Yes, I know, I live in the American South where it’s supposed to be hotter than blazes here all summer. But it’s not usually that hot at 3200 feet where we live and the climate is generally pretty mild. So we’re headed for our first 90-degree days of the summer this week and we’re already … Read more
We all need hugs every single day. As you’ll see from this article, human contact is vital for physical and emotional survival. Babies who are not cuddled, hugged and nurtured will not grow. They eventually may develop lifelong emotional problems or even die. Many years ago, we lived in Africa, where mothers routinely bundle their … Read more
If quitting smoking is on your to-do list, congratulations! You couldn’t possibly do anything more beneficial for your health. I’m the first to understand this is no simple task. It has been said that stopping smoking is more difficult that breaking a cocaine habit. That means you’ll need all the help you can get including … Read more
Are you a multitasker? True confession: I am an inveterate multitasker. am. I often find myself taking a weekend break, reading a book, drinking tea, perhaps texting with family members and even checking the news on TV while kind of /sort of supervising the guy painting downstairs and wondering if I answered the e-mail from … Read more
I know. This time of year, everyone is all obsessed about exercise and trying the shed those holiday buffet pounds and all of my fellow writers are urging you to hit the gym. I look at exercise in a slightly different way: As a stress management tool. It is perhaps the most effective stress buster … Read more
Yes, indeed. I am probably crazy. But I did it on New Year’s Day. (See attached photo for proof). I am a die-hard swimmer. Swimming soothes my soul. I admit that soul soothing generally takes place on balmy summer days, but my swimming addiction reached a new level this year when we bought a lot … Read more
In the holiday rush, it’s hard to step back and take a moment to smell the roses. I love finding the time to sit back with a cup of tea and feel grateful for friends, family and all of the abundance in my life. I’ve been doing a spiritual exercise centered on gratitude for many … Read more
Do you have any personal rituals? You may think that’s an odd question and you’d deny any such thing, but let’s try a few I use on for size: In fact, on Sunday mornings at 8:40 a.m. is the Sacred Moment: When NPR’s Puzzler comes on the radio. No one is to talk to me … Read more
My recent post on healthy food on a budget sparked one of my regular readers to write me with a question: What about us lazy cooks? Truth be told, I’m a lazy cook, too, most of the time. Cooking is just not one of my favorite activities. For everyday meals, I take short cuts, I … Read more
Too busy or too tired? That seems to be the story of most of our lives. But there are natural ways to boost your energy, relieve the stress and put the sizzle back in your love life. A healthy sex life is part of a healthy lifestyle. Well, according to the 2012 Kinsey report, less … Read more