How I pole danced through eras of intensity, menopause, and now at 50 am finalist in a national pole competition.

A Tribute Blog By Raphaela Fritz Photo Credit: Helen Joy George Behind this hat, my love, a lot has happened that no one else will ever know or understand, only us, the couple behind it. Eighteen years ago on leap year, the day out of time, the universe pulled us together and we collided, awakening a great force in the joining. You wore a hat then, not this one. Your head was clean shaven, shiny, glowing, lit up unlike any other I ever met, otherworldly, flowing, open. When t

I feel truly fortunate to have sat beside this beautiful man through seventeen birthdays amid these tangled modern days, where fewer good men seem to step up with real heart. He feels part shaman, part visionary poet, a wizard with words, lover of beasts and soil, tender caretaker, nourishing cook, warrior king recluse, sadhu perched back in the Appalachian mountains. Folks don't spot Chandler daily. He does his work without the need for constant oversocialization or distract

A little over a month ago, I had the profound honor of turning 50 . Because my birthday falls right in the heart of the holiday season, smack dab between Christmas and New Year's, I've rarely had big parties throughout my life. As a child growing up in the Midwest, most kids were out of town visiting family during the holidays, so celebrations often felt quiet or postponed. That pattern followed me into adulthood too. But this year was different. My husband and our children s

Self love is more important than we realize. It is a keystone for how we feel in our bodies and lives. Self love also enhances our relations