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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HE HAS THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

HE HAS THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

Remember the song, “He Had the Whole World in His Hands”? We need to restore our faith in our fellow human beings and it reminded me of a story I heard recently: A well-respected physician was being interviewed one day and was asked if there was a pivotal moment while he was in medical school; he paused for a moment and thoughtfully mentioned it happened in his gross anatomy class. He went on the explain how students were assigned a human cadaver and the tremendous amount of respect he had for this 87-year-old woman who donated her body to science. Her decision was selfless and what a gift she was really giving all of us as she continued to teach a future doctor long after she had left this earth; for all of should be grateful. The physician went on to say something

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WHAT IS THE TRUE DEFINITION OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE?

WHAT IS THE TRUE DEFINITION OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE?

I am OUTRAGED when there is any human being or any other living creature that is forced to endure or witnessed suffering through violence and abuse. Maybe this time in our history is a wake-up call for all of us to address the atrocities that occur each and every day all over the world to people from different cultures, races, gender, and most of all of the children.  The innocent are those who have no choice, no voice, and their only method of survival is dependent on the people that abuse them.  This is a universal dilemma on multiple levels; the current events are devastating and the incidents happening everywhere have an enormous impact; especially on children.  Would it be possible to just go back and think about when you were a child?  All you wanted was to be safe and secure and

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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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ARE YOU WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE?

ARE YOU WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE?

THE PSYCHOLOGY TO FREEDOM Are you ready to escape the prison of your own mind? We can be our own jailers or we can be our own liberators, which one would you choose? As I read the following quote from Dr. Edith Eva Eger’s book; The Choice, Embrace the Possible, I felt an immediate sense of empowerment because as a Holocaust survivor who endured unspeakable horrors and brutality, Dr. Eger decided to transform her suffering into a powerful gift—one she uses to help others heal. “The most important truth I know is that the biggest prison is in your own mind, and in your pocket you already hold the key: the willingness to take absolute responsibility for your life; the willingness to risk; the willingness to release yourself from judgment and reclaim your innocence, accepting and loving yourself for who you REALLY are—-human,

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Spring Forward: It’s Time to Forgive!

Spring Forward: It’s Time to Forgive!

Spring is such a great time to renew yourself! I read a quote a while ago that said; “Hating someone is like taking your own poison.” We all have been deeply hurt by someone. It is difficult to let go because we justify our perspective, but that keeps our pain from moving through us so we can heal. But we must forgive if we want to live a wholehearted and happy life! A great book to read on forgiveness is; The Book of Forgiving, by Desmond Tutu and his daughter Mpho Tutu. They provide a pathway to forgiveness I have personally applied to my life and I found this process extremely helpful. There are four pathways to forgiving; 1.) Telling the Story 2.) Naming the Hurt 3.) Granting Forgiveness 4.) Renewing or Releasing the Relationship Forgiveness is a very personal journey that will

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5 Ways to Spring into Action With Choices, Chances and Changes

5 Ways to Spring into Action With Choices, Chances and Changes

Almost EVERY ONE of us has been given the choice to make a change, BUT… if we Chose the status quo, our life has little Chance to Change. Of course, our lives can be overwhelming at times; so before you get too stressed out here are a few tips that will help you and your family have a productive summer! Start each day with one single goal in mind… PEACE OF MIND. Peace of mind means FREEDOM from ANGER, GUILT, and  FEAR! Here is a question you can ask yourself, “What am I able to do today to nourish my mind, body, and spirit?”  You may take a walk, make a phone call, go to the gym. It may be uncomfortable but try it anyway! 1. Eliminate BLAMING others….this will give you peace of mind by giving you control over your life which is what everyone

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