PSA...Do you have a bank account which you use regularly? Do you deposit fund into it and use your debit card for multiple transactions? Me too.I am sure that like you this has been going on for many years confident in the banking system. However, I have since learned just how vulnerable we are. Are you a criminal? Do you think like a criminal? Do you know any criminals? Like you, my answer to all these questions is NO! So how am I suppose to know how this fraud against my account through an ATM happened?Listen to what has transpired over the past 6 months in my quest for the return of funds lost through NO fault of my own.  If this happened to me, can it happen to you?

May was the beginning of road trips in preparation for the final leg of the cross Canada tour - the East coast.  Three trips in all: Wasaga Beach, North Bay and Kincardine. Betty handled things like a dream. June 7th became the schedule departure date.Then the long weekend brought about a dangerous detour. One that I never saw coming. What I thought was possible indigestion, wasn't.

When facing challenges on her job,  Annette Lavigne had to think  about her plans to continue working or retire, she decided it was time to open a new door. Through her years of being a Toastmaster, Annette knew she had many skills to help her move forward. One thing she knew for sure. She wasn't ready for retirement.With the help of others, Annette decided to take the necessary courses to move to a new industry...one of great interest to her. She studied and with working at her own pace, she passed the requirements to become a Mortgage Agent.She says that maybe you won't want to become what she has become, but to know that making changes even as you enter the senior years is very doable.

Are you journaling?  if so, how do you do it?  Are you typing on your computer so you can save files and take up less room than having books? Or handwriting?Handwriting really does have some benefits in writing your journal. As you focus on writing clearly, you can change some of your characteristics. Graphologists can offer lots of insight into how a person writes not just whether the writers are the same in pieces of writing.The benefits of journaling are many ranging from improving memory and concentration, strengthening ability to focus, and reduce stress and anxiety.Have a listen and see if you should either keep journaling or begin.

Dharma Bums Yoga has been teaching yoga for nearly 20 years.  Bums yoga! Love that name as the owner, Rachel Page focuses on chair yoga for seniors and beginners. During this episode Rachel shares her passion for using yoga to strengthen core muscles, improve flexibility and movement and the importance of breathing properly for maximum oxygenation.Listen as she explains how to get these tremendous benefits even if you have limited mobility.  You can also catch some of her demos on my YouTube Channel - Merri Macartney.Either way, if all you get out of this is the importance of taking the time to breathe efficiently a few times a day, your body will love you.

What do you do when you find that your life is being consumed by too much work and not enough living? Time for a change. Listen as Leanne and Lyle McCabe share with me how they sold their business and decided to downsize in order to travel the world.  Although they weren't working that business anymore they chose to set up a business that relates to their dreams. Thus BeachTravelWine.com was born.The life they now lead together appeals to their priority of staying active and healthy.  It is also their dream to reach out to others through their podcasts and blog. Leanne and Lyle are very open with how they came to make the decision to embark on this new chapter and how they are managing to live their dream. Truly an inspiration to those who wish to stop just thinking about their dream but go out and get it.

This episode starts with a meandering 15 minute, turned 1 hour, trip to the coffee shop. Google maps outlined ways for me to go but when I came across some of the streets, I decided not to go down them.  Some were too hilly, some too broken up or muddy. In any case I would change directions and then try to find another route. I came to crossroads, deadends and consequently made many U turns.I did, however, reach my destination.As I was meandering, I thought of just how much life can be like that. We start off in one direction and usually end up making some kind of adjustment to our plans. I know I have been on many detours and run into deadends...like 2 practice marriages.How are you doing? Are you up for changes too?  Retirement can create many of these situations for us, especially if we did not plan on it. Then what's a person to do?Listen to some of my meandering thoughts and see if you might agree.

Hayley Mayer from Sydney Australia is a psychotherapist who has faced a traumatic experience and has since learned to dance with life not wrestle with it. She offers tools and techniques to implement when faced with challenges and others who might try to step over your boundaries. Hayley's focus is on the importance of self-love saying it is foundational to living a life filled with our purpose.Her idea of loving ourselves is to talk consider what you would say to a 5 year old child. If you wouldn't say it to them, then don't say it to yourself.Listen as Hayley talks about the self-love vs selfishness conundrum.  What's your take? Agree or disagree?

Owner and founder of The Couples Clinic, therapist Ronnie Littlewood, shares with us some insights into how to strengthen relationships going into this new year.These apply to all types of relationships regardless of ages or gender although her comments might be more relevant to a female audience.Her practice plus her personal life experiences were shared to provide listeners with some tips and strategies to help them move forward in whatever relationships might need a boost.

Is this the time of year when you stop to reflect on where you are in life? Do you ask yourself how things are different this year from this time last year?  Many people do.As you think about your life and how you got to where you are today, consider that you will be in the same place this time next year. How would you like things to be then?Listen as I read to you the closing passage of my book, Don't Die Before You're Dead,  and consider my challenge.