bored beyond tears.

For another friend, it’s taking scrapbooking to a level I never knew existed. Passion can be the driver for literally any activity, from growing tomatoes to tutoring inner-city kids, to learning how to paint and then some.

Passion, for example, is what led Linda Owens, at 78, to take in her 81^st infant to foster as a resource parent. Fostering newborns has been Linda’s passion for over 34 years, a significant and valuable community service for which she was recently honored with a Jefferson Award by a local TV station.

A well-earned award, as many of the babies Linda cared for required extra attention and devotion. Some of these infants were exposed to drugs in the womb, some experienced developmental delays, most had difficulty sleeping through the night.

Yet, a retired grocery store department manager, Linda has fostered these 80+ babies all on her own, a truly astonishing feat of care and compassion.

According to Mia Buckner-Preston, Placement Division Director of the Alameda County Department of Children & Family Services which places children in foster homes, Linda’s devotion is unparalleled among resource parents. And that devotion is grounded in her passion for giving these babies a good start in life. Which in turn brings Linda much happiness.

Find Your Passion

You may be among the lucky ones who already have a passion in life. Milk it for all its worth, and enjoy your passion to the hilt. If you don’t have a passion, you can find one. Give some thought to what you always wanted to do, but stopped yourself, for one reason or another, from doing.

Sometimes it’s what you dreamed of as a child, or before you became an adult or a parent with all its responsibilities. Sometimes it’s what you see another person accomplishing that inspires you.

Once you remove the need to make money from an activity, get famous or even good at it, you’ll find there are any number of attractive possibilities. Especially when you remember you can indulge your passion at any financial or skill level. Or at any age.

Yes, even being a “rock star.” OK, maybe a star only to your friends. I have a 75-year-old friend who’s a member of a rock band that started in a garage some 30 years ago and is still rocking it in that garage. And the occasional gig in a country bar. Happy? You bet. Passionate about it? Oh yes. Still exploring new riffs and twangs despite arthritic hands and hearing loss.

Find your passion without regard to age or any limitations. It will truly make a positive difference in your life.

What is your passion and how did it start? How does your passion influence your mindset? What do you do to fulfill your passion?

Now that we’re knee-deep in summer, one part of your beauty routine is probably pretty high up on your list: your high-visibility hair removal approach. You’ve likely asked yourself, “Should I shave? Wax? Laser off all that pesky hair in my bikini line, underarms and legs?!” If so, welcome to Hair Removal 101.

We all know that keeping our bodies hairless in all the right places isn’t always smooth sailing — all hair removal methods, whether it’s waxing, shaving, or laser has the potential for issues like nicks, bumps, ingrown hairs, and…general discomfort. Let’s take a cursory look at the multitude of removal options, and with them, the different levels of pain, commitment, expense, convenience and perhaps most importantly, longevity.

And as always, remember that how much hair you remove, if at all, is up to you and there’s nothing dirty or unsightly about body hair. It’s normal! It’s natural! So, you do you always. But if you do decide to jump into hair removal, these tips will help.

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. Completely Bare and Bella Verde are STYLECASTER sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

BELLA VERDE.

Waxing

How It Works: Hot (but not too hot!) wax is applied to the desired area and removed in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling hairs out from the root.
Best For: Legs, underarms, and bikini areas, and great for those with coarse, darker hair that tends to be stubborn.
Pros: Temporarily removes hair at the root for an average of three weeks of smooth skin, which can range from two to six weeks depending on your hair type and thickness.
Cons: Waxing requires some regrowth in order to be effective, as the wax needs at least a quarter-inch of stubble to adhere to. Treatments can be moderately painful, as hair is indeed being ripped out at the root, but it becomes more tolerable over time. Waxing can also result in ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Anywhere from $15-80 for salon waxing, depending on areas waxed and your salon of choice. Or, you can go for at-home options, such as Bella Verde’s Wax Warmer Home Waxing Kit.
Tips: “Don’t drink and wax,” warns Noemi Grupenmager, founder and CEO of Uni K Wax Centers. “Some people come in after consuming alcohol thinking it’ll ease the pain, but alcohol tightens pores, making it much more painful.” Stimulants, like coffee, can also increase sensitivity, so be sure to remember this if you DIY.

Gillette.

Shaving

How It Works: Shaving removes hair from the skin’s surface by cutting it off with a razor.
Best For: Legs, underarms, and those with lighter, finer hair.
Pros: Inexpensive, painless, quick, and easy; and shaving creams used can help moisturize the skin, keeping it soft.
Cons: Regrowth happens quickly, and because hair is cut off at the surface, regrown hair is blunt, not tapered, so it can appear thicker. Razor burn, nicks, and cuts are possibilities, and those who shave regularly can also become prone to ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Razors and shaving cream can be inexpensively purchased at any grocery or drugstore.
Tips: For those who can’t quit their shaving habit, “growth reduction” products promise to help inhibit hair regrowth, thus reducing the frequency of shaving required.

Completely Bare.

Depilatory Creams

How It Works: Hair removal creams use chemicals to weaken the hair follicle, so you can effectively wipe it away.
Best For: Those who want quick, easy, relatively painless at-home results. Depilatories are most popular for facial hair, bikini lines, and underarms.
Pros: Can be done at home, and removes hair just below the surface of the skin, ensuring slower and less coarse regrowth than shaving.
Cons: Chemicals in these products can irritate sensitive skin, particularly in more delicate areas. These creams are infamous for their odor, and can also lead to ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Around $6-$12 for a tube of cream or spray-on depilatory lotion.
Tips: Choose a cream suited for the specific area you’re treating—and maybe light some scented candles in the bathroom to mask the strong smell most of these products tend to have. A solid option is Completely Bare’s Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray, which comes in an easy-to-apply foam that washes off in the shower.

MiSMON.

Laser Hair Removal

How It Works: Laser penetrates the skin to target the hair shaft and inhibit hair growth. It essentially destroys the follicle, meaning it can achieve permanent removal. Typically, the hair in treated areas falls out within 2-3 weeks.
Best For: People with hair darker than their skin—while professional dermatologists can vary the type of laser used, laser targets the melanin in the hair, so it’s not suited as well for people with dark skin or pale hair. The laser needs to be able to lock on to the dark pigment in order to differentiate the dark hair from the skin.
Pros: Great for long-term hair removal in all areas. “It causes no damage to the dermis, so even the most sensitive skin can be treated,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad.
Cons: Laser hair removal can be painful, with most people describing it as a “snapping” sensation against the skin, as well as a sensation of heat from the laser. Also, it requires numerous visits to a dermatologist for best results. “It is important to go to a dermatologist who can offer different lasers which are customized to the patient’s skin color and hair color,” says Ostad.
Average Cost: $150 to $500 per treatment, with an average of six sessions recommended, depending on the area being treated. Several cycles of treatment are usually recommended to capture the hair follicles at different stages of the growth cycle. Some people require touch-up treatments to maintain, especially on larger areas.
Tips: While it may seem expensive, in the long run, many consider laser removal to be an investment that can pay off. “It is the most effective and cost-effective treatment, considering how much one can spend over a lifetime with options such as waxing or electrolysis,” says Ostad.

Finishing Touch.

Electrolysis

How It Works: Electrolysis uses a fine, needle-shaped electrode to apply an electrical current to the hair follicle.
Best For: Small areas such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and underarms, as it treats each hair and follicle individually, which is time-consuming and can get expensive.
Pros: Can permanently remove hair and is suitable for very fine and light-colored hair, unlike laser, which works best on darker hair.
Cons: When improperly done, electrolysis can lead to scarring or skin discoloration. Treatments can be uncomfortable and cause a “stinging” or “pricking” sensation, and as with laser hair removal, permanent results require multiple sessions.
Average Cost: Around $25 to $150 an hour.
Tips: Dehydrated follicles can be more difficult to treat, so be sure to drink plenty of water the day before, the day of, and the day after your treatment.

Adobe. Design: Cierra Miller/STYLECASTER.

Now that we’re knee-deep in summer, one part of your beauty routine is probably pretty high up on your list: your high-visibility hair removal approach. You’ve likely asked yourself, “Should I shave? Wax? Laser off all that pesky hair in my bikini line, underarms and legs?!” If so, welcome to Hair Removal 101.

We all know that keeping our bodies hairless in all the right places isn’t always smooth sailing — all hair removal methods, whether it’s waxing, shaving, or laser has the potential for issues like nicks, bumps, ingrown hairs, and…general discomfort. Let’s take a cursory look at the multitude of removal options, and with them, the different levels of pain, commitment, expense, convenience and perhaps most importantly, longevity.

And as always, remember that how much hair you remove, if at all, is up to you and there’s nothing dirty or unsightly about body hair. It’s normal! It’s natural! So, you do you always. But if you do decide to jump into hair removal, these tips will help.

