Yesterday was Solstice, some call it Yule. Last night I lit the last candle on our menorah in the dining room as my wife recited a prayer in Hebrew. A decorated tree waits in the living room, glowing softly as it waits a few days until Christmas, which is followed every year by Kwanza – […]
Toward Brighter Days Read More »
At a midweek QuittersWin meeting I was stricken by the beauty in the struggle of brave souls on the journey to beat an addiction. Yes, their struggle – which some days can leave them (temporarily) defeated, allows me to see their courage and strength in inspiring ways. There were some tears among the candid conversations,
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 »
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
Lavender is brilliant and (for me) she’s local, too! I’ve known her and her family for several years and I will acknowledge my personal bias. Lavender is lovely! You don’t need to agree, but I suspect that you will. Here’s Lavender getting the “Golden Buzzer” to send her straight through to the finals in season
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
Life will never be stressless, but maybe we can find better ways of managing our anxiety, stress, or feelings of despair. Why do we react to stress that way? When folks relapse and go back to vaping or smoking, it is almost always due to a stressful situation. The stimulation caused by nicotine in the
There’s a phrase I hear often and even when people are talking about serious matters, I’m tempted to smirk or laugh. Maybe you use or hear this phrase – “emotional baggage.” OK, “I’m pretty sure you meant to say “griefcase!” is a kinda funny response (I’m a sucker for a cheap laugh.) But the things
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(even when it’s ten below zero?) I heard myself grumbling about the weather getting cold recently. It made me realize that I hadn’t performed my annual winter magic ritual. So, I looked at the 10 day forecast, picked the coldest morning, and created a calendar event so I wouldn’t forget. I was out on the
NOTE: I wrote this short post in 2017. Since then, I have become aware of some comments made by J K Rowling that are disrespectful to transgender individuals. That’s a big deal to me! I vehemently disagree with her position on trans rights, AND (not but) I also love some of her novels. I think
Guilt and shame are NOT the same, at least in my opinion (humble or otherwise.) So, to be clear, I am not even consulting a dictionary on this one. We all have a real internalized understanding of these two words. We know – in our gut – what they feel like. I’d like to challenge
Disclaimer: To be clear, I’m not a doctor and I’m not trying to diagnose anyone. I just want to encourage folks to seek the help they need. One of my compassionate colleagues sent out a reminder about Seasonal Affective Disorder and it seemed perfectly timed. So BIG thanks to Danielle D’Addamio, PT, DPT! As the
What to Expect and What to Do For folks addicted to nicotine in any of its forms, stopping means you will encounter some withdrawal symptoms. However, these symptoms can vary widely from person to person. The discomfort caused may not be directly related to the amount of nicotine you’ve been using or the length of
Nicotine Withdrawal Read More »
Perhaps we’re missing the point when we think and talk about the glass being half empty or half full. More important than the current state of the glass is this fact: The glass is refillable! That’s right! It’s my glass and I take responsibility for refilling it. So, what things can refill one’s glass? These
Prepare to be get schooled by a class of kindergartners who are well-versed in the practices of mindfulness and breathing techniques. Julie Bayer-Salzman and Josh Salzman were inspired by their son and his class who proved to have a lot of wisdom on the matter. They spent a day with the kids and families involved
