I’m not sure who needs to hear this, BUT… On February 28, the sun will set after 6:00 pm! (East Coast, USA) Yes – and furthermore, the sun won’t set before 6:00 pm until very late in October! Even next weekend, when we try to “manage” the daylight hours of our day by turning our […]
Change isn’t always comfortable or easy, but it is simply part of this life. Some changes are small and maybe simpler than others. To make a big change will be a challenge, and for that reason we want to offer to partner with you as you seek the big changes in your life. Breaking free
To Live is to Change Read More »
Cautions for Co-use! When e-cigarettes arrived in the US, around 2008, I remember thinking that, if regulated, e-cigs might be a useful tool in tobacco cessation. But I had some serious concerns about whether the manufacturers would be content to sell a smoker e-cigs for a few months – as a quit tool. “Wild Wild
Smoking and Vaping Read More »
Anyone else feel a little discouraged when the forecast says we’re in for several rainy days? I know I’m not the only one who’s mood gets as gray as the skies during a week like that. Recently, I was grumbling about the forecast and a friend shared their delight in the very same forecast. It
This winter was harsher than the past few winters, and I don’t think that I’m the only one ready for some change. When I found some photos and videos of my goldfish pond on my phone, they really changed how I felt. Watching my fish swim around, see the frogs and lillies, remembering the sounds
Right Around the Corner Read More »
Happy Birthday to Cherilyn Sarkisian, better known as “Cher!” I’ve always been fond of her music and talents as an entertainer. I also think it’s about time she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! She’s had a number hit on a Billboard chart in each of the last seven decades! But
Cher Your Thoughts? Read More »
Legality & Lethality NPR, on the first day of Black History Month 2024, posted this timely story about the proposed Federal ban of menthol as a tobacco flavoring. You can listen to it by clicking the arrow below. Some of the glaring health disparities evident today are directly and indirectly a result of the prevalence
It is a happiness to wonder; it is a happiness to dream. When one thinks of Edgar Allan Poe, images of a dark or mysterious nature come to mind. Fall of the House of Usher, the Raven, and similarly dark works are likely why Poe remains popular today. But this quote invited me into one
Yes, this is a public service announcement to remind you that this weekend (very early Sunday morning) we’re supposed to turn our clocks back an hour. That means we get “an extra hour.” It’s an interesting idea. What would you do if you had a free hour to use as you wish? What would you
There are plenty of things in life that aren’t fair. Sometimes, some people are motivated to try to address disparities. For starters, we need to see the unfairness. If it’s something that doesn’t impact us personally, we may be completely unaware of glaring inequity. So, here it is – a brief and informative video that
Meditation and mindfulness are both wildly popular and widely misunderstood. While I am not an expert on the subject, I have personally reaped great benefits from a daily discipline in the past. But I became complacent and wandered away from my practice. For reasons that remain a puzzle to me, I have been slow to
Solstice greetings to you and yours! As we near the shortest (and darkest?) day of the year – may we look forward with a deep sense of hope about the brighter days ahead. And as nature marks this point in its cycle of seasons, let us seize the season and claim the brightness ahead as
Brighter Days Ahead Read More »
A Story of Numbers After my eighth serious quit attempt in three years, it finally took. Support from the QuittersWin group and mindful use of NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) helped me finally sever the chains from my 45-year, pack-per-day addiction. I noticed a difference right away! By the end of day two smoke-free, I was
Maybe Miracles Do Happen? If people can maintain coherence and avoid terrible detox symptoms, they might be able to hold hope long enough for a miracle to occur. I’ve seen the bumper sticker that says “Expect a Miracle.” Some days I might scoff at such unreasonable hope. Some days I might wish that expecting a
Fierce and Frail – Part Two Read More »
Part One – A Fierce Storm Today Rehab and Detox beds are nowhere to be found. Demand is higher than ever. Resources are more scarce. Staff are harder to hire and keep. Overdose deaths (CDC figures) rose 30% from 2019 to 2020 and another 15% from 2020 to 2021. The system has been broken for
