Give me a G!

Soaring.

Do me a favor, kiddos. After you've read this post, and after you have rolled your eyes and after you've sighed something along the lines of "yeah right, that'll never work!" as you close your computer and proceed to go about your day as usual...just take five minutes. Set a timer if you have to (I always do), and maybe find some nature sounds to play on your phone while you're at it (I like the White Noise Ambience app- particularly the "country meadow"). Close your eyes and try this:

If you're sitting in a chair, place your feet flat on the ground, no legs crossing or weird sitting positions. Place your hands on your knees, palms relaxed and facing up. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth for a few breaths. Keep your back comfortably straight. Your mind will wander all over the place. But after about 30 seconds (or 15 deep breaths give or take), imagine these letters being typed up in front of your minds eye:

G     R    A    T    I    T    U    D    E

Type them over and over again like in the movies when the camera zooms in on an old-fashioned typewriter, change the color, the font, have your mind scribble the word over and over again. Make piles of them in your mind, like a factory of this word. Then imagine the piles of words trembling to life and flying out of your line of vision, out of your house or office etc. and out into the world to find the people (and animals) you are grateful for. Imagine the words moving like a bird through the sky and soaring into the window of your best friend and seeing his or her face light up suddenly for no reason. Bet you smile. Imagine them floating in the window of your mother's kitchen as she has her first cup of coffee. Imagine them circling around your partner, child or happy little fur baby. Keep typing them. Send them out to strangers, to old friends you haven't seen in ages, to your mailman, or that nice cashier at Publix who always asks about your day because she remembers you work on your feet just like she does. Send them out to the people who are doing good in the world big and small. Send them all out except for one. Let that one circle over you and land on your shoulder gently. Then open your eyes.

I guarantee you will feel incredible after trying this. Do this as much as you can, change the imagery if that works for you, but keep that gratitude. Keep manufacturing and sending it out there. It totally works and I do it before bed sometimes, and when I do I always sleep better. It is but the work of a moment, but baby it feels so good.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day, and you know what? I'm grateful for you.

Gratitude

A little adieu...

Image

I love Autumn. It's my favourite time of year (though Winter is a close second). I can't believe that this season is already over! It seemed like Summer took forever to move along and Autumn has breezed by in a complete blur! It has been a beautiful season here in North Florida. That's not something I ever get to say, but we really have had a colourful Fall full of chilly nights, clear skies and even woodsmoke on the air once in a while!

The Winter Solstice is coming up. The longest night of the year and the first day of Winter. I hope you get a chance to get out in the beautiful last lingering days of Fall. It's hard to believe what with all the holiday preparations, that it technically is still Autumn. Sigh. I encourage you to take some time and feel peace in nature during this transitional time. It's crisp, the colours are fading into the silvers, tawny browns and greys of this new season. It's all so beautiful isn't it? Watching it all transform?

I plan on taking a little time this weekend to get a little fire going in the backyard fire pit. I may even brew up wassail and perhaps play a game of dominoes with the hubs in the very few hours I do not have to be at work. What will you do to note this passing of time? I hope you steal a peaceful moment for yourself.

Here is a previous musing on the seasons, and another. I hope you have a wonderful day!

To every season...

All photos by moi, Lulu Carpenter Ortolano

I took a walk yesterday morning, and it was beautiful. I mean, stunning. The sun was creeping above the tree line and illuminating the smudges of color beginning to show on the cypress, oaks and other trees I haven't learned the name of yet, but want to. It made me realize how much the season has changed since I was doing the pretty regular "being present" meditations at the end of summer.

It is astonishing how quickly time goes by. I wanted to put that morning in a bottle so I could visit it every day, but that is the bittersweet beauty of nature and the season, no? It moves along perfectly and we're supposed to be the ones who keep up, no the other way around.

Take a few minutes today (you can find a way to sneak it in). Just sit out in it. Put your hand on a knobby tree trunk and just be out in it. Feel the cool air on your cheeks. Listen to the soothing percussive rustling of leaves. Notice the colors, and the smells. Breathe it in and let it out. I guarantee you'll feel a bit better and more relaxed.

