I was five years old when the Stonewall uprising occurred in NYC in June of 1969. I am 55 as I participate in the Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 celebrations. In the span of 50 years, the world has profoundly changed a little at a time, drop by drop, each bead of water small in volume but collectively impactful.
Read MoreLast month I had the pleasure of participating in a ceremony based on the tea traditions of Taiwan. Seven of us gathered on an outdoor veranda with an expansive view in the early morning light to share tea in silence. I can still feel the cool, damp air on my skin, hear the water simmer as it approached the right temperature, and smell the earth in the brewing leaves.
Read MoreEarlier this week I had the privilege of volunteering at America’s Grow-A-Row (AGAR), a non-profit organization that grows and distributes fresh produce to hunger relief agencies across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They also provide free fruit and vegetables directly to the community through free farmers’ markets during the summer and provide educational programs on hunger, poverty and healthy eating in the offseason.
Read MoreWe are having an unusually wet and cool spring in the northeast this year. It’s mid-May and we have seen more rain than sun with temperatures hovering in the 50s. The occasional sunny 70-degree day feels like a gift. The shift from indoor winter workouts to outdoor spring ones has been slow. I’m longing for the nice weather so I can go outside and play.
Read MoreOne of the things I love about wellness is that it’s an ongoing journey; there’s no final destination. That leaves a lot of room for experiential learning. Last month I tried intermittent fasting for the first time. I was astounded by how good I felt after just a few days. Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating. It’s about when you eat rather than what you eat.
Read MoreToday is Tax Day in the United States, when we settle our tallies with the Federal and State governments. Some taxpayers will be getting refunds while others, like me, will be writing checks. I used a red marker to make a heart on the notes line of the check. I also said a quiet “thank you” as I slipped the envelop into the mailbox.
Read MoreOn February 14, 2017, we celebrated my mom and dad’s 64thwedding anniversary. The family gathered around the kitchen table, toasted their long-term good fortune and reminisced. Each memory was punctuated with a smile, laugh or tear. The rhythmic sound of an oxygen tank hummed in the background, pumping air into my mother’s deteriorating lungs . . .
Read MoreI often hear scenarios where someone is inspired to make a wellness change but reverts back to old behaviors and habits when the intended result isn’t quickly realized. The desired changes can include a new eating approach, getting to the gym, meditating, starting a morning practice or being more present throughout the day. The reason why most efforts cease before true change can take root can be linked back to one word – uncertainty.
Read MoreIt’s early morning and the alarm sounds. You reach towards your night table and swat at the clock, hitting the snooze button. As you drift off for another nine minutes of sleep, you think about the workout you have scheduled and a feeling of paralysis overcomes you. You work through an endless list of excuses conjured up to convince yourself why it’s okay to sleep in this morning. The internal battle begins. Can you relate?
Read MoreYesterday was Valentine’s Day. While the commerciality may not be appealing, there is joy in expressing affection for our significant other with some sort of gift or celebration. We easily acknowledge the importance of spending quality time to nurture our relationships. But kind words and sweet actions can extend beyond our one and only. As we continue to move through the northern hemisphere winter . . .
Read MoreThe word “tracking” is defined as evidence, as a mark or series of marks, that something has passed. Wilderness trackers are experts at reading the story of the land. Novice trackers first learn the basics of interpreting single elements, like paw prints or scat or rubs. Over time an experienced tracker will learn how to incorporate specific signs with the overall landscape . . .
Read MoreA lifehack is a tip or trick to do things better or quicker. It’s a means of getting results without putting in the effort. And they may work at first, but at what cost?
Read MoreNew Year’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year. The other is about six months later on my birthday. Both provide opportunities to look back and dream forward; check-ins for living the best life I can at this time.
Read MoreThe new year will be upon us soon and I love to get a head start on riding the momentum of its blank slate. What better way to connect with our deepest desires than by creating a free form collage of things that zing the right side of the brain? While I love the tangible quality of old-school magazine cut-outs, I like the expansiveness (and sometimes overwhelm) of digitally available images.
Read MoreThe time between Thanksgiving and December 31 can be a minefield of less than optimal wellness decision-making. I found a way to navigate the holiday season that gives me momentum into the new year.
Read MoreOn June 10, 2018, less than a month after my 54th birthday, I registered for my first ultra-marathon, a 50K race in northwestern New Jersey taking place in November. It was quite a leap for someone who typically runs three to five miles twice a week.
Read MoreI started this blog post while sitting in an airport lounge on an unusually quiet Monday morning, carry-on luggage by my side. There’s a feeling of ease once the packing is done, like the decisions have been pre-made and all that’s left to do is settle in for the journey. On the flip side, there’s a disruption to our schedule, which is good once in a while, but it can wreak havoc on fitness routines.
Read MoreIt was almost 20 years ago on a brisk autumn evening that I was walking up the stairs in Rockefeller Center and the toe of my black pump caught the hem of my trench coat. I tripped and hit the stairs hard, still clutching my briefcase as my hands broke my fall. I quickly scrambled to get myself upright, nodded to other commuters who briefly stopped to ask if I was okay, and made my way to Port Authority.
Read MoreAthena was the Greek goddess of reason, intellect, art and literature. According to Greek mythology, she was born fully grown, springing from the forehead her father, Zeus. Known for being fierce and brave in battle, she was also principled, only engaging in war when it was in defense of state or home. Carrying spear and shield to signify strength, she also valued wisdom and is pictured quite often with an owl on her shoulder.
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