When my younger brother died suddenly from an asthma-induced heart attack, I got the call at 4 a.m. in the morning—setting off a trifecta of trauma in my family. Five weeks later, my father had his second bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and, 10 months later, my son became catastrophically ill with rheumatic fever. Thankfully, both … Read more
As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to become so consumed by our to-do lists (on top of to-do lists) that we let our own well-being fall to the wayside. The holidays are supposed to be enjoyable, right? It often doesn’t feel that way. We talk about self-care and we see aesthetically pleasing, picture-perfect versions … Read more
In honor of National Stress Awareness Day, here are some beneficial insights to help you gain greater awareness, acceptance, and efficacy in order to reduce stress’s hold on depleting your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Just like an emergency vehicle barreling through traffic with piercing sirens and flashing lights, acute stress activates our sympathetic response … Read more
Write from the inside out Lisa Cron, author of Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel, says that the biggest mistake writers make is that they don’t know what a story is. They have great ideas, beautiful prose, and plenty of plot and action, yet no … Read more
Whimsical pumpkin or salty pirate? Unicorn or your favorite Harry Potter character? Almost everyone has a favorite Halloween memory. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual Halloween consumer survey, this ancient, pagan ritual has morphed into a $10.6 billion dollar business—much to the delight of candy manufacturers and pop-up stores hawking costumes based on … Read more
I remember the first time I watched a magician’s show as a child at my friend Susan’s eighth birthday party. We gathered around, seated on the floor, as the magician—who was actually a friend of Susan’s older brother—did the seemingly impossible. When he asked for a volunteer, my younger brother Gary immediately jumped up. We … Read more
Living next door to Central Park for 37 years, I have discovered that I feel different on days when I walk through the park. Even taking an 18-minute walk instead of pounding the pavement has a significantly different impact on my mood and my energy level. As a Positive Psychology practitioner and thought leader who … Read more
Everyone is familiar with Nike’s iconic global theme line “JUST DO IT!” It’s one of the most recognized and celebrated catch-phrases of all time, written by advertising legend Dan Weiden who recently went to that running track in the great beyond. Chances are, when you hear the “JUST DO IT” call to action, you experience … Read more