Valentine’s Day is the designated push for sweethearts. It's a day for heart-shaped boxes, long-stemmed roses, and cute cards. Every February 14th, we flock to florists and chocolatiers like ducks to water in order to engage in what has become the almost ritualistic practice of honoring an individual (or individuals) we romantically admire. But what [...]
Sugar. Childhood obesity. Adult onset diabetes. Makes one anxious. Feeling uncomfortable? Hey, h ave something sweet. Then, beat yourself up. Then try to get back in “control” of it. Then, eat it again. And again. Try to stop. Can’t? If this sounds familiar, you are so Not Alone. Me, I ask Jizo to hold the [...]
I don’t know when Mother’s Day is this year. I know it’s in May, but my mom is gone, so I kind of avoid it. If you’ve lost your mom, maybe you can relate. But loving my mom and loving the Jizos I have created moved me to contemplate Mother’s Day. Motherhood. Jizo. […]
Twenty years ago, when I was feeling burned out from working far too many patient hours, I sought out information about what was called the Seeds of Simplicity movement. […]
Hi all. As I therapist, I have heard my patients begin to worry about the holidays as early as, well, about the time the lights go up in Bloomingdale’s, which is now in September. Even if you are not a worrier, there is a level of Shoulds, of stress, of pressure that our society places [...]
Hey you guys… My first children’s book is available now on iTunes, with me reading it aloud! This is almost too fun. It’s called What I Heard & What You Said. So often we think we know what someone has said. But if we repeat back what we Think We Heard, the other person says, [...]
Take a breath. Another one. Another one. Take a moment to notice on the calendar what day you are in. Smile as you exhale and realize: it’s not Christmas. It’s not Hanukah. Not Kwanzaa. Not New Year’s. It’s today, some time in autumn, likely, when you are reading this. Now, look at the week of [...]
People are already pressuring themselves with “What do you want for Christmas?” Even people who don’t celebrate Christmas feel it. The decorations went up before Halloween. And can you hear those jingle bells revving up? It can feel more like the Indianapolis 500 than peace and love. This year, when someone asks you what you [...]
If you don’t get wound up for Thanksgiving you won’t have to unwind — much less go on a diet — a few days later. The day is coming though, and I am hearing the litany of obligations, pressures, worries and stress. Let’s take a moment to breathe. Breathe in and breathe out, noticing the [...]
While the world is barely recovered from the pressure of the perfect holiday season, I am noticing chocolate everywhere. Red boxes full of expressions of love and, allegedly, blasts of serotonin. […]
