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  • The best laid plans…or a lesson in acceptance

    I had plans for this weekend. I was going to hike a trail I’d never been on. I was going to participate in another sound bath. I was going to declutter the Christmas shelf in the storage room. I had plans for this weekend. The Universe had other plans…like a lesson in acceptance and going…

  • Busting meditation myths

    So you think you can’t meditate? Perhaps you accept the research that says regular meditation is good for your physical and mental health, but it’s just too hard. It may be that your understanding of meditation relies on some common meditation myths. Today I’m going to bust three of those myths. But first, we need…

  • Thank you notes: little bits of gratitude from July 2021

    Thank you sisters… …for a wonderful girls trip. It was truly cheaper than therapy…and more fun…and probably just as effective. Thanks to the pool for offering us a respite from the unbelievable heat (average highs around 110 degrees Fahrenheit). And thanks to Tuacahn Outdoor Ampitheatre for a fabulous performance of Beauty and the Beast. Photos…

  • Summer bucket list: 60 before 60 style – update 1

    Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen Here we are a month into summer. The weather has been so hot in our neck of the woods, it’s hard to believe it is not yet “deep summer.” I hope it doesn’t get much warmer…I may  melt. Regardless, it is time to check in on…

  • But the greatest of these is love – revisited

    I originally published this post in my first year of blogging…six years ago. In my humble opinion, the message bears repeating. If anything, its importance has become more evident in light of the lessons learned from COVID and social distancing. I hope you will indulge me in this repeat. I am pleased to report that…

  • Thank you notes: little bits of gratitude from June 2021

    Thank you Maddi… …for the thoughtful gift. You knew how much I liked this cactus, and you made sure I got it. Not to mention the custom-painted pot. Thank you Brooks… …for the most wonderful Cascadia trail runners. While you won’t actually catch me running on many unpaved trails, these shoes are perfect for hiking…lighter…

  • Summer bucket list: 60 before 60

    Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June. Al Bernstein Summer is truly and officially here, and with it my Summer Bucket List. Last October, I announced that I would be completing a 60 before 60 Challenge in the year leading up to my 60th birthday and that the challenge would take the place of…

  • Take the High 5 Challenge for an instant confidence boost

    Are you looking for a way to start each day on a positive note, with a boost to your confidence? I’ve got a simple answer for you. After your morning routine…before you leave the bathroom…give yourself a High 5 in the mirror. Maybe throw in an encouraging word, “You got this!” No, I’m not crazy…well…

  • In Defense of Food: a book review

    Everyday it seems a new miracle diet hits the market or a ground-breaking nutritional study is released…one that contradicts the last great breakthrough. How’s a gal (or guy) supposed to know what to eat for optimal health? If you are looking for a simple answer to this complex question, Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food:…

  • What is a sound bath? A first-timer’s experience

    I recently had my first sound bath…no tub or water involved…but it certainly was cleansing and relaxing. I couldn’t wait to share my experience with you.  As an avowed overthinker, my first experience with anything is bound to be at least a little stressful. Will I like this? What’s going to happen next? Am I…