It's so important to remember your place on this blue marble and to take the time to realize how amazing it all really is.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Saturday Meditation

Well it is the Fall weekend. It's the last weekend before the crazy cluster and barrage of the "holidays" (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Chanukah). The foliage is at the perfect stage where the leaves haven't fallen off the branches but the colors are so stirring. The nights and mornings are chilly and the afternoons are lovely and mild. The breezes make a mess of your hair but that's okay, really.

Take some time today to really appreciate this particular weekend. It never feels more "Fall" than this. I have so many memories of "being young" i.e. feeling free and laughing a lot during this idyllic Autumn time.

It's a magical and simple time. Where the only purpose is the changing of the season and all the incredible alterations nature takes before Winter, nothing else. No shopping, no noise, no brutal discomfort. Just comfort, and friends and coziness and great music or great quiet. It is perfection.

Breathe in deeply a few times, let your shoulders relax. Take it in. Next weekend October will be over and it will be November.  It seems to go by so quickly. Really try to be present in this actual moment. It's a gift.

Have a truly beautiful day, y'all.

Saturday Meditation

Hey y'all,  take some time today to practice stepping outside of a stressful situation. It could be as simple as looking out the window and watching the leaves fall or seeing if you notice any leaves that are changing in the trees. Imagine the Autumn breezes whisking your irritation and frustration away. It is but the work of a moment and it can help you keep from snapping at your loved one or making a rude remark. Try it today. Little 30 second bursts of nature meditation. It works for me all the time, especially at work. Nixing negativity before it evens leaves your mouth is a huge success.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day and weekend!

Saturday Meditation

It's Saturday, y'all! Time for your weekly dose of seasonal/nature-inspired quiet time to help you conclude your previous week and gear up for your next. A sweltering heat wave down here in the South has made all Autumnal whispers fade, but its okay. I know more crisp fantastic weather will be on its way soon.

Today, try to get outside and be active. I like to walk around the lake where I live. Leave the earbuds out of your ears and just be alone with your thoughts. It's amazing what will swirl through your mind if you give it the chance to speak up. I've solved many a problem by hashing it out in my mind over the course of a half hour. Do that for yourself today, even if you're just going over your grocery list. You see, it's like the Shower Principle from 30 Rock. You always think of some great idea in the shower because part of your mind is distracted performing a task, so the rest is freed up to fix that thing you were worried about.

Take a little time for your mind to process the past week and the week ahead. You may just be surprised at the volume of stuff your mind is juggling at any given time. Let it breath. Let your mind sift through it all.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Saturday Meditation

The sunset at the "lake" where I live.

Hello friends! Fall is officially here, and though it is still mighty warm outside, the breezes have been kicking up and pale yellow leaves have begun to swirl to the ground. It is my absolute favorite time of year. It makes me feel so alive and energetic. Everything seems a bit more magical. The slow, dark mornings and the blazing sunsets. Oh it's just fantastic! And don't get me started on pumpkins! Pumpkins are my favorite thing, I always joke that they are my spirit animal.

Today (or this weekend) take some time to experience the season in its infancy. Feel the cool morning  (you may even need a sweater, yay!) turn into a warm afternoon. Find a lovely place to sit and just be out in it. Don't get on your phone, or read a book (save that for later). Instead, really watch, smell, feel, and listen to this early Autumn. Feel the pleasant warmth of the afternoon turn chilly as the sunset fades.

There are already pumpkins for sale at the hardware store!

Autumn is a bountiful time, I've heard it described as Nature's big blowout party before Winter. I like that. It does have a pleasant frenzy to it. A triumphant rager before things grow quiet and still in the cold months ahead. The trees' colors are ablaze (or will be very soon), the wind whips up little tiny cyclones of leaves (I love when that happens), people dress cozily and food gets particularly awesome (hearty soups, roasted root veggies, rich and savory, yummy warm deliciousness). It really is special.

