Category: - Holistic Living: Your Pathway to a Balanced Life

Setting Intentions for 2025

1/5/2025

New Year's Intentions

Happy New Year!

I'm back in action after a lovely holiday with family in Arkansas. It was a long drive (especially the trip home which was rainy most of the way back), but my husband was a real trooper and drove most of the way with no complaints.

It's always wonderful to see the family, and this year was extra special as we got to meet my little sister's boyfriend, as well as spending time with other friends of the family during "Game Night," which is always a lot of fun!

However, I arrived home too late to share my New Year's post with you last weekend, so I'm pushing your January freebie to next week - stay tuned!

In the meantime, this is always the time of year when I like to reflect on the previous year and make plans for any changes I would like to make in the coming year.

This year, my keyword for 2025 is Intention.

My resolutions this year are mostly centered about living more intentionally - with regards to time, relationships, and more. Read my thoughts on this below to learn what I'll be focusing on this year - and may it inspire you to set your own intentions for the year ahead!

[Video] How to Stop Chasing Happiness: A Fresh Take on Living with Purpose

11/24/2024

The art of happiness podcast

Welcome back! It's Thanksgiving week, which means I'll be posting my annual "Gratitude post" this coming weekend - stay tuned - but this week, I wanted to share something a little different with you. In honor of the season, I thought it would be timely to share this interesting interview on happiness.

We often look at happiness as something to be achieved - something that we'll have when this or that happens, or when we have everything figured out. But the fact is, we'll NEVER really have everything figured out, and the things that we think will make us happy usually only provide a temporary sense of satisfaction or enjoyment.

If we're always waiting for something external to make us happy, we'll probably never find what we're looking for. True happiness can only come from within - and interestingly enough, sometimes life's struggles are actually what bring us lasting fulfillment. At least, that is the premise of this podcast episode.

Check it out below to learn how you can be happier NOW, without everything going perfectly in life, and without waiting for conditions to be "right" for happiness.

The Role of Community in Holistic Health: How Social Support Can Impact Our Well-Being

3/17/2024

Community & holistic health

After a little break last week (honestly, the weather outside was too nice to stay indoors and write!), I'm back with the final installment in our Holistic Health series.

While we often think of things like nutrition, sleep, and exercise when it comes to maintaining good health, the role of social and community engagement is often overlooked. Truly understanding holistic health means recognizing the interconnectivity of physical, mental, and social well-being. Therefore, community support is a vital component of holistic health.

According to research, engaging with your community can lead to significant physical health benefits, such as reduced blood pressure and improved recovery times.

And mental and emotional well-being are bolstered by a sense of belonging and support found within communities.

Read on to find out how a health and wellness plan that includes community engagement can lead to a more fulfilling and healthier life!

Managing Stress Using Holistic Health Approaches

12/17/2023

Managing holiday stress

The holiday season is upon us, and as much as I love this time of year, there's no doubt that it can also be stressful. Between juggling holiday parties, shopping, wrapping gifts, planning meals, visiting with family, and travel - along with the usual day-to-day activities - it's no wonder that this time of year sees a higher than usual number of heart attacks, not to mention mental health challenges such as anxiety, panic attacks, and just good old-fashioned stress.

There are many options for dealing with stress in a healthy way, and taking a holistic approach can be of great value. In this episode of our Holistic Health series, we'll explore how holistic health practices can be powerful tools for managing stress and enhancing mental health - both during the holidays and throughout the year.

Giving Thanks for the Bounty Of 2023

11/26/2023

Gratitude list

Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

We had a quiet but enjoyable holiday, with plenty of sunshine which made it relatively pleasant to work outdoors as long as I was bundled up against the chill. My efforts were somewhat limited by a bout of hip pain, but I managed to finish the rest of the garden cleanup and fall harvest (radishes, turnips, carrots, and the remaining tender greens), do some mulching, and start working on cleaning up the yard.

We made entirely too much food for two people - as usual - but it was all delicious and featured a good amount of our own homegrown food, including deviled eggs, collard greens and kale, mashed potatoes, and butternut squash (which I did not grow intentionally this year, but we had a volunteer by the chicken run that produced 3 good-sized and delicious squashes). I also made homemade cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, and homemade raw-milk vanilla ice cream, which we enjoyed with apple pie and sparkling rose. It was very enjoyable and not too stressful, as I prepped ahead of time and made the ice cream and cranberry sauce the night before.

Anyway, Thanksgiving means it's time for this year's gratitude list, and while I found great inspiration in re-reading last year's list about the homestead, this year's list is a bit more eclectic. Here are just a few of the many things I am grateful for as we wrap up 2023...

