No longer operated by the puppeteer who has now put down the control bar, she is able to begin to heal. Her companion uses food as medicine and tries various holistic modalities to bring her back. Some work to an extent, while others seem to do very little. The intent is always the same - mend the strings so that you can be my perfect marionette once again. . .
Read MorePlay - the most overlooked piece of my wellness puzzle, and maybe yours...
I don’t know about you, but somewhere along the line—amidst landing that stifling career in my twenties, taking on the responsibilities of owning a home, bringing two little lives into this world who would be utterly dependent on me, and getting chronically sick—I forgot how to play…
This topic is the thread that tied the last decade of my life together. The more noise those of us affected can create, the more unwitting victims can be helped.
The increasingly common, and often hidden toxin has been underestimated for far too long. Relegated to a mere nuisance for those with overt allergies or sensitivities, mold lurking in the basement, behind paint and baseboards, in AC ducts, and under carpets may be wreaking more havoc on your health than you realize.
Though misunderstood by many—even in the medical field—there is a difference between mold toxicity and a mold allergy. A mold allergy is what my husband experienced when we pulled off the door frames and found ourselves face-to-face with Stachybotrys, i.e., black mold. An allergy elicits an immune response that usually manifests with symptoms in the sinuses and lungs. This response is typically an acute one (at least on the surface) that subsides when a person removes himself from the proximity of mold.
Read MoreThis topic is the thread that tied the last decade of my life together. The more noise those of us affected can create, the more unwitting victims can be helped.
The increasingly common, and often hidden toxin has been underestimated for far too long. Relegated to a mere nuisance for those with overt allergies or sensitivities, mold lurking in the basement, behind paint and baseboards, in AC ducts, and under carpets may be wreaking more havoc on your health than you realize.
How many of you have felt isolated and even rejected in the midst of your dis-ease?
What happens when you’ve sung that hidden illness tune so many times that your song is no longer heard?
Maybe it started with the doctors who couldn’t see anything wrong with you in their impersonal work-ups.
Read MoreModern day society values hard work. Most of us are brought up to believe that success can only arise out of blood, sweat and tears. That’s how we can become the best versions of ourselves. That’s how we can accomplish greatness. That’s how we can be happy.
Problem is, all this hard work, or being busy, actually distracts us from being happy!
Read MoreLike many you I felt that I had given up so much in my life in an effort to heal.
I gave up gluten, dairy and a laundry list of other foods in an effort to heal my gut.
I made this mean that I had given up on enjoying restaurant meals and social events with friends.
I gave up my high paced career when my energy was no longer available to sustain this lifestyle.
I made this mean that I wasn't really the accomplished woman with whom I had so strongly identified for decades.
Since implementing a mindful eating practice I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my energy levels after meals. Slowing down to acknowledge a meal that you are about to eat and savoring the bites as they touch your lips may seem like a luxury we just don't have the time for these days (not to mention a bit odd), but there is real evidence that this practice translates into health benefits for you.
Read MoreWe spend the first half of our lives learning to live in society and the second have unlearning everything we've been taught.
Read MoreAs we embark on another holiday season, some of us may begin to feel the angst of what's to come as we sit down to dinner with family and friends.
Read MoreWe tend to give away our power in many areas of our life - in our jobs, in our marriages, in our friendships. It's in these same areas (and more!) that we often find ourselves tolerating less than ideal circumstances...
Read MoreAre you feeding yourself from within or seeking approval and love externally in an effort to feel nourished? Do you allow others to define who you are and who you're not? Do you waste time and energy worrying about what others think of you?
Read MoreWe live in our narrative, our story, our paradigm. Mark Twain said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”
Our inner story is based on ruminations of the past and fears about what could happen in the future. It’s real, but it’s not true. The story playing in our head and the emotions that go along with it are very real, but our idea is not true...
Read MoreIt was the evening of July 31, 2012 and I had hit rock bottom. My husband and I were celebrating our thirteenth wedding anniversary with a lovely dinner by candlelight that he had lovingly prepared for me at home. At this point, I was aware that something was going awry with my energy level so I knew better than to indulge in my favorite red wine. But, even totally sober and immersed in this romantic setting I was unable to keep my eyes open. My head hit the table and I was asleep before dinner was even served. How did I get here? What was happening to me??
Read MoreIf I can’t be superwoman for my family then how can I really be there for them? How can I insure that I’m doing everything possible to raise my children (or grandchildren) in a loving and supportive environment in the midst of my dis-ease? What does this look like?
I know what it doesn’t look like. It doesn’t look like giving and giving and giving at the expense of yourself, only to end up playing the martyr. Been there. Done that. It didn’t feel so good.
Have you ever had that feeling in the pit of your stomach when faced with a new challenge? That gut punch and rapid heartbeat that seem to electrify you at the near mention of an activity outside your comfort zone? I find it happening more and more lately now that I’m no longer “sick”. So many thrilling life experiences were put on hold for half a decade while I found myself increasingly confined to the stability of my own safe little world. Now that I’m really living life again I find that activities I once took for granted sometimes scare the crap out of me.
Read MoreI was drawn to this quote by Dr. Seuss when decorating my son’s “big boy” room years ago. I displayed it proudly above his bed in those adhesive vinyl letters that were so popular (and maybe still are?).
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