Mel Robbins is the number one female podcaster in the world. She excels at taking research and making it relatable to the average person. Mel knows how to ask just the right questions of her podcast guests. She is authentic and vulnerable as she share her life stories and experiences. Over the last few years, she has developed The Let Them Theory, and it now has become a best-selling self-help book.
If you are fan of Mel Robbins, you will love the book. If you are new to her work, you will find answers to questions you may have. For me, Let Them and Let Me which are the two main premises of The Let Them Theory reminded me of the Serenity Prayer. Let Them and grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change are both alike, and Let Me and grant me the courage to change the things that I can are similar. Regardless, it is good advice to live by. Mel tells you how to use the principles with several examples from her life or her family and friends. She has done in depth research and had conversations with experts in the field of psychology that she shares in the book.
She gives excellent advice on friendships and romantic relationships. When you are hurting from a toxic friendship or trying to heal from a broken heart, you can find solace in The Let Them Theory. Individuals with addiction issues can find support in the book as well.
Life is hard and sometimes you need a little help from you friends, and sometimes a friend can be a book. You cannot change other people. You can only change yourself. You have to say Let Them and then take steps to Let Me to care for yourself. As someone who tries to fix everything, The Let Them Theory, was a good book to relate to my character flaws.
This is worth a read in your personal journey to self-discovery. If you like the book, check out the podcast. The Mel Robbins Podcasts are also full of good advice and interesting guests. I am not sure Mel herself has developed new ideas, but she does bring the work of others to her audience and does the digging for you. Her keen sense of what is important guides the way. She can summarize topics in a concise and empathic manner making many subject relatable and understandable. Thanks, our friend, Mel! (When you listen to the podcasts, you will understand this ending.)
“The God of the Woods,” an evocative title that promises myth, mystery, and a haunting exploration of both landscape and psyche, is a literary work that draws readers into the tangled, shadowed depths of a story both timeless and timely. The narrative unfolds in layers, blending perspectives: the grieving family, a relentless investigator, the insular townsfolk, and the enigmatic presence rumored to haunt the forest’s depths. Each voice adds texture to the central mystery, deepening our sense of unease and fascination. The novel deftly balances suspense with introspection; the woods are not just a place of external danger, but of internal reckoning.
“The God of the Woods” boasts a cast of deeply drawn characters, each grappling with their own secrets and sorrows. Some of the characters are likeable; many the reader will love to loathe. The story of a child missing for fourteen years anxieties is woven skillfully into flashbacks and recollections. And now, another child has gone missing.
The investigator, often an outsider in the community, brings with her a quiet determination and a past of her own. Her dogged pursuit of truth serves as a catalyst for the community’s unravelling.
Townsfolk, from the eccentric hermit rumored to commune with spirits, to the stoic schoolteacher who knows more than she reveals, offers a rich tapestry of motives and memories. The shifting perspectives grant the reader both intimacy and distance; we are drawn into each character’s world, yet always aware of the secrets that separate them.
Suspense is a constant, simmering presence in “The God of the Woods.” The mystery at its heart is not just “whodunit,” but “whydunit”—the motivations and histories that drive people to desperate ends. Clues emerge slowly, sometimes in the form of half-remembered dreams or local legends that may or may not be true. When the resolution comes, it is both surprising and inevitable — a testament to the author’s skill in planting seeds early on and allowing them to ripen naturally. The ending is satisfying without being simplistic; it honors the complexity of grief, forgiveness, and the enduring pull of the wild.
In sum, “The God of the Woods” is a masterful exploration of mystery, memory, and myth. Its lush prose, complex characters, and haunting setting coalesce into a work that is as much about the secrets we keep as it is about the ones we seek to uncover. It is a novel that lingers like the scent of pine after rain—an invitation to wander, to wonder, and to listen for the voices in the trees.
For readers drawn to atmospheric fiction where place and psyche intertwine, “The God of the Woods” is not to be missed. It is a tale that honors the wildness within us all—and reminds us that, in the end, the greatest mysteries are those we carry inside.
Every year to celebrate Earth Day, Disney with National Geographic produces a nature film on a particular animal – elephants or big cats or polar bears. This year they did a three-part series on penguins – such delightful little creatures! Their very survival is a challenge in every aspect. Yet, they seem to do it with such a good attitude, a lesson for us all.
