Self Care Is Good Skincare

I'll let you in on a secret when I was a flight attendant way back in the day, I became good at listening to a passenger's dialect, and without really knowing where they were from, based on how they spoke, I soon had a pretty solid idea. I became so good at it that I could quickly tell within a single state which county. It became a fun challenge, like memorizing all of the state capitals. I became a bit rusty, not having much purpose to any of that outside the fun. Later, after years of practicing skincare, In much the same way, I've become pretty good at just looking at a person's skin and gaining some idea of a potentially larger health picture. 

Good health is not just skin deep. We all know that our skin is our body's largest organ, giving off many clues that may be an indicator of the larger health picture. Clues such as color, texture, lesions, acne, lack of healing, inflammation, sensitivity, and more, are all tell-tale signs that I've come to associate with systemic possibilities. Not enough oxygen, too much celebrating, potential struggle with the gut and digestion, acne, immune system challenges, slow healing, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer. I am not a doctor, and I would never diagnose, but gaining a broader sense of someone's skin health can give me clues as to how I might better serve my client.  

I remember being as young as five, playing beauty salon, and always interested in cosmetology. As I decided where my education would take me next after ten years of flying, I still had that interest in cosmetology. I moved more toward esthetics as I became more curious about the science behind healthy skin. As I started my skincare practice, I quickly became aware of healthy skin's holistic, more significant sum of all parts and the impact of lifestyle on our largest organ. I was never a fan of pushing the high-end products and anti-aging procedures to mask or cover the bigger picture. Don't get me wrong; I love effective products and beautiful packaging like the next person. Still, in my industry, beauty sells, and it's often questionable how much beauty can genuinely be delivered in those pretty packages. One of the reasons I was inspired to do my own thing is that there can be lots of push to upsell products. That wasn't my plan. My goal was to serve you first and only provide products that would support skin wellness.

Seeing aging as automatic and having no control over how we age is misunderstood. Some see aging as a symptom rather than an inevitable (see LIFESPAN by David A Sinclair, Ph.D.) "why we age and why we don't have to" In his decades of work, he explains that "Aging is a disease ."On a cellular level, the aging process leads to our top challenging conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels, heart disease, and cancers leading to the inevitable. Science is making leaps and bounds in slowing down the genetics and how they are expressed (epigenetics) behind aging and potentially slowing down the associated markers for extending the years and the quality of life. We know that eating better, sleeping well, and exercising all make good health sense, but we don't often think much about how we manage stress, relate to others, love and talk to ourselves, and aspire to live in a way that feels inspired. We often live in the past and the future, perpetuating a stream of stress-induced anxiety. Chronic stress is a giant accelerator of aging and contributor to adult acne, two of the most extensive product markets in the world of skincare. Our habits, beliefs, and choices highly impact our health by talking directly to the body. When our body becomes our mind, we allow our habits, thoughts, beliefs, and choices to dictate the body's neurochemistry. Doing so over time generates neural patterns and pathways that repeatedly talk to the body in a specific language. Much like computer software, you direct the physiological aspects of your biology 90% of the time through your autonomic nervous system directed by the brain and its primarily subconscious programming drawn from past experiences and learned behavior and rerunning the same programs over and over again. Most of us live in a perpetual "fight or flight" state of being and don't even realize it. The long-term effects of talking to the body in chronic stress mode and its download of stress hormones and lack of oxygen directly impact the body and the skin. Through epigenetics, aging genes are expressed (turned on) influenced by the mind and body lifestyle, and the skin's ability to reproduce at an appropriate rate is slowed. This news wouldn't all be so bad if we were only concerned about slowing down the aging process, but our largest organ, the skin, and its protective function give us the signs that further disruption lays underneath the cover, and it is tired. 
There is good news however epigenetic changes ( influence on the genes) can be reversed. With good attention to mind-body self-care, we can learn to talk differently to the body's trillions of cells. Supporting healthy habits that give structure to the neural pathways (directors of information) brain to the body in a way that assists the machine (your bod) in operating a more health efficient way generating a better quality of life. 

