If you've recently found yourself saying to a friend, "I'd love to walk, but my knees are so sore," or are you waking up with a dull ache in your fingers and joints? Well, you're not alone. Osteoarthritis tends to affect the thumb joints at the bottom of the thumb, the middle knuckles, and the knuckles closest to the fingertips, sometimes making them swollen or crooked. In rheumatoid arthritis, the knuckles closest to the palm and the wrist become painful, swollen, and warm. In psoriatic arthritis, the whole finger or fingers tend to be swollen. The pain can burn, ache, or feel sharp in all cases. Your hands and fingers may also feel stiff.

Despite all that I preach about eating nutrient dense foods and having an open mind, I admit that I am not the most adventurous eater. I venture out with variations of my regular protein, fruits, and veggies, but aside from that…I press the pause button. Until this summer, when my daughter started bringing home a vegan sandwich from our local bakery. She would say, “just give it a try…. tofu on sourdough with avocado, you are MISSING out. I PROMISE you will like it!!!” Finally, I gave in, and let me tell you, it melted in my mouth. I turned to her, “is THIS tofu? It’s delicious!!!!!” So, we began experimenting with tofu for dinner (I am particularly hooked on this recipe). Turns out she was right: I had been missing out.

Have you ever thought about making a change in your life, but something inside you is unsure where to begin? There's that small voice inside that holds you back from taking the steps needed, and instead, you go back to your old routine, habit, job, relationship, or even workout.

Being in your 50s is hard. That's the truth, menopause, teenagers, financial concerns, job security, weight gain, you name it. It's no wonder why it's easier to settle in and let things and experiences happen around us in mid-life. But the good news is that it’s never too late to start something new. The key for me has been gathering inspiration from others who’ve made the leap.