Why We Practice

I recently read a story about a series of journals a mother left her daughter, all of which were blank. The book, which is titled When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams, is a reconciliation of this experience and her mother’s death, along with an exploration of what it means to have a voice, what suppresses it, and what's left in the wake of its void.

About halfway through, I closed the book and felt intense gratitude for the dozens, maybe hundreds – I've never counted – of notebooks that I've filled over the last 30 plus years in a way I never appreciated before. I've always had the impulse to write, but never paused to consider why.

And in that moment, I realized it didn't matter what happened to those notebooks. It was the act of writing, the process, the practice, the ritual of picking up a pen and expressing my unique view, if only to myself. It has led me on a well-documented path of self-discovery and growth.

Connecting with Inner Wisdom

One of my favorite wellness practices was unexpectedly born out of the pandemic restrictions in March 2020. In the early days of lockdown, I made it a point to walk outside on the trails that are near my home each day. I have kept up that practice each spring through fall and look forward to the first walks of 2022 in the coming weeks.

While I love to hike with others, my daily walks are mine alone by choice. It’s a way for me to practice deep listening – to the natural world and to myself. In doing so, I find I’m more surefooted when the uncertainty of change swirls around me. The more I walk in silence, the more I trust the guidance I receive. The more trustworthy the guidance, the more faith I have in my next step.

These walks rejuvenate me. Nature reminds me that the world is perfect just as it is and there’s an underlying rhythm and seasonality to all life, including mine. These walks remind me to keep my senses acute and my perspective broad. They remind me to be present and allow “what is” in this moment.

Embracing the Next Stage of Life

In a recent podcast episode, I interviewed Tedi Brunetti who introduced herself by saying, “I sing, I write, I play the drums. I have an album out. I’m doing music videos.” And then the 69-year-old added, “I’m a grandma, proud of it. I’m just moving on with this phase of my life in retirement.”

And so began an hour long conversation about living life in stages, aligned with what matters most. For Tedi, it was a journey from musician to mother to medical technician and then back to musician. She’s proud to give each stage of her life, whatever was important at the time, 200% of effort, living with no regrets. This is a woman who does not have a bucket list because anything she wants to do, she does.

It’s an inspiring way to live. And it got me thinking about how we typically transition between life phases. Why is it that we don’t always embrace what might be revealed when the dark red theater curtains are opened and we find ourselves on a new stage of life?

What I've Learned from My 100-Year-Old Father

My father was born in 1922. Five days ago, he turned 100-years-old.

When my mother passed a few years back, he decided it was time to sell his home and move into an (un)assisted living facility. Aside from some industrial deafness and impaired sight from macular degeneration, he is remarkably spry in both mind and body and strong in spirit. He can easily pass for someone 20 years his junior.

Here’s what I’ve observed that I believe has added to his overall longevity and ongoing vitality…

A New Year's Invitation

Every year, I write a New Year’s blog, trying to put a new spin on using the impetus of a fresh start. In 2019, it was about choosing a theme for the year (A Clean Slate). In 2020, the focus was bringing more lovingkindness into the new year (Metta for a New Decade). And last year was about surrendering and allowing the year to unfold (Holding the Empty Space).

I like this evolution. For decades, I was very disciplined about my New Year’s resolutions – continuously striving to get better and achieve big goals. These days, just typing that sentence sends me back to adrenaline spikes and never-ending fatigue. Maybe it’s the season of life I find myself in or the perspective a few years of global upheaval can bring, but a kinder, gentler approach seems appropriate.

Do you feel this way, too?

Distraction is a Drug

When was the last time you completely turned off the noise – no technology, no clocks and no conversation? This past weekend, I had the opportunity to do just that for 24 hours, joining an unplugged virtual retreat.

The rules were simple: attend the opening and closing meetings; cover all clocks; abstain from looking at screens; abstain from speak to other people. At the end of the opening meeting, with a click of the “end meeting” button, we all vanished in cyberspace. And there I was – no phone, computer, tablet, internet, television, podcasts, audiobooks, clocks and no conversation. Absolute silence…

We’ve been hearing more and more about technology addiction, especially since the start of the pandemic. Technology can be a quick and easy way to soothe or escape uncomfortable feelings, confining circumstances or boredom, as would a drink or a drug.

The Journey Toward Authenticity

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you are.” That quote is attributed to Joseph Campbell. It came to mind as I was preparing a recent post for a podcast on the link between authentic living and well-being (Episode #93).

What I learned during that discussion is that it’s not about arriving at the final destination of authentic living. Rather, it’s about the journey that brings us to deeper levels of understanding of ourselves. As Victor says in the episode, “Authentic living results in true well-being when we understand how we continuously create our health profile based on our mindset, life choices and lifestyle.”

But what does it really mean to be our authentic self?

Sailing Into Deep Waters - Part II

In the last blog post, I recounted a conversation I had with podcast guest Paul Trammell, who turned his dream of becoming a writer and sailor into a living reality (Episode #83). And he does so by intentionally designing his life to align with what matters most to him.

It’s an uncomplicated, stress-free life, but one that necessitates ongoing learning and growth. And it’s a life that is carefully curated to maximize the things that make Paul happy.

Paul recommends that we all spend some time thinking about what makes us happy and what our ideal life would look like by walking through a simple process…

Sailing Into Deep Waters - Part I

Have you ever dreamed of leaving your current life behind to sail the tropics? When I was in my 30’s, I can remember reading every book I could find about people who did just that – they bought a boat, learned to sail and set off to live out their days in the islands.

Eventually I realized that, for me, it was less about the sailboat and more about the freedom to live life on my own terms. But I recently had an engaging conversation with Paul Trammell, who turned his dream life of becoming a writer and sailor into a reality.