According to SkinStore.com, a recent survey estimates that women between the ages of 16-75 will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over their lifetime, on average, $8. daily of cosmetics and skin care products, translating to $250. monthly enough to buy a house calculated over the average lifespan. The average woman will spend in her lifetime $200,000. - $300,000. on just face products alone telling us that beauty and anti-aging is a lucrative market. We all love to feel good and look our best, and we should honor ourselves that way, not to mention it's a lot of fun to cruise Sephora! Not everyone has a budget that supports the average product usage, but we don't have to, and more importantly, let's consider our beauty health as an inside job. Supporting our skin health from the inside out can be free and done every day! Now that's what I am talking about! 

Self-care, caring for ourselves as a whole, is giving attention to how we eat, sleep, move, think, and choose throughout our lives and loving ourselves enough to care. Meaningful self-care includes making mindful changes in patterns of thoughts and behaviors that don't contribute to our wellbeing. Self-care isn't a one-and-done; it's an ongoing practice of building resiliency and self-regulation. Self-care isn't selfish; it is just the opposite; taking care of ourselves gives us the rest and energy we need to be our best and the best for those we share the world with.  

S   STOP, Notice, Choose - Self-regulating out of fight or flight.
K   KINDNESS, To ourselves and others, perpetuate feel-good hormones.
I    INHALE, breathe deeply, telling the autonomic system to rest & digest. 
N   NOW,  Be here now, not the past and past future! HUMAN BEING

Care for yourself in a way that brings attention to your intention of being healthier overall, and your skin will reflect that. We will age, but we are empowered to age gracefully with mindful self-care. Healthier skin is an inside job first. All the products and procedures in the world only serve to enhance what you are reflecting on the inside. 

Be you and be beautiful,
XO Donna

Blog Post

Capturing Life's Sparkle

I recently returned home from a three-week trip to the UK with my daughter Nicole. Nicole is an ambitious, experienced traveler making ease of the travel logistics. So when she said okay, we're going for three weeks and covering three countries my first reaction was wow with a mix of hesitation, seeing all of that as a bit of travel, but my second response was okay, I am down! Our mother/daughter's annual/semiannual trip started with Nicole as a high school senior. At age 7, she aspired to play the fiddle, and after years of fiddle lessons with the perfect teacher combined with the school orchestra, she became pretty good at playing. So, we always said that when you graduate high school, we are going to Ireland to find the authentic Irish fiddle she loves. During this first trip, we solidified something that now, ten years in it, has become a cherished and very intentional time out together each year as we have moved up into Scotland and parts of England as well.

I share this with you as I come fresh from one of our trips and after coming out of a worldwide pandemic lockdown and missing our trip last year, makes this year especially sweet. In these experiences, we are ignited by life's sparkle. So often, it is easy for us to be too much in our heads about putting off or justifying those big moments in our lives. Permitting ourselves to live into life's sparkle can also be found in all the small moments that make up our time here on earth. Finding the beauty in the mundane and becoming excited about connecting in the most basic experiences is capturing that sparkle.

Becoming intentional about allowing in the sparkle can be tricky. Life requires a lot from us, and everyone around us can seem to think they have a better idea of what that sparkle is for us than we do for ourselves. That's never going to change, so accepting bits and getting beyond the undue influences of what others may think, and moving toward what feels more true for us brings us closer to intentional authenticity. We've all heard of the Bucket List, compiling a list of what it is we want to do before we exit. Why do we wait to count the items on our list rather than living into what counts? Like the Visa credit card commercial says," 20 hour travel day, waiting in the long international customs line, smelling the stinky feet of a guy on the airplane for 8 hours, living out of a suitcase for three weeks with my own stinky, spending quality uninterrupted time with my girl..... PRICELESS." Live into your life now and into all the many seemingly mundane moments.

Different things make up our Bucket List or offer opportunities to be mindful of life's sparkle. We can wait a long time for a big moment to come about or start noticing the moments along the way. When I arrived home from our trip, which I'll be it is a fantastic opportunity for gratitude, my heart was genuinely whole from the many little moments experienced along the way. We shared energizing walks and talks, endless cups of tea, and laughter in most things as we attempted our not-so-good Scottish accents. Beautiful nature surrounded us, and we did a lot of scheming and dreaming of the future with the relentless search for fairies and the perfect scone. Nicole's impromptu fiddle playing in pubs always a full circle moment was so much fun, along with the many beautiful conversations and commonalities shared with strangers throughout.

