by Amy Downing | Feb 2, 2026 | Everyday Tools
For years, I could tell almost immediately when a book was right for me—and when it wasn’t. Some books pulled me in quietly. Others felt like effort from the first few pages, even when they were well written and widely praised. I trusted that instinct. What I didn’t...
by Amy Downing | Jan 30, 2026 | The Friendship Gap
It was just a casual night out. A small group gathered for drinks and appetizers in a low-key, cozy bar—the kind of evening you expect to leave feeling good, having spent a few hours catching up with people you’ve known for decades. The conversations are always...
by Amy Downing | Jan 23, 2026 | The Friendship Gap
In the summer of 2022, things were starting to reopen after COVID. Like a lot of people, my thoughts turned to reaching out to friends I hadn’t seen during the lockdown. A favorite winery had moved to a new location, and it had a patio. I texted my friend and...
by Amy Downing | Jan 13, 2026 | Life After 50
Notes from a casual tasting with friends; thank you to Susan Romano for the photos. Shortly after the Christmas holiday, I hosted a small mocktail tasting with friends. I thought it would be a fun excuse to get together, but also I’ve been curious about the options...
by Amy Downing | Jan 6, 2026 | Life After 50
September 2026 update: My follow-up bone density scan is complete, and I now have the results I promised to share. My bone density improved between my 2024 and 2026 scans. You can read the full update in My Bone Density Test Results: What Changed After Two Years....
by Amy Downing | Dec 30, 2025 | Everyday Tools
Your smartphone, whether brand-new or a few years old, contains features designed to make your daily life easier. You just need to know what these features are called and where to look for them. Poking around in the settings menu might seem intimidating at first. But...
by Amy Downing | Dec 23, 2025 | Everyday Tools
I can’t remember the first time I used the ChatGPT image upload, but it’s become part of my daily routine. This feature is what makes ChatGPT feel less like a search engine and more like a second pair of eyes belonging to a helpful assistant. I snap pictures of...
by Amy Downing | Dec 9, 2025 | Reinvention & Confidence
Editor’s note: My Reinvention Strengths Quiz is currently paused. This post explores how strengths-based thinking can help you set more meaningful goals for the year, even without taking the quiz. As you set your 2026 goals, use your Reinvention Strength quiz result...
by Amy Downing | Dec 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
Thanksgiving is behind us, the calendar has flipped to its final page, and suddenly it’s dark at 2:00 p.m. As the temperatures dip into the single digits, I’ve been hunkering down to sketch out plans for this blog in 2026. I started posting here in February and stayed...
by Amy Downing | Nov 25, 2025 | Everyday Tools
Scam texts and emails look increasingly real—even a fake shipping alert or a “bank notice” may trigger a moment of doubt. Lately, convincing examples have made me hesitate, not because I believed them, but because they were just plausible enough. Timing,...
