Valentine’s day; think about what that day means to you. For some, it’s flowers, chocolate and a romantic date night. For others, its new valentine’s pajamas for your kids, buying cards and treats for their classrooms, and making heart shaped food. For some, you experience both of these on February 14th. Valentine’s Day is a…
Emotional cycles are the interactive elements in our relationships with family members, friends, and co-workers. Negative cycles start when we become triggered by a someone’s troubling tone of voice, facial expression, or remarks. Immediately, we will feel an emotion that often prompts us to get angry or anxious. We may feel a bodily sensation due…
Hope for Humility & The Good Life As we gear up for a season with seemingly endless opportunities to receive gifts, I contend that one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is developing a more robust practice of gratitude. Even though we like to believe that we do things altruistically for others most…
Talk About the Holidays Early It is probably not the best time to sort out details for a holiday the week or night before. Beginning to have early conversations about where and how holidays will be spent can take some of the pressure of these decisions later on. The earlier that you can begin to…
For many couples, love has taken a beating just like the rest of things over the past year. Now is the time to take the opportunity to reengage with your loved one and both check in with one another as well as ask some questions of each other that often get missed in the rush…
Earlier this year, COVID took us all by surprise, forcing us to face unimaginable challenges and rearrange our lives. As the holiday season is upon us, we are once again faced with readjusting our traditions and expectations. For many, the holidays used to mean gathering with loved ones, traveling, and socially connecting to spread cheer…
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Pilgrims and native Americans coming together? Mountains of food at the table? Family football or naps on the couch? Or perhaps it’s even black Friday shopping! While all of these things are relatable, we often forget the true purpose behind this…
For five straight months, I went online to look up the Pilates class schedule. I promised myself I was going to get back to it the very next day. And so, for five straight months, 2 or 3 times a week, I would click on the big, bold, flashing “Sign Up!” button. I would then…
What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “boundary”? Maybe it’s a fence, gate or a towering wall. Psychologically and relationally, boundaries are assertive statements of limits used to describe feelings and needs, expressing what is “me” and my property, and what is “not me” and not my property. They…
What if you could gift your child more than just a physical toy for Christmas this year? What if you could inspire them, build confidence, and encourage growth with the simple joy of a toy? The truth is, the kinds of toys we choose for our children can either inspire or stunt imagination, learning, confidence,…