Women's Voices For Change

Insomnia: 12 Steps to Improve Sleep

By Patricia Yarberry Allen, M.D.

Over half of Americans suffer from sleep problems in any given year. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to help improve your sleep.

Poetry

“Southbound Epithalamium,” by Melissa Crow

By Rebecca Foust

Today’s poem reveals its form in its title; an epithalamium is “a song or poem in honor of a bride and bridegroom,” and it derives from the Latin & Greek words epi- (at or near) and thalamos (room or bridal chamber).

Emotional Health

Intelligence: What Does it Mean to be, Like, Really Smart

By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.

Very intelligent people rarely talk about how smart they are. They are aware of it, but recognize it as a gift, one that must be cultivated. And besides, they are too busy learning new things.

Film & Television

‘Queen & Slim,’ Melina Matsoukas’s Stunning
Feature Debut

By Alexandra MacAaron

'Queen & Slim' is a tremendous tribute to the human spirit. And although it dramatizes themes of desperation and injustice, it is hauntingly beautiful. Its heroes — and heartbreak — will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Fashion & Beauty · Health

Your Holiday Glow

By Anetta Reszko, M.D., Ph.D.

It is important to nourish, hydrate, and protect your skin for a radiant complexion that will last you throughout the winter.

Poetry

Poetry Sunday: “Bitch,” by Carolyn Kizer

By Rebecca Foust

The poem makes us laugh when we read it, but like all the best laughter, it comes with a gut punch. The idea of having an inner bitch who gets to unreservedly express our feelings towards an ex—well, that is funny. But also painful.

Emotional Health · Family & Friends

Gift-Giving: How Can I Stop Overspending

By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.

“Our family has always had such a good time being together at Christmas, and I don’t want things to change, though I see that they must. What should I do?”

Film & Television

Through a Female Lens, Documentaries by Women

By Alexandra MacAaron

More women are joining the documentary profession each year. In fact, seventy percent of the new documentary professionals represented are women. Here are several worth listening to.

Emotional Health

Holiday Gifts That Don’t Cost Anything

By Megan Riddle, M.D. Ph.D. MS

This holiday season, I would like to offer five gifts you may consider giving yourself. They don’t cost anything but may leave you feeling merrier this holiday season.

Poetry

“Snorkeling,” by Allison Funk

By Rebecca Foust

The poem evocatively opens with a question: “What if, late in my life, / an old love returned?”

Emotional Health

The Healing Power of Thanksgiving

By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.

Family holidays offer ideal opportunities to lay down our weapons and remember the ways in which we are all supported by each other.

Film & Television

In Marielle Heller’s ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Tom Hanks Fills a Familiar Cardigan

By Alexandra MacAaron

The framework of the movie is presented in a risky but ultimately rewarding way. The entire film is in a sense a single episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Health

Winterize Your Skin

By Anetta Reszko, M.D., Ph.D.

Although winter begins officially on December 21, protecting the complexion and skin from the ravages of dry overheated indoor air and windy cold dry blasts outdoors require attention sooner.

Poetry

“Poem,” by Joan Naviyuk Kane

By Amanda Moore

In today’s poem, “Poem,” by Joan Naviyuk Kane, the speaker’s search for a word in Inupiaq, the language of her mother, uncovers compounded losses—natural, cultural, ancestral, and personal—that have accrued over time and echo through generations.

Emotional Health

A Blueprint for Change: The Four Rs

By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.

While we are mostly consistent, circumstances do have a large effect on our behavior, and how we understand a situation can make all the difference.

Film & Television

‘The Crown,’ Season 3: A Tale of Two Sisters

By Alexandra MacAaron

It's a testament to the entire creative team — and most especially to the sublime acting talents of Colman, Bonham Carter, and company, that 'The Crown' offers never a dull moment.

Ask Dr. Pat

Congestive Heart Failure in Women

By James A. Blake, M.D.

This week’s post addresses the concerns of a 53-year old woman who has suffered heart failure. Dr. Allen has asked cardiologist Dr. James Blake, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, to describe the diagnosis and treatment of early congestive heart failure, especially in women.

Poetry

Poetry Sunday: “All the Hungry Falcons,”
by Dion O’Reilly

By Rebecca Foust

"I read somewhere that as falcons starve, their vision sharpens. I knew I wanted to write about that hunger and the resulting enhanced power—like a superhero’s power." — Dion O'Reilly

Emotional Health

Keeping the Peace at Thanksgiving

By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.

As a therapist, every year I’m caught short by how quickly it comes upon us: the season of misery caused by holidays.

Film & Television

‘Last Christmas,’ An Imperfectly Satisfying Holiday Treat

By Alexandra MacAaron

'Last Christmas' is a jukebox musical based on popular songs by the late George Michael. For those who loved his music (and even for those who may be new to it), Michael's songs add a wistful and poetic thread.

Emotional Health

Addressing Difficult Issues With Family
Honestly and Thoughtfully

By Megan Riddle, M.D. Ph.D. MS

Dr. Megan Riddle offers ten ways to discuss difficult issues with family members—without causing a big rift.

Poetry

Poetry Sunday: “Figures,” by Wendy Videlock

By Rebecca Foust

What “Figures” seems to be both expressing and enacting is the infinite interconnectedness of things and the way that metaphor (and other figures of speech) can help us in apprehending that mystery.

Emotional Health

Take Control of Your Self-Image:
Feed the Good Wolf

By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.

How much power do we have to overcome and change a negative self-image?

Film & Television

‘Harriet’: An Overdue Celebration of An American Heroine

By Alexandra MacAaron

We may have to wait for Harriet Tubman to appear on our currency. But telling her story is long overdue. Kasi Lemmons's film is a first-rate place to start.