Featured articles
A few specially selected articles from each new edition will be available in this convenient space. Access all editions here.
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FORGE IT!!
No, this article is not about forging documents. It is about the medieval art of forging a blade from steel. Yes, knife making has been a highly skilled trade for many years. The ancient Japanese art of sword making perfected design elements. They fold the steel over a thousand times to ensure the blade will
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DETOX: Spring Cleaning for Your Body, Too!
Just as we tidy up our homes in the spring, our bodies also deserve a seasonal reset. Over time, toxins from processed foods, environmental pollutants, and even daily stress accumulate, leaving us feeling sluggish, bloated, and out of balance. We struggle with mood swings, digestive discomfort, stubborn weight gain, trouble sleeping. Maintaining our metabolism and
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Perspectives Across Generations
What does success look like at different ages? How do dreams, priorities, and circumstances evolve? I interviewed three remarkable women, each representing a different generation: at 20, 44 and 73. Goals, ambitions and fulfillment seemed to be similar, yet shift over time. Ellen Jones, “El” as she prefers, is a busy 20-year-old junior at Gonzaga
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My Mother Was an Artist
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Developing Dubai: “The Vegas of the Middle East”
International Property ShowDubai World Trade CentreApril 14-16, 2025 The International Property Show (IPS) is a prominent event that brings together real estate buyers, sellers, developers, financial institutions, and industry professionals. This 20+ year event plays a vital role in the property market. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dawood Al Shezawi, President of IPS,
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A Contract That Unites Us
The author, TM Scanlon refers to the philosophical idea of “contractualism,” or, as he puts it, “what we owe to each other.” Pared down and simplified this concept concerns the morality of interpersonal behavior. When I first heard this as a question “What do we owe to each other?” an offshoot of the ubiquitous “What
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So Much Love
In 1988, since I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, we moved to Kansas City because Funk was offered a job there that covered my lost wages. We’d changed locations many times, but this was a difficult move. Missouri is in the middle of the country and the people were so different than the people
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Is There a Hotseat in Your Class?
Many years ago, when a new student joined my English class after the school year began, she responded to a question with “I don’t know.” Some kids quietly groaned or rolled their eyes. A couple leaned over and whispered, “That’s not allowed in this class.” That surprised me because I never told them not to
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The Strait and Arrow
I had an archery set when I was six. My dad would set up a hay bale or some other kind of target in the backyard for me to practice on. Learning was not easy. You use muscles that you didn’t even know you had! Mixing the necessary skills with my cerebral palsy adds another complication.
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Go Beyond the Swipe to Find Authentic Love
Dear Grayce, Dating today feels more challenging than ever, especially for those over forty-five. Finding meaningful connections between busy schedules, social media, and the ever-growing dating apps is complex. I’m a successful, independent person, but dating has become a series of endless swipes and shallow conversations. Is it just me, or is it getting more
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For Better Health This Year, Start Small
As the New Year rolls around, many of us are bombarded with advice on how to overhaul our lives. Eat clean. Hit the gym. Take supplements. Get more sleep. While these are all great goals, the sheer volume of them can feel overwhelming, causing us to stall before we even begin. But what if I
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About Relationships: Business & Otherwise
The foundation of any successful business, partnership, or marriage lies in the ability to foster meaningful and lasting relationships. Yet, paradoxically, many companies and individuals often fail to invest adequately in training and skills necessary to cultivate these bonds. The result? Frustration, strained partnerships and, ultimately, lost opportunities. Take customer service, for example. Many organizations
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Consistent Actions Lead to Significant Growth
As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, millions worldwide will have set ambitious resolutions to transform their lives. Some vow to lose weight, others to save money, and many to achieve career milestones. While these goals are admirable, the reality often falls short. The problem isn’t the goals but the approach to achieving
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What Will the New Year Bring?
As 2025 begins, I find myself filled with anticipation and excitement. There’s something magical about a blank piece of paper and the promise of new goals for my business. The start of a new year brings a sense of clarity and renewed purpose, ready to be filled with ambitious dreams and strategic plans. Two weeks
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Thanksgiving with Sparkle and a Twist
I’m a sentimental fool. Sentimental and contradictory. I love ceremony and tradition, yet I’m compelled to add my own shine to anything I do. In the family I grew up in, Thanksgiving included all the standard American traditions, but the holiday was meh, just something for my Italian mother to get through on the way
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Deck the Halls, Not Your Plate: How to Cut Holiday Cravings
The holiday season is filled with delicious temptations that can make it hard to stick to your health goals. November and December often feel like a whirlwind of party after party, with every event offering a spread of irresistible treats that bring back memories of holidays past. From your grandma’s famous cookies to the decadent
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Co-Parenting with a Narcissist During the Holidays
Dear Grayce, The holidays are approaching, and I dread dealing with my ex-husband. My ex is a narcissist, and every year, he uses this time to manipulate plans, guilt-trip me, and twist everything to make me look like a bad parent. I want to protect my kids from the chaos but always feel exhausted and
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The Right
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is what everyone wants in the world. What if that was just taken from you in a blink of an eye? What if you had no say? What if someone puts you in that situation? I dated a woman awhile ago. We were very
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Heroes of Helene
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Appalachian region, particularly affecting western North Carolina, northeast Tennessee, and southwest Virginia from September 24-28. After the storm, severe flash flooding led to dam failures and the destruction of bridges, significantly impacting the Nolichucky River. The river’s course was altered, especially in Erwin, TN, in Unicoi County, where landslides
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ADHD: Growing in Your Own Light
I love bookstores. If I could crawl up and fold myself between the spines of my favorite novels, you would forever find me resting there. For years, I strolled past the Self-Help aisle, reluctant to enter, anticipating a kind of Knott’s Scary Farm experience where ominous demons follow people around. One day, many years ago,