Life As We Know It Archives - Melanie Young- Fearless Fabulous You!

A Re-Education

On June 27, 2020 / Life As We Know It

I’ve learned a lot about American history in the last few weeks, or actually how little I know. I was taught Christopher Columbus was a hero who discovered America. President’s Day honored George Washington, one of our nation’s Founding Fathers and first president. President Andrew Jackson, from my home state of Tennessee, was a hero from the War of 1812. President Theodore Roosevelt was a conservationist and an honorable Rough Rider who fought in the Spanish-American War. Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson were leaders of the Confederacy who fought for the South and states’ rights. I studied my lessons, took my

Earth Day at 50- Midlife Crisis?

On April 22, 2020 / Life As We Know It, Staying Grounded, Zero Waste Living

50 years marks the golden anniversary of Earth Day. But this year’s celebration feels more like a midlife crisis. We all need to do better!

My Husband Has Another Woman. It’s OK.

On September 9, 2019 / Life As We Know It, Relationships

My husband has a new gal-pal to chat with, Amazon’s Alexa. Should I be worried?

What Makes You an Expert?

On March 28, 2018 / Life As We Know It

My inbox is flooded with “experts” offering to help improve my life in many areas. Some are legitimate, well-schooled and professionally trained at their specialty, and it is an honor to have them join me as guests on my radio shows to share their knowledge. But there is a difference between being an “expert” and an “influencer.” The latter is also flooding my inbox and social media offering advice and tips, usually with beautiful photos. And they are gaining traction for their large followings. Good for them! But they are not necessarily experts. I recently attended a webinar on how to become

Super Women. But Not Super Human.

On January 24, 2018 / Life As We Know It, Making Things Happen

How does she manage it all? You may wonder this reading about a woman you admire or a friend who is constantly juggling many projects. The answer is: She doesn’t necessarily. Something must give. Or she has help; she delegates. Recently, I spoke on a panel called New Year. New Career hosted by the New York chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, a national organization whose members are comprised of leading women in food, fine beverage and hospitality. I was one of four panelists who shared their career transition stories. The other three were: Joan Coukos, an investment banker turned chocolatier whom I

Drawing the Line at Reading Between the Lines

On August 21, 2017 / Life As We Know It

As a child growing in the South in the 1960s, there were things I saw on television or heard adults discuss that scared me. These included: the Klu Klux Klan, Nazis, Communists, kooks with nukes, the Wicked Witch of the West and her rabid flying monkeys, rabies carrying bats who could infect my dog, Bouffant, and the mean dog catchers who could steal her away from me. My mother told me if I misbehaved she’d send me back to Sears & Roebuck for another model. I used to thumb through the Sears catalog looking for mail order kids like me. She admonished me for voting for Barry

Fearless Fabulous You! Eat the Cake!

On February 19, 2017 / Attitude Adjustment, Life As We Know It

This week a friend send me this quote below. I immediately dropped plans to work on my taxes and other practical things this weekend and took the day off to go cross country skiing. The sun was out; the weather was warm and the snow conditions were just right. Taxes could wait; the perfect day could not. That’s the meaning of Eat the Cake. Too many times we deny ourselves the joy of stepping out of our routines to take time to do something truly pleasurable, even decadent. Or we are so focused on creating constraints in our lives to

Hope & Expectation

On September 12, 2016 / Happiness, Life As We Know It

Two sisters, Hope and Expectation, sat on a bench one day looking at a distant cousin, The Future. The Future was tall and towering. But she was surrounded by a dense fog making it hard to see her fully. “I hope The Future will be all right. I have faith that things will brighten up for Her,” said Hope. “I expect The Future will be fine. I have invested considerable time and effort into making sure this happens for her,” said Expectation. “But what about Uncertainty? He seems to be a big influence on The Future,” said Hope. “Uncertainty is just temporary distraction for The Future. I expect things will

What’s On Your Bucket List?

On January 15, 2016 / Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show, Life As We Know It

I’m a list maker. I make “To Do” lists every day to manage my time. I rely on lists to stay organized when I plan professional events. In my first book, “Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide To Staying Fearless & Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer,” I provide handy check lists to help newly diagnosed women channel their emotions and stay focused and less stressed. But my favorite list of all is my “Bucket List” outlining all the things I want to do, places I want to visit and whatever I dream of accomplishing. I update

Him for the Holidays? Tips on Bringing Your Guy Home

On December 18, 2015 / Attitude Adjustment, Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show, Life As We Know It

I used to dread going home to Chattanooga for the holidays when I was single. My mother would always invite eligible men to various dinners to meet me. Most often they were soft, menschy types and this gal liked athletic, preppy boys. Some were interested in meeting other men and not me. I sighed with frustration hearing comments from family friends like, “Such as shame she hasn’t found a nice man yet.” Note, “she” was usually in the room within earshot. My worst holiday dating experience was when I brought my sophomore college boyfriend home after Christmas. My mother came out

A Clutterfly Seeks Her Wings

On December 14, 2015 / Fearless Fabulous You Radio Show, Life As We Know It

My cousin, the Artist Hunt Slonem, is a Collector with a capital “C.” His various and beautifully appointed homes are filled with carefully curated collections from gothic furniture to butterflies to top hats and harps, not to mention his own amazing paintings. I admire his passion for collecting and for the fact that his things bring him Joy. Check out this recent Architectural Digest piece on Hunt. I have a mother with a house filled with art, various stuffed animals, purple ephemera of every shape, size and hue, gifts from friends and fans, and souvenirs from her travels, charity fundraisers,