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. Completely Bare and Bella Verde are STYLECASTER sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

BELLA VERDE.

Waxing

How It Works: Hot (but not too hot!) wax is applied to the desired area and removed in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling hairs out from the root.
Best For: Legs, underarms, and bikini areas, and great for those with coarse, darker hair that tends to be stubborn.
Pros: Temporarily removes hair at the root for an average of three weeks of smooth skin, which can range from two to six weeks depending on your hair type and thickness.
Cons: Waxing requires some regrowth in order to be effective, as the wax needs at least a quarter-inch of stubble to adhere to. Treatments can be moderately painful, as hair is indeed being ripped out at the root, but it becomes more tolerable over time. Waxing can also result in ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Anywhere from $15-80 for salon waxing, depending on areas waxed and your salon of choice. Or, you can go for at-home options, such as Bella Verde’s Wax Warmer Home Waxing Kit.
Tips: “Don’t drink and wax,” warns Noemi Grupenmager, founder and CEO of Uni K Wax Centers. “Some people come in after consuming alcohol thinking it’ll ease the pain, but alcohol tightens pores, making it much more painful.” Stimulants, like coffee, can also increase sensitivity, so be sure to remember this if you DIY.

Gillette.

Shaving

How It Works: Shaving removes hair from the skin’s surface by cutting it off with a razor.
Best For: Legs, underarms, and those with lighter, finer hair.
Pros: Inexpensive, painless, quick, and easy; and shaving creams used can help moisturize the skin, keeping it soft.
Cons: Regrowth happens quickly, and because hair is cut off at the surface, regrown hair is blunt, not tapered, so it can appear thicker. Razor burn, nicks, and cuts are possibilities, and those who shave regularly can also become prone to ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Razors and shaving cream can be inexpensively purchased at any grocery or drugstore.
Tips: For those who can’t quit their shaving habit, “growth reduction” products promise to help inhibit hair regrowth, thus reducing the frequency of shaving required.

Completely Bare.

Depilatory Creams

How It Works: Hair removal creams use chemicals to weaken the hair follicle, so you can effectively wipe it away.
Best For: Those who want quick, easy, relatively painless at-home results. Depilatories are most popular for facial hair, bikini lines, and underarms.
Pros: Can be done at home, and removes hair just below the surface of the skin, ensuring slower and less coarse regrowth than shaving.
Cons: Chemicals in these products can irritate sensitive skin, particularly in more delicate areas. These creams are infamous for their odor, and can also lead to ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Around $6-$12 for a tube of cream or spray-on depilatory lotion.
Tips: Choose a cream suited for the specific area you’re treating—and maybe light some scented candles in the bathroom to mask the strong smell most of these products tend to have. A solid option is Completely Bare’s Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray, which comes in an easy-to-apply foam that washes off in the shower.

MiSMON.

Laser Hair Removal

How It Works: Laser penetrates the skin to target the hair shaft and inhibit hair growth. It essentially destroys the follicle, meaning it can achieve permanent removal. Typically, the hair in treated areas falls out within 2-3 weeks.
Best For: People with hair darker than their skin—while professional dermatologists can vary the type of laser used, laser targets the melanin in the hair, so it’s not suited as well for people with dark skin or pale hair. The laser needs to be able to lock on to the dark pigment in order to differentiate the dark hair from the skin.
Pros: Great for long-term hair removal in all areas. “It causes no damage to the dermis, so even the most sensitive skin can be treated,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad.
Cons: Laser hair removal can be painful, with most people describing it as a “snapping” sensation against the skin, as well as a sensation of heat from the laser. Also, it requires numerous visits to a dermatologist for best results. “It is important to go to a dermatologist who can offer different lasers which are customized to the patient’s skin color and hair color,” says Ostad.
Average Cost: $150 to $500 per treatment, with an average of six sessions recommended, depending on the area being treated. Several cycles of treatment are usually recommended to capture the hair follicles at different stages of the growth cycle. Some people require touch-up treatments to maintain, especially on larger areas.
Tips: While it may seem expensive, in the long run, many consider laser removal to be an investment that can pay off. “It is the most effective and cost-effective treatment, considering how much one can spend over a lifetime with options such as waxing or electrolysis,” says Ostad.

Finishing Touch.

