Big can be Beautiful
I was sitting out in my backyard the other day staring around at the different trees and bushes that are blooming and I had a thought…”the bigger tree really is the most beautiful”. Then, as someone who struggles with weight and body image I started to create an analogy in my head, related to my trees. This tree is huge…it has a big trunk, a big system of roots, big branches and it covers a big section of my backyard. But you know what else it is? It’s beautiful. It has beautiful, green leaves and it provides wonderful shade in the heat of the summer. It is the picture of strength and confidence. No little wind is going to knock down this tree – it is going to stand strong. And even though it might lose some...
On the Road Again – Part 1
My parents are on a soul-searching trip across the eastern part of the US, and they agreed to share some of the more poignant moments of their trip. I’m so excited that they’re able to do this trip and I am hoping that they are able to experience a sense of freedom and peace while they explore and contemplate their places in life. They are driving and stopping whenever they feel the urge, doing some hiking, beach strolling, camping and general sightseeing. I’m so glad they agreed to share some of their photos and stories…I know there are a lot of people who wish they could do what my parents are doing and enjoy living vicariously through them! Here is their first update from the Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia: An Owl...
Wanna Stay Married? You Gotta Talk!
I’ve discovered, again, how important communication in a marriage really is. It’s amazing how easily it is to slowly stop talking about what you deem “the small stuff” until one day you wake up and realize you don’t talk about anything, big or small. You each go about your days engrossed in your own jobs, your own friends, your own experiences and feelings until eventually you feel like you are living with a roommate. You forget what it was like when you actually focused on your relationship instead of focusing everything on your future, your finances, your career, etc. You forget what it was like to get excited when your partner came home from work, or took you out to a movie…the excitement, the spark, the connection is...
Embracing the weirdness
I was having a conversation with the hubby the other day and it went something like this: “I know this is dumb, but I…blah blah” then I said “I know this is lame but I feel like…” then I told him “this is really weird but I want to…”. Finally he interrupted me with “why do you think everything you think, do or want is dumb, lame or weird??” Huh. I was speechless for a minute because I hadn’t realized that all of those insecure thoughts in my head were coming out in my conversation. I was actually a little ashamed to realize that I was criticizing the part of my personality that essentially makes me who I am…the weird and quirky, yet fun and loveable side of me. I was...
Women, take care of yourselves!
Whether it’s a perceived lack of time, lack of worth or lack of support, many women feel that it is impossible to concentrate on taking care of themselves in addition to everyone else they feel they must take care of. Mothers and grandmothers have an especially difficult time feeling generous toward themselves, often neglecting their own health and boundaries in order to indulge others around them. What these women must understand is the profound impact that self-care can have on their bodies, their relationships and their peace of mind. Self-care can include anything from a bubble bath with candles, to simply practicing positive thoughts for five minutes a day. Studies have shown that self-care greatly reduces stress, thus improving the...
Engage in Positive Thinking
We hear the term “positive thinking” and right away most of us picture a group of hippies chanting mantras around a bonfire. Well, positive thinking isn’t just for hippies; it’s for anyone trying desperately to arrive at the other side of a stressful situation with their sanity in tact. When your spouse comes to you and wants a divorce, when your baby goes away to college, or when your paycheck as a single parent isn’t going to pay the electric bill this month, positive thinking can go a long way in keeping the panicked feelings at bay. Positive Thinking is NOT Automatic Positive thinking is not something that comes automatically but rather requires time and practice. You wouldn’t go out and run a 5K without ever having run before, or open your...