A Secret to Happiness

If I were to tell you about a new medication that relieves pain, reduces stress & anxiety, lessens your risk for type 2 diabetes, helps improve memory, increases longevity, and enhances overall life satisfaction, would you drop your to-do list and rush to phone your doctor’s office for a prescription?  According to an article onContinue reading “A Secret to Happiness”

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!”

Chai My Way

It’s chai season! Although it’s my favorite hot tea and I drink it throughout the year, the chillier months seem to claim it as their own, and who am I to argue? I first tried chai while living and working at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Upstate New York. One of my supervisors wasContinue reading “Chai My Way”

Does the Earth Love You?

If you’ve been around Micro of the Macro for a while, no doubt you’ve read a lot about the benefits of spending time in Nature. For example, being at the beach can reduce stress & cancer risk.  Interacting with animals can result in improved heart & immune function. Visiting a waterfall can reduce chronic pain. Continue reading “Does the Earth Love You?”

Scenes from a Hiking Trail

Are you looking for an inexpensive family adventure this summer? Exploring a new hiking trail can be loads of fun while inspiring a sense of awe without breaking the bank.  From prior posts, you know that I love hiking, and I thought it’d be fun to share a few of my favorite trail scenes. CanyonlandsContinue reading “Scenes from a Hiking Trail”

The Waterfall Effect

As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can. ~John Muir When I see the word waterfall,Continue reading “The Waterfall Effect”

Red Rocks on the Water

The lovely little desert town of Sedona, Arizona, has more than 400 miles of trails for hiking and biking, and is surrounded by 1.8 million acres of forest land, according to visitsedona.com. Not bad for a destination known for its spas and luxury resorts! The rich colors of Sedona’s earth and trees are a delightContinue reading “Red Rocks on the Water”

Glazed Autumn Bake

During Autumn, the process of baking seems to take on additional elements of warmth, goodness, and celebration.  Maybe because I relate it to meals shared with loved ones during the upcoming holidays.  Do you think of Autumn baking (or roasting, as the case may be) in a similar fashion? This is one of those quick,Continue reading “Glazed Autumn Bake”

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”

6 Benefits of Winter Hiking

I hiked one of my favorite winter trails recently.  Its abundance of volcanic rock reflecting the heat of the sun makes it one of the warmest hikes around.  Snow and ice still covered over half the footpath, courtesy of a weather system that enshrouded parts of northern Arizona for over a week.  Ascending the slickContinue reading “6 Benefits of Winter Hiking”