Some places on earth are known for their long, cold winters. Denmark is one of those places with cool summers and notoriously long, dark winters.  Hygge-Living After a while, living in icy darkness wears on a person. Maybe that’s why the Danish people are known for a concept called Hygge living (pronounced Hue-gah). Hygge is…

When was the last time someone was kind to you?  There’s an old saying that says, “Kindness is contagious.” Being kind and doing kind things light up the brain’s pleasure centers for the person being kind and the recipient.  Kindness triggers the brain to release serotonin and oxytocin. Serotonin makes you feel happier, and oxytocin…

John Bunyan wrote, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”  The holiday season is here, and along with it, gift-giving. As lovely as it is to receive a gift, most people say they gain more pleasure from giving gifts than getting them. What better time…

C.S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, describes his grief and sadness after the passing of his wife in his book, A Grief Observed, “Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.”  Loss, sadness, and grief affect every part of life and can leave you feeling hollow and empty.  The holiday season…

We hear the words “gratitude” and “thanksgiving” so much that I wonder if they’ve become little more than self-help platitudes and warm-sounding seasonal cliches. Have we lost a meaningful appreciation for the true spirit of thankfulness and gratitude? And what do they really mean anyway, aren’t they the same thing? Emotion And Attitude Gratitude comes…

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “To lose patience is to lose the battle.” Dictionary.com defines patience as “the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.” That’s a tall order.  Doesn’t it seem like a tidal wave of frustration, irritability, and impatience is…

Everybody has “stuff” to deal with. For some, it might be money worries, relationship problems, parenting challenges, etc. You name it; everyone is going through something. Life isn’t easy. Imagine how life would be if we were more patient, gracious, understanding, and kind, and much less critical and judgmental because we’re in this together; everybody…

Have your levels of worry, stress, and sadness been rising? If so, you’re not alone. Negative feelings have been rising since 2011, and, according to Julie Ray, managing editor for world news at Gallup, 2021 the data reveals people are now experiencing more negative experiences and less joy.  According to an NBC news poll earlier this year, 87% of people said…

Eighty-two percent of Americans are cutting back on groceries because of higher food prices due to inflation.  Although food frugality is seen across all income brackets, Gen Xers are the most likely to buy fewer items as they are among the hardest hit in the current economic climate.  People are increasingly concerned that their food will…

How do you feel about your life, and how things are going? I’m sure you’re a wonderful person, living an extraordinary life! But, have you ever noticed how some people seem to quit on themselves because it takes too much effort to become more than they are? So they sink into lukewarm complacency. Others look…

Erma Bombeck said, “Guilt: The gift that keeps on giving.” Unless you’re a person with high psychopathic tendencies, you know exactly what she’s talking about. Thief or Guardian? Guilt is a thief that steals your joy if you’re not careful. But it can also be a guardian that protects you from unnecessary hardship and unhappiness. …

Medicine and therapy are the most common treatments for mental health problems like anxiety and depression, but lifestyle choices are often overlooked.   Psychology Today says, “That’s a lamentable oversight because lifestyle changes—things as simple as nutrition and exercise—can have a significant impact on quality of life, for any of us, but especially for those dealing with issues…