There was also another film this spring about a penguin that was both charming and captivating. The Penguin Lessons is a true story about a professor, Tom Michell, from an elite boy’s school, St. George’s, in Argentina during a fascist regime in the 1970s. The professor, a bit of a curmudgeon, is adopted by a penguin that he saves from an oil spill while on a trip to Uruguay. When you are claimed by penguin as one of his peeps, you do not have much choice but to bring it home with you. This is where the story unfolds.
The penguin, Juan Salvador, captures the hearts of everyone he encounters, even taming Michell’s unruly English class. Juan Salvador is a great listener to Michell, the cleaning lady Maria, and eventually the headmaster himself. It was time to end the no pet rule. Michell played by Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce as Headmaster Buckle are naturals for these leading roles and masterfully portray their characters. However, Juan Salvador steals the show in every scene he is in.
This film is far from an animal special. There is an underlying story of the plight of the Argentinian people during a dictatorship. Thousands of people disappeared off the streets and were never seen again. This storyline is portrayed by Maria the cleaning lady and her granddaughter Sofia, a political activist, giving other penguin lessons that are applicable to our world today.
I love independent films – good stories, fine acting, low budget, and usually smacking with charm in one way or another. For the most part they are shown in small, unique theaters throughout the country from the Angelika in NYC to local renovated ones, often a hidden gem, in your local community. You should seek one out to see films like The Penguin Lessons and feel the magic in the dark.
I just finished Charlotte McConaghy’s new book, Wild Dark Shores. I couldn’t put it down. In fact, I finished the book in two days. You could read it all in one day. McConaghy is an extraordinary writer giving the reader rich storylines with complex characters, settings that are in remote places, and lots of twists. She combines all of this with strong themes about nature and environmental issues – often a wake-up call about our planet.
Shearwater, a remote island near Antarctica, is home to widower, Dominic Salt, and his three children, Raff, Fen, and Orley. Dominic is the caregiver to the world’s seed bank. His job is to protect the seeds that may be needed in the future to feed the world. The island and the seed bank are under pressure with rising sea waters. The island also is home to a research center for scientist to study plants, animal, weather, climate change, and the like. Scientist come and go a few times a year.
The family lives in an old light house atop of the island. Have you ever noticed how people who live in light houses are a little off? There are many books and movies that depict this. The Shearwater lighthouse is no exception. It seems to be haunted. Is it real or imagined?
The weather is unpredictable, the seas are rough and rising, and the island is constantly under attack from the elements. During one storm – yes, a dark and stormy night, a woman washes ashore. The family saves Rowan, the mysterious woman, and while she heals, Rowan bonds with the island and the Salts. They are all awaiting the Navy ship to take them away from their home of eight years, for Rowan to return to her life, and rescue the seeds. The story unfolds during the days of preparations.
Charlotte McConaghy moves the story forward through the perspective of the various characters. They all have backstories that you will discover, and as in all McConaghy’s books, there will be many plot twists and surprises. That is why it is hard to put her books down. By the end of the story, you know all the characters well and will miss them. I have loved all McConaghy’s writing and particularity her use of nature themes. Her books are food for thought on many levels. Wild Dark Shores is a worthwhile read that will haunt you long after you finish reading.
Historical fiction has always fascinated me. So much of it is set in the World War II era, but I recently ran across this delightful book by Kate Quinn, a best-selling American author. Previously I had read The Alice Network and The Diamond Eye, so I knew her book would be well written.
The Briar Club is a delightful story of the Briarwood boarding house full of women, each one different from the others; each with her own story or secret. The book is set in early 1950s America encompassing the McCarthy era and the Cold War.
Quinn introduces many characters, yet the stories center on the occupants of the house. The landlady, Mrs. Nilsson, is a crotchety women who seems to be mad at the world. She borders abusive to her children Pete and Lina.
Borders include Grace March, a lovely, energetic, fun-loving woman who engages the other ladies and begins to build a community within the house. Other boards you will be delighted to meet are Arlene, Claire, Felicity and her daughter Angela, Reka, and Nora. Each lady’s life will fill your emotional well – some with laughter, some with angst.
While to stories of these women’s lives are intriguing the reader also gets a glimpse into life for single women in the 1950s. Quinn weaves history delicately throughout the pages pulling the reader into the boarding house as more than an observer.
This book had multiple themes, the most obvious being female friendship. Yet in reflection it included missives on finding your voice and coming of age. Quinn addresses post-partum depression, domestic abuse and dysfunctional families. Economics and politics found their way into the story line. This book is jammed full of issues that culminate finally into the one most important lesson of life. Accept others as they are and where they are. You may not know their back story.