Capturing Life's Sparkle isn't always easy; it is a practice, and none of us are perfect at the capture. Become mindful of being intentional about your so-called perpetual Bucket List while being careful not to miss all the little sparkles presented along the way because, in the end, they are in the sum of our experience. Don't wait for the big moments; make the most of every moment by being present and connecting with your life in motion. Of course, there will be trips planned with others, responsibilities, and life will always be adjusting. Still, for now, as long as we're able, we will prioritize this special mother/daughter trip as it has become an important one on our ever-evolving Bucket List. Plan, dream, set big goals, and don't forget to be here right now. Thanks for reading my share; as with all of my posts, I only hope to encourage and inspire.

XO Sparkle Away,
Donna

Growing Happiness

Happiness is homegrown; it’s an inside job. Life will serve up wilted flowers but isn’t great that we can cultivate a mostly full garden of beautiful blossoms as we begin to yank out the weeds. Being present for joy is a self-care practice; you intend to show up for happiness and allow yourself to feel or experience the contentment of the moments. So let’s grab your shovel and get your hands dirty, and together we can sow a garden of happiness.

Bring to mind a time in which you recently experienced happiness. We know it’s possible to have those moments. Feel into that contentment and notice that you can recall that feeling by just remembering it. It’s important to know that happiness is a state of mind. Cultivating your garden is training your mind to appreciate the simple joys occurring all around you at any given moment. Happiness isn’t a place we arrive at; it is experienced along the way. Take time to observe joy, to participate in the joy. Okay, so I don’t want to sound all preachy, and keeping it real, we all know that life offers plenty of moments that challenge us. But is it possible to allow the weeds to take up more real estate within our garden than necessary? I think it’s easier to let the weeds take over because tending our garden can be hard work, right? But you know the beauty of a well-cared-for flower bed. Awareness of our thoughts and the what if’s or what was’s keep us from the present moment joy, and before you know it, your garden dried up and is all done growing!

Okay, so don’t let your garden dry up; try a practice of smiling. As you smile, notice how your breath and face feel. Try letting the smile go and bring it back a few times. Think of something that brings a smile to your face and practice being in that space; the benefit to your body is the same; however, it’s generated.

Get out in nature; there’s so much natural feel good in nature. There’s magic that happens when we are outside. Our lifestyles overload our bodies with too many positively charged ions that directly affect our mood. When we are out in nature where negatively charged ions naturally exist, those positively charged electrons are neutralized, and we can be magically restored back to a happier state of well-being.

Being in gratitude generates a feeling of joy, more resilience, physical and mental health, and happier social bonds. And as a practice of being intentional or recognizing the desire to be satisfied, visualize your happy day as you wake up. Wake up, try on your smile, recall something with gratitude, stretch, see your day as joyful, see and feel yourself smiling more, see yourself practicing gratitude, see yourself connected more to yourself and others, and declare what your day will be like. “Today, I will be happy.”

Laugh, cry, dance, hum, sing, rejoice. Don’t dig too hard for the reasons to be happy or why you’re not happy. Just try saying, “I want to be happy” With this intention in mind, you can begin connecting with the intention behind the words. Notice any feelings or thoughts of self-judgment and yank out those annoying weeds.

Gardening is hard work; your knees and hands can get dirty, but it is also full of small moments of joy, accomplishment, and appreciation. Life is happening simultaneously among the bugs, the weeds, and the beautiful flowers. Don’t allow yourself to miss out, train the mind to recognize happiness as an essential experience. Simply showing up with a thankful heart and a caring presence can sow a beautiful garden of happiness.

Thoughts Are Things

Thoughts Are Things

Here's the thing about thoughts, they are things. We have all heard the saying "glass half full or half empty." Our thoughts lead each of us differently to a perspective. Science still can't say entirely from where" our minds or consciousness comes. We know a lot about the brain as a tool for processing, directing, and storing, similar to a computer hard drive, but the brain is not conscious thought. Neuroscience tells us that repetitive thoughts form neural pathways. The more reinforced a way of thinking, the stronger the neural pathway becomes, making true the phrase "neurons that fire together wire together" Much like in the way a stream is formed, the water trickles in a constant pattern or flow, creating crevices within the stream bed. So too are our habits and patterns formed by repetitive default learned behaviors or thinking.

