Tag: nature

There have been a few times in my life that I have had what I refer to as a "light bulb" moment. It happens when something becomes so crystal clear and illuminated in my mind, almost like a light bulb has been turned on in a dark room.

I had a light bulb moment when thinking about my self-care routines, and ultimately it helped to transform me and change extended to my entire family.

As a young mom I had an idea in my head that being a martyr meant I was "doing it right." I thought that putting everyone else’s needs before my own meant that I was proving my love to my family. The only problem was that when I did they got the exhausted, depleted, and overwhelmed version of Mommy.

For those of you celebrating holidays or attending events, there are ways you can support yourself, and it is important to plan ahead a bit with your energy points. If you have 100 points of energy for the day, it is likely that the group gathering, whether for work or with family, can drain a lot of points for a highly sensitive person (HSP). If you go into that event without your full points, you may have a hard time, but there are ways to preserve your energy points with some conscious intention.

If you're depressed, stressed out, anxious, or fatigued, the cure might be right outside your door. New research from Holland shows that people who live near a park or wooded area experience less depression and anxiety. And a study from the UK found that a walk in the country reduces depression in 71 percent of participants. Scientists have long known that sunlight can ease depression—especially SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, in winter.

Life is exponentially more demanding than it was just 20 years ago. Even with all the passwords we have to remember and the sheer demands on our time, it is easy for our consciousness to lapse into worry and fear. It’s difficult to find a resting space for your thoughts with the constant bombardment of troubling news and the dings and beeps coming from our phones.

To produce truly great wine you need to appreciate the soil from which the grapes grow. You must also respect the culture of region and embrace the heritage that has enabled the fruit to ripen. These five wineries have done just that and are worth your time.

Benziger Family Winery

For more than 30 years Benziger Family Winery has farmed its 85-acre ranch on Sonoma Mountain. Only 35 of these acres are planted with vines. The rest of the estate is used for biodiversity to create a polyculture. Besides insectaries, gardens, sheep and cattle pastures, and more than 800 olive trees, there are two wetland areas used for water purification.

Much like marriage, time spent outdoors speaks to intimate connections and cycles: how a particular wildflower blooms at the same time as a certain tree leafs out, how a mountain stream rushes full in spring and runs quietly in summer, how that water cools the forest air covering the ground in soft moss, or how time can bring a marriage closer together.

Some define hiking as simply putting two feet down in rhythm, but it can be so much more. What better way to spend time with your spouse this weekend than by setting off on a little adventure in the warm summer air and going for a hike.