Perennially Yours Some months ago, I wrote about the new cottage garden I am creating in my front yard. In it, I plant only perennials. I like these plants for their non-fussiness. Year after year they hunker down for the cold months, and then emerge with fresh shoots, eager to spread their beauty and fragrance. ... The post Thrive Beyond 55 – July/August first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

With his record label’s office located in the cozy Montreal community of L’Île des Soeurs in Quebec, Jim West’s roots have always been solidly Canadian. The accomplished 69-year-old record producer, and founder of Justin Time Records (1983), was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2022 for his outstanding contribution to the Canadian music industry. ... The post Jim West: Successful Jazzpreneur first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

In March, INSPIRED Magazine held its annual 55+ Lifestyle Show where we did a makeover of three amazing women. We call it turning “drab to fab” and while their transformation on the outside was certainly fabulous, they all came with full-blown vibrant personalities. Nothing needed to change there!  We want you to meet the first ... The post Reviving Rosy: A Radiant Makeover Story first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

A sure way to “beat the aging blues” is to meet older men and women living full and dynamic lives, like octogenarian Phil Foster. On first meeting, Phil seems a quiet and unassuming man, but a wealth of experience lies behind his 80 years. His career was in education, teaching mathematics, and later social studies. ... The post Phil Foster: A Perfect Fit first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

I turned 60 last year.  I still have not recovered.  I spent the previous year trying to get used to the concept by changing my computer password frequently.  CRAZY60, LOVELY60, NOWAY60, STUPID60, HAPPY60, CRAPPY60, FRICKIN60. It didn’t work. Why does this milestone feel so painful?  I hate to admit it, but after digging through my ... The post Wake Up And Smell The Paints first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

‘Adventure’ is a relative term. For some it can be the day you lock yourself out of your car, negotiated the public transport system in Bangkok, or simply got off course on an organized tour. For others, it’s setting out alone on an uncharted path with nothing but vision, pluck and determination to achieve the ... The post Adventurous Women: Boldness has Genius, Power and Magic first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

My office look-out today is Kontoglialos Beach, one of the less crowded yet sensational strips of golden shoreline that edges the island of Corfu. The tiered patio deck that stretches out before me is flanked by straw umbrellas that look like mini versions of fancy cocktail decorations. Beneath each umbrella is a pair of shaded ... The post Chill Time on Kontoglialos Beach first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

With the arrival of warm weather, there will be more outdoor mealtimes. Unfortunately, food poisoning is more common in the summer months. Picnics, BBQs, and camping trips are the perfect environment for creating bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses. Summer gatherings outdoors can make it difficult and inconvenient to practice handwashing and utensil hygiene. Contaminated surfaces ... The post Preventing Summertime Food Poisoning first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

Retired or not, summer seems to bring out the desire to spend more time reading. As part of several writers’ groups, I have discovered a whole new library of authors, expanding my reading choices from best-selling American and British authors to talented Canadian authors. Jennifer Mariani, author of All Forgotten Now, is a ballet dancer ... The post Living On Purpose – Inspiring Summer Reads, And a Touch of Laughter first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more

What’s with kids and their music these days? Sound like a familiar refrain?  Right.  It’s what our parents said about our music when it arrived, rocked a generation, and disrupted popular music.  “It will never last,” they said.  Not according to Neil Young, who wrote: “My my, hey hey, rock and roll is here to ... The post Grandpaw Chronicles: It’s Not Just Music first appeared on INSPIRED ..read more