A few years ago when I was struggling to manage stress, uncertainty, and loss, I found it difficult to answer this question, "How are you?" Some days, some moments, I just wasn't sure. To help me better identify how I was doing, I drew a stick figure, and based on the following definitions, I assigned … Continue reading How are You in This New Year?
self-care
Pain Body
Are you familiar with Eckhart Tolle? If so, then no introduction needed. But if not, here he is in a nutshell: German-born spiritual leader, author of The Power of Now, an odd little man at first acquaintance. But ahhh, don't tune him out too quickly. I had the pleasure of attending one of his retreats … Continue reading Pain Body
The Power of the Pause
Note: After writing this blog post, Mike Henry, my ex-husband’s 58-year-old brother, unexpectedly died. We will be traveling this Thanksgiving to attend a funeral, to pause, and ponder another life gone. I dedicate this blog to Mike, who remained and will forever be with his high school sweetheart, Sherry; who was also the father of … Continue reading The Power of the Pause
From Shaming our Bodies to Embracing
Blog entry by Sandra B Stanford, LMHC “I’d rather be dead than red on the head” was a chant I heard regularly as a kid growing up in Memphis, Tennessee. “Carrot Top” became an unwelcome nick name. I hated my red hair. As far as I was concerned, it did not serve me well and … Continue reading From Shaming our Bodies to Embracing
Embracing One’s Story
"When one is 'addicted to one’s story,' one does not love all the components of the story. They are obsessed with a version of a partial story, a slice of the story. Their unbalanced interpretation possesses them, and they can easily allow this incomplete image of themselves to define their story." –Dr. David Baker, dbakerphd@gmail.com The theme … Continue reading Embracing One’s Story
Nine Signs of a Healthy Relationship
Recently, a brochure caught my eye: "9 Signs of a Healthy Relationship," written by Carol Rawleigh and published by Journeyworks. The words "communication" and "respect" were printed above the headline. I speak of the importance of both these words in my book, Momentous Living; and thus, I couldn't help but pick up the brochure and … Continue reading Nine Signs of a Healthy Relationship
Believing: the sacredness of self-care.
Sometimes shifts happen that demand we ask, “What the hell am I doing?” And then, we unexpectedly pound out frustrations lodged so deep that in the aftermath Grand Canyon-size chasms are left behind with people scattered on both sides. These chasms are scary big, where looking over the edge can make your head spin, your … Continue reading Believing: the sacredness of self-care.
One Worthy Tip for Staying Afloat in the New Year
My home state of Missouri is experiencing what my mom would call a frog-choker rain. Being the visual person I am, I appreciate this description probably more than most as I visualize bullfrogs croaking requests for life preservers. With few words, one understands that a frog-choker rain is a doozey of a storm. Alexas_Fotos / 21620 … Continue reading One Worthy Tip for Staying Afloat in the New Year