Electrolysis

How It Works: Electrolysis uses a fine, needle-shaped electrode to apply an electrical current to the hair follicle.
Best For: Small areas such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and underarms, as it treats each hair and follicle individually, which is time-consuming and can get expensive.
Pros: Can permanently remove hair and is suitable for very fine and light-colored hair, unlike laser, which works best on darker hair.
Cons: When improperly done, electrolysis can lead to scarring or skin discoloration. Treatments can be uncomfortable and cause a “stinging” or “pricking” sensation, and as with laser hair removal, permanent results require multiple sessions.
Average Cost: Around $25 to $150 an hour.
Tips: Dehydrated follicles can be more difficult to treat, so be sure to drink plenty of water the day before, the day of, and the day after your treatment.

Adobe. Design: Cierra Miller/STYLECASTER.

By the time we have crossed the 60 timeline, doing housework is probably the last thing on our mind. Let alone housework on a sunny summer day. You will think, “There are better things to do with my time.” That may be so, but let’s not underestimate the lowly housework in its capacity of giving satisfaction and joy.

In 1957, in his classic The Poetics of Space, French philosopher Gaston Bachelard wrote:

“Through housewifely care a house recovers not so much its originality as its origin. And what a great life it would be if, every morning, every object in the house could be made anew by our hands, could “issue” from our hands.”

Doing Housework: From Garden to Kitchen

The pot of chili, filled with herbs, peppers, and tomatoes I collected on my morning stroll through my garden, was softly bubbling on the stove. The “pop” of the lid’s seal of freshly canned plum-butter, made with the overabundance of plums gathered from the tree on the south side of the house, let me know that I would have gifts for the winter holidays.

The afternoon light passing through the window highlighted the purple-red cabbage in a glass jar fermenting into sauerkraut. The first quart of raisins from the new crop of grapes sat on the counter, waiting to fill little grandchildren’s hands or sweeten my morning cereal on my next backpacking trip.

There is nothing like the taste of food from your own garden to fill your heart with pride and a sense of connection to nature.

Housework as a Creative Act

The housework of this day had its origin in months of planting and growing, cared for by me, the weather, and mother nature. The satisfaction I experience when wiping the little jars, smelling the spicy smells, cutting and stirring and getting it just right, is a deeply creative act.

Housework as a creative act. I want to have clean shelves to display the products. I want to wipe down the counters and appliances until they shine to offset the new garlic braid hanging by the stove. Do you see housework as a creative act?

Daily Renewal

One act of creativity leads to another. By keeping house, by renewing the space we call home, daily, we enhance our awareness and nurture ourselves. Writing is my official creative endeavor. My unofficial creative endeavor is keeping house and garden.

When my home and garden fill me with good feeling, I dig deeper and turn to my writing. When I empty myself in my writing, I turn to my home and find housework to regenerate myself. The ritual of housework renews me.

I don’t have a cleanliness fetish; I don’t have a designer home. I live in a house I make my home every day. Like bathing, it is a daily ritual. The home I create and the abundance I receive from it, I share with others when the mood strikes. Housekeeping is part of a living cycle, a way to stay in touch with the origin of things.

Do you enjoy doing housework? Does cleaning and housework give you joy or bore you to tears? Please join the conversation!

Now that we’re knee-deep in summer, one part of your beauty routine is probably pretty high up on your list: your high-visibility hair removal approach. You’ve likely asked yourself, “Should I shave? Wax? Laser off all that pesky hair in my bikini line, underarms and legs?!” If so, welcome to Hair Removal 101.

We all know that keeping our bodies hairless in all the right places isn’t always smooth sailing — all hair removal methods, whether it’s waxing, shaving, or laser has the potential for issues like nicks, bumps, ingrown hairs, and…general discomfort. Let’s take a cursory look at the multitude of removal options, and with them, the different levels of pain, commitment, expense, convenience and perhaps most importantly, longevity.

And as always, remember that how much hair you remove, if at all, is up to you and there’s nothing dirty or unsightly about body hair. It’s normal! It’s natural! So, you do you always. But if you do decide to jump into hair removal, these tips will help.

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. Completely Bare and Bella Verde are STYLECASTER sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

BELLA VERDE.