We benefit from thought patterns established in a healthy way; Holistically, our physical health is stronger, our quality of life is richer, relationships flourish, and "the glass is half full." Of course, the opposite is true when those patterns create regular self-sabotage, with patterns of thought and a "glass half empty" The power of human intent, attitude, and emotional state generated through thinking directly influences every cell in the body. The happy news is that it's never too late to change things up; our brains can rewire (neuroplasticity) to change the path of thinking and change the synaptic wiring forming new neural pathways and new behaviors talking to our cells in a whole new way.

We only function with around 10% of our conscious mind often as a means of primitive survival, like the front line guard accessing as we go leaving us with approximately 90% running on autopilot programmed from unconsciously stored memories and behaviors built from previous learning and experiences. Much like a movie, our learned beliefs and behaviors play out the same old scene, and the movie's ending never changes. Autopilot or subconscious serves us better when coming from healthy thought patterns. An essential part of change challenges us to consider awareness of the generated quality of thinking and its origin. Everyone has an opinion, good, bad, wrong, or right, but where does the thought come from? The opinion is formed by that which aligns with our existing belief structure based on fear, hate, scarcity, hope, love, encouragement, strength, etc., not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. Formed beliefs come from all the things we've experienced within our lifetime, and with that, we have a world full of varying opinions, and of course, a variety does make the world go round.

Here's the thing though we have complete free will and the intelligence to be empowered by our thoughts. Although another's thoughts and opinions can often influence us, ultimately, it lands with each of us individually to consider the quality and power of our thoughts. Just because someone thinks or says it's so doesn't make it so. Every human being that we will ever interact with will come with their own set of learned behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives, all based on their unique individual experience of life, culture, education, religion, family, etc. So, here's the thing, what do you want?

This is where your power truly lies. You can consciously choose to develop healthier thought forms that produce more beneficial outcomes.

Paying attention to how a thought feels in our body guides us in a potential direction for future ideas, choices, and outcomes. Not to be confused with emotion, thoughts generate the charge, which are the emotions or feelings that come with a thought-form. The feeling of anger is the emotion, the flow of charge generated by the thought of irritation. We have those emotions as a source of guidance. An example might be, "so and so has done this to me, and I feel angry." Before reacting, I notice the charge and how that feels " I don't like the way this anger feels in my stomach." I can now consciously choose to replace or reframe that thought with something more gentle or perpetuate the yuckiness of what doesn't feel good. Consider another less serving option; perhaps you choose to stay in the place of anger because it's serving in a secondary way that provides you with the illusion of feeling powerful, or in control, respected, valued, loved more, etc. Running on autopilot of the same mindset reinforces the same experiences and future outcomes. But with conscious awareness and intention, we generate new input and take an active role in bringing in more of what we want in life.

PAUSE, NOTICE, CHOOSE

You are the captain of your ship, and you have the opportunity to become a powerful creator of your possibility and reality. We all know the world is not perfect, and there will be influences, but the cool thing is that you get to choose how you participate. By practicing the awareness of thoughts as things and how they influence the quality of life, we can find an opportunity to transform intrusive, sabotaging thought patterns into new healthy behavior habits.

It’s only natural

As much as I appreciate the value in the sleepiness of the winter months, this girl is an actual tree hugger, and she needs to be out! I find myself eager for spring with a couple of days of 60-degree temperatures here in late February I feel that shift in the weather just enough to entice me out of our hibernation.

Have you ever stopped to consider why we call her "Mother Nature"? It's because nature is life-giving like a mother. She has a feminine energy that nurtures and nourishes. Being among nature is a form of self-care that brings restoration on so many levels. With all its data, science will tell us how being in the great outdoors reduces stress, strengthens immunity, and regulates blood pressure, pulse, and heartbeat. But less science and more instinct tell us it feels natural, making sense of why we feel so good in green spaces or nature. Nature is natural to us; We didn't start out living in aluminum siding, wearing shoes, and eating from chipotle while cruising our cell phones. Being in the natural elements takes us home to Mother. 

