When we took our eldest son to college this weekend, I noticed something new in the heart of campus, painted on the sidewalk at each roadway intersection: Heads Up Phones Down In other words, kids, pay attention to the here and now. (And don't get run over.) Students entranced by their devices apparently have had some close calls, necessitating the stenciled letters on the sidewalks. … [Read more...] about Heads Up, Phones Down: A Rule for Life in the 21st Century
MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Faith & Sweat: Battling Addiction, Moment by Moment, Day by Day
The lightning illuminates the sky with a frequency that rivals paparazzi flash bulbs firing. Torrential rains fall, and angry thunder rumbles. I think of a Mom and her young son, snuggling together in front of the television in a clean motel room in a safe part of town, seeking normal in a world that's been turned upside down, over and over and over again. The mother, feeling guilty and … [Read more...] about Faith & Sweat: Battling Addiction, Moment by Moment, Day by Day
Thoughts on Social Media, Soul Care, and Silence
I almost quit Facebook this week. I was ready to disappear, with no warning to friends or family, those who "like" my professional page, the women in my "Faith and Sweat" Facebook group, or any of my business associates who communicate through a network of Facebook groups. The political vitriol, the snarky and hateful comments responding to news accounts, the agendas, the noise - I was done … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Social Media, Soul Care, and Silence
What Happens If You Look Beyond the Weeds?
Each time I pass our kitchen window, or sit at the table nearby, I cringe and berate myself a little. I immediately want to stop whatever I'm doing, grab work gloves, go outside, and start digging. The mulched, natural area in the furthest point of our yard once beautifully held a few bushes and flowers, crepe myrtles and a dwarf magnolia, two filled bird feeders, and a small mobile fire pit … [Read more...] about What Happens If You Look Beyond the Weeds?
Stressed? An Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. — Jon Kabat-Zinn My introduction to mindfulness practices came during a time of personal upheaval. I was anxious and fearful, critical of others and myself. And I could turn most any negative thought into something bigger than it truly was. On the outside, I looked fine. But inside … [Read more...] about Stressed? An Introduction to Mindfulness
Not Creative? We Were Made to Create
You were made to create. We all were. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines creative as "having or showing an ability to make new things or think of new ideas. And as children formed in the image of a Creator, we have an innate ability to create. So maybe we've just forgotten. How often, when faced with the possibility of trying something new, have you said either audibly or silently, I'm … [Read more...] about Not Creative? We Were Made to Create
