Vertical Horizons Life, Health, Wellness Coaching

04/28/2025

Dating in Your 50's: The Struggle is Real
Dating in your 50's. It's not for the faint of heart, is it? It's like trying to navigate a funhouse maze in the dark, with the added bonus of wondering if the person at the other end is actually a cardboard cutout with surprisingly good grammar. It's less "meet-cute" and more "meet-cringe", isn't it? We've traded stolen glances across crowded rooms for swiping left or right on faces that may not belong to the person in the profile.

Remember the thrill of meeting someone organically? The nervous excitement of a first encounter where you could gauge their vibe, their real vibe, not the curated, filtered version? There was a certain realness to it, a tangible connection before you even exchanged numbers. We met people at concerts, at classes, through friends... there was a natural, human element to it. Now, we're navigating a minefield of pixels and promises, trying to decipher if "outdoorsy" means "owns a tent" or "watches nature documentaries on Netflix". It's all swipes and super-likes, a digital cattle call where you're simultaneously the buyer and the questionable merchandise.

And let's talk about the profiles, shall we? "Seeking soulmate" (aren't we all?), "Adventurous spirit" (translation: once went zip lining on vacation), "Looking for my partner in crime" (which, let's be honest, could mean anything from one night flings to actual, you know, CRIME). Oh, and the ever-present "Good sense of humor" (which is highly subjective). You read them and think, "Wow, he sounds perfect!" You hit that little heart button, that virtual beacon of hope... and then, crickets. He's witty, intelligent and his photos aren't taken in the bathroom mirror. You send a message, a carefully crafted masterpiece of conventional charm. And then... silence. It's like sending a message into the abyss, only to be met with the deafening silence of unrequited algorithms.

Then, against all odds, you match with someone who seems promising. He's kind, funny and seems genuinely interested. The conversation flows, the banter is witty, and you find yourself actually looking forward to checking your phone. It all flows like a well aged Merlot. But then the universe throws you a curve ball: He lives in "Upper Bumblefrack" which is approximately 300 miles and 3 time zones away!

Ah, yes, the long-distance dilemma. We're not in our 20's anymore, ready to pack a bag and chase after infatuation. We've got our routines, roots, responsibilities, our homes and our favorite side of the bed. The thought of packing it all up and starting over is... daunting. Is love worth a new zip code? Sometimes, maybe. The thought of uprooting our lives for a maybe, a what-if, is enough to make anyone reach for a bottle of wine and a good friend.

It's a lot. It's frustrating, it's funny, it's occasionally heartbreaking, and it's definitely an adventure. We're a generation of strong, vibrant, and fabulous people who know what we want (mostly), and we're not afraid to go out there and (try to) find it. We're not going to settle for anything less than we deserve.

So, we'll keep swiping, keep messaging, keep laughing and keep navigating this crazy, mixed-up world of 50-something dating. Keep holding out hope that somewhere out there, amidst the digital chaos, is someone who's looking for the same thing we are: a real connection, a genuine partnership, and maybe, just maybe, someone who knows the difference between "your" and "you're".

04/07/2025

Tell me. How was your March?

Did you accomplish 1 goal you had set for yourself?

For me, the saying “ March comes in like a Lion, and goes out like a lamb”. Definitely rings true.

03/28/2025

The Journey of Choices and Lessons

🌑 Sometimes, we find ourselves in a dark place—whether it's a low-lit room or a moment of introspection. It's in these spaces that we reflect on recent events, choices we've made, and paths we've taken.

🤔 Have you ever thought about how certain decisions, even if they felt wrong at the time, led you to important lessons? Life has a way of guiding us, even when it seems we’ve lost our way.

🔄 Every choice we make sends us down a different path. But what if it’s not always about making the “right” choice? What if it’s about the lessons we gather along the way?

📚 Sometimes we stray into uncharted territories, only to discover crucial truths about ourselves and the world around us. It's in these moments of confusion that growth and clarity often emerge.

💭 Reflecting on our habits and thought processes can feel daunting, but it can also be a powerful catalyst for change. What if we embraced this discomfort as a necessary step toward enlightenment?

✨ It's important to honor the part of us that guides our decisions. This inner compass can lead us to growth, even through discomfort. Embracing this guidance can change our perception of our journey.

