My Secrets for Staying Sane During the Holidays
The other day I walked into Costco, took a look at the crowd, and turned right around. Crowds stress me out. Traffic really does me in. During the holiday season I have be extra careful because it doesn't take much to push me overboard. The way I know I'm...
Stress Free Christmas
Here are a few links for making this Christmas a little more stress free. Permission to Cheat on Holiday Cookies and Other Allowances - Kelle Hampton has great ideas for simplifying Christmas....
Three Tips For Setting Boundaries When You Find Yourself Stranded on the Island of Exhaustion
A friend sent me a note today. She begged for some quick help on how she can set boundaries. She said she and her husband were completely overwhelmed by the demands on their lives. “We’re so exhausted, we’re zombies. The stress is killing us. The more we try to...
Trauma and the Las Vegas Shootings
Trauma is in my wheelhouse. I grew up with trauma. I buried trauma. I finally learned how to deal with trauma when I became a Licensed Professional Counselor at age 37. For 15 years I have researched trauma, written about it, counseled clients, attended...
Self Care Checklist
10 Ways Bathing Helps Your Physical and Mental Health
Have you ever seen the movie Doc Hollywood? If not, rent it. It’s cute. My dad was a small town doctor and he was a lot like the grouchy old doctor in the movie. The other day I was reminiscing about my dad. For almost any complaint he would say, “Take a...
How To Avoid Swallowing Hooks In A World Of Nasty Fishermen
Yesterday I was listening to a top radio commentator. He has 20 million listeners. A woman called into the show and told him she had noticed he was an overcomer. Over the decades many people had attacked him, made up lies, and belittled him because they didn’t agree...
Dear Daughter
I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline when I saw Susie Davis's photo of a young girl along with comments encouraging young women to be kind to themselves. Was it the girl's innocence? Her ginger smile hidden behind her hand? The more I thought about it, I...
What I’ve Been Up To – April 2017
Hey Friends, I wanted to share a few of the things I've been engaged with lately. I'd love to hear what you've been up to. As far as books go, I've read some fun ones this winter: The Little Book of Hygge by Miek Wiking, The Marriage You've Always Wanted by Gary...
Help! My Depressed Friend Leans On Me Too Much
I'm in a social/friendly Facebook group where people randomly share situations in which they are needing advice from others. Here is one I saw and how I responded: I need some friendship advice. I’m in a difficult situation with one of my friends — he struggles...