Can Eating Together Make You Healthier?

10/22/2023

Social eating together for health

Today we're exploring an interesting question: Can eating with friends and loved ones actually improve your health?

It's a question we Americans don't usually spend a lot of time thinking about.

In many European countries, mealtimes are considered social times, sometimes lasting hours, and involving plenty of stimulating conversation along with the food. I remember this as one of my favorite things about visiting Europe!

Growing up in a half-Italian family with several siblings, mealtimes were often noisy, boisterous affairs - especially when friends or extended family were involved. My husband still sometimes gets overwhelmed at Christmas dinner at my parents' house with all the generations gathered together talking over each other! :-)

However, in much of modern America, the trend over the past century seems to have been towards more and more solo eating habits. In this interesting podcast episode of The Doctor's Farmacy, they examine the question of whether this trend is negatively impacting our health as a nation...

The Role of Nutrition in Holistic Health: A Guide to Eating for Optimal Wellness

9/17/2023

Holistic nutrition

Today, we're continuing our Holistic Health series by taking a closer look at eating holistically. In the world of holistic health, where the mind, body, and spirit work in harmony, the significance of nutrition cannot be overstated. True holistic nutrition is not merely about counting calories or tracking macros; it is about nourishing the entire self - from the physical vessel to the innermost spirit!

While most of us might not think about it, eating is (or can be) a spiritual act.

If we stop mindlessly stuffing our faces and truly consider the act of eating, we begin to realize that consuming food connects us to the world around us in ways that few other human behaviors do. We are literally taking parts of the outside world into our bodies when we eat.

And it's not just the physical food that we take in. We are also connected to the earth where the food was grown, the water, sunlight, air, and other factors that went into growing or producing the food, and all the people who had a hand in producing the food and bringing it to our table. To take it further, eating could even be seen as an act of worship to our creator who created the correct conditions for the food to grow and thrive and produce fruit for us to consume.

Once we begin to look at it this way, it becomes much simpler to eat well. Is the food that you eat honoring the environment, the soil, the air? Is the way it was produced supportive to the land that was used to grow it and the people who grew it, or is it harming the ecosystem and poisoning the land and those who touched it along the way?

These are all things to consider as we explore the profound connection between nutrition and holistic well-being.

The Power of Mindfulness in Holistic Health: Cultivating a Present and Peaceful Mindset

7/9/2023

Mindfulness & health

In the fast-paced and often hectic world we live in, finding moments of peace and tranquility can sometimes feel like a luxury. However, a holistic health approach recognizes the importance of incorporating mindfulness into our daily lives!

Learning to be more mindful on a regular basis allows us to cultivate a present and peaceful mindset, making it easier to deal with the inevitable stresses and challenges that arise in our everyday lives.

We all know that chronic stress takes a toll on our health, so it's essential to find ways to cope, and simple mindfulness practices can go a long way - without taking a lot of extra time or effort.

Read on to find out more about mindfulness and how it can help improve your health in a holistic sense.

[Free Online Event] The Sound Healing Summit

7/2/2023

Sound healing summit

Welcome back! We're back from our Minnesota vacation, and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, so I'm very thankful for the long weekend!

As we kick off July and move into the heart of summer, I thought I'd share an interesting event with you this week...

It may sound strange and a bit "woo-woo," but did you know that sound healing is one of the most rapidly growing fields in transformational health practices, and has been proclaimed by many as the future of healing?

Leading-edge research on the science and theory of sound and vibration has demonstrated its impact on your physical, mental, and emotional bodies by identifying and measuring bio-markers such as increased lymphatic circulation, increased production of melatonin and endorphins, creation of new neural pathways in the brain, and increased release of nitric oxide, a neurotransmitter fundamental to your health.

During the upcoming online Sound Healing Summit, you’ll encounter myriad vibrational techniques — including harmonics, tuning forks, sound baths, and voice — that can help you achieve heightened states of relaxation and rejuvenation. Learn more below, and register for your free spot to learn more about this unique healing modality!

[Video] The Science of Happiness

6/18/2023

Happiness

Can you train your mind to be happier?

It's a question I have explored for some years now, and my conclusion thus far is...

YES, but it takes some work!

If you're surrounded by negativity, you tend to absorb it. And once you absorb it, it's difficult to shake. But it IS possible, and this video podcast episode shares some interesting insights into how to get there.

In this episode, Dr. Mark Hyman talks with Dan Harris about the science of happiness, how to deal with the challenges of modern-day life, and how to create more happiness for ourselves and for those around us!

Check it out to learn what Dan, entrepreneur, podcaster, and author of the book, 10% Happier, has to say about the science of happiness...

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