Recently, I shared how I published my book, Zesty Changes, through many different challenges. 

I wanted to show you that your dreams are possible. You can do anything you want at any age, even when things get tough. 

But I also know how discouraging it is when things aren’t going the way you want. You might have dreams you want to make happen but keep getting set back. 

So, today I want to share with you 5 ways you can keep going when the going gets tough and stick to your power. 

1. Be kind to yourself.
2. Think outside the box to find a creative solution.
3. Engage new help to get the job done.
4. Believe in one small step that will get you closer to "there," and then take action.
5. Surrender to the process, Rome wasn't built in a day! 

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I have an extra gift for you in my Facebook group, Zesty Women 50, 60, 70+. It covers 5 things to do when things go wrong.

Click here and you can get the weekly gifts that go along with this newsletter,...

It’s been a week filled with joy for me! My book, Zesty Changes, released on Tuesday after 3 years of being in production. It’s been a blessing to get these stories from 30 amazing women into the world.

All of this celebrating has me remembering a time when I struggled to find pockets of joy when I was at my lowest. I know first hand how difficult it can be to find gratitude and happiness when you’re in a dark place. 

If you struggle with picking out joy in your everyday life, here are five ways you can identify what makes you happy:

1. Keep a daily gratitude journal. Write down what you are grateful to have, even the small things.
   
2. Get Up with a plan to do something just for you today. Prioritize your happiness!
   
3. Get Dressed in something that is cheerful and makes you feel happy.
   
4. Get Out and do one thing you love to do, that you haven't done in a while, that makes you smile. It can be as simple as taking a walk, going to the library, or grabbing lunch from...

Have you heard? My book, Zesty Changes, releases next Tuesday, March 14th!

Zesty Changes has been a labor of love. It’s taken me three years to put together as I interviewed women around the world and invited them to share their unique stories. 

While the stories in the book start with the lowest points of their lives, what’s most important is the one feature they all share: the power of hope. 

Hope is transformative. It’s what leads us out of the dark and into the light. When we’re looking for all the ways to better ourselves, whether that’s our mental, emotional, or physical wellbeing, hope is the driving force. We want things to get better, and we believe we can get to that place of joy and peace!

But hope isn’t always easy to find. I’ve felt lost and hopeless at different points in my life (which I share in-depth in the book) but I’ve always been able to find my way to a happier, zestier way of...

As we wrap up heart month, I want to share one more important resource for you. 

Did you know that an apple a day really does keep the doctor away? Especially when it comes to heart health!

Apples can help lower the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease.

Here are five reasons why you should include apples in your diet:

1. Apples aid in weight loss. They’re low calorie and high in water and fiber, which help you feel full.
2. With a rich source of pectin, apples are great for digestion.
3. Apples have anti-aging qualities. The acids found within them protect the skin from damage.
4. Need to lower your cholesterol? Apples contain polyphenols, which help to lower LDL cholesterol.
5. With a combination of soluble fiber and polyphenols, apples keep your heart healthy by lowering cholesterol, inflammation, and blood pressure.

More Health Tips in Zesty Changes

My upcoming book, Zesty Changes, comes with a FREE guide filled with life-changing health tips and tools. You can...

As it’s heart month, I want to talk about a specific type of pain and trauma…heartbreak. 

Did you know 50% of marriages fail after the age of 50? This means that if you’ve broken up with a partner or spouse, you’re not alone. I've been through two divorces. The last one took 9 grueling years to complete. I know your pain!

Heartbreak weighs us down. It can put us into a state of terrible anger, loneliness, and depression.

I’ve experienced several different types of heartbreak in my life, including giving up my daughter for adoption. All of these incidents required great healing.

In order to heal and process, you need to surround yourself with people who love you and care for you. Talking through your heartache and pain is the most healing thing you can do. It's so easy to feel alone in times of hardship. Take the time to reach out to people and fill them in on what's going on with you.