🔍 Predestination might not be the perfect term for our life paths. Instead, consider that it’s about learning what we need to learn—whether it’s insight, resilience, or compassion.

🎓 Each misstep and every wrong turn offers us a lesson. Perhaps failing isn’t truly failing, but a redirect to help us find a richer understanding of ourselves.

🌱 So next time you find yourself in a moment of darkness, reflect. What can this moment teach you? How can your choices shape your next steps? Sometimes, it’s not about the direction, but the destination.

🔗 Embrace your journey, wherever it takes you. Each decision is part of a larger narrative, and every lesson learned brings you closer to your true self. Keep reflecting, keep growing! 🌟

𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐿𝑖𝑠𝑎 𝐸𝑟𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑒

#𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑠
#𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ
#𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡
#𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠
#𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ

03/27/2025

The In-Between Space

The world shimmered, not with visual distortion, but with an unseen energy that pulsed beneath the surface of things. I existed in that shimmering, that liminal space between knowledge and feeling, where the mind's sharp edges blurred into the raw, untamed landscape of the heart.

It was a primal intimacy, a conversation whispered between my soul and the rustling leaves, the murmuring stream, the sigh of the wind. The oak tree in my backyard wasn't just an oak tree; it was a stoic guardian, its roots anchoring deep into the earth, mirroring my own yearning for stability. The rain wasn't merely precipitation; it was a symphony of release, each drop a tiny drumbeat echoing the rhythm of my own tears.

My emotions weren't simply internal states; they were living entities, swirling around me like a kaleidoscope of butterflies, each one a fleeting expression of the world's vibrant pulse. Joy wasn't just a feeling; it was the sun warming my skin, the laughter of children echoing in the park, the sweet taste of a ripe strawberry bursting on my tongue. Grief wasn't an abstract concept; it was the hallow ache in my chest, the weight of unshed tears, the lingering scent of rain on dry earth.

This in-between space was where I truly lived, where the boundaries between self and other dissolved. I felt the heartbeat of the earth beneath my feet, the ancient wisdom of the mountains etched upon my soul. The whispers of the wind carried secrets, and the rustling leaves sang lullabies that soothed my restless spirit.

It wasn't always easy, this dance between knowing and feeling. The mind, with its insatiable hunger for logic and order, often struggled to reconcile with the heart's wild, untamed nature. But I had learned to navigate this terrain, to find a delicate balance between the two.

In the quiet moments, when the world was hushed and still, I would close my eyes and listen. I would listen to the symphony of my own emotions, the whispers of the wind, the rustling of leaves, the steady beat of my own heart. And in that listening, I found a profound sense of peace, a connection to something larger than myself.

This was my reality, a tapestry woven from the threads of knowledge and feeling, a world where the boundaries between self and other blurred, where emotions danced like fireflies in the twilight, and where the whispers of the wind carried the secrets of the universe. It was a world of primal intimacy, where I lived and breathed and felt the pulse of life in every fiber of my being.

By Elizabeth Proett

03/23/2025

If you follow this page you should follow The Inkwell Soul: Echoes of the Mind.

Her writings are amazing

A Poem: Because Love....

A flicker in the chest, they call it love,
but maybe it's the spark igniting the forge.
"Side effect," the words whisper,
a byproduct of something wilder, deeper.

Tell me, honestly,
have you ever held something dear,
a sunrise painted across a lover's face,
the way a child's laughter spills like spilled starlight,
and not felt the urge, the ache,
to capture it, to hold it, to ... make?

A song, a clumsy melody hummed in the shower,
a poem scribbled on a napkin, stained with coffee,
a prayer, a desperate plea to the uncaring sky,
even a mess, a chaotic burst of paint,
a kitchen floor sticky with the remnants of late night baking,
a testament to shared joy.

Love, they say, is blind,
but I say it's the only thing that sees too much,
sees the fleeting beauty, the fragile moments,
the way the world is always slipping through our fingers.

And in the reckless abandon,
it demands immortality.
Not in stone or bronze,
but in the echoes of a song sung late at night,
in the worn pages of a love letter,
in the memories we build, brick by fragile brick,
a legacy of feeling, a monument to the heart's wild,
untamed creation.

