What if the qualities we already possess are enough to help us navigate whatever life throws at us? A quote from Marcus Aurelius got me thinking about gratitude, kindness, resilience, and the things within us that we might overlook until we need them. I found myself especially taken with his advice to “take full account of the excellences which you do possess,” although, naturally, I got a little distracted by his use of the word “hanker.” As a Southerner, I have questions.

The older I get, the more I understand that living well has less to do with controlling what happens around me and more to do with remembering who I want to be when it does. Life will always deliver its unexpected attacks, and I won’t always handle them gracefully. But when I can return to the values that matter to me, I find my footing again. Kindness, helping others, staying open to beauty, and learning from the hard moments have become their own kind of compass. Maybe being a good person isn’t something we need to spend so much time defining. Maybe we just need to practice being one.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

What happens when life refuses to give us the answers, the timeline, or the sense of control we desperately want? Lately, I’ve been finding out. Between unexpected house repairs, a flooded yard, expensive appliances, and a tooth implant that has left me a little worse for wear, I’ve been feeling like I’ve temporarily lost my footing. Then I came across a simple quote: “The human wants answers. The soul wants awe. The human wants control. The soul wants surrender.” It stopped me in my tracks.

Maybe there is another way to move through the messy, uncomfortable stretches of life. Instead of demanding a timeline or proof that everything will turn out okay, perhaps I can pause long enough to notice what is still beautiful.. At 80, I know being here is a gift, even when being here hurts. I may be a master complainer, but I’m also a master at stopping to smell the roses. And sometimes, that is enough to help me find my footing again, listen to my soul, and revive my roar.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  ⁠https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/⁠

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

Over the years, certain writers have become companions of sorts, people whose words made me laugh, think, feel more connected, and sometimes see the world a little differently. In this episode, I share the stories of three San Francisco Chronicle writers who inspired me in very different ways.

Then I came across an unexpected quote from Muhammad Ali: “The work of the heart is never done.” It made me think about what these writers were really giving us when they shared their lives and perspectives. We never know who is listening, or how something we say might reach someone at exactly the right moment. Perhaps one of our greatest gifts is simply having the courage to let ourselves be seen, soft heart and all, and to meet one another with a little more kindness along the way.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

What does it really mean to be authentic? For most of my life, I thought being myself simply meant being honest, kind, and dependable. But over time, through heartbreak, travel, self-discovery, and a willingness to look more closely at who I really am, I began to realize that authenticity is something much deeper. It means letting go of who I think I’m supposed to be and making room for all the parts of myself, even the imperfect, quirky, impatient, and vulnerable ones.

In this episode, I reflect on the lifelong process of discovering who I am and the freedom that comes from finally embracing that person. Authenticity isn’t a destination or a lesson we learn once and move on from. It’s a daily practice of noticing when we’ve drifted away from ourselves and finding our way back. And when we give ourselves permission to show up fully as we are, we create something beautiful: a space where others feel free to do the same.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

After discovering that my attempts at assembling a garage shelf are better left to someone with actual expertise, I started wondering what tools might help me when I’m stressed, grumpy, or impatient. So I’m building a personal toolkit, one small strategy at a time. A little self-forgiveness, a good laugh at my own behavior, a favorite song sung loudly in the car, and a few reminders to help me shift my perspective before frustration takes over. Because perhaps being prepared for life isn’t about having the right answer or the perfect tool. Maybe it’s about knowing what helps us find our way back to ourselves.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

Recently, while I was moving, I stumbled across a “Notebook for Success” I created in 1995. Filled with quotes, pictures, monthly rewards, and plenty of optimism, it made me laugh, reflect, and wonder how much of that younger version of me is still around. Looking back, I can see that even then, I was trying to understand myself and trust that life would somehow lead me where I needed to go.

More than 30 years later, I’m still learning, still wandering, and still occasionally making choices that surprise even me. In this episode, I reflect on the lessons hidden in my younger self’s words, the choices that shaped who I am today, and the comfort of knowing that no matter where I find myself, there is always something I can do next.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

What if we could trust what we sense, even when we cannot fully explain it? From the suffering and uncertainty I see in the world to the quiet pull of intuition and inner knowing. What happens when I stop demanding answers and simply pay attention to what I feel?

Moving into a new home has become an unexpected lesson in trusting that inner voice. I may not understand why this house called to me, or why so many things that once felt right no longer belong, but I am learning to let the space, and life itself, reveal what comes next. Perhaps there is freedom in accepting that we don’t have to understand everything we see. Sometimes we simply need to trust what we know, remain open to the adventure, and let the next chapter unfold.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

Moving into a new home has stirred up more than boxes and to do lists. It has uncovered old fears, impossible expectations, and the quiet voice that sometimes tells me I’m not enough. IWhat if my worthiness does not disappear just because I’m overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling? What if the way I speak to myself during life’s hardest moments matters more than whether I get everything right?

As I wrestle with garage shelving, missing paperwork, and my need to stay in control, I begin to see myself through a gentler lens. I explore what it means to accept both my strengths and my shortcomings without letting either define my value.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

Moving to a new home has reminded me that even the best planned adventures come with a healthy dose of chaos. As I settle into unfamiliar surroundings, I find myself learning far more than how to operate a new stove or toaster oven. I’m learning how to live with the unexpected, laugh at myself, and trust that things eventually find their proper place.

Every box I open seems to hold a lesson in patience, resilience, and letting go of the need for everything to go according to plan. While this transition has tested me in ways I never anticipated, it has also filled me with gratitude for new beginnings and the quiet joy of creating a home. Sometimes the unexpected isn’t there to derail us. Sometimes it’s there to remind us that life is still full of surprises, and that we are more capable of adapting than we ever imagined.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com

Some of the most meaningful moments in my life arrived disguised as interruptions to my carefully made plans. As my memoir was released, I also bought a new home, celebrated my 80th birthday, and found myself overwhelmed by change, gratitude, and the realization that life’s greatest gifts rarely unfold on my schedule.

Looking back, I can see that every unexpected twist, whether joyful or difficult, carried me somewhere I never could have planned on my own. Learning to loosen my grip on the outcome has become one of the hardest and most rewarding lessons of my life.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here:  https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

Listen to more episodes like this and subscribe to updates at https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com