A few months ago, I wrote about how our nation’s incredibly divisive political environment is harming our mental health. As I said then and many times before, we are not designed to live in a constant state of fear, worry, and stress. Chronic stress takes a toll on our hearts, minds, and bodies, robbing us [...]
I’ve thought a lot about what to share in my October blog. I could talk about how we need to take good care of ourselves during this chaotic election cycle, but I did that in August. I could talk about all sorts of mindful self-compassion and mindfulness techniques, but I’ve been doing that every month [...]
Happy September! I thank all of you who sent prayers and words of support for our daughter Danielle as she recovers from surgery. I directed my mind to touch on each person who commented on my Facebook page, allowing their prayers to enter my heart. That helped me feel loved and cared for when she [...]
Have you been in a funk over politics lately, constantly checking the news headlines to see if our nation will survive this bitter political season? If you live in the United States, you probably are worried about the election and the potential for political violence. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 80% of Americans fear [...]
Doing good isn’t just beneficial for us when all is going well; it boosts our spirits when we are struggling and going through big changes, research shows. Think for a moment about some simple things you can do to brighten up someone’s day. I’ll start... Hold a door open for them. Ask them how they [...]
Hi, friends! I just got back from my 45th high school reunion in Cleveland, Ohio. It was so nice to experience belonging, connection, warmth, and authenticity with old friends. We are all 63 now, and everybody was just happy to be alive and be together. I know high school memories aren’t so happy for many [...]
Hello my friends. Thank you for opening my monthly emails. I’m grateful to have you in community with me. I hope spring has sprung well for you thus far, for those of us in the northern hemisphere; for those down under, I pray you find ease this season. In April, I was fortunate to attend [...]
I’ve been dealing with a health challenge (another one!) for the last three months that has me using mindfulness, self-compassion, meditation, and every practice and treatment I can find to heal. I’m afflicted with eczema on my back, which makes it itchy and inflamed. I’ve experienced nothing like it before, and now, at age 63, [...]
Did you know that World Sleep Day is held the Friday before the Spring Vernal Equinox of each year? This was news to me, a sleep-challenged person! World Sleep Day, organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society, aims to lessen the burden of society’s sleep problems through better prevention and [...]
Imagine you are riding your bike for the first time since the holidays, after weeks of sitting around and overindulging. As you pedal up an increasingly steep hill, you feel your breathing and heart rate increase, like a motor revving. Not wanting to get discouraged, you focus on the pavement just ahead of your front [...]
