June 2022 Blog

When the world seems overwhelming, what do you do to help refocus?

One of my favorite songs is “Seasons of Love” from “Rent”. 

The lyrics remind us to pay attention to what really counts. 

The melody is uplifting. 

And it’s a reminder that there are 525,600 minutes in a year. 

I invite you to embrace a few of these life hacks and create space for events and days where there is more patience, kindness, love, and understanding in your world. 

Time Chunk 

You have items on your daily to-do list. 

Studies show that when there’s a time limit associated with a task, the chances of it getting done in the allotted time increases. 

How do you know if you’ve reached your goal if you haven’t set one? 

Accomplish what you set out to do and befriend the feeling of a timely success. 

You’ve just created space, now fill it with something that feels good to...

Walking in springtime. Sounds like a song title. 

Ready to get out and release the winter dust that may have descended during the chilly months? 

Let’s go for a walk. Maybe even more than once a day. 

Even 15 minutes a day of moderate-intensity walking can increase life expectancy by three years and lowers your risk of death by 14 percent, according to Health magazine. 

Ever since I was diagnosed with sciatica back in July and was advised to not do forward bends, I took to the sidewalks, and trails. I love a challenge. I had relied on my beloved yoga community to supply me with mindful movement strategies for years. Could I meet my same exercise quota through walks and weights? 

FITT is good to follow to ensure a successful workout. 

Frequency reminds one to move often.  

Intensity brings to mind the idea that for moderate exercise, you can carry on a conversation, and for intense movement, it would be difficult to sing...

Signs of Spring

Which ones have you seen lately? 

My first harbingers of spring are usually the birds. On February 12, I saw and heard my first red-wing blackbirds. These songbirds are so apparent with their call (“come-for-tea”) and bright red wings. They usually arrive in a flock so it’s hard to miss them. 

The most important factor in noticing them is to be out in nature. Got a bird feeder? They’ll arrive there. Live near water? Blackbirds or other newly-arriving flocks can be found in a tree overlooking a stream, river, or lake. 

Call to them. Repeat their song and they’ll respond to you. I love doing this as I walk past a tree that they’re sitting in. I feel as though we’re friends. 

Another sign I noticed is magpies with twigs or grasses in their beaks. I don’t see where they’re landing and yet I know there will be squawking in a few months from babies demanding (in no...

How big is your heart?

As a powerful 50+ woman, do you struggle with ways to keep your heart healthy? 

Just think about it, your heart beats 100,000 times a day. It is part of the autonomic nervous system. 

Thank goodness that all of this remarkable reliability takes place without us having to think about it. 

February is Healthy Heart Month-a perfect month for Valentine’s Day! 

Here are a few heartful facts…

An adult heart is about the size of two hands clasped together. A child’s heart is about the size of a fist. 

The youngest person who underwent heart surgery was one minute old. 

More heart attacks occur on Monday than on any other day of the week.

The fairy fly, which is a kind of wasp, has the smallest heart of any living creature.

Your arteries are 4 millimeters thick (It doesn’t take much for greasy foods to clog them).

It only takes 20 seconds for a red blood cell to...

Once again, the Holidays are upon us!

Who’s ready to look at them through a different lens? 

Be open to new possibilities. 

Grab a pen and paper. Close the door. Pretend it’s a brainstorming session with yourself and make two lists with five items on each one: 

List # 1: five things that you have your heart set on doing between now and January. 

List # 2: five items that you’d like to let go of between now and the New Year.  

Post the lists in a common area as Redesign Reminders. As you reflect on how you are redesigning the holidays, here are a few attributes that will help along the way...

Self-compassion will soothe your racing heart or dry the tear after a difficult conversation. When I was at a low point, a friend once let me in on a secret. She said, “Compare and Despair.” It’s become one of my mantras. If you need a time-out to prevent blowing your stack, take it. There will be less to...

Isn’t it funny how our taste buds change over the years? 

Then, Skippy peanut butter was the cat’s meow. 

Now, it’s freshly ground nut butter from the coop. 

A frequent treat had always been stopping at the bakery on the way home from school for a cruller.

Now, the Left-over Oatmeal Muffins with fruit and nuts are the sweet of choice. 

Then and now….how things evolve. 

I’m in the middle of my fourth fast of the year. 

Three days with only liquids and three days on either side to wean off and back onto food.

What are the benefits? 

• The golden hues of autumn are glorious. 
• It’s easier to hear the jewels of wisdom from within.
• There’s a reset with food, especially salty and sweet. 
• A calm descends and stays for weeks. 
• During a silent fast, sinking into the quiet is even easier. And, it’s fun to talk again.
• Breaking the fast, each bite of food is...

Well, it’s a new year; School year, that is. Kids are headed back to school. You’re grabbing an extra layer at night. The long days of summer are fading.

The summer months are well-known for various drinking opportunities, 30% of adults admit to binge drinking in the past 30 days. This would mean a woman drinks more than four drinks per night and a man imbibes more than five. 

Want to save money, lose weight, sleep better, and feel sharper mentally? Here’s your chance to give your liver a good cleanse...

Try indulging in Sober September.

Sounds hard?

The first few days may be the toughest.

Engage the help of a buddy. It’s easier to accomplish anything when you share a goal with a friend or family member. 

See that as your intention, to make it September 1-30 without alcohol. 

You’ll love enjoying all of your precious weekends without a headache or a dry mouth. 

Have you ever noticed how...