This particular entry in your writings is so perfectly in my wheelhouse, I almost feel like I requested that you write it. I’m a nail tech, and I’m about to get back out there and start touching hands and feet again, and boy do most of my clients want and need the products you describe here. I’ve just now hit a point where I’m experiencing some of the drying and fissures myself, and am following the protocols I’ve always given my clients, only to learn that they’re not perfectly effective (gah!). Looking forward to bringing in some or all of the products here, and being able to recommend them to clients, and I feel like I owe you huge bags of money and a separate bag of sanity. Thank you, sincerely, for this information. 💜💜💜
Feb 25, 2023·edited Feb 25, 2023Liked by Valerie Monroe
I absolutely agree with the 4 signs of aging. As I counsel college students and listen about their worry, sadness and frustration, I wish for them for time to grow from their experiences. I look back at how unsure I was as a younger person especially after graduation as a new professional (the only woman of color engineer!) and how it's so different for me (mostly!) due to life showing up again and again, and gaining perspective with the support of good people around me including amazing therapists over the years. About feet, I'm actually thinking of my mom when she was in hospice in her home. I remember sitting there, as she slipped into a deep sleep and my sister and I would take turns to massage her dry, cracked feet with a rich lotion. I'll never forget that gift of time with her, even as I sit here with weepy eyes.
Oooh I was so mean to my father about his talon toes. Now I know karma will render me hawkish, too. But I would trade hard feet for wisdom any day!! Thank you for this 🦶🏻(high five, foot style)
I love this post, and just put the suggested products in my Amazon shopping cart. It looks like the Dove Exfoliator has microbeads, which I try to avoid because of their environmental empact. I wonder if you or anyone else has a good alternative? Thank you!
Dearest Val, I always learn something new and valuable from your excellent posts, and now I’ve added Haxthausen’s syndrome to my lexicon.
Like dermatologist Brooke Jackson, I am also a fan of hand cream for the feet, like the way it absorbs so quickly.
I am STILL going through the “climateric” process (although they are more like surges of body heat rather than sweats).
Thanks to you I now have a more descriptive, clinical way to describe it when I’m kvetching to my friends that will make me sound so smart: “I’m having a climateric crisis!” 😂 🥰 C.
Hello Val, This is the BEST. I love the words you wrote so many years ago. AND, I love that you mentioned DRY cracking feet! I have tried everything...most recently have been a fan of coconut oil and other products with coconuts...Palmer's Coconut Butter! Nothing works with my feet. Karin
Wisdom, Confidence, Character, and Strength and dry cracked feet. So true. I once gave all my girlfriends Flexitol Heel Balm. They thought I was weird. Fabulous piece.
The four signs of aging- yes! If only more of us embraced this 🧡🔆
Val, my grrrl, this is your best essay YET!
You hornswaggled me!
This particular entry in your writings is so perfectly in my wheelhouse, I almost feel like I requested that you write it. I’m a nail tech, and I’m about to get back out there and start touching hands and feet again, and boy do most of my clients want and need the products you describe here. I’ve just now hit a point where I’m experiencing some of the drying and fissures myself, and am following the protocols I’ve always given my clients, only to learn that they’re not perfectly effective (gah!). Looking forward to bringing in some or all of the products here, and being able to recommend them to clients, and I feel like I owe you huge bags of money and a separate bag of sanity. Thank you, sincerely, for this information. 💜💜💜
Thank you for these, Val. I appreciate the physical therapist version of Car Talk's Click and Clack brothers!
I absolutely agree with the 4 signs of aging. As I counsel college students and listen about their worry, sadness and frustration, I wish for them for time to grow from their experiences. I look back at how unsure I was as a younger person especially after graduation as a new professional (the only woman of color engineer!) and how it's so different for me (mostly!) due to life showing up again and again, and gaining perspective with the support of good people around me including amazing therapists over the years. About feet, I'm actually thinking of my mom when she was in hospice in her home. I remember sitting there, as she slipped into a deep sleep and my sister and I would take turns to massage her dry, cracked feet with a rich lotion. I'll never forget that gift of time with her, even as I sit here with weepy eyes.
Oooh I was so mean to my father about his talon toes. Now I know karma will render me hawkish, too. But I would trade hard feet for wisdom any day!! Thank you for this 🦶🏻(high five, foot style)
I love this post, and just put the suggested products in my Amazon shopping cart. It looks like the Dove Exfoliator has microbeads, which I try to avoid because of their environmental empact. I wonder if you or anyone else has a good alternative? Thank you!
Very helpful. Have you got some tips for ridged and splitting fingernails? They show year-round!
Dearest Val, I always learn something new and valuable from your excellent posts, and now I’ve added Haxthausen’s syndrome to my lexicon.
Like dermatologist Brooke Jackson, I am also a fan of hand cream for the feet, like the way it absorbs so quickly.
I am STILL going through the “climateric” process (although they are more like surges of body heat rather than sweats).
Thanks to you I now have a more descriptive, clinical way to describe it when I’m kvetching to my friends that will make me sound so smart: “I’m having a climateric crisis!” 😂 🥰 C.
Hello Val, This is the BEST. I love the words you wrote so many years ago. AND, I love that you mentioned DRY cracking feet! I have tried everything...most recently have been a fan of coconut oil and other products with coconuts...Palmer's Coconut Butter! Nothing works with my feet. Karin
Wisdom, Confidence, Character, and Strength and dry cracked feet. So true. I once gave all my girlfriends Flexitol Heel Balm. They thought I was weird. Fabulous piece.