"One day you will tell your story of how you overcame and what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide." - Brene Brown

This quote from Brene Brown has empowered me as I follow my personal journey of uplifting and helping women heal from their pasts. I admire her work as a PhD psychologist and her studies of shame in human behavior for the past decade. 

Research has shown that we frequently deal with shame in three unhealthy ways:

• We distance ourselves from other people by hiding our true selves, withdrawing from our relationships, and keeping secrets.

• We try to please those around us so that we can “earn back” our worthiness. 

• We feel depressed and anxious. Shame can be a contributing factor to depression, anxiety, and codependency. 

Often our personal stories are kept in the dark to hide the shame or fear of being judged. Shame can be a devastating emotion that leads to depression and can lead to...

It takes a lot of strength to realize that you need to make changes for yourself to live healthier and happier. But how can you tell the difference between a rough patch and a need to revitalize your life?

We all go through periods of darkness. Ups and downs are a natural part of life, and in your mature years you’ve had your fair share of them.

Because you’re used to this, it makes it easy to tell yourself things will get better one day, when what you REALLY need to do is put in the work to make sure you can find the light on the other side. Not everything changes on its own! Are you finding this time has left you feeling a bit disconnected? Is it time to find more self-love? Is it time to find some help to guide you in rewilding your life? 

Here are 6 signs that you’re in need of a change.

1. You feel self-critical. 

2. You don't honor your achievements.
   

3. You are having difficulty creating a routine of self-care. 

4. You feel anxious and...

If you want to make a change in your life, how do you know where to start?

It’s easy to identify that you’re unhappy, but it isn’t as simple to figure out what’s wrong. You might have bits and pieces of things that you know are contributing to your unhappiness, but you don’t know how to begin to address them.

One of the ways that I like to evaluate where life changes need to happen is to take what I call a Zest Assessment. I look at the eight areas of life and identify if any of them are out of balance, and then take steps to change them.

Today I’d like to share those eight areas of life with you, so you can ask yourself which ones are most out of balance. 

1. Home environment - Are you happy where you live? Does your space bring you joy?
    

2. Career - Does your job fulfill you? Do you get along with your coworkers?
    

3. Money - Are you happy with your income? Do you feel like you should be earning more?
    

4. Health -...

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! 

Get Your Free Gift

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...

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...

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....

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...