IS FALL A SEASON OF HEALING?

IS FALL A SEASON OF HEALING?

When the trees begin to shed their leaves during the fall, could this act of nature possibly be applied metaphorically to ourselves… a time to let go of what no longer serves us?  Maybe we could be like the leaves falling from their source and trust the process by letting go in order to create the opportunity for something new to come into our lives.   I realized how symbolic transitions and change can be for all of us, but if we pay attention there are so many lessons from nature. Ever notice when trees begin losing their leaves, they provide us with the most spectacular color display showing us how “letting go” can be so beautiful? When the fall season arrives, I often feel let down; why did all this beauty cover the ground? I finally found solace in my heart today

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A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN

A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN

A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN By Joan Anderson I read this book in my early forties, and rereading it in my sixties gave me a whole new perspective about how life experiences offer us a glimpse into the continuous struggles we have to find meaning in our personal relationships. Joan speaks to ALL of us… Our lives are always changing just like the sandy shoreline along the beach; especially during these tumultuous past few years which have affected so many!  Joan’s book inspired me to take the time to rediscover my second half of life potential and hope her unique story will give you the courage to reveal and release the untapped resources inside of you! The Story of Joan Anderson: Joan was a loving wife and a supportive mother, but she slowly and unconsciously replaced her own dreams with

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TURNING THE PAGE ON 2020

TURNING THE PAGE ON 2020

The time to celebrate the end of a very challenging year is RIGHT NOW! Everyone has been through so much and the one thing we hopefully can look forward to very soon is being able to reconnect with our friends and family thanks to the brilliant scientists who have invented a vaccine for all of us! It has been quite a roller coaster ride this year with emotions and events that take us up summits and on dives, complete with loops and curves, hand-gripping moments, and finally a little bit of relief! Many of us carry a great deal of anxiety that we usually cover up and distract ourselves from, through work, relationships, going to a restaurant, watching television, exercising.  Some of these are good things to do, but they can also function as a way of diverting our anxieties. There were fewer

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMOTIONS

UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMOTIONS

UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMOTIONS and HOW TO APPLY EFFECTIVE COPING SKILLS Suppressing feelings takes an emotional toll and when letting them out may not be a good option, there might be healthier ways to cope.  Making sure you remain your authentic self is the first step by setting appropriate boundaries by asking yourself; “What is okay, and what isn’t okay that works for me?” HOW TO COPE: Name Your Emotions:  So many times, we do not know exactly how we are feeling and what is rarely acknowledged is that courage and fear and not mutually exclusive. Most of us feel brave and afraid all day long at the exact same time. When you have a strong emotional reaction to something try and identify what the trigger is and reflect on what is causing the problem instead of unleashing on another person. Be Honest with

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HAPPINESS = REALITY minus EXPECTATIONS

HAPPINESS = REALITY minus EXPECTATIONS

In response to the rapidly changing and uncertain times, I want to continue to offer you content that is useful, applicable and appropriate to what we’re all going through right now. I would like to provide useful information to help see you through this difficult time and empower you to nurture connection within yourself, and with friends, family, colleagues, and the greater world, even as we remain physically isolated. The recent health events have shaken many of our personal foundations because the greater social structure on which we depend upon is no longer safely in place. We are certainly living in uncertain times and we can’t do what humans love to do and that is to predict. When we feel we can predict, we feel more in control. Here is a great visual example that will remind us of the fact we ALL

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The 3 Things Emotionally Intelligent People Have in Common

The 3 Things Emotionally Intelligent People Have in Common

Emotionally Intelligent People Have 3 Things in Common. They are:     1. Happier 2. Healthier 3. More Successful This subject of Emotional Intelligence was brought to light in the 1990s when studies began showing people with average IQs were outperforming those with higher IQs. What exactly is Emotional Intelligence? A person’s ability to label, control, express and handle their emotions while recognizing and coping with the emotions of others.  The ability to use both the rational and emotional parts of their brain to make logical decisions. A person’s ability to understand that their emotions are valid and rationalize their feelings. While IQ (Intelligence Quotient) measures someone’s ability to learn, EQ (Emotional Quotient) measures someone’s ability to recognize emotion, understand it and deal with it. IQ and EQ are not related, so a person’s intelligence does not determine their level of emotional intelligence.

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A New Frame of Mind

A New Frame of Mind

What are Your Positive Triggers? We all have had circumstances in our lives that ignite a particular feeling or memory. Some are negative but there also are positive triggers. Trying to understand this about ourselves is confusing! When we begin to pay attention to these triggers by shifting our perspective and reframing our life experiences it provides us with an opportunity to become more aware and in tune with ourselves allowing more positive triggers to occur. How do we know what they are? I like to begin by noticing how I am feeling, we have to remember as human beings we are feeling people that think, not the other way around!  Getting in touch will all five of your senses is a great way to start, especially by being in nature. Seeing a butterfly, smelling an orange blossom tree, tasting the salt from

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How Are You Going to Discover Your True Self?

How Are You Going to Discover Your True Self?

What Smothers Your True Self?  7 Stumbling Blocks Are you like a fake diamond you get out of a bubble gum machine or are you like the Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian Museum? Contemplate the 7 stumbling blocks below by reflecting back on a time these have happened to you and what you would do differently right now! Fear:  We are scared of being hurt, ridiculed and not accepted, so we conform and smother our true self. It is easier to be what people WANT us to be. Doubt: When dreaming about success in one form or another you talk yourself out of it, you don’t attempt to make it a reality. You doubt your ability to succeed. Conformity Is Easier: It is hard to be different and stick out in a crowd because of the judgment and rejection of others. We want

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Tips for Empty Nesters

Tips for Empty Nesters

1. Change is Inevitable. Attitude is Everything! One thing we all know for sure is everything is constantly changing and being uncertain about the future may stir up feelings of anxiety. As our children leave the nest it is our responsibility to learn to access our natural generative energy. Stagnation, despair, boredom, loneliness or indifference leave us feeling lifeless. On the other hand; trying something new, being open and flexible, becoming involved in the life of community allows us to cultivate a more positive attitude as we grow older. Later in life the ego can no longer drive our experience. In his book Shadow Dance, David Richo creates an acronym for the ego’s FACE: F- fear; A-attachment; C- control; E- entitlement.  True wisdom comes when we shift our allegiances from fear to curiosity, from attachment to letting go, from control to trust, and

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Have You Built Walls Around Your Heart?

Have You Built Walls Around Your Heart?

Everyone has a heart that needs to be tended to. Have you built walls around yours? I wanted to share with you just a few precious presents that I have received from friends and loved ones that have involve hearts. Many know how much I love and collect hearts, I guess because I relate them to people.  Some are smooth, some have texture, others are big, some are small. I  love all the different variations of this beautiful shape. We ALL have a heart and honoring everyone’s differences and experiences allows us to see the beauty we all have inside. I am filled with gratitude and love and will always hold these treasures and the meaning behind them forever in my heart.  As Valentine’s Day approaches; it is a difficult holiday for many people. During this time reaching out to others is something

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