Nobody warned us that midlife would involve creaky knees, unpredictable sneezes, changing bodies, comfortable shoes and an increasingly short tolerance for nonsense. A funny, candid look at the indignities of getting older—and why some of them become much easier once we learn to laugh.

At about three in the morning, my cocker spaniel starts running. She isn't going anywhere. She's sound asleep beside me, tucked against my left side because that's where she likes to be. We have nine dogs, so personal space in our house has always been more theoretical than actual, but this particular little girl has decided that sleeping beside me is her safe place. Unfortunately, my left side is also where the arm I broke at the end of June is still trying to heal, and when

I love a beautiful planner, but apparently modern planners need to know everything—how much water I drank, my three priorities, and what I’m grateful for. A long line at TJ Maxx reminded me that some things are worth noticing, even if I still don’t think they need to be tracked.