Author: Iris Ruth Pastor

When my five kids were little, there were days when I spent the majority of my productive hours organizing their toys. I remember endless hours spent putting their Legos of all shapes, sizes and colors in their respective boxes – only to wake-up the next day and do it all over again.  Ditto for wiping Continue reading

As Headlines Scream of Mayhem, Terror and Chaos, What Should We Do? Foremost, we should take care of ourselves. Because, as bystanders, what does a constant stream of gut-wrenching acts of atrocity do to us physically? Or more specifically, what’s the impact on that vital organ – our hearts?  As the days of the Israel-Hamas War wear on, Continue reading

Saturday, October 7 As usual, I wake up Saturday morning intent on completing my massive To-Do list.  And then my brother rings my doorbell and stridently orders me to turn on the television.  And in that moment, the earth beneath my feet shifts.  Hamas attacks Israel  Hundreds kidnapped Hundreds murdered Mass chaos  Massive damage  All Continue reading

Last week I ran an old column but updated friends’ names in one part of it. I later realized I had done the many, many friends in my personal orbit a disservice by not acknowledging them and the pivotal position they too hold in my life.  I am a lucky person.I started out with an awesome Continue reading

I used to think the key to happiness was having hair like my friend Rella’s. She has masses of sun streaked, golden curls that frame her face in a wild, beautiful way. So I bleached my hair, permed my hair and tried to force my hair into framing my face in a wild and beautiful Continue reading

Okay. No preamble today. Right into it.I tackled a recipe I found on the Internet: A cottage cheese smoothieCreated by ME  Ingredients:     1/2 cup cottage cheese     I frozen banana (partially thawed)     1 tsp. of ground cinnamon     I scoop of Purely Inspired Organic Protein Powder (vanilla flavored).  Blend all together in a Nutri Continue reading

For years, September to me meant Change – a new page in the book of my life.  First, I was a school kid with skinny legs and knobby knees running for the bus with my ponytail flying in the wind.  Each September my teachers changed and my grade level accelerated. But the two people who Continue reading

It’s Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7:14pm and I am sitting on my screened-in porch writing this column. I am over-looking my 100-year-old oak trees just a few yards from where I sit. Birds are chirping. The early evening sky is a startling blue. And sounds of traffic just beyond my walled yard intermittently break Continue reading

It’s Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7:14pm and I am sitting on my screened-in porch writing this column. I am over-looking my 100-year-old oak trees just a few yards from where I sit. Birds are chirping. The early evening sky is a startling blue. And sounds of traffic just beyond my walled yard intermittently break Continue reading

My friend Lynne Billing sent me the following information:  A psychologist, Carla Marie Manly, watched the new Barbie movie and had this to say about cinematic therapy: This form of ‘cinematic therapy’ I experienced watching Barbie is a legitimate concept. Films have the potential to improve our mental and emotional health. When cinematic content inspires us to discover and become our best Continue reading