What’s on Our Mind

By Christine Yu for Next AvenueWe’ve all been there. After waiting endlessly for a doctor’s appointment, your physician breezes in and out of the exam room, seems rushed and leaves you little time to ask questions. Before you know it, your appointment is over, and you feel like little more than a series of medical tests and health conditions.   Read More...

By Jason Largey for Next AvenueWhen the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin died last August, it was believed that she hadn’t prepared any kind of estate plan, including a last will and testament. But now, nine months after her death, three handwritten wills have been found in her home near Detroit; two were in a locked closet and one was stuffed beneath the cushions of a sofa! But are handwritten wills valid?It’s complicated.In Franklin’s case, it’s potentially g...  Read More...

By Debbie Musser for Next AvenueAdhering to a well-balanced diet and incorporating exercise into your routine are two well-known ways to improve health. What about religious involvement? Can that also have a positive effect on health and well-being?There’s a growing field of study that seeks to link the physiological effects of religious and spiritual practices on the body: neurotheology.Dr.   Read More...

By Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell for Next AvenueI handled all the household finances and bills throughout my 32-year-marriage to my husband, Dale. But when he suddenly died of a massive heart attack at 57 last year, I was so traumatized by the loss, I couldn’t think clearly about managing his life insurance proceeds. In an instant, I had more cash rolling in from it than either of our incomes had ever produced.Luckily, I have a family member who’s a finance expert.   Read More...

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall for Next AvenueAnne Whitley lives 800 miles from her grandchildren’s home in Florida, but she still sees them daily. On her iPhone’s FaceTime app, Whitley catches up with her five-year old granddaughter, Cairo, who might show off a new toy, and her year-old grandson, Garvey, who enjoys practicing his latest words.All it takes is just a few minutes each day to bridge those miles between them.“I don’t want them to forget me in between visits,”...  Read More...