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Exploration
The Exploration category invites women who’ve reached midlife and beyond to embrace curiosity and possibility. Through personal stories and reflections, you’ll discover inspiration to try new experiences, travel to fresh destinations and uncover hidden passions. Each column encourages developing personal strength—aka sovereignty— through reflection, growth, creativity, and adventure, proving that life’s third chapter is the perfect time to challenge the cultural paradigm of aging.
Heroines: Books That Got It Right
Historically, women’s viewpoints and achievements have been ignored, but that’s changing. Case in point: “The Women” and “Cleopatra: A Life.
Rhonda Collins
Mar 8, 20254 min read
Champagne and Renegades: Act with Audacity
Women have made majors contributions—from champagne to health breakthroughs to technological innovations-- to the world throughout history.
Kaye Olsson
Mar 1, 20254 min read
Creating Enriching Family Dynamics with Adult Children
This ISW Conversation discusses the transition from active parenting and how to create enriching family dynamics with adult children.
ISW Conversation
Feb 22, 20252 min read
At Last: Competent Older Female Characters on TV
Recent TV shows have started featuring female characters who break culture’s traditional image depicting older women as frail and dowdy.
Rhonda Collins
Feb 15, 20255 min read
Researchers Identify Ageism as Significant Societal Prejudice
Researchers found that older adults regularly experience ageism in messages, interpersonal interactions, and their own belief systems.
Research
Feb 8, 20252 min read
Exploring Soul’s ‘Marrow’ in Our Relationships
A serious illness brings a range of opportunities as well as challenges. One opportunity involves forging a more soulful relationship.
Dorian Martin
Feb 1, 20256 min read
Carolyn Dahl: Creating a Personal Archive
Archiving offers a process that preserves history for future generations. This podcast, which is the second in a three-part series feature
ISW Conversation
Jan 25, 20255 min read
Coaching to Support Older Women’s Shifting Lives
When the gears in women’s lives start to grind or fall apart, turning to a coach may help put those pieces back together in a meaningful way
Danielle Legg
Jan 11, 20253 min read
My Quest for Sovereignty over My Own Life
Are you the sovereign of your life? The answer is probably “yes” and “no,” which makes this the perfect time to explore this regal concept.
Dorian Martin
Jan 4, 20256 min read
2024 Review: Older Women’s Progress, Challenges, Opportunities
2024 has been quite the year—and that’s been true for older women. We reflect on the year’s gifts, challenges and emerging opportunities.
Dorian Martin
Dec 28, 20244 min read
Carolyn Dahl: Reviewing a Life Immersed in Arts
Women often have been creative throughout their lives. Looking historically through a life review shows that creative thread.
ISW Conversation
Dec 7, 20243 min read
Gliding with the Winds of Change
With significant change, misinformation, and divisiveness rampant, it’s important for older women to embrace a leadership role.
Dorian Martin
Nov 30, 20246 min read
Myka Alley: Compassion, Peace, Happy, Loved, and Alive
Resilience is many older women’s secret weapon. Case in point: Myka Alley, who found the silver lining in a major health challenge.
Womankind
Nov 16, 20245 min read
I Start Wondering’s Evolution in Changing Times
In our dynamic world, everything is rapidly changing. That’s also true for I Start Wondering—and this column describes some of those shifts.
Dorian Martin
Nov 9, 20244 min read
Women’s, Girls’ Nonprofits Receive Limited Charitable Giving
Giving to charities serving women and girls reached record levels but they still receive less than 2% of U.S. charitable giving.
Research
Nov 2, 20242 min read
Women as Pilgrims: Focusing on the Next Step
Pilgrimages are increasingly popular, and women at midlife and beyond are embracing these journeys. Meet two of these travelers.
Dorian Martin
Oct 19, 20246 min read
Calling ‘Cut’ to Life’s Drama by Embodying Peace
Life seems filled with more drama and chaos, but does it have to be? Maybe it’s time for older women to be the leaders of peace in our world
Dorian Martin
Oct 5, 20245 min read
I Start Wondering Taking a Summer Break
By Dorian Martin Founder of ISW In what has become an I Start Wondering tradition, our team is taking a fallow period to recharge,...
Dorian Martin
Jul 13, 20241 min read
7 Tips for Getting Unstuck
Older women may find they’re getting stuck during life’s major transitions. Many strategies exist to get out of the muck and back into life.
Rhonda Collins
Jun 15, 20248 min read
The Art of Ritual: Embracing Life's Sacredness
Sometimes, women’s lives can seem like a gushing stream of responsibilities. However, creating a ritual can add sacredness to life’s tasks.
Brenda Riojas
Apr 27, 20244 min read
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