Because love, it doesn't just feel, it ... does.
It spills out, it overflows, it paints the world,
in colors of our deepest desires,
leaving behind a trail of art, a testament
to the messy, beautiful, undeniable truth:
we were here, we loved, we made.

By Elizabeth Proett

03/18/2025

03/18/2025

Quote of the Day!
"I will not be punished for learning to love myself!"

03/16/2025

#𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏𝒔
#𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡



Are you ready for this weeks challenge?

Starting today through next Saturday!

ꨄꨄꨄꨄ Step one: wake up every morning and choose to have a good day. ( mindset is everything!!)

✰✰✰✰𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕡 𝕥𝕨𝕠: ℂ𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕖'𝕤 𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕒 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣.( 𝕒 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖, 𝕒 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕠, 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕒 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕒 𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕜.)

ꙬꙬꙬꙬ𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒：𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓．（𝐴 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒，𝑎 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑）𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢．

𝒯𝓎𝓅ℯ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓁ℯ𝓃𝑔ℯ 𝒶𝒸𝒸ℯ𝓅𝓉ℯ𝒹 𝒷ℯ𝓁ℴ𝓌．

ℒℯ𝓉 𝓂ℯ 𝓀𝓃ℴ𝓌 𝒽ℴ𝓌 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇 𝓌ℯℯ𝓀 𝒾𝓈 𝑔ℴ𝒾𝓃𝑔．

ℛℯ𝒶𝒸𝒽 ℴ𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓃ℯℯ𝒹 𝒽ℯ𝓁𝓅！！

03/11/2025

My Biggest Toxic Trait

"My biggest toxic trait is....I know how to love but I don't know how to believe I'm loved." The words, stark and honest, hit a nerve. It's a confession, a raw admission of a deep-seated vulnerability. It's about the chasm between knowing how to give love and accepting it in return. It's a painful paradox, a heart that overflows with affection yet struggles to receive it.

This isn't just about romantic love. It bleeds into every facet of connection - friendships, family, community. It's the gnawing feeling that I'm on the periphery, always extending a hand while bracing for rejection. It's the fear that if people truly knew me, the messy, imperfect me, the love would vanish like the morning mist.

I know how to love. I love deeply, passionately, completely. I love with every fiber of my being, offering my heart freely, without reservation. I nurture connections, celebrate milestones, offer support, give gifts, express affection - the full repertoire of love languages flows effortlessly from me. It's innate, a part of who I am.

But believing I am loved? That's the battleground. That's where the insecurities whisper their insidious lies, "You're not worthy." "You're too much." "They don't really care." The voices are relentless, eroding my self-worth, making me question the sincerity of every embrace, every compliment, every expression of affection.

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, this inability to accept love, I push people away, create distance, test their loyalty, all subconsciously, all driven by the fear of being hurt, of being proven right - that I am not lovable. And in doing so, I create the very reality that I dread.

It's exhausting, this constant push and pull, this internal war between the heart that wants to connect and the mind that sabotages every opportunity. It's a lonely existence, even surrounded by people who care. It's like being on the outside looking in, watching love flow between others, wondering if I'll ever truly be a part of it.

This quote, it is a mirror reflecting my deepest fear - the fear of vulnerability, the fear of not being enough. It's a call to self-awareness, a recognition of a toxic pattern that needs to be broken. It's a reminder that healing begins with acknowledging the wound.

Learning to believe I am loved is a journey, a long and arduous one. It requires dismantling the walls I've built around my heart, challenging the negative voices, and embracing vulnerability with open arms. It means accepting the love offered, even when it feels uncomfortable, even when a part of me whispers, "This can't be real."

It's about self-compassion, recognizing my worthiness, understanding that I am deserving of love, just as I am. It's about rewriting the narrative, silencing the inner critic, and allowing myself to be loved, truly loved, without reservation or fear. It's about finally believing that the love I so freely give can also be mine to receive. It's about coming home to myself, accepting all the pieces, and finally understanding that I am enough. And in that acceptance, opening myself to the boundless possibilities of love.

03/04/2025

Weekly challenge!!!!ت ت

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝?

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤!. 𝐍𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐬! 𝐍𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬! 𝐍𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬....

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞✩✩✩✩✩

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤?.

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤!!!!!!!!

𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤.

𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤.

𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝.

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤.

#𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐬
#𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡
#𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝
#𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡

02/28/2025