For Brunettes Only/Unwanted Hair

If you are fair-haired, a blonde, a red head or never have unwanted hair, stop reading RIGHT NOW! I really don’t want to see comments from the hairless about their struggle with having to shave their legs once a week! If you are a brunette or of acquired genetic ethnicity that produces unwanted hair, read on!

Summer presents fashion challenges to those of us who fall into the unwanted hairy category. We need fresh razor blades and soap or shaving cream and the time to shave our bodies. Starting at the big toe and pretty much up to the eyeballs we are slaves to the unwanted hair. Sure waxing is an option. More time and money and pain and as much as we want to believe it lasts longer, does it? Laser is another option with even more money that may last a season depending when you start and finish. So what to do?

1. The Maxi Dress/Skirt length is back in style
2. Capri pants
3. Surfer shorts instead of a bathing suit
4. Sarongs
5. Bermuda/Longer shorts
6. Distractive focal point Jewelry

If you live in a hot humid climate, I extend my sympathies. Sooner or later you will put on the shorts or the swimsuit because you are just too damn hot. If you have your family vacation at the beach, it is difficult to look fashionably chic 24/7 on the edges of the sand. So my advice:

1. Get out the razor and allow the time each and every day for the big shave, look at it as a stretching exercise
2. Stock up on razor blades and shaving cream
3. Stock up on body moisturizer and sunscreen
4. Take solace that most women in their 80’s stop growing unwanted hair

How do you cope with the unwanted hair dilemma?

What Keeps Me Up At Night

Sometimes it seems impossible for me to turn off my brain and fall asleep. I envy those people who fall asleep quickly and sleep through the night! If my thoughts aren’t keeping me up it is the rain, the noise, or the birds outside my house. Inside my house my pets or husband’s snoring or getting up and down that keeps me awake or wakes me up.

I have talked with several friends and if misery truly loves company, it is a love fest!

So here are hints to fall asleep and stay asleep:

• Earplugs. I can’t fall asleep without them.
• Eye mask. I have friends who use an under eye skin conditioner combo mask.
• Black out curtains. I put these up in the summer.
• Wave music. I have a friend who can’t sleep without it.
• Warm shower. Many friends swear it helps.
• No TV or Computer time before bed. I cannot watch any news before going to sleep.
• Reading in bed with a small light. If I get too interested I have to force myself to stop.
• Everyone goes to bed at the same time. A friend of mine has programed her phone to turn off the    TV so her husband will come to bed and not wake her up.
• Sleep Aid drugs.
• Haralee.Com Sleepwear. If you have night sweats, a must.

Medical research shows that sleep is very important, 7-8 hours a day. My goal is to get 8-9 hours a day. I toss and turn and do not get up hoping I will eventually fall asleep or back to sleep. Some friends will get up and read, or do some work or get on the computer and then go back to bed. It really seems like we are all dealing with the elusive good night sleep solution.

What about you? Do you have some tricks to get an uninterrupted good night sleep?

National Cancer Survivor Day, Sunday June 2, 2013

Every year on the first Sunday of June, cancer survivors and their families have an official day to celebrate survivorship. If you or your loved one survived the disease or still living with cancer or in the middle of treatments, you are survivors. If you had the word cancer associated with your health and well being, that makes you a survivor too.

So you are a survivor but have you survived all those well-meaning comments?

“You look great!”     as opposed to dead?

“Did you lose weight?”    the chemo weight loss diet?

“I love your hair!”     fuzz or it is a wig or it is kinky chemo curls!

“I thought cancer made you lose weight?”   was I just called fat and questioned if I am lying about my cancer?

You may have survived some not so well intended comments:

“Did you ever smoke?”

“Is it in your family”

 “Keep a positive attitude that really helps!”

“My (some relative, friend or acquaintance) had the most dreadful cancer all through out their body, much worse than you, and three months later he/she was climbing Mount Everest” or some such nonsense!

“My (some relative, friend, acquaintance) had the same cancer as you and he/she has been cancer free for 30 years. You will be just fine I know it!”

“You have to think positive thoughts!”

“I will pray for you!”

Cancer survivors’ families also survive the well and not so well intended comments and advise.

“Are you affairs in order?”

“I’ve always admired…. (A possession like a ring or watch or piano)

“You will have to really stay on him/her about diet and exercise!”

“I think you should go for another opinion!”

“I’m not a doctor but I don’t think this course of treatment is right!”

“As soon as he/she is well enough, you should travel, downsize, move, buy a new car, etc., before it is too late!”

“Now is the time to get closer to God!”

To all the well intended and the not well intended, I say not today, not this week. To all cancer survivors I say celebrate!

The Status of Menopause

Is the subject of menopause accepted and acknowledged in the work place? Is it the excuse, the joke or the put down? Is it still taboo?

I remember very clearly sexist remarks when I was just starting my career in Corporate America in the 1980s. I actually had a male boss who expressed his concern on my ability to succeed in sales because of the “golf“ situation. His reasoning was that men do not want to play golf with women and business was done on the golf course. At that time, he was correct. I had to work harder in building relationships than my male counterparts.

Some business is still done on the links and the courts, and some relationship building is done over food and drink. Because the IRS and Corporations monitor a very careful eye on these outings, most business is done in offices or remotely. What this means is that relationships in business are harder to achieve.  A common interest is key. Religion and politics are still a slippery slope best not crossed. Family, children, vacations, hobbies, schools, these are all bonding topics. What about health issues and specifically menopause?

Recently the topic of elderly parents and their care among other baby boomers has eclipsed the children topic in my experience. To those who had children late in life or a blended family along with the aging parent, empathy for the sandwiched person is appreciated completely. This person’s connection is, make my life less stressful, can your company or product do that for me?

I recently was invited to speak at an office. The young woman who led me to the conference room made a comment about how cold it was in the office because the higher ups like it that way. She surmised that it was to encourage better performance. She also told me it was a good day because a particular person was in good mood. Her insinuation was this person, who was the individual who invited me, was subject to mood swings.

I obviously knew why it was cold in the office. I also knew this person did not really suffer mood swings, but this young women did not have a clue. I immediately erased any menopause jokes from my talk. I wanted to tell this woman menopause is the reason it is chilly and it will happen to you too but I didn’t cross the business taboo line. In this office menopause was taboo.

Have you experienced menopause still being on the ‘no talk’ list?