You can stimulate more happy chemicals with fewer side effects when you understand the job your happy chemicals evolved to do. Here’s a natural way to stimulate each, and to avoid unhappy chemicals.
Read moreDecoding Essential Oils
Essential oils have gained a ton of popularity in the past decade. So much so that many of the plants, resins or barks are dangerously overharvested. Best practices are a concern with the many companies producing essential oils as well. All sorts of contaminants and unfriendly chemicals have been found due to the extraction methods being used by some.
Read moreBest Seasonal Treatments for Scalp and Hair Health
The health or condition of the hair from an outward perspective is maintained or depends on the products you use and the processes you choose, such as chemical processes, heat styling, and over exposure to the elements such as sun, salt (sodium + chloride), wind, etc. This is why I love specific treatments for the different seasons.
Read moreThe Beauty of Spring Clearing ( Body. Mind. Spirit. Home)
Spring is officially here, and this year it is particularly a welcome change charged with energy, and dare I say even a big sense of eagerness and readiness to get out and live life. This energy is a strong and upward moving energy (think of the plants emerging from their roots) that we also experience within ourselves and although a totally normal response to the shift from dormant Winter to Spring, can feel overwhelming for us, especially in an already tense or anxious climate we have all felt in the culmination of the last two years.
Read moreThe Beauty of Providence
The Beauty of Providence
This has certainly been an interesting Winter. I must admit that I am struggling a little as I write this because I, on the one hand, want to share my enthusiasm I have for the upcoming Spring Season. The awakening of all of the plant life and trees beginning to bloom around us, the birds, bees and butterflies coming back to create the lovely and lively eco system full of texture, sound and color. My enthusiasm for people starting to gather in the city. Pedestrian traffic everywhere.
However on the other hand I can’t ignore, and must honor the ongoing hardships with this new war we are witnessing in Ukraine. All of the injustices that take place daily. Our tireless yet exhausting fight to change things for the better. Slowly coming out of the Covid world ready to enjoy the little and not so little things again.
There is a saying and understanding in the spiritual world that everyone has a role and participates in the healing process in one way or another, even when what they do isn’t blatantly obvious in it’s healing ability or in it’s importance. You don’t necessarily have to be the one on a podium preaching/teaching to make a difference. We can all make a difference in many ways, small and big. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is make someone smile, genuinely make them smile. Or laugh. The important thing is to be active, contribute in some way. That is the purpose and power of community. Anyway…I digress. What I am trying to say is that despite how hard things are and can be, it’s just as important to not lose sight of the good things we have around us. The things we look forward to, because those are the things that can help pull someone out of a very low moment. Something beautiful to look forward to and to hold hope for.
With that I will share my eager anticipation for the Spring to unfold! There are so many awesome things that happen in our city as the ice begins to thaw out and the landscape begins to bloom.
Take a look at the area around Flipp and all of the amazing small and unique businesses we have around us. Great little cafes, really cool and unique food trucks and restaurants, an outdoor beer garden next to a lovely sunflower field, 10,000 Suns! Cute little shops (NAVA just got a facelift!), a beautiful pedestrian area extending to India Point park…and the waterfront! Walking around the city, you can spot so many incredible murals done with the help of the Avenue Concept and a variety of incredibly talented street artists. If you love coffee as much as I do, the choices are a whirlwind! In one block alone you can choose from Coffee Exchange, Dave’s, Seven Stars, L’Artisan, and Bolt inside of RISD. With just a 5/10 minute walk you can go from having a great little cocktail/mocktail at Tiny bar or one of the many great little spots around South Main, South Water and the jewelry/knowledge district to the RISD Museum or the Providence Athenaeum. Feeling like something sweet while perusing some art? Small Format on Wickenden street is a great place supporting local artists. Plant City has amazing Vegan desserts and you can do a little food shop for all of your vegan needs.
Late Spring is also when the outdoor markets begin and the Providence Flea is a staple! Let’s not forget about Waterfire and all activities happening there such as food vendors, artisan vendors and entertainment, all while walking the city. Michael S. Van Leesten memorial bridge has made it super easy and convenient to get to the West Side and Downtown from the Eastside and Vice Versa to explore all of the coolness in all areas of our little city…on foot.
All of this is just a fraction of what we have around us to enjoy. How healing it is to pack a little lunch and to sit at the waterfront? Chances are if you do it on a Friday you may run into the Providence Drum Troupe during a rehearsal. So beautiful in it’s simplicity.
So while we are navigating through some unsure moments still, and mixed feelings about a lot, Spring this year cannot come fast enough! I for one am super looking forward to greeting friends and exploring our little city and all the beautiful things it has to offer. To savor and enjoy these things, as some happiness and joy in these experiences are the fire to warm up a Winter that has been two and a half years too long.
Happy New Year 2022
A Note on Goals vs. Intentions
Here we are folks! It’s 2022, and a New Year has begun.
This past year has certainly been a full one, complete with challenges, joy, sorrow, fear, defiance and everything in between. Anxiety has been at its highest and doubt also has been prevalent. We have had a lot to think about, and also have had the opportunity to explore ways in which we can serve ourselves in much more meaningful and significant ways.
I have come to an awareness within myself and I believe that many of us fall into this. We have developed this idea or ritual (if you will), that with every approaching New Year we have to set a list of goals/resolutions. We set expectations within ourselves that quite frankly most of the time are too many, too big, too far out in time or “end result” motivated and are unrealistic. In my opinion this sets us up for disappointment and can even feed into our subconscious beliefs that we aren’t already enough, or good enough as we are at the present time. This also feeds into the “What’s next?” and the “do more/have more” mindset which steals from us instead the mindset of being in the “here and now”, actually finding the joy and gratitude for what already is. To actually live in the moment and savor it, which does wonders for our sense of purpose, self esteem and overall sense of happiness.
Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying we shouldn't have something that motivates us to strive for growth. This is where intention comes in. I believe it may be better for us to set intentions for ways that we can realistically nurture our process in growth. It can help change the road map and the journey on how to BECOME instead of merely arriving at a goal oriented destination.
Intentions can be set and honored in a plethora of ways, each unique to the individual. Tools like visualization, meditation and journaling are great. These tools also give you an opportunity to slow down and breathe deep, which in turn nourishes the nervous system, instead of a goal oriented race to the finish, or a you against the clock kind of attitude.
My sincere wishes for everyone in this new year are that we can all practice and enjoy the slow journey to manifesting our intentions. May we all find joy in the small things and the many moments that make up our hours, days and months ahead…one beautiful day at a time - minute by minute.
