News: February 2018

Self massage and meditation for anxiety and stress relief

Anyone have anxiety? For most, the answer is a desperate "yes!" Some anxiety is good. It helps us avoid danger. But chronic anxiety wears us down physically, mentally, and emotionally. We are in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze. We're so busy, trying to cram as much as we can into as little time as possible. But anxiety gets in the way of productivity, creativity, and happiness.

Taking the time to alleviate anxiety and stress will actually save you time. Not only that, decreasing stress will allow you to enjoy your life, rather than rush through it. Without the weight of anxiety on your shoulders, you'll have more energy and drive to do the things you want to do.

Follow along as I guide you through a meditation and relaxing self massage to help you gain body awareness, release anxiety, and ease the mind. Make this a regular practice. You can start small, with just 10 minutes a day of quiet time to yourself. If you stick with it, you will feel better, think more clearly, and improve your overall health and wellbeing. In addition, you may find yourself more productive, and less busy!

Quotes to brighten up your winter

Many of us are struggling with a bad case of the blues during these dark, cold winter months. Here are some uplifting and inspiring quotes that offer perspective:

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." - Alice Morse Earle

"Remember you are never alone. Never forget that you are loved. Never doubt that someone surely cares for you." - Thomas S. Monson

"We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll

"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact." - William James

"Look at the sparrows; they do not know what they will do in the next moment. Let us literally live from moment to moment." - Mahatma Gandhi

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." - Lao Tzu

"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." - Joshua J. Marine

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, can become great." - Mark Twain

What's new with me ...

Jesse and I went to the movies (a rare treat since having a child) and saw The Greatest Showman. It was fantastic. Hugh Jackman is ridiculously talented. Sienna is as happy and funny as ever. Here are a few favorite Sienna quotes from the past year:

"I'm tired, so I'll put play-doh in mommy's yogurt."

"What's behind outer space?"

"Dad, I love you, but get me more jungle animals."

[To her animal toys] "Flamingo versus caterpillar. Who will win?"

"Sometimes you look down, and there's a finger in your nose."