Year End Reflections
As 2021 wraps up, I am reflecting on year two of the global pandemic and the highs and lows of the year. There are so many things that made me proud, and of course there are some things I wish had gone differently. I am feeling particularly grateful for the time I had in California, reconnecting with family and friends after two years. Definitely a high...
In Gratitude
Did you know gratitude isn’t a thing, it’s an energetic state? One of the fastest ways to shift your energy into a more open one is to identify things you’re grateful for. Research has shown that expressing gratitude improves physical health, relationships, leadership. It can be as simple as writing down three things...
Unplugging and Recharging
The last 18 months have caught up with me. I’ve been operating at warp speed with a long weekend here or there, but I haven’t truly unplugged. I am overdue for a break and some “me” time. I haven’t seen my family in almost two years, since before the pandemic. I’m heading to California to rejuvenate for about 6 weeks. I’ll work some weeks, and I’ll play on other weeks. If...
Mental Health Month
It’s been quite a year since last May’s Mental Health month. We’ve lived through a year in a global pandemic, intense racial injustice, and a volatile election season, all of which contributed to a tough year for many of us. The result? A society more than a little on edge and additional pressure on mental health professionals. Whether...
Black History in the Making
February is Black History Month, and I’ve seen more opportunities for learning than I have in years past. I attribute the uptick in program offerings to the events of 2020. It’s been nine months since awareness of the racial injustice Black Americans face every day was raised after the killing of George Floyd and the phone call to NYPD by Amy Cooper in Central Park,...
2020 2.0?
I’ve heard from family, friends and clients that 2021 still feels like 2020. I get it. Turning the page on the calendar did not make Covid go away or make it immediately possible to see our families, friends, and colleagues. Borders remain closed to the U.S., and there’s still work to do to heal the racial and political divide. How did we get here? When will it feel like a new year?...
Give The Gift of Presence
It seems everywhere I turn, the word “presence” is coming up. To me, presence means being mindful, aware and focused on who I’m with or what I’m doing. I’ll be honest, it’s not always easy to do. I find myself multi-tasking when my husband is talking to me, texting my cousins while cooking, or noticing my mind wandering when talking with friends....
Gratitude
It’s now proven that gratitude changes your brain and improves your mental health. The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, (my alma mater––Go Bears!) has studied gratitude for years. But, how many of us actually take the time to express gratitude and deeply reflect on all that we are grateful for? I’ve had a daily gratitude...
End of Summer Self-Care
With the end of summer fast approaching, I’m seeing an increase in the anxiety and stress of my clients, friends, family members and myself. We’ve been mostly homebound for almost 6 months. We’ve been isolated from family, friends and colleagues. Children are going back to school, and whether virtual, in-person or hybrid, it’s a stressful time for parents and children alike. The pandemic...
