Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we excitedly packed our family of five (one with paws) into our rented Ford f-350 attached to this 40’ fifth wheel and departed the unusually temperate June Florida day. Destination No. 1: Charleston, South Carolina.
Read MoreNow that the shelter-in-place is being lifted (some states ahead of others), it’s important that we re-enter public spaces with robust immune systems. Unfortunately, magnified stress and anxiety, worsened pre-existing health issues, and the effects of a stagnant lifestyle have left many weaker than before.
Exposure to toxic cleaners in a confined indoor environment with toxic news playing 24/7 in the background while eating toxic comfort food to cope with the stress certainly hasn’t helped our immune systems. For optimal health, our bodies need fresh air, physical movement, healthful whole foods, and a balanced nervous system.
Read MoreI’ve written before about the dangers of the online world as it relates to limbic system dysfunction and mystery illness. While screens, in general, are known to suck the life force from us, spending too much time watching the news or scrolling social media places our power in the hands of all the other “experts” out there. And the current pandemic is the ideal time for those experts to tempt us away from trusting our inner knowing.
Read MoreSo many of us feel locked up right now. We need visual cues to help us get the sense that we’re not actually constrained. At first, I was thrilled that my newly free 16-year-old would have to spend more time with us. I was given the gift of precious time with him that I was otherwise losing as he started to naturally take small flights before eventually leaving our nest completely.
Read MoreI’m officially reinstating the Bored Jar. Back in the day, when my boys were in preschool and elementary, uttering the words, “Mom, I’m bored,” meant playing Russian roulette with the family jar. There were plenty of fun games and activities inside that little glass container, but there were also a few chores sprinkled in. I miss that age.
Read MoreAs we enter another month (or maybe three) of living on top of one another, I’ve found comfort in the social media posts from my homeschooling friends. If anyone knows how to exist in the trenches with our kiddos 24/7 it’s them! Every day seems to bring a new challenge, and somehow we’re making this thing work for us. I might even go out on a limb and say we’re thriving. How? This is what I’ve learned so far…
Read MoreMany of us have lived inside our heads for so long that we’ve all but lost the connection to our physical bodies. We can feel the physical pain of illness, but in general, we don’t actually feel the various parts of our body. Why have we become so disconnected? Why are most of us deaf to the whispers of the physical body and only able to hear the screams?
Read MoreIrritability and the incessant need to clean. Two warning signs that I might come unhinged if I don’t get honest with myself. A few days ago, I noticed that a healthy dose of honesty was in order.
I thought I was invincible when this all started and the notion that a virus of this severity could reach us here in the U.S. and become a reality. I was impervious to any fears that a pathogen could affect my loved ones or me. I wasn’t afraid.
Read MoreWhat ignites the soul of one person can extinguish the flame of another. Take, for example, collaboration. Working in a group environment, sharing ideas, planning a project together, finding a solution that appeals to everyone involved… much of that may sound like important, even powerful, ways to work within our society.
Read More"Judging a person does not define who they are... it defines who you are."
Read MoreMid-morning weekend drives have become a new ritual for my teenage son and me lately. He's had his driver's permit for a few weeks, and since Florida doesn't require a physical driving component to their training program, he feels pretty timid on the road. My son prefers to drive with me over his other options.
Read MoreI've been reading through some old journals, something I like to do every year or so to see how far I've come in my healing journey, and came across a gratitude writing meditation. Spending time alone with myself and my thoughts has been a crucial part of my ability to heal. I've never enjoyed the completely silent, watch your thoughts as if they're little popping bubbles of meaningless words, type of meditation. Maybe I'm not there yet. Maybe I never will be. That's okay.
Read MoreSeveral years ago I was knee deep in all the different dietary healing protocols—GAPS, Paleo, Autoimmune Paleo (AIP), Vegan, SIBO, FODMAPs, Low Lectin, Elimination, Juice Cleanse. You name it, I’ve tried it! While none of them brought me vibrant health all on their own, a steady journey made up of clean eating, lifestyle modifications, holistic modalities and, most importantly, a daily neuroplasticity practice eventually brought me to the end of the vigilant wellness-seeking road.
Read MoreNo 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 MoreThe story begins many, many years ago, but in the essence of time we’ll jump ahead to a picturesque fall day in small town Georgia. The crispness of the unusually dry, cool air gives her goosebumps, but the warmth of her companions in this moment creates a beautiful balance—a perfect yin and yang of cold and hot, vulnerability and protection. . . .
Read MoreI’ve been working on several upcoming projects that require very deep inner work. Maybe that’s why I’ve been procrastinating a bit. Sitting alone with yourself and your thoughts and feelings doesn’t seem very appealing. At least the ego would tell you it’s not.
Queue the Netflix binge-worthy shows, summer reading list, umpteenth “healthy” dessert recipe… those toilets need a deep cleaning about now, right?
Listen to my body? Are you kidding me?! How can I not hear the screams of my body's chronic pain or that sand-in-my-veins fatigue or the dizzying haze of the brain fog?! Don't tell me that I don't listen to my body. I can't NOT listen!
That's what I said when someone tried to tell me that I needed to listen to my body 7 years ago. I was doing all the right things--eating well, exercising, raising a healthy family, working a fulfilling part-time job--and feeling great until... I wasn't. This vibrant health was seemingly there one day and completely snatched from me the next.