I recommend The Briar Club to anyone who enjoys reading fiction and wants a realistic picture of Washington D.C. in mid-20th century America.
Every year at Christmas when I am wrapping presents or addressing Christmas cards, I watch my favorite Christmas movies – The Holiday, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’ Diary. I know the stories by heart, so I really don’t miss anything if I must leave the room for more wrapping paper or ribbon. It is kind of my mental comfort food. I look forward to this little tradition of mine each year. It is like visiting old friends, and Bridget Jones is one of my best friends.
I loved the Bridget books by Helen Fielding, and when they made the transition into movies, Renee Zellweger became the real Bridget. It is hard to believe those movies are 25 years old. So, when the new movie, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, recently debuted, I questioned whether an aging Bridget could capture our hearts in the same way she did when she was a younger woman, especially if Colin Firth was not her leading man. Who could forget that passionate kiss at the end of the first movie. I had a little crush on the dashing Englishman in all the movies. Renee Zellweger did indeed take on middle age with the Bridget’s signature vulnerability and sassy grit. Her perky little walk has not changed in the span of the four movies.
In Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Bridget is a widow and is coming out of her depression about losing her beloved Mark Darcy. She now has two children, a boy who is like Mark named Billy, and a daughter, Hazel, who is a mini-Bridget. Bridget, of course, parents like Bridget lives life. Not much upsets her, and the kids seem well-adjusted because they are loved deeply by their mother. So what, if the children have wrinkled clothes for school or that breakfast is a total chaos. Everything in the end works out.
Bridget does find love in this film, but the journey to that love, of course, has its challenges. She becomes a cougar with a summer of love with a young man, Roxter, who helps her come alive again. Returning character Daniel Cleaver played by Hugh Grant remains the charming cad that he is. He is one of Bridget’s babysitters and teaches Billy how to make cocktails. Bridget goes back to work, gets a nanny, and finds herself once again. There is more to her love journey, and that is for you to discovery.
In all the four movies, Bridget’s joy de vie is always there. Her bubbly laugh is infectious, and people envy that. Men find it attractive. I loved seeing her happily jumping on the bed with her children. The children will never remember the chaos but will remember bouncing on the bed and her sweet goodnights to them. At the end of the movie, watch for Billy’s jumper – a sweet memory.
We end with this question – will there be a Bridget Jones in Assisting Living? I think we would still see again her perky steps as she wheels her walker down the hall. Daniel Cleaver would probably be the Don Juan of the retirement community. We will just have to wait to see if this will happen!
For the most part I have been reading fiction, but recently I was intrigued to learn of the book, The DOSE Effect by TJ Power. The DOSE Effect provides a practical approach to learning about the four major brain chemicals that affect our daily living.: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. If you are interested in the science of how these chemicals that we hear about frequently affect our lives and how we can harness the benefits of these chemicals, this is the book for you. Written in an easy-to-read and understandable format, The DOSE Effect is surprisingly enjoyable.
TJ Power is a neuroscientist who lectures and trains individuals and organizations on mental health issues. He has conducted extensive research focused on brain chemicals. He has the ability to share this information in a relatable and usable manner.
I first learned of TJ Power when I heard him speak at a virtual conference which was attended by more than 10,000 people. [That alone was amazing to me.] Mr. Power is half my age and teaching me through his book how the brain reacts to the rise and fall of these four primary chemicals. Of course most of us senior citizens have heard of these chemicals, yet TJ Power presents them in a fun and practical manner.
Admittedly, it was an adjustment reading this book due to the format and writing style. Yet as I progressed through the book, I discovered the information was easy to “take in.” Some examples Power first uses will likely appeal to a younger audience. I pondered ways I could translate the science and strategies he shared into meaningful exercises for a 70-something reader. Focusing more on the science, which he describes in common terms, I enjoyed learning how I might use the chemicals in my brain more effectively.
Dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical that relates to motivation. It makes hard work feel good and controls the pleasure-pain balance. The main causes of low dopamine are sugar; alcohol, drugs, and smoking/vaping; pornography; social media; gambling; and online shopping. With low levels of dopamine one feels demotivated, distracted, and depressed. The opposite is true of high levels which make us motivated, determined, and excited. One can boost his/her level of dopamine by entering flow state (concentration), discipline, phone fasting, utilizing cold water, and identifying and following one’s own pursuits. Basically, an individual is in control of his/her own motivation.
