That’s my Opinion

I once had a neighbor who was 25 years older than me, and she frequently lamented ageism challenges. She shared stories of how her resume was often ignored because of her age, even when she worked at a university later in life. The back story was that she and her daughters purchased a house together. Her daughter was supposed to help with the mortgage, but after a falling out, my neighbor was left solely responsible for the payments. It was tough for her to find work due to her age. However, she held on to the house long enough to qualify for a reverse mortgage. Ironically, I now find myself in a similar predicament. I’m extremely fortunate that my house is paid off, and my responsibilities are limited to utilities. Currently, I work part-time in retail, earning just enough to get by. Every day, I apply for jobs, but fail. My age seems to be a concern for employers in a market dominated by younger managers. Some of them can be mean and disrespectful, I must say. Navigating a market f...

Recently, I watched a K-drama on Netflix featuring an actress so thin she resembled a walking pencil. Her appearance, marked by a noticeably pointed chin and an incredibly small waist, left my jaw dropping. It brought to mind the societal stigma attached to beauty and size for actresses. But beyond that, it reminded me of my own breast cancer journey. During my fight, I developed a theory: I believed that excluding certain foods would prevent a recurrence. This belief led me to forgo chemotherapy, a decision that was echoed with warnings all around. Instead, I turned to juicing and maintained a diet with relatively few to no carbohydrates. Despite my skinny appearance, I looked gaunt. My friendsnoticed the drastic change but never voiced concerns. My pants size shrank, my pictures told a different story, and my weight dropped to the point where I appeared older than my years. However, when I was upgraded to one mammogram per year, a wave of confidence in my food choices washed over m...

While on break, I read about Shannon Doherty's passing, and I started to weep. I followed her ongoing breast cancer battle, and it hit me hard. Her struggles were documented, and her final days with family and friends were shared with the world. Cancer doesn't care about race, gender, or age-none of that matters. I remember when I found out about my diagnosis, it was shocking. Automatically, you hear cancer and think it's a death sentence. I pushed aside my personal feelings and returned back to work, addressing the cancer after work. Everything happened quickly for me—the tests and the cancer removal. It felt like I was looking at someone else's life. I was lucky to be insured at the time. I think Shannon was without insurance and diagnosed late. Early detection is the keyto fighting cancer. Honestly, I don't know how long I walked around with cancer. Still, I was lucky to have it removed and treated. My doctor told me that the treatment was new. The tech radiated ...

 Crazy thing is, I bought breadfruit 5 years ago to eat healthier. At the time, I had no idea how to cook breadfruit or what benefits it offered. It's funny because my neighbor has a breadfruit tree, and last year my yard was overrun with fruit. The fruit ranges widely in size and can reach 50 pounds with tough skin. Opportunity presented itself right in my yard, so I decided to try some recipes. The tough skin and sap make breadfruit one of the most challenging fruits to handle. Sap is sticky and attracts insects. I had difficulty cutting the fruit; my small knife couldn't even dent it. I chipped away at the beast for hours to extract the flesh. Breadfruit is often called a vegetable when fully ripe. Similar to bananas and plantains, it can be enjoyed as sweet fruit or an underripe vegetable. It can be roasted, sliced, or mixed with coconut milk and sugar. There are many different ways to consume this versatile fruit, making it an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Whet...

Weight loss has never been an issue of struggle for me. Growing up, family dinners were staples, and homemade cooking was the norm. Pizza and Kentucky Fried Chicken were absent from our dinner table. My mother, a skilled cook, taught me how to dissect a chicken in minutes. This skill she humorously claimed was a proven method of catching a man. Early Habits and Martial Arts As the years passed, fast food slowly became a part of my diet, but I remained active. Exercise became a soothing activity, helping me clear my mind. I even joined a Kung Fu class, not just for the physical benefits but also for the social interaction and the sheer enjoyment of the art. Martial arts emphasize the importance of stretching, and after an hour of stretching, I could bend my body into a pretzel shape if I wanted. This method of staying in shape was effective and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the rising cost of the class forced me to drop out. However, I found myself a workout partner on YouTube. Discovering...

Seven years ago, I stumbled upon K-drama, and I haven't looked back since. This discovery not only transformed my viewing habits but also introduced me to a vibrant and captivating aspect of Asian culture that I deeply cherish. K-Drama's Allure One of the most enchanting aspects of K-dramas is their storytelling and character development. I particularly like both the lead and secondary leads, who often bring depth and nuance to the narratives. These characters are meticulously crafted, making their journeys compelling and relatable. Cut the cord. Several years ago, I decided to quit cable television. The high costs and repetitive content of western movies made it an easy choice. Asian dramas, especially those from Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan, offer fresh and diverse storylines that keep me engaged. The creativity and cultural richness of these dramas are a breath of fresh air. Travel aspirations My love of Asian dramas has sparked a desire to visit South Korea and Taiwan. I...