A photo blog of some images seen above from 2014. Enjoy.
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2015!
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2015!
 Have you ever felt like you have spent your last emotional penny? Mentally, emotionally, and/or psychologically you were flat broke-desperately in need of a sizeable deposit? Writer, Cheryl Strayed, recounts how the loss of her mother, the only parent she depended on, took such a withdrawal from her soul that she turned to hard drugs and casual sex to dull the pain. Strayed, however, bravely trusted her instinct to walk the Pacific Crest Trail, alone-not knowing where it would lead her. Each step literally and metaphorically was an attempt to become whole again. What struck me most was how nature, not modern medicine, provided the antidote to her suffering. Wild, Strayed’s best-selling memoir is now also available in a newly released film version. Treat yourself. I’d love to hear what you think of it.
The protagonist, Jill Bradley, in my debut novel, I Know You’re There, also flees to nature after loss, betrayal and a traumatic life event leave her clinging to the planet by her fingernails. Bradley, impulsively heads to a remote Caribbean island where the lure of sand, salt and the sea offer her comfort. The science of water and its healing ability is now being validated. Dr. Wallace J. Nichols has compiled his research and that from other experts in his new book, Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. If you’ve ever wondered why you are drawn to the ocean, a lake or warm bath, you’ll love his book. As our planet becomes more populated and filled with more technology, perhaps we have under appreciated what was commonly available to us. Quiet forests where trees older than we serve as a reminder that there may be storms we may have to endure. Where the radiant-orange sunrise reminds us the world does not stop to wait for us. And the blooming of our favorite spring flowers tell us life is full of renewal and magic. Do you find peace in nature? Share your favorite ways to connect. #Wild #BlueMind #Nature #Healing  It’s not easy being jolly on demand. It’s especially hard if you are one of the millions who travel over the river and through the woods to get to your holiday destination. Add some sleet, snow, traffic, and airport delays and you’ll be looking for the rum to add to your eggnog.
Most holidays-religious or not, include gathering. With over 7 billion people on planet earth and counting, perhaps it’s time we rethink all gathering at once. Enter create your own holiday! This year we gave Thanksmas a try. The urban dictionary defines Thanksmas as the celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas with family that will not be able to be together at Christmas. We coordinated with our family in the north to find a day that would be convenient for everyone to gather. We found a random Sunday in December. There was no shortage of food, cheer and joy. There were no traffic jams and no kids cranky from being over shuffled from house to house. Even Mother Nature seemed to go with the idea as she gave us the gift of a clear, sunny day. If you decide to venture out on the holiday this season, I wish you well. Be sure to look both ways, you don’t want to get run over by a reindeer. Happy Holidays! What do you do to make the holidays more festive? |
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