Category Archives: Wellness

Equilibrium and Wellness

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After a night of torrential rain, the sun is now shining outside my office window. I’m feeling warm inside too. This season of gratitude and plenty makes me smile. Yet during this time of the year, we often over-do, on just about everything. My thoughts for you today are simple, stay true to your own energy.  Stage some time to replenish your Self.

Wishing you and yours a Thanksgiving filled with good connections, and of course the feast of your choice.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Balance.

Exude Attitude

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Today is election day here in my hometown. Did everyone vote? I’ve been spending the day catching up on office work, squaring away my 2010 speaking schedule, updating member lists for the writing critique group that I lead, basically tieing up professional loose ends. We all need days like today, to get the little stuff done. While my fingers have feverishly roamed the keyboard, I’ve been thinking about attitude.

As I listen to my computer’s hard drive rattle and the distant roll of cars on the street, I envision the fabulous people I know, who have attitude. Attitude comes in the form of self-confidence and esteem. I have been lucky to know people who exude pride in themselves. Others may think they are too old, too young, too fat, too thin, too funny, not funny enough, too, too, too. Those judgements never effect the joy of life that oozes out of their pores. Those people, who delight in being their authentic selves, are my mentors.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Radiate your own definition of wellness. Wellness is the free-flowing state of your mind, body and spirit. Let your own posture of creativity glow. Only you can define who you are . . . exude attitude!

Who Wants to Play?

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Many years ago, my intuitive friend Linda used to decide what to wear by asking her clothes closet, “Who wants to play?” Linda, a grounded and professional social worker, professor and humor specialist, was convinced that her rainbow of blouses, pants and scarfs responded.

Yesterday, I was unexpectedly asked to submit a piece of art to a university at which I had been a faculty member. Their Gallery of Contemporary Art is having a 20th year anniversary. Speaking with the gallery director brought back fond memories of working together and of academia and university teaching.

As a creative individual, I have morphed myself into many satisfying careers since teaching art and design. My walls are still adorned with artworks of my own creation and others are in international collections. My professional life now is as a writer, educator, designer and community liaison, not as a fine artist. As I descended the basement stairs, thinking about which artwork, in storage, I might choose, spanning my long and varied career, I decided to use Linda’s technique, “Who wants to play?” To my delight a small gem-like piece chimed up. I would have walked right past it, on the way to where I store my larger artworks. I imagine that many hours later I would still be looking for the right piece to represent me and my career. I would have tripped over my own ego in the selection process.

The voice of my diminutive, glimmering artwork was so happy, and frankly so immediate and clear, I could not ignore it. As I lifted my painting, the texture of nubby canvas reminded me that life can be easy, playful, intuitive. I smiled all the way up the stairs.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Let your intuitive voice guide you. Ask an inanimate object, “Who wants to play?” and see where your life leads you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised.

What Makes Your Heart Sing?

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Today, I was going about my work when some unexpected accolades came my way. Receiving them changed the color of my mood from taupe to lilac. Instead of brushing off the compliments, I let them sink in. In our busy schedules it may seem unrealistic to do that, but it only took a minute. In the time that I inhaled and exhaled, I let myself fully appreciate being appreciated. In that moment my heart sang. With a soft, inner smile curving at the edges of my lips, I returned to my responsibilities refreshed, and creatively energized.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Be open to receiving something that makes your heart sing. Let it come to you . . . and when it does, fully enjoy it.

Flexibility

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Greetings again, I hope you all had a good summer. Mine was full of work and play, coupled with casual sunsets on the beach with friends. As you know, I took some things off my plate, like posting entries to my Creativity and Wellness Blog. Crafting so(u)l space helped me come back energized.

On my early morning walk today, I remembered a favorite potter of mine, Diane Heart. I’ve been buying her pottery for many years. She has a wonderful studio on Cape Cod. Even though I didn’t make it to the Cape this summer, I think of her fondly, every time I use one of her finely-crafted and artistic bowl, mug, or vase. Many years ago when I was still in my corporate, highly structured professional life, I visited Diane’s studio. Inhaling the scent of beach rose, sea grass and salt water, I read her tiny, ceramic front door sign: Open 10ish – 5ish. Before I set one sandy foot in her shop, I was delighted, mesmerized and envious! Her simple sign showed me that it was possible to have flexibility and still be a professional.

Twenty-five years later, her vision continues to inspire me. After sitting at my desk this morning, and opening the computer, the first thing I did was Google “Diane Heart Pottery.” Sure enough, there she was, and sure enough . . . her hours are the same.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Try flexibility on for size, it might be just the inspiration you need.