Waxing

How It Works: Hot (but not too hot!) wax is applied to the desired area and removed in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling hairs out from the root.
Best For: Legs, underarms, and bikini areas, and great for those with coarse, darker hair that tends to be stubborn.
Pros: Temporarily removes hair at the root for an average of three weeks of smooth skin, which can range from two to six weeks depending on your hair type and thickness.
Cons: Waxing requires some regrowth in order to be effective, as the wax needs at least a quarter-inch of stubble to adhere to. Treatments can be moderately painful, as hair is indeed being ripped out at the root, but it becomes more tolerable over time. Waxing can also result in ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Anywhere from $15-80 for salon waxing, depending on areas waxed and your salon of choice. Or, you can go for at-home options, such as Bella Verde’s Wax Warmer Home Waxing Kit.
Tips: “Don’t drink and wax,” warns Noemi Grupenmager, founder and CEO of Uni K Wax Centers. “Some people come in after consuming alcohol thinking it’ll ease the pain, but alcohol tightens pores, making it much more painful.” Stimulants, like coffee, can also increase sensitivity, so be sure to remember this if you DIY.

Gillette.

Shaving

How It Works: Shaving removes hair from the skin’s surface by cutting it off with a razor.
Best For: Legs, underarms, and those with lighter, finer hair.
Pros: Inexpensive, painless, quick, and easy; and shaving creams used can help moisturize the skin, keeping it soft.
Cons: Regrowth happens quickly, and because hair is cut off at the surface, regrown hair is blunt, not tapered, so it can appear thicker. Razor burn, nicks, and cuts are possibilities, and those who shave regularly can also become prone to ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Razors and shaving cream can be inexpensively purchased at any grocery or drugstore.
Tips: For those who can’t quit their shaving habit, “growth reduction” products promise to help inhibit hair regrowth, thus reducing the frequency of shaving required.

Completely Bare.

Depilatory Creams

How It Works: Hair removal creams use chemicals to weaken the hair follicle, so you can effectively wipe it away.
Best For: Those who want quick, easy, relatively painless at-home results. Depilatories are most popular for facial hair, bikini lines, and underarms.
Pros: Can be done at home, and removes hair just below the surface of the skin, ensuring slower and less coarse regrowth than shaving.
Cons: Chemicals in these products can irritate sensitive skin, particularly in more delicate areas. These creams are infamous for their odor, and can also lead to ingrown hairs.
Average Cost: Around $6-$12 for a tube of cream or spray-on depilatory lotion.
Tips: Choose a cream suited for the specific area you’re treating—and maybe light some scented candles in the bathroom to mask the strong smell most of these products tend to have. A solid option is Completely Bare’s Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray, which comes in an easy-to-apply foam that washes off in the shower.

MiSMON.

Laser Hair Removal

How It Works: Laser penetrates the skin to target the hair shaft and inhibit hair growth. It essentially destroys the follicle, meaning it can achieve permanent removal. Typically, the hair in treated areas falls out within 2-3 weeks.
Best For: People with hair darker than their skin—while professional dermatologists can vary the type of laser used, laser targets the melanin in the hair, so it’s not suited as well for people with dark skin or pale hair. The laser needs to be able to lock on to the dark pigment in order to differentiate the dark hair from the skin.
Pros: Great for long-term hair removal in all areas. “It causes no damage to the dermis, so even the most sensitive skin can be treated,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad.
Cons: Laser hair removal can be painful, with most people describing it as a “snapping” sensation against the skin, as well as a sensation of heat from the laser. Also, it requires numerous visits to a dermatologist for best results. “It is important to go to a dermatologist who can offer different lasers which are customized to the patient’s skin color and hair color,” says Ostad.
Average Cost: $150 to $500 per treatment, with an average of six sessions recommended, depending on the area being treated. Several cycles of treatment are usually recommended to capture the hair follicles at different stages of the growth cycle. Some people require touch-up treatments to maintain, especially on larger areas.
Tips: While it may seem expensive, in the long run, many consider laser removal to be an investment that can pay off. “It is the most effective and cost-effective treatment, considering how much one can spend over a lifetime with options such as waxing or electrolysis,” says Ostad.

Finishing Touch.

Electrolysis

How It Works: Electrolysis uses a fine, needle-shaped electrode to apply an electrical current to the hair follicle.
Best For: Small areas such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and underarms, as it treats each hair and follicle individually, which is time-consuming and can get expensive.
Pros: Can permanently remove hair and is suitable for very fine and light-colored hair, unlike laser, which works best on darker hair.
Cons: When improperly done, electrolysis can lead to scarring or skin discoloration. Treatments can be uncomfortable and cause a “stinging” or “pricking” sensation, and as with laser hair removal, permanent results require multiple sessions.
Average Cost: Around $25 to $150 an hour.
Tips: Dehydrated follicles can be more difficult to treat, so be sure to drink plenty of water the day before, the day of, and the day after your treatment.

Adobe. Design: Cierra Miller/STYLECASTER.