I spent years trying to be sensible. Reasonable. Likeable. And, just fit in. Now, forget all that. I just want to be interested. With today's economy, I simply can't afford extravagant travel adventures anymore. Yet, sometimes I go stir crazy even when I have tons of on-going projects waiting and books to read. So I made myself a promise: More adventures. But, Zero cost. And, full soul recharge. So, I put on my thinking cap, consulted my preschool grandchildren and created my secret adventure itinerary. Have a look. Maybe you'll be inspired to try a few of these. As for me? These little escapades are free and absolutely glorious. The 5 a.m. Bakery Heist Set your alarm for 4:30 a.m. Drive to a bakery that opens at 5. Buy the first roll, donut or croissant while it is still steaming and let the smell ruin you for all future baked goods. Eat it while standing at the front window and watch the world wake up. Total time: 45 minutes. Souvenir: sticky fingertips and the memory of bread that actually tasted like joy. Stranger’s Garden Tour Walk a neighborhood you have never wandered. When you spot a garden that stops your heart (peonies the size of small planets, a koi pond, or a gnome army), leave a note that says, Thank you. Your yard made my whole week. Souvenir: a single petal or leaf pressed inside your journal like a secret. Diner Archaeology Find an old school diner and sit at the counter. Order coffee or tea. Pull out a notebook and list every object that feels like time travel. Salt shaker that has lived through nine presidencies. Napkin dispenser straight out of your teenage years. Souvenir: the paper placemat smuggled into your purse like evidence. Library Speed Date Go to the library at opening. In five minutes pick one book from a section you have never explored. Anything goes. Bonsai. Manga. Espionage. Read three random pages then repeat with one more. Souvenir: two new subjects now stored in your brain. Cemetery Picnic Pack a thermos of tea and one perfect apple. Find an old sunny cemetery. Sit beneath a tree older than your childhood stories. Read the headstones like short memoirs. Souvenir: a blade of grass tucked into your journal. Proof you spent time with souls who once had dreams too.

Our mothers retired to silence.They played small. Bit their tongues. Settled for “grateful” when they really wanted more. But me?I’m retiring from silence. ’ve got things to say. Stories to tell. Wounds that turned into wisdom and a voice that’s finally ready to be heard. We were taught to age quietly, dress appropriately, and stay in our lane.But there’s nothing appropriate about living half a life. So this is my line in the sand.No more polite disappearing acts. No more apologizing for wanting more. If you feel that same spark in your chest — that tug that says “not done yet” — you’re home. Welcome to Sage Rebellion.Let’s turn up the volume on the second half of life.

𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐚 — 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. I retired from The Boeing Company in 2016 and took off traveling the world… until the world decided to shut down. Turns out, that was perfect timing to retire from my other career as a midwife and doula too. (Yes, I’ve spent decades helping people get born—one way or another.) Then came the chapter nobody glamorizes: helping my parents through their last years. When they were gone, I didn’t just hit a rough patch—I hit pothole after pothole until I fell into a full-blown trench. So, I did what I’ve always done when life doesn’t go as planned: I started building a process. Writing, journaling, designing systems that would pull me out of the hole one honest page at a time. While I was the oldest granddaughter, the oldest daughter, I'm now the unofficial oldest everything in most groups I join, but this time I’m using that role to help other women rise too. I built Sage Rebellion for women who refuse to fade out quietly. Now it’s your turn—tell me your story. Where are you from, what sparked your fire, and what brought you here? I absolutely love meeting new people and hearing their stories. Please share something about yourself and let us get to know you.

Sisters, it’s time to shatter the stereotypes and bloom louder than ever! We’re not fading—we’re flipping the script, strutting bold, and owning our prime. From street art rebels to trendsetting queens, join us to defy “old” and redefine fierce. What is one thing you do that defies "settling down" and breaks the mold?

𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠? Well, it sure is. Remember that saying, "fake it til you make it?" Let's change it up and say: "smile til you feel like it," because smiling is your mood's secret weapon. I'll bet you didn't know that your smile is basically a built-in mood booster, right? When you smile—like really smile, the kind that makes your eyes squint—you activate tiny muscles called orbicularis oculi. Those little guys send a signal straight to your brain that says, “We’re happy!” and boom—your brain floods you with feel-good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins. But it doesn’t stop there. Turns out, any time you flex your face, your brain gets the memo. That grimace you make when lifting weights? Same deal. Even those weird yoga face poses where you puff your cheeks and scrunch up like a cartoon character—yep, they work too. It’s like your own built-in mood gym. So next time life feels heavy, try a rep or two of smiling. And if you really want to feel good? Fake a deep belly laugh—go full “ha ha ha!” out loud. It’s awkward, ridiculous, and absolutely works. Your brain won’t know the difference… but your mood will.