Stress – it’s everywhere – in much of what we do, see, hear, and read. Most of us think of stress as an external circumstance that affects us in a detrimental manner. But we can have a lot of self-inflicted stress, as well, that can be just as harmful. In a past post (Nature Interrupted),Continue reading “5 Ways to Reduce the Stress You Didn’t Know You Have”
Category Archives: Psychological Health
5 Reasons to Become a Master Gardener
Back in the fall, I took an online Master Gardener class through the Cooperative Extension of the University of Arizona. (I think I mentioned it to some of you.) My goal was to learn to grow flowers and veggies here in Northern Arizona. For years I’ve tried and failed in this lovely high desert environmentContinue reading “5 Reasons to Become a Master Gardener”
Need a Reason to Get Away? Here You Go!
Do you remember vacations as a kid? I can recall living for vacations. My family would always go to the Gulf of Mexico and stay in a motel on Florida’s Panhandle. We traveled to Flarda, as it’s pronounced in the South, to swim, lie in the sun, play in the surf, and deep sea fish. Continue reading “Need a Reason to Get Away? Here You Go!”
Healing Made Simple
I recently listened to a podcast in which Dr. Zach Bush, an MD specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care, was interviewed. The subject was healing the mind, body, & spirit, and Dr. Bush, who is also well-versed on the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, addressed it with his typicalContinue reading “Healing Made Simple”
8 Quick Morning Practices to Supercharge You for the Day Ahead
I remember well the morning rituals of my days working in an office. Jump out of bed, no time for breakfast, shower & dress, and rush to work, often arriving flustered & grumpy, feelings which could linger for hours. At the time, it felt as though there was nothing I could do about it, asContinue reading “8 Quick Morning Practices to Supercharge You for the Day Ahead”
5 Merits of Wonder
Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand. ~Neil Armstrong Earlier this week, I was watching Dr. Gay Hendricks, psychologist, body-mind therapist, & author of over 40 books, in an interview, and the concept of wonder came up. Human beings thrive on wonder, he said, and gave examples of hisContinue reading “5 Merits of Wonder”
Nudges Along the Path
Last week, I commented on a few lovely photos of footpaths in the woods and started thinking about all the pictures I have taken of rural paths and roads through the years. There is something reverently hopeful about the sight of them; I suppose that’s why we have so many sayings like take the highContinue reading “Nudges Along the Path”
Smellscapes
Have you ever noticed how a familiar smell can sometimes take you back to childhood? How the scent of roasting coffee beans can cause you to close your eyes and deeply inhale its lusciousness? And how the odor of stinky garbage consumes your attention until you can get rid of it? In addition to ourContinue reading “Smellscapes”
6 Ways Gardening Can Elevate Your Life
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. ~Alfred Austin, English Poet (1835 – 1913) Some of my earliest memories involve sights of rich, dark soils, green leaves that seemed to go on forever,Continue reading “6 Ways Gardening Can Elevate Your Life”
7 Lifestyle Touchstones from the Healthiest Person I Know
Over the years, I have learned that regularly investing in the health of my mind, body, and spirit is vital. I don’t want to live forever, but I do want to feel good, enjoy life, and thrive as long as I’m on the planet. When I go to my annual doctor’s visit for a check-upContinue reading “7 Lifestyle Touchstones from the Healthiest Person I Know”
Micro of the Macro 