Get out in it and breathe it in. Each time you do, notice how Summer is fading gracefully away. It's breathtaking really, as Autumn sweeps in. Be present with that today. Enjoy it. Be calm and peaceful.

I hope y'all have a wonderful day (and weekend!).

Little Victories

My little meditation spot.

Hey y'all! It's Monday. I've found myself-- hands thrown upward calling "Whhhhhyyyyyyyyyyy? Why has the weekend ended?!"

Lord, ya'll, it is what it is. It's been a long weekend and I've got a somehow (though I'm not sure how) longer week ahead. Sigh.

Mondays are usually the day I take some time to celebrate the little victories that make the bigger ones possible. Celebrate the little things to remind ourselves that we are indeed making progress. I share mine in hopes that it will help you take notice of your little victories. Here we go!

*I took my vitamins almost every day. I'm a grown-ass woman, and yet... But, taking them most of the days this week is better than nothing, right?!

*I ordered the salad instead of the BLT, and you know what? It was incredible.

*I got out and jogged at 7 am, regardless of how late I was up the night before not taking care of myself (but having a great time!). It felt fantastic, it was nearly chilly! One morning I got in a great jog, the next day I wasn't as energetic so I had a meditation time down by the ducks instead of plowing through another lap. It was just what I needed. I watched a mother duck and ten ducklings swimming and getting organized on shore while a turtle kept poking his head out of the water and watching. All in all, it was way better than sleeping in.

What are your little victories? I'd love to know!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Saturday Meditation

For a minute there it felt like Fall was on its way. Despite the heat however, it is important to get out in nature and roll about in some good old fashioned peace. For today's meditation, go find somewhere outside (and preferably shady) to sit. Yes, sit on the ground. Get dirty, muddy and/or grass stain-y. Take your shoes off and close your eyes. Breathe deeply in and out for several breaths. Count if it helps to keep your mind from going astray.

Now open your eyes. Examine the nature that surrounds you. Where I live there are beautiful canopied live oak trees, palmettos and cypress. Really take the time to look at it all. The colors, sounds and smells.

The ground. Is it sandy? The grass. Is it itchy? Is it cool or dewey? What kind of animal life is around you? Squirrels and ducks? Dragonflies? Perhaps dogs playing or  seagulls if you live near the coast.

Examine these moments in nature and draw a centeredness and a connectedness from being a part of this little ecosystem for a minute. Imagine you are in a snow globe of sorts and all the things happening around you, like the tree branches moving in the breezes or birds flying above you, as the snow. As if you are in the center of the snow globe and someone shook it creating all this beauty and movement around you.

Send out gratitude either verbally or silently for each thing you see. For the trees and the birds and the water and the grass, whatever it is you that surrounds you. Send out gratitude for your life and the little successes you have had. Send out gratitude that you have taken just a few minutes to center yourself in nature, to do this for yourself.

It's such a good feeling, and gratitude has a way of making things better just by being acknowledged.

Now close your eyes and breathe deeply again. Now go and enjoy your day and weekend. I truly hope it's wonderful!


Image courtesy of North Florida Pictures.

Saturday Stolen Moment

Happy Saturday, friends! I don't know about y'all, but after a fun night out last night, I need some centering...and waffles. I need...ahem want waffles. Chicken and waffles to be exact! I digress...

Autumn is creeping right up to us, I could feel it on my morning jogs this week and I just love it. It's a magical time of year and I can almost sense nature gearing up for it's farewell for the year. In honor of Summer's adieu and Autumn's approach, and to help bring yourself to a calm and peaceful place (if you feel so inclined), here's today's stolen moment/meditation.

If weather permits, try to get out in it today. I particularly love in-between times like dawn or dusk (and since I was a half hour late posting this this morning, dusk may have to do!). Make sure you are somewhere safe and close your eyes. Listen to the sounds surrounding you. Are there cicadas chirping, or children playing? Whatever noises surround you, let them. Not the specifics as much as the combined symphonic range of the goings-on. Is there anything about it that is essentially indicative of where you live?

