Latest Journal Posts
Appreciating Systems for Success in Everyday Activities
When I was actively raising children, there were two weekly tasks I dreaded the most: grocery shopping and laundry.
Both tasks had to be done regularly and seemed pointless on some level because it never felt like I made any progress.
Letting Go of Perfectionism: A New Year's Resolution for Self-Compassion
Last week I drove to my favorite trails in Point Defiance Park. The roads seemed oddly empty and quiet, even for “the time between the years” as I’ve heard it called. Perhaps I hadn’t noticed it before, since in medicine it’s always been just another week when most people don’t work, but we always had a full schedule.
The day was overcast, as it so often is during winter in the PNW. The trails seemed unusually quiet and dark as well, with fog surrounding the woods and blanketing the Sound.
Embrace Winter's Cocoon: Entering the New Year with Intention and Presence
The end of 2023 is fast approaching. Along with it ALL the emails, social media posts, and discussions about how you should complete a review of the old year. What did you do, how were you productive, what goals did you achieve and what fears did you conquer? Relentlessly followed by: What will you accomplish next year? What goals will you crush? How will you top this past year?
Adventures in Wildness: How the African Bush Awakens the Human Spirit
There is an aliveness in the African bush. And in many other natural places in the world, but the African bush is where I find it the easiest to access and experience it with effortless awareness. Perhaps because one of the elements that makes the African bush so special, at least in several places in South Africa where I’ve been, is that for years the natural state of the land was suppressed by overhunting and aggressive agriculture of crops that nature didn’t plant here.
Apply the Six Influencers to Cultivate Gratitude for a Heartfelt Holiday
Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the United States. This holiday is fraught with historical and cultural difficulties. It also can be very personally problematic for those whose family engages in drama and conflict. However, being in gratitude is a beautiful, calming, and energizing state. So it is worth dedicating time to appreciate the people, places, conditions, and experiences that fill you with gratitude.
Beware the Negativity Bias at Home and Out in the World
I recently returned from a trip to one of my favorite places: Red Mountain Resort in southwestern Utah. Located just ½ mile from the spectacular Snow Canyon, it excels in providing outdoor (and indoor fitness) experiences. It has a wonderful spa for a variety of treatments and serves fresh healthy food, carefully marking possible common allergens. But perhaps most remarkably, everyone there is friendly, welcoming, and genuinely enjoyable to be around.
Subscribe to get the occasional newsletter
That will respect your privacy and time