Tag: natural

As parents we must teach our children the realities of life. Life hurts us, people hurt us, we hurt other people and we hurt ourselves. That is what relationships and life are about. The sooner we let our children in on this secret the healthier their life-approach will be. Forgiveness is many things, but we also must teach that forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation. It is not about condoning harms, which have been done. Forgiveness is about taking power back.

I wasn’t aware that adultery had gone anywhere, so I was a bit taken aback when I saw that AMC’s hit show, Mad Men, was boldly making this assertion heading into their fifth season. A bit of clever marketing, but maybe it reflects our fascination with something that has become almost commonplace in our societies. Which actually begs the question; did adultery ever really "leave the building?" Is it really "back" or just portrayed as a lot more sexy and adventuresome? For as long as there has been marriage between imperfect people, there has been adultery. For as long as people have somehow felt drawn to committing to one person, the prospect of delving into unfamiliar territory with someone new has seemed challenging, interesting and even downright exciting. So what exactly is up? Is marriage and commitment demanding something of us that we’re really incapable of giving? Are we really wired for monogamy?

The holidays are a joyous season to celebrate with family for many people, yet for others, the gloomy weather, stress, busy schedules, financial pressures, and family expectations can trigger symptoms of anxiety and depression—commonly called the holiday blues.

This may be surprising to some people who consider the holidays the happiest time of the year, rarely noticing a friend or loved one that may be dealing with the holiday blues.

If you feel stressed out around the holidays, you are not alone. Recent research indicates 69 percent of Americans feel stressed by thoughts that they don’t have enough time and/or money. Almost a quarter of us report feeling "extreme stress" over the holidays. One study found that holiday shopping can raise heart rates 33 percent, similar to running a marathon.

The holidays are also a time when people are more susceptible to sadness and depression. We may overeat, overindulge, and take a holiday from healthy routines such as getting enough exercise and sleep. These changes, in turn, can make us more exhausted and emotionally fragile, and at greater risk of getting sick.