Let the sounds of nature wash over you. Breathe in deeply and exhale deeply as many times as feels good to you. After you are comfortable, imagine in your mind one beautiful thing you could do for someone else, or nature today. Pick up some litter, pay for someone's coffee, help a person with a stroller by opening a door or carrying groceries from someone. Spend a little extra Q-time with your spouse, children or pets. Pick something that shows kindness and love and do it. It doesn't have to be grandiose to have an impact.

Send some gratitude out. Not only for the end of a beautiful Summer, or for the ushering in of Autumn; but for your blessings. We all have them. Sometimes it may not feel as such, but we do. In the paraphrased words of Ray Wiley Hubbard, keep your gratitude higher than your expectations and today will be a good day. It's a damn good day, y'all.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!


*Is this a heron or an egret? I saw it on my jog this morning and I can never tell them apart!

Saturday Meditation

The releasing of thousands of wish lanterns.

Today, friends, I want to focus on forgiveness. Not in a macro kind of "forgive me" way, but in a micro, I forgive ____ for ____ kind of way. Today I want you to find a space in nature, or in view of it. Close your eyes and clear your mind. I find that counting breaths until reaching my age works well, so I deeply breathe for 32 breaths. By the time I hit my number my mind has settled down a bit and the counting keeps it from wandering.

Now for the uncomfortable part. Once you've cleared your mind a bit, reflect on something that you've done to someone else. Say, a bad breakup at your hands that could have been handled better or getting hammered at the company picnic, or making fun of someone only to find they're standing right behind you. Ugh. Cringe. I know, right? We've all been there. I could quite possibly be the ambassador for that cringey place.

Once you have that memory in your mind, go through it. What was it that made you do that, say that, or act that way? At that company picnic, were you nervous about your new job so you kept throwing back beers even though you knew your boss was watching? Who were you trying to entertain and why when you started making fun of a person only to realize they heard you and you could see the hurt or anger on their face? What made you break up with that person the way you did? Were you being a chicken, being mean, or just at your wit's end? Really delve into your memory and find the root of why you acted in a way you are ashamed of. It's not fun, but its important to identify the reason you acted the way you did.

In all of my cases it came down to these five things: social anxiety + booze, grief, depression, being overwhelmed (usually because of not listening to my intuition) and/or fear. One of those things was in play every single time I've done something I regret. I know, we aren't supposed to have regrets, or so they tell us- but I do. And I work hard to forgive myself of all the dumb things I've done and said. Have you identified what your root(s) is in this case? Once you do, the next step is surprisingly simple...Let it go.

Release it and forgive yourself. Realize you could have made better choices and that you're human and in this situation you didn't make a good choice for _______ reason. Forgive your past self so your present and future self don't have to lug so much old shit around. I find that writing it down and then lighting the piece of paper on fire helps.  Make a pact with yourself. It could go something like this:

"Hey, regretful self?"

"Yeah, self that's trying to become a better self?"

"You know that time you made a really inappropriate joke at someone's expense at that party, and instead of letting the hurtful joke go, you repeated it...twice? And you watched the person who it was about handle it in a classy way though he/she seemed very hurt by it?"

"Ugh, don't remind me. That memory makes me feel gross."

"Well, you apologized to them. Years ago."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, forgive yourself and let it go. You're a human and humans make mistakes. You've also promised yourself not to do something like that again, even when you're in a social situation that makes you nervous and your first reaction is to crack a joke no matter the cost. Got it? Let it go, kiddo! We can't carry around all these old regrets forever, it's giving us a hunchback!!"

"I guess you're right, but I feel like punishing myself over and over for it is like a way of making up for the mistake in the first place."

"How medieval of you."

"Shut up. I know you're right. I should let it go. I promise I will try my best not to put myself or someone else in that kind of situation again."

"And if you do?"

"I'll think before I speak."

"How novel. And?"

"I'll try to keep positive thoughts and words flowing instead of letting anxiety and the need to please/entertain everybody dominate my psyche."

"And?"

"And I'll forgive myself for being rude to that person so many years ago. And- I'll release that regret."

