When I am Among the Trees

When I don't know what to do with myself, especially if I've been spending a lot of time on all.....

When I am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
- Mary Oliver -

#maryoliver #poetrysaveslives #rootdownriseupgrowlove  #introvert #empath #earthing #forestbathing

Mother's Gifts

Today would have been my mom's 84th birthday. I miss her. She always put the comfort and safety of others above her own. If you ever went to her house, she fed you. Immediately. And if my sister or I dropped a snack, we'd hear, "it's ok, I'll eat the one that fell on the floor." I will always be grateful for her sacrifices, presence, love and care which have shaped who we are today.

“My mother's gifts of courage to me were both large and small. The latter are woven so subtly into the fabric of my psyche that I can hardly distinguish where she stops and I begin.” 
― Maya Angelou, Mom & Me & Mom

Jobs fill your pocket...

I love this - money and success are important but experiences and adventures make memories that fill your soul. Make sure you make time to explore!

Self-Care isn't Selfish

Self-Care isn't Selfish. In order to take care of others, you need to take care of yourself first. I find that taking just ten minutes for yourself can make all the difference in the world.

• Meditate
• Listen to your favorite podcast
• Take a walk around your neighborhood
• Watch a funny youtube video
• Put on a Cinnamon Honey Face Mask
  1 tablespoon raw honey
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  Mix together and put on your face for 10-15 minutes and rinse off
• Dance to your favorite song or sing
• Do some streches
• Go to bed early
• Sleep in a little extra 

These are just a few ideas to make you feel better and to take care of yourself- because remember self care is health care.

Artichokes

Artichokes are just so absolutely gorgeous when they flower! 
And so good for you! They're an excellent source of protein and fiber with 6 grams of dietary fiber (a quarter of the recommended daily amount) with only 60 calories. And they  are the number one antioxidant right vegetable, according to research conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (2 J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 27;54(26):9966-77)

One of my favorite ways (and easy!) to eat artichokes is to steam them! 

1. Cut of the tips of the leaves: Artichokes normally have little thorns on the ends of their leaves, so cut off the tips. 

2. Slice off 3/4 of an inch off the top of the artichoke with a serrated knife. 

3. Cut off excess stem and leave up to an inch on the artichoke or if you like how the stem tastes then just cut of the very end of the steam. The inside of the stem can taste bitter. 

4. Rinse your artichokes

5. In a large pot, put a couple inches of water, the garlic, a slice of lemon, and a bay leaf. Insert a steaming basket.

6. Place artichokes on top of the steaming basket. Cover the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 25 to 35 minutes or until the outer leaves can easily be pulled off

John Steinbeck

Does this quote speak to you? I really relate to it. It's so easy to see people on the surface level and not take the time to find out what is underneath. People we may have not noticed or may have written off could have something hidden and lovely inside.

In your soul...

Love this message of self love and acceptance. You are worthy and precious and wonderful and no one can take that away from you. Grow love for your self today and tell yourself how special you are. Even if it feels awkward and weird. We love you. ❤️

Perfectionism

"Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around, thinking it will protect us, when in fact it's the thing that's really preventing us from taking flight."
— Brene Brown

Happy Summer Solstice!

Happy Official First Day of Summer!
In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice occurs when the Sun reaches the highest and northernmost points in the sky. The word “solstice” comes from Latin solstitium—from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop moving in the sky.
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The June Solstice is normally around June 20th or June 21sr but it really depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the equator. In the U.S., we notice the Sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, causing the higher temperatures and creating summer.
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A wonderful ritual to do today is to cleanse your home. Clean out a closet and donate what you haven’t worn in the last year, so someone else can enjoy it. 
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The simple act of cleaning with intention can be powerful. While you clean, imagine that you are sweeping out any negativity in your life- things that you want to leave in the past. Open your windows and doors and imagine stagnant energy leaving and fresh, invigorating energy coming in.

Embrace the Shadows

We need both light and darkness to be whole. My invitation to you, and to myself, is to bring what's been hidden in the darkness out into the light to see and feel it more clearly.
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Being in the yoga and wellness fields for the last twenty years, I've seen the damage it can cause to spiritually bypass uncomfortable "negative" feelings in favor of more "positive", "enlightened" acceptable ones. I continue to work on feeling the full range of my feelings and being as loving with myself as possible through the process. It's an ongoing process. 
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And if, as you dig in, it feels like too much, please reach out to a friend or tag in a professional. We are in this together. We need your light in the world.

What if I fall?

Eloise Ristad said, “When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel.” 
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The fear of failing can be so debilitating, causing us to give up before trying. But we forget that often we learn the most from failure. Trying to eliminate failure withdraws us from the juiciness of life and the lessons that make us grow and change and evolve. Give yourself permission to do, to fail, to grow, to live fully in this beautiful, painful, messy, wonderful life. And remember, we love you.

Spotlight On: Aloe Chamomile Moisturizing Cream

Are you looking for a lightweight moisturizing cream that works wonders? Our soothing Aloe Chamomile Moisturizing Cream is perfect for radiant and glowing skin all over! Organic plant oils and butters moisturize skin deeply - quickly-absorbed jojoba oil with cocoa butter and coconut oil keep skin feeling hydrated all day. Aloe vera gel soaks right in and gets to work helping skin heal. But wait, there's more! 😉 Lastly, our favorite anti-inflammatory, skin-loving essential oils like helichrysum, chamomile and rose join in to take great care of you!

Happy Father's Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
The summer after 6th grade, my Dad and I. It was the first time I’d traveled just with him, not the whole family. We visited his aunt Marie in Maryland and he showed me around New York City and where he grew up. But that’s not what I cherish most about this memory. During our trip, I got my period, which had just started a few months earlier. Being a ‘tween and having to talk to my dad about lady things? Yep. Awkward? Totally. Seriously, at that age, I could barely talk to my Mom about it. But, something had to be said so I summoned up all my courage and told him. And, he was unbelievably cool. He wanted to know what supplies I needed and went out right away to get them. Brought everything back and handed over the package. And somehow didn’t make it weird. We continued the rest of our trip as scheduled, visiting the Smithsonian and seeing the Rockettes at Radio City, but I will never forget how he was there for me.
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He wasn't the easiest person to get along with, kind of ornery on the outside but a softie inside. We always had a special bond, summed up by him in his very Bronx way, “Me and Ann, we got an understanding.” On this Fathers’ Day I just want to say, thanks Dad, for having my back. I miss you. I love you. And we will always have an understanding.❤