There were two exchanges during our conversation that had great impact. One has to do with how to reinvent yourself through change and the other is how intentional living can lead to happiness.

Welcoming Seasonal Change

We experience four seasonal shifts each calendar year: two solstices, marking the shortest and longest days of the year, and two equinoxes, when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal. The solstices mark the beginning of winter and summer, but the palpable seasonal turns happen in the spring and autumn when we can sense the energetic transition to a new phase in life. There’s a move toward outward activity and growth in the spring and then a shift inward toward less activity and release in the fall.

You can feel those shifts, can’t you? This time of year, we naturally turn inward toward rest and reflection. It can be a time for acknowledging growth and accomplishments by reviewing all that was experienced during the year. And it can be a time for grieving and releasing what was lost or what wasn’t done.

Right Timing

We’ve all heard the sentiments: timing is everything; right place, right time; if it’s meant to be...

There are times when you want something to happen so badly – and it doesn’t. Times when you’re poised to make a move, but in your gut, you know it’s not time. And then there are times when the very thing you’ve been dreaming of happens without effort, as if it fell out of the sky.

Why do certain things happen at certain times? It’s been my experience that whenever I try something new, there’s a shift that needs to occur in my inner world to be able to prepare for right timing.

Story as Remembrance

I have always been fascinated by story. As I get older and my elders pass on, I seem to have become a family repository of sorts: sepia tone photographs, 8mm movie reels, letters home written by a 21-year-old uncle I never met who was killed in World War II, my grandmother’s handwritten recipes, my fathers state champion gymnastics medals from the 1930s.

Each of these artifacts tell a story. And our family history is enriched by the ability to hold an object and help us remember who we are and where we came from.

The power of storytelling took on added significance this past week as I watched a documentary entitled Memory Box: Echoes of 9/11.

Flow State and Well-being

When I’m asked where I get my ideas for The Athena Wellness blog and podcast, I often reply that I’m in an ongoing conversation with my business. Of course, this isn’t literal, but I do feel a call and response relationship with Athena Wellness.

This relationship is rooted in creative energy and leads the way to best serve my clients, readers and listeners. And I’ve found that the deeper I go with anything – a business, a partnership, nature, a project, or a practice – the more I set the stage to enter creative flow.

Bucket List as Motivation

When I was 40, I embarked on a road trip, driving my camper van from New Jersey to Alaska and back. I was working on Wall Street at the time and had just over three weeks of vacation to make the journey. Even at that intense pace, it was a dream come true for me, born out of an item on my bucket list.

From a wellness standpoint, I think these types of lists can inspire and peak curiosity. When we’re in this state of exploration, our presence deepens and we can feel our level of engagement and happiness increase. Such lists are also reminders that this lifetime is finite, and there’s no better time to take action than right now.

Upping Your Vibe

We’ve all felt it. Someone walks into a room and the energy shifts. Perhaps the person brings a sense of heaviness. Or tension. Or an uplifting feeling that elevates the mood and makes everyone smile.

Isn’t it interesting that we can feel stressed around some people but good around others? We carry this energetic residue and can emit it ourselves. This is because we’re made of energy, in mind, body and spirit. So what we feel when we’re around others turns into how we feel. Energy is a vibration that travels in waves, attracting like energy.

The Beach as Medicine

A much needed, long awaited road trip to a favorite beach is on the horizon. I’m looking forward to the drive out, time with family and friends, and long walks to hidden coves for some quiet time.

It’s hard to disagree with Plato, who is quoted as saying “The sea cures all ailments.” The beach is the perfect setting to enhance our overall well-being.

Here’s how the combination of sun, sea and sand can act as natural medicine that nourishes our body, mind and spirit…

Shifting Perspective as a Wellness Strategy

The warm days have arrived in the Northern Hemisphere bringing a sense of joy. Simple pleasures abound, like spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors. The mood feels uplifting and quite a contrast to what we experienced last summer. The shift in perspective is palpable.

But we don’t need to wait until the conditions are perfect to experience contentment. In fact, the natural world provides limitless opportunities to shift perspective whenever we’re feeling stuck, anxious or unsure.

You can learn to tap into a place of awe and curiosity whenever you’d like if you’re open to it – and it can change your whole perspective, so much so that this practice can become a useful wellness strategy.

The Benefits and How-tos of Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and not eating. I like to think of it as a strategy of when to eat versus a diet that imposes what to eat.

If you think about it, we’ve been fasting throughout evolution, from our hunter-gatherer days, long before refrigeration existed or food was available on demand.

I like the fact that the practice is simple and flexible. There’s nothing new to learn, no new foods to shop for, nothing to prep, no tracking of calories or macros required. It’s merely an experiment with my schedule, making adjustments in accordance with how I feel.

How to Stay Well in Changing Times

Once again, we’re undergoing a huge shift as we being to re-engage with the world, not just in terms of getting back into our social routines, but readjusting to the pace of change.

Author Ray Kurtzweil, who is the Director of Engineering at Google, has written about the acceleration of change, predicting a doubling of paradigm shift rate each decade. That’s a staggering rate of increase, translating to 20,000 years of technological advance in the 21st century instead of 100, based on his models.

How do we navigate these relentless seismic shifts? How can we fortify ourselves to manage the oncoming waves of change that will inevitably speed up as the years continue?

Thoughts on Re-emerging Post Pandemic

Are you starting to sense a bit of a shift? Last year at this time, the pandemic was taking hold and the future felt fearful and uncertain. Today, there’s hope of a return to some sense of normalcy.

But our next steps can feel tentative. A recent American Psychological Association survey found that 49 percent of adults feel uncomfortable about returning to in-person interaction when the pandemic ends. And 46% don’t feel comfortable returning to pre-pandemic life. Here are three themes along with a few suggestions to make your journey back into the world a little easier.

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