I have a yearly tradition that begins at the start of the new year. It pertains to the choosing of a special word which will become my theme as the year unfolds.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer choosing the Word of the Year as opposed to making a New Year’s Resolution.  My chosen word helps to bring focus and clarity for what I want to create in my life.

In the past, I’ve chosen words such as GRATITUDE and BALANCE.  This year’s word presented itself to me during a recent shopping excursion to Marshall’s Home Goods.

As most of you know, I am a organized person who functions best when my environment is orderly and without clutter. This past summer my home underwent a long overdue renovation on the family room level.  Furniture was moved to other areas of the house and smaller items were packed into a series of boxes.  As a result, I was totally and completely discombobulated!!

Although I’m far from a pack rat, I’ve been donating household items and clothing that no longer serve me.  I’ve also been sorting through my file cabinet and putting aside a plethora of old documents, etc. for shredding as well as filling my recycle bin.  My goal is to become as much of a minimalist as possible.

My word — SIMPLIFY — has already become a mantra as it guides my daily actions and helps me to become a happier version of myself!  Have you chosen a word for 2018?  If so, please share in the comment section below. 

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and a hair removal expert. She offers consultations, exceptional products, results-driven treatments and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow. Learn more here.

As the month of December quickly approaches an end, I find myself looking back on this past year and the lessons it has taught me.

Life is like a pendulum.  Depending upon the circumstances, our emotional experience can swing from one extreme to the other.  As most of you know, my year was filled with both joy and sorrow.   I celebrated my beloved mother’s 90th birthday in April, grieved her passing in June and walked my daughter down the aisle at her wedding in August.

I have learned that the greatest gifts are the ones that come without price tags.  Time spent with loved ones and dear friends.  Sitting on a beach sharing the beauty of the sun sparkling off the ocean while listening to the sound of the waves lapping the shore.  Watching a movie.  Doing a jigsaw puzzle.  Playing a favorite game.  All the while, being present in the moment — without the interruption of a cell phone!

I recently told my daughters that I didn’t want them buying me any more physical gifts in the future.  I already have everything I need.  Time is the most precious commodity.  All I yearn for is a slice of quality time shared with those who mean the most.

I thought this would be a perfect time to share the following.  It’s an especially poignant message which reminds us to appreciate the present moment.

“Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course? Each of us has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against “tomorrow”. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success. The clock is running. Make the most of today.”

This past year, I received so much love and caring from family, friends and clients alike.  Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of you who have made a difference in my life.  Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!!

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and a hair removal expert. She offers consultations, exceptional products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow.  Learn more here.

“Life is precious, love is all that really matters, and who we are in the end and how we’ve touched the lives of others is the legacy we leave behind.” 

I dedicate this post to my beloved mother.  She was the most enthusiastic cheerleader and ardent supporter of all my endeavors.  If I were given a choice to choose a mother, I would surely have chosen her over and over again.  She made me feel like the most cherished daughter in the entire world.  Her sweet spirit is indelibly imprinted on the person whom I have become, reminding me to always look for the best in people and to view my life with an attitude of appreciation.  She taught me to treat others with kindness and compassion and showed me, by example, that a simple smile can brighten someone’s day.  My mother is a part of me and will live inside my heart forever.

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and a hair removal expert. She offers consultations, skin care lessons, exceptional products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow.  Learn more here.

A woman needs quiet moments of self-reflection to balance out how much of herself she gives away.

A few years ago, I established what has now become my annual tradition. At the beginning of each New Year, I search inside my soul for a special word or theme that will be my mantra for the next twelve months.

This year, I have been working on honoring my emotional needs and finding the balance to nurture them. By sharing my thoughts, I am hoping that I will inspire others to evaluate their own needs and follow suit.

It is my observation that when women give so much of themselves away, they have so little left for themselves. So many women, young mothers especially, arrive at my office exhausted and frazzled.  For most, an uncomfortable electrolysis session translates into a  mini retreat facilitated by reclining on my treatment table for a few minutes of uninterrupted relaxation before they resume their hustle and bustle.

Recognizing and attending to our needs is an essential part of self-love and care. When we take care of ourselves, we are able to give more to others.  

What are your needs? What brings you joy? What fulfills you?

For over twenty years, I was a member of a local community concert band, but gave it up due to work scheduling conflicts. Playing my flute and making beautiful music with my fellow musicians brought me tremendous joy and fed my inner soul. It was also great fun and I miss it terribly, so I am now determined to find a way to incorporate band back into my life.

