Summer Social Living in Detroit

This is the time of year that cabin fever settles in and thoughts of warmer days ahead seem like months away.  My therapy to break through the shivers and couch potato tendencies is to start planning for summer activities.   

Photograph courtesy of Tyler Smith

One of my favorite places to be over the summer is Comerica Park.  Opening day for the Tigers is only five weeks away and I am counting down the days!  Many feel that baseball is a hard sport to enjoy because of the length of the games, but visiting the park has many more things to offer, including a terrific view of the city, good beer, and lots of amazing smelling foods.  It is also a great place to go on a date or hang with a group of friends.  But if baseball is really not your thing, Detroit has many other things to offer, including museums, theaters and trendy restaurants.   

The Bucharest Grill is home to the best Shararma chicken salad I have ever enjoyed and is located just two blocks from the park, or walking distance from the Fox, the Fillmore Theater, or Campus Martius.  For a more quiet and leisurely day, the Detroit Institute of Art is a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning, followed by a lovely brunch with unlimited mimosas at Cliff Bell's.   

Detroit is also a city to express your more active side.  Cycling is terrific exercise, as well as a great way to meet new people and explore new places.  City rides are quickly gaining popularity and Detroit has many opportunities to get involved.  Tour de Troit is a nonprofit organization that sponsors events all year long, including Monday evening rides through the city during the summer months.   

So hang tight my northern friends...spring is right around the corner.  Hopefully this post will inspire you to learn more about all of what Detroit has to offer for seeking summer fun.

Michigan Winter Survival 101

Trying to survive a winter in Michigan, especially if you do not like the snow and cold, is like trying like trying to scoop water with a tennis racket.  It is going to be difficult.  There are many things about winter that get real old as we reach the mid-way point of February, even for the hard core Michigander.  Your car is always covered in salt.  Pushing a shopping cart through a snow packed parking lot should be added to the agenda as a winter Olympic sport.  And the lack of outside activity can really make you feel frumpy and crabby.    

Marianne and I at Nub's Nob January 2015

So I made the decision, as I experience my first winter as a single, to head to the great north at least once a month for weekend getaways of skiing, hot totties and a warm hot tub.  If you can't beat the weather, then embrace it, right!  I am not going to lie, it is weird being there with a friend instead of my kids, who I adore, but who are always cold, tired, or hungry, even as adults!  What is different is the freedom to stay out longer if you want, or go into the lodge bar for a warm up, where it turns out, you can meet a lot of interesting people.  It is also a lot cheaper to pay for one lift ticket opposed to three and if you can go on non-prime days, skiing up north can be very affordable.  

Northern Michigan is a great place to get in amazing skiing. My second trip of the season was two weeks ago and skiing weather was perfect, 28 degrees and sunny!   We choose Nubs Nob since we hit Boyne Highlands just a few weeks before.  Boyne also has tubing and zip lining if you like that kind of thing, and is the home to largest hot tub in the state.  

So don't let yourself fall into a bad state of S.A.D. (Seasonal Attention Disorder).  Put a warm hat on and get out there and breath the air….it's refreshing!

How to Be a Happy Single on Valentine's Day

Being single 364 days of the year has many benefits…independence, strong sense of self, freedom of choice.  But on day 365, Valentine's Day, your strong, single self can have feelings of loneliness and disappointment that cupid has not shot that arrow into your heart with an unexpected secret admirer who is going to whisk you away on a romantic day of a fancy meal and expensive gifts.    

Retailers reap the benefits of this "Hallmark Holiday" and according to the Greeting Card Association, falls only behind Christmas as the holiday that sells the most greeting cards, approximately 145 million.  Many perceive this holiday as one for lovers and young children who can't wait to exchange all those special little messages, but that is really the not case.  Valentine's is a perfect opportunity to reach out to an old friend that you have lost contact with and perhaps schedule a date to meet for lunch.  This year, I purchased silly little cards and plan to send along with a chocolate bar to special clients that I have gotten to know over the years just to make them smile and remind them that I am still around.  When you remove the marketing prospects from the day of love, what is a left is a day dedicated to expressing affection and admiration for someone, whoever that may be.   

But the burning question is, what do single's do on the actual holiday?  First remember, you are not the only single on the planet.  Make a date with a friend and plan a late lunch rather than fight the dinner crowds, followed by a matinee.  Or, invite some single friends over for an evening of wine, cheese and conversation.   And of course, there is nothing weird about doing something special for yourself, perhaps a massage or splurging on a new pair of shoes. The point is, this holiday is not intended to create feelings of sadness or to be ignored by those who may feel left out, but rather embraced as an opportunity to express appreciation for someone special or for yourself.   

Here is more insight on Valentine's Day for Single. 

Back to School! Hitting the Books in Midlife

While visiting my mother in a Florida hospital last month, I got to know the afternoon nurse over the course of my visit.  I was surprised to learn that she had been working as a nurse for only the better part of year.  She was in her mid-40's and this was her third career.  She started out as a cosmologist, and after 10 years, became a realtor.  When the housing industry crashed, she decided to go back to school and became a nurse.  She is very happy in her new career and now has a much better sense of security as she works towards retirement. 

As many of us approach the "midlife" turn, it is not uncommon to feel like your career is stale and you are getting lost in the shuffle, not advancing in the current job you are in, or maybe looking for a completely different direction to not only earn a living, but have a job that makes you happy as well as earn a paycheck.

I made the choice to return to school a year ago and it was the best decision I ever made.  I do not plan to completely change my career like my new nurse friend, but rather enhance the knowledge and experience I have gained from working in the continuing education environment for nearly 30 years.  I do not anticipate that the certificate I will receive will immediately increase my paycheck, but rather provide a wider range of opportunity for the environment I am currently in, as well as give me an edge when competing with new graduates for a position with a company that may be seeking the experience as well as the education.

But going back is scary!  Many things have changed in past 25 years.  Like Mickey Redman, announcer for the Red Wings, likes to say, "It is not the place for a nervous person!"  The student in 2015 has to be very comfortable with technology.  Many courses are exclusively offered online, so if you are not one to be tied to your computer for many hours during the week, or be able to work with the many tools both the internet and devices provide, this may create a challenge.   Also, it is expensive.  In addition to the per credit hour tuition of around $400 per credit, you need to factor in other costs like books, as well as the opportunity cost of your time where you could be making money somewhere else.   

For me, the benefits out way the costs.  Returning to school has given me a much stronger sense of confidence in the business world, and has sparked my interest to explore other opportunities that I can make more money, plan better for my retirement, and have more flexibility to enjoy other interests.  In other words, find a better balance of work and personal happiness.

If you are considering hitting the books again, here are some THINGS TO CONSIDER , as well as an inspirational story this article about SHARON.