DAMN GOOD LIFE

Let’s talk about the “F-word”. Failure. Every individual has their own set of standards when it comes to defining what failure means for them. Whether we adopted the principles from our parents through life, other mentors along the way, or forged them from observing our environment. They came from somewhere. Growing up quickly at a young age, I felt I needed to prove something and to me, that meant failure was not an option. This way of thinking put so much undue stress into life, that when I succeeded there wasn’t much gratification. To me, success (at that time) was just what needed to be accomplished. Feeling struggle, I sought the help of a therapist. It eventually became the best thing I could have ever done for myself! I wholeheartedly believe every one of us needs therapy. Life was, is, and can be tough. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. So with a trusted, certified, ‘mentor of life’ working alongside me, I started to blossom into someone who has now helped hundreds of ...

Ahh,  the five senses we are blessed to have: touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Each of these sensing organs has a role to play. They not only heighten our ability to enjoy life but they send the information to the brain to help us understand and distinguish the world around us. I want to focus on the most important of the five senses. Can you guess what it is? It’s smell! Think back to your childhood for a moment. Close your eyes and picture mom cooking your favorite dinner in the kitchen. Is your mouth starting to water? Are you getting hungry? Are you picking up your phone to call home and ask mom if this weekend you can swing by for dinner? It’s incredible the information we retain from the molecules we once inhaled. Of course, not all substances are as delicious as your favorite meal. The world has its share of some pretty “icky” fragrances too. Dirty laundry, kitchen trash can, that musty coat from winter storage. You get the idea. Whether it’s a lingering...

We all have those days, nights, or weeks that seem like the light at the end of the tunnel is just a speck. Let me tell you, it’s ok! As much as we (as humans) would like to be in control all the time, we have to find a happy and healthy median between the chaos and beauty of life.  In today's society, you may feel like there's a heavyweight on your shoulders. You're not alone! We're easily overwhelmed by the nature of which our daily lives have taken. We have schedules, deadlines, jobs, kids, pets, elderly family to care for, bills, and an excessive amount, of what I like to call "junk", that we tend to carry on our shoulders. This constant stress engulfs our ability to function productively, thus, creating feelings of defeat and worthlessness. But what if I told you there are three keys that'll help unlock the straightforward constructs of life. Question. Do you know the process and how long it takes a natural diamond to form? In brief, it takes...

It’s that time! You just finished your nightly routine and you’re undressing your bed. It’s been a long day and you can’t wait for it to be finally over. All you can think about is how good the cool sheets will feel after a hot summer's day. The lights dim down as they shut off like they too are saying goodnight. One last sip of cold water before you crawl in. The softness of your pillow as you lay your head and it sinks in. You let out one last yawn and shift around to get settled. Everything is perfect. Tonight is the night you will sleep soundly. *ding* Notification! You choose to ignore it. Your eyes still shut, you take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Wait, did I set my alarm? You turn and reach over to grab your phone just to make sure. The brightness of the screen awakens you again. Yes. All set! You shut it off and get comfortable again. You try to clear your mind in hopes to drift off sooner. Then another thought pops up. Did I turn up the volume or is my pho...

Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and let’s hangout. I got my favorite pink camo mug of hot herbal tea sitting beside me as I write. So, it’s the start of a new week and holy cow am I thankful for that. This past week was a roller coaster, to say the least. I started this blog as a way to not only better myself but in hopes that what I share might be useful to you too. We’re all human and we have those days or weeks where we’re like, ok, is it the weekend yet? In my case, I’d say it’s more like, is it 2021 yet? The start of 2020 was exciting! A New Year, New Me type of situation. Am I right? Just like every year, we make a list of things we either want to change, excel, or learn. Well, I have been learning a lot! A lot more than I thought I would be in such a short time. When it comes to blogging there’s way more to it than I thought. I tip my hat to the men and women who do this for a living! Kudos! I won’t bore you with too many details but I’ve been learning to r...

It’s June!! We are officially halfway through the year 2020! So many of us, if not all of us, this past December started to evaluate the journey we had in 2019. We celebrated our victories and replayed how we would have done things differently and made what we call, resolutions. Well, I’m here to ask you, “Why wait until December rolls around again to start creating and recommitting to resolutions you made to work on yourself?” If you are all in and want to once and for all  celebrate  success at the end of this year then here you go. The secret to achieving your goals, which has been proven time and time again, is to  create small, attainable targets! Imagine, if you will, a staircase. There’s no point in dwelling over how many steps it’d take to get to the top because you know that ultimately the top is where you want to get to. Everyone has their own staircase in life. Goals we want to achieve. Looking back over the past 6 months, how are you doing on t...

From time to time, we all have those moments that call for a deep sigh to release tension. Most of us recognize stress when we feel it. That overwhelmed state of mind causes our body to flood our system with hormones, predominantly adrenaline, and cortisol. While this incredible sense of “super-power” can allow us to respond to an emergency, it’s not something you need to feel on a regular basis. Can I confess something? I was living like this by default! I still find myself experiencing the tightened muscles, the heart-pounding, the frenzied feeling, and the occasional migraine. Being mindful, of course, has helped me to shorten the effects stress brings about and it enables me to then focus my energy on something productive.   So without further ado, these 5 tips are my go-to: 1. Turn Off All Electronics! Yes, that means the t.v., tablet, computer, your phone. Pretty much anything with a screen. There’s no need to add to the already sense of frustr...

With this year being very different due to the current pandemic our world is in, Memorial Day 2020 will certainly stand out as a unique day in history. While adhering to the guidelines of the CDC about social-distancing , the guidelines set forth by your local (city and county), and by your state to slow the spread of COVID-19, here is a list of ways to still honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This page contains some affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you.)   For more information, visit the Privacy Policy  here . Thank you for your support! 11 Ways to Honor Our Fallen: 1. Educate yourself on, What is Memorial Day? A quick internet search can turn up many five-minute articles explaining why we observe Memorial Day and how it is different from other military holidays. 2. Proudly hang and fly an American Flag on your home...