Surviving the Sandwich Generation: How to Be a Generational Translator

I am the bologna in the sandwich generation. Over half a century separates my children from my parents, and it’s an earth–shattering time period. A generation that lived through the draft, women being fired when they became pregnant, and telephone party lines is trying to communicate with a generation that lives with a gig economy, […]

Thank You For Being a Friend

Picture it: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, 1985 I’m 12 years old, having a weeklong sleepover at my grandmother’s apartment. Outside wild dogs bark all night long and there’s a very active crack house around the corner. (This was way before the yuppies gentrified the neighborhood.) Every night at 7:00 p.m., my grandmother puts on her pink […]

Finding Purpose After Retirement: Is It as Hard as You Think?

Can you reinvent yourself if you don’t know what you’re reinventing for? Can you find purpose after retirement? Purpose has been called life’s compass—the thing that guides us and pulls us forward. But for many women, finding purpose after retirement feels more like drifting into the Bermuda Triangle. Grandma Moses, who discovered her purpose at […]

All In: What Playing Professional Poker Taught Me About Life

Winter, Moscow, 2001. The room is smoky and cold. I push my chips all in. After knocking out nearly 100 professional poker players, I’ve made it to the final table. I’ve been patiently waiting for the right hand to make my move, watching my chip stack dwindle to almost nothing. It’s now or never. I […]

Decluttering: Was Marie Kondo Just Messing With Us?

As I stare at my overflowing stacks of Architectural Digest and Elle Decor, I can almost hear Marie Kondo gently whispering, “Does this bring you joy?” Home décor is my obsession. Appreciating stunning interior design and maintaining my home like it’s my job? Yes, please. Minimalism? Not so much. I can’t resist a good flea […]

Is Retirement the End or the Beginning? The Ecstasy and Angst

Preface: There’s a lot to unpack about redefining retirement and I know you’ve got important experiences and insights to share. This is the first piece in a series on this topic. Consider this post an introduction to the psychological groundwork—we’ll dig deeper into the practical and tactical over the coming months. ********** Consider this: 10,000 […]