Good morning,

The world feels heavy this week. The ground keeps shifting, and even the holidays—meant to be a soft landing—can feel like one more thing to carry. If you’re tired, you’re not alone.

So this week, PROVOKED isn’t about sparkle or perfection. It’s about choosing what matters when things feel overwhelming. It’s about finding comfort in the unglamorous and building connection wherever you can. Quitting Christmas. Buying fewer things—but better ones. Finding family where you didn't expect it.

None of it fixes the world. But it does something quieter and more powerful: It keeps us human. It keeps us connected. It keeps our spirit lit.

I’m finding my own steadiness in the same places many of you are—work that feels purposeful, my family and friends, and this community that keeps growing while refusing to be quiet.

That’s my invitation this week: Stay, read, rest where you can. Glad you're here.

LIVING OUT LOUD

​I Quit Christmas (and Everyone Survived)​

BY LINDA WATTIER

Almost every woman feels this at some point. What happens when we stop performing for a major holiday—and nothing actually falls apart? A sharp, honest look at guilt, invisible labor, and the relief of opting out.

BRAIN AND BODY

​Are You There Magnesium? It’s Me, Menopause.

BY SHARON BRANDWEIN

Magnesium isn’t sexy—but it might help you sleep, calm down, and stop waking up at 3 a.m. Finally, here’s a no-BS guide to which kind works for which symptoms.

DEAR READER

Welcome to Dear Reader—These stories come straight from our readers: smart, funny, fearless, and unfiltered.

​The Grandson We Never Met​

BY DONNA SUPITILOV SKORA

Estrangement is quietly becoming an epidemic—especially for grandparents. One woman turned devastating loss into chosen connection, redefining family on her own terms.

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STYLE

​The Thrift Store Is My Midlife Rebellion​

BY MADELEINE DELIEE

Thrifting isn’t about saving money—it’s about opting out of trends that stopped working years ago. A stylish case for clothes with history and dressing for yourself.

ICYMI ... OUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

​The PROVOKED Edit: Last-Minute Gifts We’d Actually Give​

BY SUSAN DABBAR

Last-minute happens. Thoughtful still counts. These are the gifts our team actually recommends when time is tight. These aren’t “gift ideas.” They’re things we’d actually give, happily receive, or buy for ourselves without regret. Considered. Useful. Some, a little indulgent.

TAKE NOTE

Timely and worth your attention.

🏟️ Yes, women’s sports are finally having a moment—and yes, the money is improving. But before we break out the confetti, consider this: The 20 highest-paid female athletes made $293 million last year, led by Coco Gauff at $33 million. Their male counterparts? The top 10 alone pulled in around $1.4 billion in 2025, with Cristiano Ronaldo at an estimated $275 million. Progress? Absolutely. Parity? Not even close.

🧠 Merriam-Webster just named “slop” its 2025 Word of the Year—defined as the flood of low-quality digital content, much of it AI-generated, clogging our feeds. Last year’s pick? “Brain rot.” (Yes, we wrote about that.) Together, they feel less like wordplay and more like a warning. Maybe that’s our cue this week: Put the phone down, close the apps, and talk to someone across the table instead of through a screen. Consider it a smarter way to get through the holidays—with your brain (and spirit) intact.

🎤 Mariah Carey is officially bringing a pop-star pedigree to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 56-year-old icon will perform at the February 6 opening ceremony in Milan’s San Siro stadium, marking her first Olympic appearance ever. With 19 No. 1 hits and a place just behind the Beatles on Billboard’s all-time list, this isn’t a nostalgia grab—it’s a reminder that some voices don’t age out, they just get louder. Ci vediamo a Milano, indeed.

💬 Help shape PROVOKED.​
We’re always tweaking the newsletter, and your opinion actually decides what stays and what goes.

It’s eight questions. Forty seconds. Talk to us here.​

READER SPOTLIGHT

✒️ Here's what one fabulous reader had to say this week:

Want to be featured next? Drop a comment on your favorite piece—we read them all.

You’re Not Too Late

Hundreds of women have already nominated their favorites—we’re keeping the door open a little longer.

Who’s a woman over 50 whose work you enjoy or learn from?​
She might be a writer, journalist, podcaster, Substack author, Instagram voice, YouTube creator, or community builder you follow online. We’re building The PROVOKED 50—a list that celebrates women over 50 who are smart, outspoken, and creating in public.

Nominate up to five women you pay attention to and admire.

💬 Five questions. One minute. Real impact.

​

OUR SHORT LIST

🧪 Can berberine, cinnamon, and green tea really mimic Ozempic’s effects?​
What the science suggests—and what it doesn’t.​

🧹 You don’t need a full purge to feel better. These seven decluttering moves make room for a calmer holiday.​

🎄 It’s not the food or the decorations—it’s what you do before guests arrive that sets the whole tone. Holiday hosting wisdom worth stealing.​

🕎 Why does Hanukkah move around the calendar every year? A clear, surprising look at the holiday’s origins—and how the dates are set.​

🤖 Trying to reach a real human at Amazon? This is the fastest way to get past the bots. ... And if you get trapped in customer-service hell, we’ve got this article to make you laugh. ​