"Well done, kiddo. Now go have a cookie." Cue the freeze frame high five!

If that embarrassing scenario sounded too detailed to be made up, it is because that's a real one for me. I did make a hurtful joke, and I did repeat it twice and I did apologize to that person years ago and still held onto that embarrassment and shame for almost a decade!! It may seem small compared to other regrets you could cull from your memory (and it is small compared to some of my life regrets) but it's a place to start. And I have to let go of that little regret in order to become more adept at forgiving myself for the big things. I hope you take the time to release something like this from your heart. You deserve inner peace, but you have to work for it; and you can't have inner peace if you're constantly at war with yourself. Be kind.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Love Yo'self!

Hello friends! It is Thursday- this week seems to be flying by! Well, Thursdays around here are all about self-care and self-love. Taking care of our vessels is paramount. I don't know why it is so hard to take care of ourselves sometimes. We go out of our way for others, yet neglect the one person we are on this planet with for our entire lives! It's bananas people! Total nonsense!

So, in honor of a dear friend who needs a good reminder (you know who you are!) and to remind all of us (myself included) that we must care for ourselves well, first and foremost, before we can truly help others (like the oxygen mask situation on a plane). Heeeere we go!

*The 10 things you must tell yourself today. I really like this one!

*I love this! Kindness meditation. It's so simple and even though it's for children, I think we could all take a page from this book and nurture kindness even in the subtlest of ways. Quite frankly I think we could all take some time and relearn the lessons of childhood so we can be better adults.

*I love a list and an infographic too! Five mantras for daily self-love. I felt particularly drawn to the Nourish, Powerful & Worthy ones. Good stuff!

*Self-love is asking yourself what you need- every day- and making sure you receive it. 
Dang! I really like that!!!

*Wow! This mother/daughter Ecard actually moved me. I didn't expect that from what are usually pretty funny, snarky little throwaways. Good on you, whomever made that one! It certainly does ring true, but I think we can dream bigger than just our children (ahem- since mine don't exist yet) and do this for everyone.

*Because PMS is a bitch, and so is menopause and Mondays and traffic and screaming kids and needy people at work and...anyway- a little something something to make you feel gooooooooooood.

And to my dear friend, let me gently remind you- you are capable of training your thoughts to be kinder toward yourself. The steps you take toward breaking unhealthy and dangerous cycles now, will  benefit you so incredibly much more as you get older (take it from me- 30 ain't no joke and neither will  be 40, 50, 60 or 90! But each year gets even more awesome to make up for it!) Every little thing you do to make your body healthy, happy, and balanced (physically, emotionally and spiritually) will only aid you further along in your life. I love you.

And I love all y'all who read P&PPS. Take care of yourselves. I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

A Creative Saturday Meditation

Hello, friends! I hope this Saturday finds you well. I know from personal experience, it can be challenging to take a few minutes for yourself to decompress, or de-stress. Sometimes I get so frustrated at a lack of inspiration, I busy myself with nonsense instead of taking the time to beckon inspiration to me.

 Today, I want to walk you through a different type of meditation. A meditation for awakening your creativity. Steal some time today and play this song. Close your eyes and let your imagination run wild. Have trouble quieting a busy mind? Try these ideas:

*As the song begins, imagine a glorious blank canvas in your mind's eye. Now picture a fat drop of watercolor paint plopping down onto the page and morphing into different shapes as the music moves you. A dancer, a running horse, a waterfall- whatever your mind takes you to, go with it. Leave perfectionism at the door. This is your place, your sanctuary, your escape from stress. No one can see this but you, so don't allow any negativity or judgement in. Or try this...

*Imagine a day beginning as the song does. Let your imagination create the environment and watch the weather change as the song does. Is it a beach on a cloudless day? A mountain view and a trickling stream? Perhaps walking through a lush forest or bobbing in a canoe on a lake? Are you watching a storm roll in? See what your mind wants to create. Let it take you there. It's only four minutes, but what a difference it can make.

