Posts Tagged: relaxation

Silence is Golden

June 26th, 2015
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wild flowers

Every day, in small ways, I now try to disconnect myself from electronic devices for short periods of time.

That may sound ironic since I am writing this post on a computer and will later talk about it on social media but as much as I enjoy using a computer or an iPhone, I also see that they distract me from participating in the quieter moments of life.

This light bulb moment came to me recently this summer during a couple of visits to our family farm in southern Maryland.  When I was a young child, it was more of … Read More

Lazing In A Summer Hammock

June 18th, 2015
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Summer is my very favorite time of year. I love the food.  I love the clothes.  I love the attitude of summer. And believe me when I tell you that I even love the hot temperatures of summer. I feel more alive in the summer and love the healing spirit of being outdoors on the longer days.   Summer’s amazing long days were brought to my mind yesterday morning as I listened to NPR. Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac came on and that made me feel better right away.  He is the American author, storyteller and creator/host of the hugely… Read More

Ways of Encouragement

May 21st, 2015
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You’re having a day. Guess what?  So am I! Let’s join each other in encouragement. We know it’s hard.  It’s stressful and sometimes it’s even lonely and painful. And yet I know I don’t want to give up.  And I know you don’t want to either.  Because right around that corner or even the next time we try to go at a problem and process those feelings of frustration, there is the possibility that it could go away. Right? What is the purpose of always being in a position of trying to solve something?  Sometimes I’m not sure.  Sometimes, I… Read More

Monday Calm & Renewal

May 18th, 2015
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It’s Monday.  I know.  I hear myself joining you in a collective groan. But instead of immediately thinking of all the things I need to accomplish this week, I am going to pause.  And breathe.  Deeply.  Closing my eyes again (not to go back to sleep) and letting my neck slowly drop as I breathe in and remain still. I am determined not to be in a hurry.  I don’t want to rush and I don’t want to be late but I also need to fill my emotional reserves with a feeling of inner calm before I tackle a new… Read More

Hooray! The Cake is Gone!

April 7th, 2015
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While cleaning up my kitchen from a family Easter party, the leftovers were talking to me.  Specifically, a delicious cake in the shape of an Easter Egg that a guest had brought from a local eatery called Wagshal’s.  I couldn’t resist and as I stood there with a fork in hand pushing away the icing and eating only the cake, I knew that this was not a good thing to be doing.  But I didn’t care. I was feeling stressed and I wanted immediate relief.  And I got it.  After about four or five bites, I got mad at myself… Read More

Make It Work

April 3rd, 2015
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I love Tim Gunn.  What I especially love about Tim Gunn is that he is oh so comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t try to be anybody other than himself. Gunn, the co-host and breakout star of Lifetime TV’s, Project Runway, is an endearing combination of someone who personally is pinned down and pulled together yet works in and respects the loose and push-the-envelope atmosphere of creativity and artistry that comes with the long running cable television series where fashion trends are sometimes born. Gunn recently came on my radar screen when a good friend posted an interview he… Read More

Changing Energy With Love

March 10th, 2015
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This past weekend marked a changing of the clocks, the official beginning of Daylight Savings time.  I always look forward to this time of the year because we gain an extra hour of glorious sunlight and more time outdoors which I love.  I know.  We also lose an hour of sleep but after a day or two I think the trade off is worth it. For me the first day of daylight savings time coincided with a much needed day trip to Richmond, VA to visit two fab people in my life: my son and his girlfriend.  I indulged in… Read More

Creating An Oasis of Calm

February 16th, 2015
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When I read the above sign, I knew I was in the right place. Isn’t it just great? I love the simplicity and comfort of this message and the fact that it was posted on a black bench in the lobby of a local yoga studio where I took my first lesson over the weekend made the idea behind the message even better. I was in a new place about to begin a new experience but felt immediately welcomed. Taking off my shoes became the first step to creating a calming place for myself.  As I pulled my boots off… Read More

Reward Yourself

January 26th, 2015
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When I find myself in times of worry or stress, I often handle it by giving myself rewards. I focus on the stressful or worrisome tasks that I have to deal with and then in the back of my mind I tell myself that when I’m done with whatever it is for the time being, I will do something that will make me feel better about life. For me, rewards are sometimes a critical part of managing the darker sides of life.  Rewards give me a boost and make me feel as though I can carry on.  It can be… Read More