Happiness

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” Mark Black Well, here we are at the end of August. I know I’m not alone when I say how quickly my beloved “summertime mode” has gone by. I’ve been busy, similar to the bees and hummingbirds in my yard that I watch when they are happily collecting nectar from the flowering plants. But it’s been a good busy. I’ve tended to my yard, took hikes, baked cakes for my volunteer work that supports children in homeless shelters celebrate their birthdays and supported clients in…

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down,” Lily Tomlin Step Into Nature’s Calm—Right From Where You Are I love National Relaxation Day! It’s such a great reminder of the importance of stopping, resting, and re-grouping. Taking time to relax and recharge is not something you should ever feel guilty about—yet in our “always productive” culture, it can feel out of alignment. The truth is, relaxing is one of the best things you can do for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. And when you add in the beauty of nature, the benefits multiply even more.…

As summer begins its gentle wind-down, August offers a natural pause—a chance to slow the pace, reflect on your growth, and integrate what’s been shifting within you. Over the last few months, we’ve explored some powerful ideas together: The Stress-Weight Connection — how chronic stress affects the body, and how vital it is to become aware of your stressors and use tools that build inner calm. When you operate from that foundation, your body can begin to release weight more easily. You’re able to make choices that support you—instead of working against you. Self-Talk as…

It’s hard to believe summer is already beginning its wind down. I’ve been watching my container plants—usually an abundance of showy, cascading flowers—start to look a little spent. They’re not blooming as prolifically, as the photo shows, and I can see it won’t be too long before I’ll be cutting back many of the perennials and annuals to make space for any fall plantings I might decide to plant. And just as those plants are showing signs of summer’s end, I’m feeling it too. I feel like I want to simply stop, take it all…

 “Happiness doesn’t start with a relationship, a vacation, a job, or with money. It starts with your thinking and what you tell yourself everyday!” – Unknown Let’s talk about that voice in your head—the one that can lift you up… or bring you down. In the last Mind Matters blogpost, I focused on the power of self-talk—that inner dialogue that can either empower or limit us. What’s important to remember is that the way we talk to ourselves deeply influences how we feel about life, our choices, and even our happiness. In fact, the foundation…

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” Leo Tolstoy Ahh, spring is in the air! Love this time of the year. For me, it’s a time when I feel very connected to Mother Nature. As I look out in my yard and see how the little blossoms are starting to show up, it reminds me of how this is truly the season of renewal and letting go of the heaviness that winter can feel like. It’s refreshing and gives hope of warmer days to come. The trees, that have been bare of their foliage,…