Social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis is creating the need to connect in new ways. We must find new ways to stay social connected.

What makes us unique makes us valuable and turns our weaknesses into strengths. Take time to be introspective. You are special.

Often, our image of how an event will play out is overly idealistic. Holiday events are a good example of reality not measuring up to expectations. We imagine a picture-perfect Norman Rockwell scene and get something closer to Home Alone chaos instead. Our expectations exceed what our resources of time, energy, patience, and finances can bear. In an attempt to recreate old memories or the feelings of holidays long ago, we may not realize that our memories have deleted the mi

What holiday traditions do you hold near and dear? Are there certain decorations, events, rituals, songs, and foods that you associate with the holidays? Do you feel like something is “missing” when you don’t practice a particular tradition? My favorite holiday traditions Some of my favorite holiday traditions include putting up a Christmas tree and decorating the house with candles, greenery, nativity sets, a Christmas village, and homemade wall hangings. We still hang our

Why is it when life is rolling along “smoothly” we often fail to notice what matters most? Then, some type of crisis befalls us – a...

Every year on the 4th Thursday in November, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday we have enjoyed since the Pilgrims first...

Who needs something else to complicate their lives? No one. Who needs something else to enrich their lives? Everyone. That...

Our guest blog is written by registered dietitian nutritionist Julie Satterfeal. Get to know her better on the community page. Julie is...

March is the month for St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break, March Madness, and… if you are an RDN, or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist,...

I am writing this while sitting on our deck enjoying the sights and sounds of the waves breaking on the beach and feeling the warm sun...

Think back to the last time you gave in to a treat. Did you try to resist? How difficult was the struggle? A woman once told me of...

“Making a list and checking it twice...” That familiar song lyric can apply not only to Santa at this time of year but to all of us. Do the holidays stress you out? If so, you are not alone. Surveys show that about two-thirds of Americans report their stress level as very or somewhat elevated during the holidays.(1) Another study found 31% of us describe our holidays as “frantic.”(2) That makes me sad – how about you? Planning and preparation can be keys to a stress-free h

If you took a walk around your neighborhood, how many residences could you name the residents? How many residences have you been inside...

What is the secret to a long and healthy life? T he Blue Zones project wa s initiated to determine the answer to that question by...

Buy less stuff - Make more memories. Are you making a list and checking it twice? I am too… but this year it is a list of memory-making activities and not a list of gifts to purchase, wrap, and pay for in January. Do stuff instead of buying stuff. This is the second Christmas season that our family has gone “stuff-less.” The first time was back in 2010 – before grandchildren – when we took all our kids and their spouses to a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. See the photo above

I venture that outside of formal school I have learned more around a table sharing meals with others than in any other single place. I’ve...