When we give grace to something or someone or to ourselves, we grant permission for it to ‘be,’ just as it is. This is a form of radical acceptance*. We are meeting ourselves and anything around us exactly where we are, for how we are, without judgment and without expectation. Practicing grace can be a new way of living for some of us. Quite often, we are ingrained with a mindset of ‘being the best’ or striving to be ‘perfect or nothing at all.’ These are extremely limi

There’s something really wonderful about spending time outdoors. Outside, is, of course, where we all started, at one time in our cosmic lives, with everything we would need available for our basic survival. Plants for food or healing, animals for companionship or food, wood for structures or fire, water in the streams for hydrating or cleansing, oxygen in the air for vital breath and eventually land for agriculture and stone and ore for reinforced structures or self-protec

I always love staying at a hotel and placing the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door. There’s something liberating about politely telling guests and staff ‘leave me alone.’ We don’t take enough time in our lives to make this same request. It can feel like we are perpetually asked to engage, respond, answer, check email, listen to messages, react. In this digital age, we literally have our world at our fingertips, in the palm of our hands, always at the ready. The cell pho

As you go through your daily life, think about how you’re reacting to situations. Are you responding from a place of anger, fear and want, or are you open, accepting and curious? There are two common mindsets associated with these feelings: scarcity and abundance. For many of us, our overall perception of life and whether we have available resources was instilled in our youth. We either grew up with a sense of lack, constantly yearning for something, or we felt we had th

The news headlines these days are ripe to leave us feeling uncertain about the future and sorrowful for the suffering of others across the world . This is a normal feeling when affairs are out of our control. Across the world, countries are fighting, resources are scarce, global warming and deforestation are ever-present, riots and unrest are happening in the streets of America, Wall Street numbers spike and crash daily, politicians align with agendas for power – there is c

Do you have those days when you just don’t want to do ANYTHING? I do. They creep in, often when least expected. For many years, I fought to pull myself out of the ‘funk.’ I told myself something was wrong with me for feeling blasé, melancholy, depressed. And then I started learning how to find the space to lean into what I’m feeling, rather than pushing through and blowing it off. It’s important to first remember that feelings are telling us something. They are the body

So, we’re not talking about the store (though, it is a personal favorite of mine for their selection of organics, sustainable products and focus on overall wellness). Rather, let’s start with what are whole foods? The easiest way to remember is that these are the foods that look like they do in nature - vegetables, fruits, unprocessed meats, unrefined whole grains, nuts and seeds. Eating whole foods gives you a clean and balanced diet, and the opportunity to get the maxi

Starting new habits comes with a rollercoaster of emotions. First, there’s the excitement around envisioning your end goal. Then, you’re fully engaged by putting new habits into practice. You probably start experiencing progress. Awesome!! At some point though, perhaps anxiety sets in, feeling like the new habit becomes too hard, or you sense you may not achieve your goal. If you’re like me, you find yourself in a downward spiral to abandon hope, spurred by self-doubt t

If you're in the midst of changing your eating or lifestyle habits, I’d like to offer some healthy living tips, below, to keep you on track for your goals! For those who read my Diet Schmeyit article, this last week has been a time to experiment with drinking more water, reducing packaged foods and bringing gentle movement into your routine. Are you ready to add more? Here are some new ideas to explore as you continue with your healthy living transformation: 1. Sleep!

So often, when we think about supporting our bodies for a long and healthy life, we easily land on diet, weight management and exercise. It’s just that easy, right?? Beyond these typical areas, something that can be overlooked is brain health . Controlling all functions in our bodies, the brain is an essential component of our longevity. With even a small about of brain deterioration, which is common through aging, the risks for compromised health later in life increase.