How to Cope With Holiday Blues

                                  

                                                               Courtesy of Pixabay

Holidays are times for celebrations, but they can also be times of immense sadness. Why? Holidays occur in the present moment, but memories from the past may visit. These memories may include family members who have passed away, happier times with loved ones who are no longer in your life due to circumstances or the passage of time. You may experience waves of emotions from happiness to depression. How do you cope with holiday blues? Let's discuss...

The Healthy Hero: Seeking a Healthy Balance With Food and Weight Loss

Nutrition Pyramid courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

                                                                          

It was a rainy Monday morning when I stared at my scale. Over the years, I added 20 pounds to my weight. I said okay and then went to work. My lunch was my usual high carb and savory fair. French fries, cookies, burgers and cake were literally my best friends because they were honest and never disappointed me. Whenever I felt sad, I depended on food to help me feel better. However, my reflection in the mirror did not make me smile. A doctor told me that I had unhealthy lab results. If I did not make changes in my diet, then my risk for illnesses would increase. So, I had a choice - continue eating and living a sedentary lifestyle and watch my health suffer or focus on my wellbeing by eating healthier and increasing my exercise. I made the right choice. Over the past year I ran my first 10k, 5k and racked up miles going to parks to walk and enjoy nature. Oh, and I lost 20 pounds. My lab results are better, and I like my reflection in the mirror. Why did I change? Per Nietzsche, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."  Let's discuss....

Hope Can Set You Free: A Look at The Shawshank Redemption

 

The Shawshank Redemption movie poster, courtesy of Wikipedia

Warning: this article contains spoilers from the film The Shawshank Redemption. 

Hope is defined as "a feeling of expectation and desire for certain things to happen."  In the film, The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne maintained hope for a better life even though he was convicted of a crime he did not commit and forced to endure 19 years of confinement in a dangerous prison. The film is also a story about hope versus despair, which utilizes inspiration from the Hero's Journey and the Bible.  It is celebrated as one of the best movies ever made even though it was not a box office hit.  A popular line from the movie, "Get busy living, or get busy dying" is about the options we have in life. It is possible to be alive, but not live.  The choice is up to you. Andy's character encourages you to have hope and pursue the life you believe you deserve. Let's discuss...

Choices and Consequences - Red Pill vs Blue Pill - Choose Wisely

 

The Matrix poster - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Recently, I attended an exciting football game. One team had a choice to either kick a field goal for three points or run the football through the end zone for two points. Usually, a team with similar options would go for the field goal. So, it was shocking to me, and others, when the team went for the run. The team didn't score and eventually lost the game.  This event inspired me to think about our life choices and consequences. With every choice we make, there is a corresponding consequence.  Like Neo in The Matrix, every day we make life altering choices, so choose wisely.  Let's discuss...

Celebrating Endings for New Beginnings - Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence

 

Courtesy of www.freepik.com

Independence Day, known as July 4th, is a federal holiday in the United States. The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, which established the United States of America.  The Declaration of Independence, signed unanimously by all 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress, is an eloquently written historical document which explains the reasons why the Thirteen Colonies decided to sever ties with Great Britain.  Likewise, in our personal lives, all relationships have a beginning, a middle and an end. What can we learn from the Declaration of Independence that we can apply to our own lives whenever we wrestle with ending relationships? Let's discuss....

A Review of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essay - Compensation Part I

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson, courtesy of Wikipedia

The theory of dualism is everything is created in pairs of opposites. Some examples of created opposing pairs are: a coin has two sides - heads/tales; directions have four pairs - north/south and east/west; days have both light and darkness; wet/dry; yes/no; a game has a winner/loser; hot/cold; male/female; positive/negative; sweet/bitter; young/old; and darkness/light, just to name a few. Is dualism also evident in our relationships with ourselves and the community? Does what goes around really comes back around? Are there really consequences for every personal action? Yes. In his essay Compensation, Ralph Waldo Emerson explains that every action has a reaction and everyone reaps what they sow. Let's discuss....

A Reflection on Dr. Maya Angelou's Timeless Wisdom, "When people show you who they are believe them."

                                              Dr. Maya Angelou in 1993, Wikipedia

Dr. Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928-May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, poet and civil rights activist. Her memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) tells of her life up until the age of 17 and earned her international acclaim. She wrote seven autobiographies and several books of poetry.  Dr. Angelou also earned several honorary degrees. She recited her poem, "On the Pulse of the Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton. Her wisdom is highly respected, and her poems are frequently recited at poetry readings and graduations. Her quote, "When people show you who they are believe them" is very popular and one of my favorite quotes. Why? Let's discuss....