Oxytocin. Oxytocin is increased with good-quality, in-person social connection along with positive, grateful, internal self-talk. When oxytocin levels are low one may experience loneliness and isolation. One will lack self-confidence. Basically, relationships with oneself and with others are required to increase oxytocin in our brains. We can boost our oxytocin by touch (hug someone!), gratitude (what are you thankful for today?), a social life and contributing (volunteerism and putting others ahead of self whether helping friends and family, performing high-quality work or creating a team environment, engaging in charitable work, or simply smiling at a stranger). We can promote our oxytocin by getting off our phones, listening actively to others, sharing compliments, make eye contact and physical contact, and asking good questions that show others you are interested. Remember to celebrate yourself, even if you are achieving through “baby steps.”
Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical not only in the brain. Ninety percent of serotonin is created in your gut. Remember the “you are what you eat” adage? Gut health is a vital component of high serotonin levels. Serotonin affects mood and energy. If you are anxious and tired, your serotonin may be low. Serotonin can be boosted by time spent in nature, soaking up the sun, taking care of your gut health, getting plenty of quality sleep, and learning underthinking. Many of us tend to over think – going first to the “worst-case scenario” and believing that helps make the reality easier to take. To combat this, breathing exercises will help slow your heart rate and focus your thoughts. Deep sleep also increases serotonin while impacting memory, attention span, learning efficiency, emotional processing, and even metabolism.
Endorphins. Endorphins are released as we engage in physical exertion. They naturally de-stress the brain and body. Being sedentary, chronically stressed, and lacking joy cause low endorphins. We all know about the value of exercise and movement. And we are beginning to become more aware of the value of laughter. These increase endorphins along with heat, music and stretching. Soaking in a tub of warm water at the end of a stressful day while listening to soothing music is a great way to allow endorphins to flow.
These four brain chemicals can be increased and utilized for improved health and happiness. TJ Power has presented the science of our brain chemicals in fun and practical terms. Even we “old timers” can modify our behavior in simple ways to improve or brain function – at least using dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.
If you recall, last year I wrote a blog about the six books that have most influenced my life. This is a feature in the magazine, The Week, where they ask famous writers what 6 books influenced them. However, I only had 4. Well, lo and behold, I just found Number 5!
Atomic Habits by James Clear is my Number 5. Insert fireworks!! It has appeared on several non-fiction best books and people began mentioning Clear’s work on podcasts or in news article. It was published in 2018 and has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for 260 weeks – 5 years! How did I miss this? Better late than never!
Since Covid, I have done a non-fiction book club with my friend, Lisa, so we added Atomic Habits to our list of books. We have a healthy pile of to-read books, but we decided to move it to the front of the line. This was our first book of 2025, and we were both totally in love with it.
Not only does this book tell you how to break a bad habit but also how to start a new habit. Some of his suggestions you have heard before. However, it is how James Clear presents his ideas. The book is very well-organized. There are four laws that are fundamental to his program – Make it Obvious, Make it Attractive, Make it Easy, and Make it Satisfying. For each of these laws, he gives relatable examples and provides you with small techniques and tools to build, stop, or change a habit. At the end of each chapter, there is a concise bulleted summary of the chapter’s focus, and at the end of each section, there is a chart that builds throughout the book with clear steps to stop a bad habit or begin a good one. Everything Clear presents is rooted in scientific studies. From tiny steps, great things happen.
Personally, I gained a better understanding of why I do what I do. For most of my life, I have been preparing to do something. For example, I say I want to write a book. I read. I attend classes. I learn. I attend workshops. I join writing groups. It is prep, prep, prep! James Clear calls this being in motion, and that has been what I have been doing for many, many years. I just needed to write – just do it! That is why writing the Silver Sage Sisters blogs has been such a blessing to me. I have deadlines. I must write. Why did it take me 70 years to figure this out? What was I waiting for? Especially at the time of life.
Atomic Habits is one of those books that you want to keep close by to refer to. It is funny that both Lisa and I both decided to do this as we completed the book. However, I found a podcast on Atomic Habits – Cheat Sheet that has nice discussions on the materials presented in the book. The pod cast run about 10 to 25 minutes. There are two seasons. This is an easy way to review the laws and is a short pep talk to keep you going with better habits. I also checked out James Clear’s website – atomichabits.com. It is full of all kinds of ideas and products. You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter, 3-2-1 Thursday. It is short and sweet giving you 3 ideas from James Clear, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for you. Check it out. It is excellent!
I have given Atomic Habits to several people, and I think it will be my go-to gift for future graduations and the like. What a gift for young people! It echoes for me The 7 Habits of Effective People by Steven Covey. Both are timeless and can change your life.