You'd be surprised at how much good little exercises like this does. Cobwebs are swept out and perspectives, inspirations, and positivity trickles in. I hope you enjoy this one, I certainly have.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Small Sanctuaries

Image from BHG.com

I love love gardens and plants. I however, have never really lived in an apartment conducive to growing them. Small yards (destroyed by my two dogs), windows with little or extremely dim light... Argh! And yet, I'm always perusing Pinterest for more inspirations on my future gardens and ways to make the best of my current situation. I have a small succulent garden on the teeny weeny windowsill in my kitchen. It is about all I can finagle at the time. I glean a lot of peace from my miniature garden. I have a tendency to meditate there for small stolen moments. I often look out to the night sky and look for the moon, or watch the rain hit the glass. Sometimes, if I'm being a good girl, I watch the sun come up and drink a warm mug of lemon water. It's important to have a place for peace and a sanctuary. So, for some fun littles today, I thought I'd share some cool ways to have a garden space inside your home and some inspirations for your yard, if you have one or just want to dream of one.

 Try to cull a small sanctuary for yourself. Even one little herb plant or flower will do the trick. Connecting to nature even in a tiny way can have a hugely soothing affect on your psyche and in how you approach your day. It can ease anxiety and help you gather yourself before a heavy work day or a big test. Make for yourself a peaceful place. You deserve it.

*A garden made of ladles!

*Where I'd spend the morning alone and the evenings with my loved ones.

*This one made me laugh. Fire escape plant shelf!

*A tabletop succulent garden how-to. 

*Oooh! A tabletop water garden! I love this idea!!

*One way my itty bitty backyard could have some impact! While you're at it, my Garden board on Pinterest. I seriously escape to it for inspiration all the time!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day.

Weekend Meditation

Image supplied by WMS

We are constantly surrounded by sound. Traffic, radios, cell phones, babies crying, children needing something, spouses, friends, co-workers, people on the street, cash registers beeping... Sometimes I wonder how on earth we are expected to hear ourselves think. Particularly if you are the caretaker in your family (even if you are single or have no children or pets- you are still the caretaker of your family unit).

There is a Full Moon this weekend. It is called the Grain Moon or the Corn Moon. It is the first Full Moon of traditional (see "ye olde") harvest season and it is special. Not only because it is usually big and coppery in color, but also because it is looked upon as a mini-Thanksgivingy celebratory moon. A time of great harvest (think of all the fresh produce bursting forth this time of year) and greater gratitude.

So often we forget to be thankful for the bounties around us. Just like with the noises that surround us constantly; we can become immune to the simple, singular beauty of looking outward with reverence and gratitude. I think it's a wonderful practice to grow your gratitude much like your muscles and your imagination, by working it out every single day.

Please try to take some time to quiet your mind this weekend. Sit outside and try to see the Corn Moon or make out constellations. Bring home some sunflowers and use them as a reminder to take a moment whenever you can. Breathe deeply and listen to crickets or a thunderstorm from your window. If you live in a loud city, try an app like White Noise and choose a nature sound that speaks to you. Close your eyes and allow your mind to settle down quietly into itself. You may have to shoo out anxious thoughts or that voice inside that says you don't have time for this. 

You do have time for this. In fact, you need this.

Be still with yourself. Let the sounds of this season speak to you. Maybe you can identify insect and bird calls you didn't recognize by imitating them in your mind and looking them up later. It beats refreshing FaceTube for the one billionth time and you learn about the immediate world around you. Your ecosystem. It's a beautiful thing.

While you're at it, send some thanks out to the world. However you do it, do it. Sing a song, say a prayer, light a candle, spread your hands out into the sky and smile, hug someone or something- even yourself. It all works. It all goes to the same place, and hopefully- you'll find a sweet spot to nestle into within yourself while being present in your current environment. 

Try it- it totally works and it is but the work of a moment that can change every thing.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day and weekend!

Love Yo'self!

Image courtesy of Wellness 360.

