I often say that I don't believe in coincidences – I believe that all things are related even if they may not seem so to others.
For example – my son got married on January 5th – to his long time g.f. – presided over by a judge at the marriage court in Chicago. [No one there but them as they will do a ceremony and reception in Oregon this summer]
That date also marked the 7th anniversary of my buying my house in Portland Oregon!
My son was with me here when I put in the offer but had gone back to Chicago soon after and I am not sure he knows the closing date. [Everyone in the neighborhood knows as it was the ice storm of 2004.]
If I had not moved to Portland, he would not have been here to visit me one summer and meet his now-wife…so no coincidence that the dates match – it was already in the "scheme of the universe."
There are so many more universe schemes at play but those are grist for another mill – or another post…
This book starts with the premise that women are unhappier than they were 40 years ago and that we need to find our “strongest’ lives and do things differently so that we are not unhappy.
Marcus cites research findings about women and happiness but to me, the research trained psychologist, I found myself asking what women, what ages?
I’m sure the woman reader of this book is in her 30’s or 40’s and would not be asking those questions.Women in this age range who work, are married and have children are more stressed – I know that in my 40’s as a single parent with a young child I lived and breathed stress.
Why all the stress and apparent dissatisfaction?Although the gap is not as large as it was, working women still do the bulk of home and childcare – making for really long days. And we still have an idea of "having it all."
Marcus offers some useful information about how to be happier and more successful in dealing with the life of work, home and he writes about doing this by seeking and finding your strong moments and accepting what/who you are.
He also suggests not trying to be perfect and creating imbalance in your life – two concepts that I totally agree with. And, in fact, my own recent e-book and articles try to convince new parents, especially moms, to stop trying to be "perfect."
There is very helpful information on how to find your strong moments by looking at what is your “life role” and making the most of what is your strength or are your strengths.
Additionally there are work and marriage-related suggestions for helping women be or feel stronger.
Overall it is a good feeling book and will be useful to those feeling stressed and wondering what is wrong with them.There is nothing wrong with you – you may need to re-think what you call happiness and find those areas Marcus calls your “strong moments.”To aid you, he has a website with his Strong Life Test at:stronglifetest.com
I used to LOVE winter – snow, sledding, ice forts and snowball fights, ice skating on the street, river or a pond, skiing in 40 below temperatures [before wind chill] but now I don't want to be outside in the cold.
Partly this is due to a few too many bouts of frost bite on the finger tips but now I am thinking it's also due at least a bit to aging. Cold ain't so much fun anymore.
I am sitting here in extremely cold for us Portland wishing I had gone to Florida with a friend for a month…then I'd be warm there and return here after the arctic bast goes away.
But here I am, not enjoying the cold this winter, and neither are my neighbors or my pets. I know that when it gets back into the 40's during the day and above freezing at night – I'll feel better….and in the interim all I can say is YUCK!
[Sheba in front of the heater]
And to keep the moorage water system from freezing like it did last winter – some have new pee-ers
Your comments? Anyone over 60 enjoying arctic blasts or nasty cold?