I was first introduced to Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache of the Surêté du Québec a couple of years ago when my book club read The Madness of Crowds. A different kind of murder mystery, the story was set in the Canadian town of Three Pines. The Chief Inspector is knowledgeable while kind and caring. He sees what others do not. He reasons, never jumping to unfounded conclusions.
I learned at that time that Penny had written a series with the characters Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and another trusted team member Inspector Isabelle Lacoste. Residents of Three Pines were introduced in the first book and continue to be characters in subsequent books.
A few weeks ago one of the ladies in my book club suggested reading The Grey Wolf, a new book by Louise Penny. I did not have a clue what it was about but trusted my new friend’s opinion, so I picked up the book after our meeting at our local Barnes and Noble. I was delighted when I started reading and found familiar “friends” on the pages. Upon finishing the book, I decided to start reading the series from the beginning.
I hadn’t yet acted on the decision to read the entire series. However, I made it to a hotel without a book. Luckily, a lovely outdoor mall was nearby, and I noticed a Barnes and Noble there. This would be the perfect time to dig in from the beginning! So I went to inquire about the first book in the series. That night I began reading the book. (I read in bed; it helps me relax and fall asleep easier). Within two days I had read the entire book, Still Life. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. While a murder mystery, it is “light” reading. The characters are inimitable and engaging, each with his or her unique personality.
On the Gamache Series website, Louise Penny writes: “These books are murder mysteries, but they’re not about murder. They’re about love and belonging, about loyalty and choices. And the courage to be good.” I think this is much of the reason I enjoy the books.
Penny is a good writer. The stories are easy to read. I find it fascinating to read the clues along with the investigative team and try to figure out who the culprit was. While each book can be read stand alone, I am enjoying solving murder mysteries along with Chief Inspector Gamache and his team … and the people of Three Pines.
I encourage you to check out Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache / Three Pines books if you enjoy catching clues and solving puzzles. And following the lives of quirky individuals whom you begin to include in your list of friends.
With more than one hundred cookbooks on my bookshelf, one would think I don’t need another. Yet after a trip to the great southwest my cousin was compelled to provide me with one we had seen in Taos. Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky by Lois Ellen Frank contains modern plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients. Chef Walter Whitewater is the culinary adviser.
Linda, my cousin, and I have traveled together for over fifteen years. We consider ourselves foodies. Although she is not a vegetarian, she does appreciate vegetables, having grown up on a farm where her mother had an extensive garden. She is the one who selects where we eat when we travel. She studies menus, looking for those that have at least two options for me while also offering dishes that sound good to her. Over the years, I can’t think of more than one or two places that turned out to be less than delish.
One of the great things about living in America is the diversity of cuisine available due to the melting pot we are. Interestingly, many of the dishes we eat today come from other cultures. Although the cuisine is readily available in restaurants, the ingredients are available year-around in grocery stores.
Melissa K. Nelson of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa states “very few know and understand the Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and deep kinship relationships that Indigenous Peoples historically had and still have today for these ‘life sustainers’.” The cookbook serves not only as a source of recipes to use with The Magic Eight but offers insights into the use and development of these sustainable culinary sources.
“The Magic Eight were given to the world by Native Peoples of the Americas.” The book is divided into chapters, eight of which focus on one of the primary ingredients: corn, beans, squash, chile, tomato, potato, vanilla, and cacao.
You are probably thinking, you eat these ingredients frequently. Absolutely! You are probably also thinking “I don’t care for squash!” Yet what is better than a yummy pumpkin pie in the fall or a grilled zucchini with lemon herb dressing? Some ingredients are so familiar that we take them for granted. And that is a steppingstone for expanding our palates. Calabacitas, for example, is a traditional stir fry with roasted green chiles, zucchini, yellow summer squash, onion, and corn. Easy to make and yummy to eat. And you are eating squash!
When I first tried sweet potato and black beans I was shocked at the delightful mix of flavors. Now sweet potato and black bean tacos or enchiladas are “go-to’s” when I want a quick, nutritious meal. I always have tortillas on hand, but with this cookbook, I could make my own!
I could go on and on about the recipes in Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky. Some are easy. Some are a bit more challenging. All the ones I have tried have been delicious. I’m still making my way through the recipes.
Admittedly, mine rarely look as pristine as the gorgeous full color pictures of ingredients and finished dishes, but they aren’t bad. If you are looking to better understand Native American culture while trying new week-night dishes, give this book a nod. I’m guessing you will be inspired!
Silver Sage Sisters 