Here's moving prose about healing your pain:

“Grandma,...

February is heart month, and not just for Valentine’s Day!

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. Without it, you wouldn’t be here. I had to start caring for my heart when, after a visit to the doctor, I found out my blood pressure was too high.

It was either I got on medication or I brought it down on my own. Did you know there are easy ways to bring down your blood pressure without being on a life-long pill? They really work!

FIRE UP YOUR METABOLISM

I was able to lower my blood pressure by 10 points by walking 45 mins a day. This was recommended by my cardiologist. I'm committed to doing it every day. I avoided having to go on blood pressure meds with this Get up, Get Dressed and Get Out routine and daily practice. Here are easy ways you can keep your heart healthy:

1. Walk: 45 minutes of walking everyday and losing 10 pounds brought my blood pressure into normal range
2. Lose Weight: Reduce blood pressure by losing weight approx 1...

You’re learning to let go of anger and lead a more peaceful life. But what about the final step…forgiveness?

It can seem impossible when someone has harmed you deeply to move on from what they’ve done. Even if they’re someone that you’d want an amicable relationship with in the future, forgiveness can feel out of reach. 

The truth about forgiveness is that it isn’t for the other person. It’s for YOU and the peace that it will bring you so you can release the pain of what happened and focus on the future. 

How can you mend relationships with the people who hurt you or come to terms with what happened if closure isn’t an option?

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." - Martin Luther King

A recipe for forgiveness. It's all in your commitment and your mindset to forgive.

1 cup of kindness. 3 cups compassion. 1 cup forgetful heart. 4...

If you’re stuck in a cycle of anger, I hope this will help you on the path to healing.

I found myself boiling with anger and bitterness after my divorce. It didn’t just affect me, but also the people around me. I noticed that less people wanted to talk to me or be around me because all I could do was express my resentment about my ex. This was my wake up call that I needed to learn how to release these negative feelings.

Anger isn’t meant to weigh you down, but to teach you that someone has violated a boundary. From there, it’s up to you to acknowledge it and manage your emotions, not let them eat at you. Not releasing anger can also damage your heart!

You might hold anger for someone who has wronged you, whether that be a previous spouse, friend, or family member. Here are 5 ways you can break the anger cycle:

1. Take deep breaths. This is a physical reaction that signals the brain that you’re safe and helps you calm down.

2. Take a time out. If...

How do you separate yourself from the person you were to the person you are now?

Often when we go through traumatic experiences, we’re fundamentally changed. We can no longer see the world the way we once did, for better or for worse. There’s a grieving period that comes with trying to figure out who you are now.

I’ve been through several experiences myself, which I detail in length in my upcoming book Zesty Changes. These five things have helped me to reconcile with my old life vs my new life, whether that’s been from giving up my daughter for adoption, going through divorces, or becoming so sick I almost lost my life.

• Create a daily practice of gratitude.
• Recite daily positive affirmations.
• Get outside and walk noticing what is beautiful.
• Enjoy a get dressed routine, choose colorful, happy clothing.
• Connect with a treasured friend who will let you vent.

You’ll find even more lessons and tips like these in Zesty Changes....

Forgiveness isn’t an easy topic, especially if you’ve found yourself stuck in a cycle of anger and resentment. 

I had to learn how to forgive people many times in my life, including my daughter’s biological father and exes who hurt me. It’s led to a life full of freedom and zest, where I am no longer weighed down by those negative feelings. 

Here are 5 tips to help you forgive someone who has caused you pain.

1. When finding forgiveness for exes, remember you share experiences that shaped your lives. List some good things from the relationship, think of 'the good Karma break up'. 

2. If you are really angry go to a remote spot and growl, scream, throw sticks, do whatever it takes to let it out.

3. Keep yourself active, work out, do yoga, walk, get up, get dressed, and get out. 

Keep your self-care more important than your self-pity.

4. Don't keep taking the poison of victim hood. It isn't hurting him, it's killing you.

Find some way...