I like my life.  Maybe it’s not everything that it could be, but it’s a good life. I’ve realized that it’s fluid and ever-changing. When I get stressed, I try to take a deep breath and a step back. I examine the situation and figure out how to make it work. I flip it somehow. With age I’ve learned the importance of being flexible.
I read today that older people are happier than younger people. This comes from the American Psychologoical Association of Toronto, Canada and a Pew Research Study.
I accept this idea completely. I have a teen. She is a beautiful …read more

In response to my post,  Crafts Good for Mental Health, one of my readers shared her  experiences with mixed media art in her struggle with multiple sclerosis. 
“Crafting and art has kept me sane,” she said, in spite of her left hand sometimes experiencing pain. 
I’d imagine her crafting also keeps her hands more agile, even though she does have some pain.  I know this was true of my grandmother.
Nanny’s hands were curled and crippled with arthritis in her later years.  However, she insisted on keeping them busy with snapping beans, shucking peas, mending clothes, stitching quilts, making doll clothes, and crocheting rag rugs.  I recall sitting …read more

 Many crafters, quilters and fabric artists find their activities good for their mental health and alleviating depression.  Perhaps you’re going through a stressful time in your life.  Why not concentrate on your creative activities?
 In addition to giving you something to concentrate on when your thoughts could delve into darkness, crafts and related arts may bring you together with others in your field.  This helps you find new directions and boost your spirits. 
 I’ve found working with my hands a great diversion over the years.  The actual task of quilting, scrapbooking, crocheting and other crafts is relaxing.  Often you can take your work …read more

I was truly inspired by the story of this Baltimore-area surgeon, Dr. Carnell Cooper, who didn’t just save lives physically, but worked to turn a patient’s live around mentally.

How many times do we hear about shootings and violent lifestyles that seem to go on until someone pays the ultimate price?  Well this doctor decided to change that. He started a program that connects people to support services that help change the way they live. Things like ” GED classes, conflict resolution, mentoring and parenting skills. A peer support group also meets at the hospital once a week.”
Dr. …read more

I’ve kept this shirt for 4 years because I am waiting . . .
for my torso to shrink
or the shirt to lengthen 2 inches.
I’ve got this crazy entitlement issue with my shirts. I feel I should be allowed to move my arms without showing my stomach.
The one with the pink scarf too. My mother bought them for me and it feels ungrateful to admit they don’t fit. What’s the statute of limitations on this?
My torso not only has to shrink for the striped one to fit, but my boobs do too. I’m holding out because shrinking boobs …read more

Since having my last baby a year ago I’ve taken up yoga. The gym I joined offers classes 3 times a week and watches my kids while I take them. My original motivation was the scale. Post-baby I wasn’t dropping the weight as I had expected, but was watching the scale creep dangerously close to 200 lbs. That was a boundary I didn’t want to cross for fear of never returning to a normal body weight. Here are 10 unexpected benefits I have personally enjoyed as a result of practicing yoga.
1. Lose weight. Yoga is exercise, pure and simple. You will be mystified by …read more

Taking a mental health day is probably not officially listed in your employee manual, but it should be. Stress-related illnesses probably lead to about as many sick days as the flu (or a hang-over).How can you tell if what you are feeling lately is more than not having taken a vacation in two years or that you are just in a bad mood?
Here are some of the physical symptoms and signs that you need to recognize and get control of: