267. Tool Kits

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

266. Notebook for Success

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

265. More Than I Understand

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

264. Darkness

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

263. Living with the Unexpected

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

262. Am I Willing?

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

261. Personal Preferences

What starts as the disappearance of my favorite birthday dessert becomes something much more unexpected. In this episode, I reflect on why our personal preferences matter, how certain foods become woven into our happiest memories, and why letting go of even the smallest traditions can feel surprisingly profound. Sometimes it’s never really about the dessert. It’s about the love, comfort, and sense of home it represents. As I search for a new birthday tradition, I’m reminded that change has a way of finding us, whether we’re ready for it or not.

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

260. Majesty

What if growing older isn’t something to fear, but something to honor? As I approach my 80th birthday, I reflect on how a lifetime of joy, heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery can shape a kind of beauty that only time can reveal.

In this episode, I explore what it means to embrace every part of myself, from the confident to the uncertain, the graceful to the wonderfully imperfect. Beauty isn’t found in looking younger. It’s found in authenticity, acceptance, and the quiet wisdom earned through living. Perhaps the greatest gift of growing older is finally learning to carry ourselves with the dignity, grace, and majesty that have been waiting for us all along.

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

259. Chaos

When life feels like it’s happening all at once, how do you stay grounded? In this episode, I reflect on navigating the joyful chaos of publishing my memoir, buying my first home at nearly eighty, and learning that asking for help is often the greatest strength of all. Inspired by a beautiful quote from Alexander Chee, I explore what it means to trust the process, surrender control, and believe that even life’s busiest seasons can bring unexpected grace. Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop fighting the chaos, wait for the rain, and watch something beautiful begin to grow.

Akasha’s Book

I’m so excited to announce that my memoir is now available on Amazon. Learn more about “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” 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

258. Random Sayings

What if the secret to a richer, happier life is hidden in the smallest moments? In this episode of Now That You Ask, I reflect on the unexpected power of laughter, connection, and everyday encounters that brighten even the most ordinary days. From playful exchanges at the local shipping store to surprising moments of kindness from strangers, I explore how humor has become one of my favorite ways to connect with the world around me.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that joy often arrives unannounced. Sometimes it appears in a shared joke, a spontaneous conversation, or simply the willingness to slow down long enough to notice what’s right in front of me. Join me as I consider why laughter may be one of life’s greatest gifts, how it brings us closer to one another, and why learning to laugh at myself has made every day a little lighter, a little brighter, and a lot more fun.

Akasha’s Book

I’m so excited to announce that my memoir is now available on Amazon. Learn more about “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” 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