This is an advance peek into the first chapter of my upcoming book: Bitchcraft, How to Own Your Power in a Complicated World. Enjoy! Bitchcraft is the combination of two words: bitch and craft. In this reclaimed context, the word bitch, as defined by feminists and drag queens, refers to someone who is accomplished, assertive, sassy and strong. Craft is defined as an art, trade or occupation requiring a special skill. Combining the two words results in Bitchcraft, a skill needed to navigate a complicated world that presents us with challenges, problems and often doesn’t, can’t or won’t see p ..read more

The first post I did on this topic was Self-Care 101.  It focused on identifying, understanding and managing your stress levels in order to jump-start a self-care routine.  It concluded with a list of suggested self-care practices such as joining supportive social groups, developing a healthy lifestyle and finding ways to volunteer and 'give back'.  All of these are good techniques and positive ways to manage stress, but, in my opinion, true self-care runs deeper and requires more introspection. That's the topic of this post. An important aspect of my self-care is humor. So, w ..read more

​Guest post by Linda Benton Is scoliosis becoming more common as you age? The answer is “yes” in age degenerative scoliosis (ADS). Research shows an increase in the number of geriatric diseases in aging populations around the globe. Specifically, there are more older people getting diagnosed with ADS. While scoliosis can be diagnosed as idiopathic, some research suggests that it is also due to hormonal changes during puberty, perimenopause/menopause. Research findings at Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago are suggesting it’s an autoimmune disorder. That research, however, is still ..read more

What is relaxation? It is NOT collapsing on the couch at the end of the day with your smartphone or iPad. We all do this from time to time and sometimes more times that we should. Oops, did I just ‘should on us? Well, it is a habit we need to watch but like eating ice cream for breakfast, this is OK in moderation.  Typically, we think of being relaxed as a state where we don’t have a care in the world; we exist in blissful serenity ‘in the moment.’ You’re engrossed in a hobby you are passionate about. Or you’re on vacation, sitting by a lake lost in the stillness of the water, skiing do ..read more

​It’s important to understand what stress is, where it comes from and how to handle it. A certain amount of stress is normal and necessary. If we didn’t experience positive stress every second of the day, we wouldn’t breathe, our bodies wouldn’t function, our brains would stop working and we’d die.  Unhelpful stress, whether from holiday activities and expectations or year round issues, is any event that interferes with our equilibrium on the physical, mental and emotional levels. It can make your upper lip curl, your stomach sink or your head explode with anger, anxiety fear or shock ..read more

​What we eat takes up a huge amount of space in our social lives and commentary. There are magazines, recipe books, television channels and self-help groups dedicated to helping folks manage the intake, quantity and quality of the food we eat.  What eats us is just as important. How often have you heard the phrase, “What’s eating you?” When we eat, we consume. When something eats us, it consumes our thoughts, time, and energy. And usually that something is a difficult or troubling issue. The phrase is commonly used to ask someone why they look unhappy as in: "You're in a bad mood. What ..read more

Guest Post: Boca Recovery Center Addiction is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Whether it's substance abuse, gambling, or other compulsive behaviors, overcoming addiction requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the individual. In recent years, holistic practices like yoga have gained recognition for their positive impact on addiction recovery. The ancient practice of yoga offers a unique set of tools that can significantly aid individuals on their journey to recovery. This article explores the ..read more

Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. - Eleanor Brown Too many of us move through life running on empty as we face demanding personal, professional and societal challenges. If we want to fix, or manage what we face, (or as a last resort accept it) we’ll need to find ways to bring more rest and self-care into our daily lives.  Of course, we’ve all seen articles full of suggestions on how to do this. For example, one ‘how-to’ article I read last year included a l ..read more

LOL! This is not a post about sex. It’s about Gratitude. But gratitude is sexy and an essential part of positive relationships – so say the experts. Gratitude is defined as being thankful and appreciative for something or someone. Finding an attitude of gratitude helps you live with a greater sense of well-being in spite of challenges, difficulties, and disappointments. We can think of gratitude in both internal and external ways. These can be: Good things and people in the world (external) Our ability to recognize and affirm the good in the world (internal) Gifts, help, luck and life ..read more

In my last post, I explored Steps 5 & 6: Wisdom. In this post, I talk about step 7, find your bliss, step 8, connect to your bliss, and step 9, bring bliss into your daily life. The Taittiriya Upanishad, the philosophical and spiritual source of this contemporary view of self-awareness has this to say about Self: ​ “When one realizes the Self, in whom  All life is one, changeless, nameless, formless,  Then one fears no more. Unless we realize  The Unity of Life, we live in fear." —The Upanishads, translation by Eknath Easwaran  Because one’s connection to that someth ..read more