What is your soul telling you? Do you enjoy being outdoors? Would you rather read a good novel? Once you discover what your needs are, ask yourself how you can make it happen. For me, multi-purpose visits with friends are the best…we can share a walk in the park, a tandem shopping excursion or, better yet, a lunch date!

Accept yourself for who you are.

When you acknowledge that everyone’s needs are different, you can let go of expectations and embrace what works for you personally. Communicate what you need so that others understand.  By practicing self-care and honoring your authentic self, you will be happier inside and more available to flourish in your relationships.

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and hair removal expert. She offers consultations, skin care lessons, products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow.  Learn more here. 

This month, I flew to Florida with my family to celebrate a milestone birthday for my mother ~ 90 years young!

Mom’s body doesn’t move as quickly as it once did, but her spirit is lively. It is not her style to complain about aches, pains or limitations. She takes them in her stride and emphasizes that it is a normal part of the aging process. At her tallest she was 4’11” and now, due to curvature of the spine, she is about 4’8”. Mom refers to herself as the “incredible shrinking woman.” Although her hip is deteriorating and causing her discomfort, she insists that it’s “not so terrible,” and that others have far worse health issues.

Last year when I turned 60, my mother declared that “60 is the new 40.”  I laughed and replied that I didn’t think that was accurate and expressed that perhaps “60 is the new 50” instead.  Then I asked her: “Mom, if 60 is the new 40…then what is 90?”  She responded that “90 is 90!”  So cute!!

This woman, who has suffered her share of tragedies, has managed to maintain a positive and upbeat attitude. She always sees the very best in everyone and continually expresses gratitude for all the good things in her life. It is so easy to please her as she appreciates even the tiniest of gestures. I am blessed to have this sweet little woman in my life. Her love is bountiful and unconditional.

Even though I didn’t write the following short story, it so aptly describes my mother’s mindset that I wanted to share it here.  I read this at her party and everyone agreed that my mother is definitely the eternal optimist!

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.  “Well,” she said, “I think I’ll braid my hair today.”  So she did and she had a wonderful day!

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she only had two hairs on her head. “Hmmm,” she said, “I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.”  So she did and she had a grand day!

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. “Well,” she said, “today I’m going to wear my hair in a ponytail.” So she did and she had a fun, fun day!

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head. “Yay,” she exclaimed. “I don’t have to fix my hair today!” 

A POSITIVE ATTITUDE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and a hair removal expert. She offers online consultations, skin care lessons, exceptional products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow. Learn more here.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at how I maintain my little business in the forever changing world of The Internet…

A client recently asked me if I enjoy being a solo entrepreneur. Back in 1983 when I began, business life was so much simpler. New clients were introduced to my office in one of three ways…an ad in the Queens Yellow Pages, the sign in my office window and word-of-mouth referrals. The telephone was the ONLY way to make contact.  Fortunately, answering machines (the huge bulky type) were already in use.  That was pretty much the norm until the Internet changed everything.

THE INTERNET CHANGED EVERYTHING!

In the past five years, things have gotten so complicated. Businesses such as mine are at the mercy of search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing which are known to change their algorithms (statistical formulas) often. A business that holds a top search position one day, can suddenly disappear from sight the next!

I fear that if I don’t keep up with the Internet and all the different social media platforms, my business could easily disappear from the eyes of the consumer!

Yelp, too, has established itself as an important place for consumers to read peer reviews on businesses. So I had to “claim” my Yelp page (another time-consuming, frustrating process) and set that up as well! Businesses with the most reviews and largest advertising budgets garner the most views. (Here’s the link to my Yelp profile. If anyone is inclined to leave a review, I would be extremely grateful!  https://www.yelp.com/biz/electrolysis-by-lori-weintraub-middle-village)

And, of course, every business must have a Facebook page which requires the posting of new and interesting content on a regular basis. Additionally, there’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest as well as more recent platforms such as Periscope and Blab. New social media sites appear on the scene at warp speed. At times, my head is literally spinning just trying to keep up with what’s new, popular and relevant.

Strange as it may sound, the easiest part of running my business is the actual doing of the work. Whether it be an electrolysis or a skin care service, I thrive on the interaction with clients and the satisfaction of a job well done. I’m happy and clients are happy…it’s a win/win situation! If ever there was a reason for me to consider retiring, the forever changing world of the Internet and all things social media would be top on my list…it’s absolutely exhausting!

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and hair removal expert. She offers online consultations, skin care lessons, products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow.