Emotional Wounds: The Secret to Your Why March 3, 2014 • 2 Comments It is no secret that my kids are the inspiration behind what I do. They are my why. It has been this way since becoming a mother, but when our lives changed that fateful day in 2010, my why shifted to another kind of why, much bigger, and more definitive. This deeply passionate and devoted why was ignited by a man…
The Power of Video for Self Discovery: Removing the Mask February 28, 2014 • 6 Comments I have written about my experiences of coming out from behind the lens, much like a child stepping out from the folds of her mother’s skirt, slowly revealing more and more. When my blog first went “live,” I made my computer gal take it down so I could get used to the photo of myself being out there. It was…
After an Affair: Healing After Betrayal February 26, 2014 • 2 Comments Over the last three and a half years I have tentatively tiptoed my way across the landscape of betrayal, and to be honest, the mental gymnastics require nothing less than raw courage. On days when I am feeling utterly naked and vulnerable, I attribute it to my husband being a selfish philanderer, but truthfully, just a few steps beyond that,…
Gluten-Free Cookie Recipe: Almost as Good as Toll House February 24, 2014 • 4 Comments My childhood was relatively simple compared to the world today. We had kick the can, meatloaf, grilled cheese sandwiches, LP’s and turntables, board games and Campbell’s Tomato soup (with a can of water added, not milk, thank you). That about sums it up. We even ate Iceburg lettuce and thought it amounted to eating healthy. As far as I know,…
Olympic Mastery and Meditation: The Common Thread February 21, 2014 • 2 Comments Olympic figure skating and ice dancing have the same effect on me as The Shawshank Redemption — I can’t resist watching, held spellbound by the skaters as they spin and twirl themselves around the solid, and oh-so-frozen slab of ice. As a child, I fantasized about being one of them, but the sad truth is I cannot skate to save…
Fermented Foods: On Kombucha and Enlightenment February 19, 2014 • 2 Comments I am a big fan of G.T. Dave’s Kombucha. I discovered it years ago and became addicted and started buying it by the case (it’s a lot cheaper that way). Then, Lindsay Lohan claimed it made her drunk in a car accident and – poof – they removed it from the shelves. For months, loyal devotees would visit the empty…
Are We There Yet? Three Essentials for Healing Trauma February 17, 2014 • 4 Comments When I was growing up we did a lot of road trips. We’d pack up our hideous sky blue & wood-paneled Mercury Montego station wagon and set off for the adventure at hand, primarily skiing. Sans the electronics of today, Mad Libs, I Spy, books and backgammon provided the entertainment. These games often had a short life span and always…
The Ultimate Expression of Love: Self-Trust February 14, 2014 • 1 Comment One of the muscles I have been nurturing and building over these last few years is a previously unused and withered one: the one of self-trust, which translates to following my own intuition and staying aligned with what I know to be true for me. I have always been particularly good at standing up for my children and outside causes,…
Parent Suicide Resources: When Children Grieve February 12, 2014 • 5 Comments In the aftermath of my husband’s death, I pursued every resource I could find to aid in my children’s recovery. They were not particularly fond of their brief foray into therapy because they found talking to a stranger about such an intimate experience “weird.” One of them attended a Survivors of Suicide support group but had a hard time finding…
Breath Work: Pranayama Breathing for Healing Trauma February 10, 2014 • 1 Comment Although it has been a challenge to keep my mind on solid ground these past three years, my exploration of yoga, breath work, therapy and writing as ways to manage all the moving parts has helped tremendously. Due to a medical recommendation last year to try Adderall for better focus, I avoid pharmaceuticals. One pill and I was off on…