Season Two Finale
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I’m sharing a list of 52 things I’ve Learned in 52 Years—from life’s tender truths to tiny practices that keep me grounded. You can grow up in the Great Plains of Oklahoma and still dream in (broken) French. The courage to veer off the expected path—like taking a gap year to ski and snowboard in Colorado post-college—can shape your soul. Midlife is a permission slip to nourish what you once neglected. Paralegal school taught me the power of precision—and that law firms weren’t my forever. A yoga mat in a living room can...
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Finding Yourself in Midlife
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with guest Dr. Ellen Albertson on: The Seven Steps to Rock Your Midlife Dr. Ellen shares a transformative framework from her book Rock Your Midlife, including: know yourself, love yourself, energize yourself, reprogram your brain, empower yourself, rehab your relationships, and enlighten yourself. Each step is designed to guide women toward deeper self-understanding, vibrant health, and personal empowerment. Redefining Midlife Through Resilience and Joy From blindness to breast cancer, divorce to career pivots, Dr. Ellen opens up...
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Writing, Wellness, and the Wisdom
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Anne Flosnik on: Living Fearlessly and Fully in MidlifeAnne shares how she’s shed fear and self-doubt in this season of life. With a strong sense of agency, she sees midlife not as a narrowing but as an expansive time filled with opportunity, curiosity, and creative possibility. Honouring the Body with Gentle ConsistencyAfter a surprise osteoporosis diagnosis, Anne began building supportive routines like daily rebounding (mini trampoline), strength training, and mindful nutrition. Her message: small, informed choices can...
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Books, Bubbles, and Bold Lips
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Julia Coney on: Intentional Living and Midlife PrioritiesJulia shares how midlife has invited her to slow down, be kinder to herself, and intentionally curate how she spends her time. From planning monthly bed days to saying no without guilt, she’s embracing presence over pressure and finding joy in the everyday. The Power of Routine and ReflectionWith three key notebooks—a planner, a journal, and a commonplace book—Julia tracks her thoughts, growth, and ideas. She begins each day with reading (sometimes just 10 minutes!)...
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Creative Seasons and Midlife Wisdom
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Melinda Parkhurst on: Gracefully Embracing the Midlife ShiftMelinda reflects on stepping into the role of a wisdom carrier and how midlife offers perspective, legacy, and a chance to pass the torch. She encourages us to lean into change, not resist it—and to keep showing up fully. Creativity as Lifelong NourishmentA dancer, gardener, artist, and maker, Melinda shares how creative expression has evolved with her seasons of life. She listens to what calls her now, letting go of old projects and embracing new ones with curiosity...
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Yoga Beyond the Mat
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Reema Datta on: The True Meaning of YogaReema shares how yoga’s roots in India focus more on the mind and consciousness than the body. She unpacks the essence of yoga as a practice of connecting to stillness, acceptance, and infinite potential—not just achieving physical poses. Embracing Change with GraceWhether transitioning into motherhood or midlife, Reema reflects on how yoga taught her to let go of labels and stories that no longer serve. Her practice helps her approach aging as an exciting opportunity for growth,...
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Pleasure Literacy in Midlife
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Laura Zam on: Redefining Pleasure in MidlifeLaura shares how her personal journey with perimenopause and intimacy led to a deeper understanding of sensuality, eroticism, and pleasure. She introduces a four-part framework—sensuousness, sensuality, eroticism, and sexuality—to help women reconnect with their bodies and desires at every age. Creative Confidence and EvolutionFrom theatre to writing to public speaking, Laura discusses her lifelong commitment to creativity and how midlife has brought greater urgency and clarity....
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A Life Reimagined
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Lauren Cerand on: 💗 Redefining Success in Midlife Lauren reflects on her journey from a career-focused New Yorker to a values-driven creative seeking slowness, depth, and shared experiences. She shares how time, not ambition, is now her most treasured currency. 💗 Letting Go of the Checklist Life From living in Italy to finding home in Baltimore, Lauren describes the evolution of her priorities. She beautifully illustrates how releasing outdated identities creates space for deeper alignment and soulful connection. 💗 The Art...
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Red Lipstick & Reinvention
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Aga Rhodes on: 💗 Grieving with Grace and Grit Aga shares the profound shift she's experienced since losing her husband, highlighting the importance of honoring grief while gently moving forward. She encourages women to embrace the messiness of healing, giving themselves permission to feel deeply and take it one day at a time. 💗 Beauty as Self-Expression and Therapy As a seasoned makeup artist, Aga offers practical beauty tips—like the uplifting power of blush and bold lipstick—alongside reflections on how small acts of...
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Style & Soul
Tranquility du Jour
In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Michele Nidiffer on: 💗 Healing Through the Senses Michele shares how scent, sound, and movement have helped her connect more deeply with herself and others. Her practices, including sensory walks and aromatherapy, serve as gentle invitations to slow down and tune in. 💗 Living in Alignment with Nature Rooted in the rhythms of the seasons, Michele’s approach to life and work embraces natural cycles of rest, renewal, and bloom. She encourages midlife women to honour their internal seasons with softness and curiosity. 💗...
info_outlineIn this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Amanda Hirsch on:
1. Midlife is About Improvising, Not Following a Script
Amanda's background in improv comedy deeply shaped her approach to life—teaching her to say "yes, and" to unexpected twists instead of resisting them. Midlife, she believes, is the ultimate improv exercise—one where we let go of rigid expectations, make choices moment by moment, and embrace reinvention.
2. The Importance of Solo Time & Self-Discovery
A solo trip to Tobago in her 20s was a pivotal moment for Amanda—one where she felt deeply in tune with herself. She reflects on how moments of solitude have always provided clarity and connection to her inner voice. Spending time alone isn’t loneliness; it’s a way to truly hear ourselves.
3. Perimenopause & Midlife Health Challenges Require a New Relationship with the Body
Amanda has faced health challenges in midlife, including migraines and hormonal shifts, which have pushed her to reframe her relationship with her body. Through somatic experiencing, meditation, and listening to her body’s wisdom, she’s learned to approach midlife changes with curiosity instead of frustration.
4. Creativity & Community Are Essential in Midlife
From writing her book Improvising Adulthood to maintaining deep friendships across locations, Amanda emphasizes the need for both creativity and connection in midlife. Whether it’s improv, journaling, or making time for long-distance friendships, she believes that creating what we need—whether it's a project or a support system—is key to fulfillment.
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Grab your journal, a cuppa tea, and settle in for this week’s inspiration.
Our Guest: Amanda Hirsch
Amanda Hirsch is an improv-fueled writer and story coach. Her newest book, "Improvising Adulthood: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me," comes out in early 2025. An office misfit turned long-time entrepreneur, Amanda runs Mighty Forces, a storytelling company that helps change makers and creative souls find the words to show the world who they are, both online and off. She is a recognized expert on both storytelling and applying the lessons of improv comedy to life and work and has spoken on these topics at places like SXSW and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. The former editorial director of PBS.org, Amanda has helped leading organizations like the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Malala Fund, and Melinda French Gates's Pivotal Ventures to harness the power of storytelling to increase the reach and impact of their good work. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband, their daughter, and their very sweet, very anxious rescue pup.
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