Well, how did you do last week? Did you try any of the DIY care recipes? I'm going to start using the baking soda face polish for sure. Everyone I've talked to about it seems to have tried it and loved it. Thursdays on PP&PS are all about self-care, and without further ado, more ideas on how we can care for our bodies and skin and spirits a little bit better this week. Anything you do that's a surefire self-love fix? I'd love to hear!

*Turmeric milk for colds, flu, & depression. I have to say, I'm intrigued. Especially because I spent the first part of the week in bed with a case of the "trying not to pukes" something that is going around my office. Ew.

*Fight human trafficking in your jammies. I love the Punjammies company. You can get a beautiful pair of pajama pants handmade by women who have been removed from forced prostitution and are taught a trade to make a living wage. Cosy and beautiful gift for you or your friends, and it helps a lot of women and their children. I want the Ratna full-length. Beautiful all the way around!

*I am definitely giving this a try this week. It sounds relaxing.

*Ginger Sugar Scrub for face and body. Oh that sounds so invigorating! Now if it came with a strong-handed massage therapist to apply it it would be even better!

*Because shimmying to sexy music is a great way to care for your body and have fun too!

*Meditation to help with depression. Nice to have in your back pocket for a rough patch.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

An Exercise in Being Present Today

Image from sodahead.

As Summer winds down, I find myself longing for Autumn. For sweaters and pumpkin everything. However I also find that as Autumn winds down I long for crisp, cold, silver Winter; and then brilliant, fragrant, leafy Spring.

Right now it is that beautiful window of time where, even throughout the daily grind, one can easily remember the long golden afternoons, the lightning bugs, going to sleep exhausted from swimming and playing knowing that it was one day closer to school starting back and Summer being officially over.

In a lot of cultures, the beginning of August is the beginning of harvest season. When those fantastic explosions of Summer fruits and vegetables are cascading forth in a last hoorah before the chills of Autumn arrive.

I ask you to take some time today, breathe deeply and be present for this time of year. For the gradually shortening days that are still long and hot and heavy with crickets at night. Take some time for campfires and swimming holes. For bright happy sunflowers stretching their faces to the sun. For evenings that begin a denim blue and seem to take forever to deepen. For Summer storms and ice cold drinks. Fresh watermelon and tomatoes. Popcicles and sunglasses slipping on the bridge of your nose.

Take some time to be out in it. To feed the birds some sunflower seeds, to eat a big bowl of cool fresh produce, and to watch the sun slowly creep below the horizon. Play some ultimate Summer music. Whatever floats your boat and takes you to a peaceful place.

Each day is beautiful in its own way. We only get so many. Join me in celebrating exactly where we are today. In these stunningly slow, hot, humid blissful days of Summer. They will be but a memory before you know it.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day.

Love Yo'self

Self-care is something I need to work on. Considering how vain I can be sometimes, I certainly don't care for myself the way I should. Or, at the least, I could be doing better. I've removed the immediate bad guys from my list over the past year: excessive booze, cigarettes, and weirdly my beloved caffeine. But, in the clamor of daily life, I have neglected the things I used to hold dear. Skin care, healthy recipes, meditations, organization and the like.

So on Thursdays, I want to add some fun health and care suggestions, recipes, home remedies etc. to encourage caring for oneself as an act of kindness and generosity. I'm not using the terms associated with glamorous magazines and what-not or anything like that because, Ew. Instead, personal kindness is the name of the game. Our bodies are strong and capable of incredible feats every day. Let's honor them together in fun and creative ways. Here's a few suggestions for your Thursday!

* Five-minute post-work yoga. I do this every day before and after work and I love the quirky and sweet instructor. 

*DIY Greek Yogurt face mask. I can't wait to try this out. I bet it feels like chilly bliss.

*As a kid I always had bug-bite ridden legs in the summertime; this summer has been unintentionally nostalgic. Homemade Calamine Lotion!

*Intrigued, because I do love me some coconut oil. All-Natural Homemade Face Polish.

*A little reflexology for your tired tootsies. I need to massage my sinuses, liver and small intestines. Never thought I'd type that sentence. 

*A breathing exercise to help relieve anxiety. Exhaaaaaaale!

Have a truly wonderful day!