What You May Have Missed - YBLME June 2026

Happy early 4th of July for those of you who are still checking your email with the holiday weekend close.

If you’re seeing this post-holiday, I totally understand, and hope it was a happy one for you and yours.

The best part of living in Chicago, in my opinion, is Summer festival season. Every town, village, city and county has some kind of event with our great local bands providing entertainment—usually free to attend.

This picture is from one I attended a few days ago with my favorite local band 7th Heaven performing. We managed to get through the whole concert with just a few raindrops and gusty winds threatening on the horizon. So it was a good afternoon.

Photo Credit: Melanie R. Jordan Local York Township America 250 Celebration Concert, 7th Heaven Band

Since it’s a busy holiday weekend, let’s jump right in to anything you may have missed in June published in Your Best Life Made Easy: Thriving After 50 that you might want to have as some Summer reading.

Welcome to everyone who subscribed since last month, and thanks for your continued support to those who read my work every Tuesday. I appreciate you all, always!

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This past month I wrote about making strength training easier to start or restart, how to get off the struggle bus when a career pivot has you searching for your professional identity, celebrating the fathers and grandfathers who are no longer with us through sports, using food psychology principles to make healthy eating painless, and fighting ageism against older drivers.

And I also shared a special bonus post interview and one from the archives below.

All are meant to be positive, empowering and flavored with a good dose of humor, storytelling and pop culture.

I try to have a little something for everyone!

Easy Ways to Become Less Resistant About Resistance (Strength Training) - This one was inspired by my exchange with a fellow Substack writer friend who was struggling with her resistance to resistance training. I figured if she needed some support, there may be others who could use help starting or restarting. I also shared my early experiences with strength training.

The Case of the Missing 50+ Professional Identity - In this one I shared the VERY personal story of my struggles with my professional identity after my third career layoff resulted in my moving from being in senior leadership to accepting an independent contributor role. There’s also a fun connection to The Grinch.

It’s hard to figure out who you are after a career pivot. Something more and more of us who are 50+ (and even 50-) are being forced into these days.

Father’s Day Without Fathers - I’m proud to say that this one is now my #1 most-read post of all time since I started writing on Substack mid-August, some 64 posts ago. My thanks to all of you who enjoyed my fun stories about my late Dad and I and our strong bond over sports—including my early basketball “career” and how my true colors came out during the 2000 Yankees-Mets Subway Series.

It doesn’t have to be Father’s Day to enjoy this one :)

It’s the sequel to my popular Mother’s Day Without Mothers piece, but interestingly enough, readership of my “Father’s” one far surpassed it.

Easy Ways Food Psychology Can Benefit Your Body and Brain at 50+ (or 50-) -

An endless soup bowl and foil on cookies? It’s the fascinating field of Food Psychology which helps us learn our tendencies when it comes to food and the environments in which we consume it.

In this piece, I share the fun story of trying on different college majors for size which ultimately led me to discover the work of Food Psychologist Brian Wansink, Ph.D. I also give you three painless, evidence-based healthy eating hacks you can add today for your better health tomorrow.

Older Adults, Ageism and Illinois - Here I’m taking a look at the question of if being of a certain age means you shouldn’t be driving. I also share the amusing story of how I failed my first road test back in NYC and Illinois’ updated law that still includes a required road test for older adults.

I also created my own list of drivers who actually should get a mandatory road test. It’s serious and fun at the same time.

This was the first in a series of special interview pieces where I’ll collaborate with another Substack writer I think you’ll enjoy, and we’ll both share our perspectives on a variety of topics.

Meet Caregiver and Writer Chris B. Writes with Coach Melanie - Chris and I teamed up for an informative interview to share our perspectives on caregiving, self-care, getting healthier and creativity.

You’ll also see my first published story at the ripe old age of 8 which got a lot of buzz, and even some reads which warmed my heart :)

NEW June 2026 Update! Ageism in the Workplace - What Happened to Will Power - I had the opportunity to catch up in-person with Will at the IndyCar race at World Wide Technology Raceway, and added an update to the story’s end since it was originally published in September 2025.

If the topic of ageism is as important to you as it is to me, you’ll want to check this one out! It’s likely new to many of you.

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As always, I hope you enjoyed this month’s posts and this gives you a chance to re-read a favorite, catch up on any you missed, or prompts you to share them with another 50+ (or 50-) friend or loved one. The more, the merrier!

Wishing you maximum health and happiness always!

I publish Your Best Life Made Easy™: Thriving After 50 weekly on Tuesdays. It’s your place for positive, empowering perspectives, always 100% human-produced, to support your best 50+ life that hopefully leaves you laughing and learning with some “aha” moments along the way.

I also post some inspirational, humorous and fun quick notes most days for more ways to help you easily thrive after 50.

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