The Urge to Fix Myself
“I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.”― E.B. White It happens all of the time. I go around in circles, it seems, between working on myself and trying to fix everything I think is broken…
The First Step to Loving Yourself
A while back, I wrote an article that has gotten some traffic on Medium titled, I Healed My Depression When I Stopped Hating Myself. While I feel that everything I wrote in that article is true, especially that I no longer suffer from depression, I am not sure that I communicated that learning to “not…
Joanna Gaines Wasn’t Always Joanna Gaines
“For me, it was about learning to try.” ~Joanna Gaines A few weeks ago I came across an interview that Chip and Joanna Gaines, of Fixer Upper and Magnolia fame, did with Jenna Bush. Always interested in success stories, I watched from beginning to end. I didn’t think much about the interview again until today…
Loving-Kindness in the Time of Coronavirus
This morning after I let the dog out, fed him and my two cats, I crawled back into bed to steal a few more minutes of sleep. That’s when I had the nightmare. There was a black dog barking ferociously at me and a high speed chase involving a white pickup truck and many cars…
Love Doesn’t Hurt: Lack of Love Does
I’ve had an epiphany! The fog has lifted, and the clouds have parted, at least in my mind, and as cheesy as it sounds, the lyrics of I Can See Clearly Now are looping through my brain. I have had this type of realization or insight before, but only once as enlightening as this one,…
I Love Myself
Does this sound egotistical? Can you say this about yourself? Would you believe that saying this one phrase as a personal mantra can be life-altering in the most positive way? It is true. Affirming our own self-love can have wonderful results. While most of us have no problem listing our shortcomings, focusing on what we…
Creating Your Own Happiness Algorithm
“One happiness scatters a thousand sorrows.” ~Chinese proverb What if we could create a formula for happiness? If it were possible to create such a formula, then the person who created it could sell it for a fortune! What if I said there is such a formula, but that it is different for each person?…
Think Eating Healthy is Too Expensive? Consider the Alternative
Note: This article is not intended for the number of people who are struggling financially or those living in food deserts, where healthy foods are simply unavailable. That is an important discussion for another article. This article is for people I have encountered who tell me, “It is too expensive to eat healthy or to…
This is Going to Hurt but Then it Won’t
There is a pharmaceutical ad that goes, “Depression hurts.” The truth is that depression does hurt, and it can hurt as much as any physical pain. I know. I have been there, many times. I’ve been anxious, too. Another truth is that humans will do almost anything to avoid pain. The first thing I would…
One Simple Rule is All I Need to Live a Good Life
Experience has taught me something. Religions and philosophies can be complicated because of their many rituals and beliefs. However, most of them promote one simple rule that if followed would lead to a happier, more joyful life. It is often called the Golden Rule and dates back as far as the teachings of Confucius. No…