P.S. I’ll be writing and posting this blog: Once-a-week-ish.

So(u)l Space

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In a world of over-achievers I am a flag bearer. Time and time again I am reminded, by a wise voice inside me, to slow down, relax, take it easy. Today I’m in my same boat of feeling overwhelmed. While I love my work and my other responsibilities bring me great joy, I periodically need to take something off my plate for me to re-balance.

After contemplating this for a few weeks, I’ve decided to take a summer break from creating this blog. I’m claiming some So(u)l Space. Thinking of Sol, the ancient sun god, I’m looking forward to some much needed breathing space this summer. I hope you will find ways to enjoy your own times in the sun, and I’ll see you in September!

Creativity and wellness message for today: Sit, close your eyes, exhale and consider what you might take off your list–for today, this week, month, season or year. You can always put it back on later. For now . . . free up some soul space, just for yourself.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

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With many-petaled dogwood  trees blooming pink and white all around me, I took my morning constitutional. I chose a different walking route today, one without sidewalks, but one that would end at a particular beach. As I enjoyed the smells of Spring popping all around me I noticed that the traffic was heavier than I expected on this early morning road. As cars sped by, my reverie was distracted by consistently watching out for my own safety. Realizing that this route wasn’t perfect, I almost turned back several times. Yet, I wanted the prize at the end, I wanted to get to that beach. I persevered, enjoying the sights and sounds whenever the coast was clear, as I ventured forward toward the beach. I was not disappointed. Loons swam silently by. Still as a lake, the water breathed in and out with soft gentle sighs. I exhaled, drinking in Nature’s sweet bounty.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Don’t let imperfection stop you from experiencing your own realm of wellness. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Eggs in Basket

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Even though I grew up in New England, my southern (Virginia and Kentucky) parents’ colloquialisms run deep in my veins. The phrase “Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket” is self-explanatory. If you live on a rural farm or in a high-rise Manhattan apartment, you can appreciate the advice about diversification, especially during these challenging economic times.  A few days ago I was driving to my new job and this phrase floated into my awareness, I was grateful for all my eggs not being in one basket. I have created a life of diverse yet complementary professional endeavors. These include writing, art, motivational speaking, consulting and educating as well as working in a library whose mission is to bring literature, music, art and the humanities to the community. I feel like one lucky multi-dimensional camper.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Just like a diamond, let all your faceted sides show. By allowing your own creative diversity to flow through you, many baskets of abundance and sustenance can be carried.  If one drops, and the contents break, you have more, just in a different basket.

Guided Imagery

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As many of my readers know I write a new post for this blog once a week. Last night I had the privilege of leading a workshop on “Guided Imagery for Comfort and Inspiration” to a courageous group of women survivors. Everyone had come after a long day of commuting, work and other responsibilities. I first taught the group how to release the tensions from their day. Then I explained that in guided imagery meditation the practitioner is in complete control. She can use all of her senses–touch, smell, taste, sound, intuition as well as the visual sense, in meditation. I shared the most important piece of holistic advice I know, which is to let go of  judgement of self and of others. Most of the rapt audience readily accepted the option of not editing their own imaginations. Others learned at the end of the workshop about this benefit.

Each particpant had an opportunity to experience three unique guided meditations that I had created just for them. As the program drew to a close I asked the group to say one word out-loud that described what they would take away from the workshop. Words like “peace,” “hope,” and “love,” quietly tumbled out of soft mouths. Other words such as “guidance,” “quiet,” “faith,” and “joy” were gently added to the mix. May we all feel at one with these qualities in our lives.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Let your own inner guidance lead you to your individual place of comfort and inspiration.

Patience

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In our fast-paced society we sometimes lose sight of the true meaning of patience. Have you found yourself irritated and tapping your foot while waiting in line at your local coffee shop? Do you catch yourself looking at your watch as you pay for your morning cup-to-go? Or have you recently snapped at your child because you were focusing on a different, seemingly, more pressing responsibility? We all can use a dose of patience in our lives.

Over the past four years I’ve been planting many professional seeds. I’ve been re-engineering and literally re-inventing myself because I outgrew who I was before. This process of change is intrinsically creative, insightful and energizing. It takes courage and a large dose of chutzpah. What many of us don’t realize and what is lacking in most how-to books is the art of patience. The adage, “Patience is a virtue with many rewards” is true. Sadly, most of us are moving too fast to see it. Today when I considered what to write, the word “Patience” silently bubbled up into my consciousness. I trust these quiet revelations of truth.

Creativity and wellness message for today: Let your mantra for this moment in time be the practice of patience. Allow space for your own process to unfold.