Sorting stories is as tedious as dishwashing. It lacks the allure of warm laundry. It requires picking and choosing some of my little darlings and not others. It’s showoffy (see below). But, like eating leafy greens, I thought it might be good for me. — First, a public thank-you to the founder of Illumination publications, Mehmet Yildiz. He continually supports and encourages me on this platform.

Strategies for enlisting courageous, productive and involved elders who exemplify how it’s done. “Do you think of YOURSELF as ‘an old lady’?” “Yes, Jane, I do,” I say to my good friend of 60 years. I suspect that’s not the answer she’s hoping for. Who wants to see herself as old? I started picking up “good” much-older women — my old ladies — before I turned 50. …

My premature interest in aging was once questioned, criticized, even scorned. Now my peers are finally getting the message. — I started cultivating relationships with “good” old ladies when I was only 46. My first old lady, Henrietta, was 75. I didn’t call her my old lady. I didn’t realize I would go on to amass a group of them. …

Be still my heart. Finally, My Old Ladies, the Movie — In case you’re not familiar with “my old ladies,” they’re a group of spirited, engaged, courageous women — my role models. Farther along the path of life than I, they sent reports about a territory I’ve yet to reach. (To learn more, check out this Crow’s Feet Podcast, where I…

A deceptively simple idea guaranteed to end “analysis paralysis” and help you get out of your own way — no matter what! — “Just make a choice,” says Kathleen, “and if it turns out to be the wrong one, make another choice.” Kathleen is her late 50s when this conversation takes place. She is intuitive, smart, and unflinchingly direct. …

Hi, I’m Melinda, and I am addicted to NOT exercising. Thankfully, a physical therapist gives me reason to hope. — Alcoholics seek help when they “hit bottom.” They’re too sick or too scared to risk not getting sober. The same could be said of any behavior or situation that could eventually harm you — a bad relationship, binge-watching, gambling. In my case, the problem is not-exercising. I’ve been wrestling the…

Though writing for a living is engaging, exacting, exciting and excruciating — any true passion is worth pursuing. Here’s why. — Throughout this piece, I reference writing, because it’s what I do. It’s my passion. Please substitute your own pursuit. A job? a hobby? a cause? a calling? more than one? You might do it solo pursuit or with a cast of thousands. As long as it’s what gets you out…

A friend’s Facebook post inspires a unique cache of feline coping skills that humans would do well to adopt. — My friend Cynthia posted this quote and photo of Alan Watts on her Facebook page: When a cat falls out of a tree, it lets go of itself. The cat becomes completely relaxed, and lands lightly on the ground. But if a cat were about to fall out of a…

Will the FCC come after us for airing a 100-year-old’s dirty jokes — or did we accidentally stumble on an elixir for ageism? — Our sound guy — one of the eight on our team — wonders aloud whether one hundred-year-old Zelda’s dirty jokes on the January 11 Crow’s Feet podcast might put us at risk — or shock our listeners. …