Our senses are the bridge that connects us to the healing powers of Mother Nature. The sounds of nature can be so healing and recalibrating. Sometimes you can even detect the subtle pulsating and natural resonance with the planet. Sound Of Earth's Natural Resonance. We are meant to harmonize with the earth and vibrate in sync with her. Our senses become more awake in nature's setting designed to keep us alert and engaged. Visualizing a nature scene can release the necessary hormones to reduce pain and trigger positive emotions that contribute to our well-being. Plantlife arrived well before us and established as an ally was not a coincidence in nature's medicine. Scents of the natural environment deliver phytoncides produced by plants to help increase our levels of white blood cells, strengthening the immune system. The oxygen exchange between trees and their abundant nutrition supply all provide a supportive structure for living beings.

Sunshine and oxygen-rich fresh air encourage the more natural diaphragmatic breathing (better breathing), taking us out of "fight or flight" and into the "rest and digest" mode of the autonomic nervous system. We can sleep more restoratively and feel refreshed in the morning when we shift more easily into that "rest and digest" mode. Energy-rich sunshine is received and exchanged with our breathing and skin, delivering essential vitamins and minerals to our body systems. The internal balance and rhythm of the sun tell us when to sleep, eat, rest, play, regulating the body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Doctors are now prescribing a trip to a National Park as therapy. Natural Parks Therapy.

So why is Mother Nature so profoundly healing? It's only natural; the earth and its inhabitants are electromagnetic. When we can connect with elements of nature, we begin to vibrate, and our heart beats at the same natural frequency as the earth. In our busy modern world, we pick up frequencies that don't support our overall health and conflict with our natural resonance. Different devices, stress, chaos, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of grounding, stresses our energy systems that serve the biological systems. Like batteries, we need to plug in and recharge, but we also need to discharge accumulated energy. When we walk in nature (Earthing), we literally can discharge energy or recharge by nature appropriately. 

Being in nature and connecting with the earth brings us back to life. Mother Nature is a cleansing elixir restoring that natural part of who we are. There are always ways to bring nature to us when don't have access to it. City dwellers bring in patches of earth to their skyscrapers. You can bring in live plants, stones, wood, water, various elements of the earth to nourish. Ideally, we take time each day to step outside and breathe, feel the grass/dirt ( barefoot when we can), hug a tree, put our feet in the water, listen to a river flow or birds chirping, and bask in the warmth of the energetic sun or the crispness of snowy air. Go home, go back to nature; it's food, fuel, and medicine for the body, mind, and soul it's only natural!

See you in the forest,

XO Donna

"Turning The Whole World Down"

This morning I was having my coffee in the usual spot in my house from a chair next to the window that looks out to the world each day. I have a morning practice of sitting in stillness for at least one cup of coffee while checking in with myself and welcoming in the new day. This practice is so important to me as I depend on the necessary peace that it brings before starting each day. The birds outside my window were especially active this morning, considering it is late January. The singing and fluttering of the birds moving about the trees made me highly aware of all the beautiful life going on outside in nature, appreciating them while feeling the warmth of my inside coziness. 

As I sat taking in the gift of that moment, a song came to mind called "Be Right Now" by Ed Sheeran (he writes amazing lyrics). His lyrics say, "I don't want to miss one thing, we can turn the whole world down and listen to the in between we are, we are the sound. There's nothing but the space we're in, the hurry, and the noise shut out. Just stay here and be right now." At that moment, feeling the song and its message was perhaps a prompt for my blog and maybe a reminder to me of the beauty in "turning the whole world down."

One Nielson study shows that American adults spend more than 11 hours each day on their tech devices, listening, reading, and interacting with media, and that's up from nine hours just four years ago. Maybe some of the increase comes from a feeling of isolation from the pandemic and working more from home. With practicality taken into consideration, our accessibility to virtual tech is both a blessing and a curse. There used to be a day when we weren't accessible all day long, and there was a bit of autonomy from the world. There are now digital detox programs and retreats because our digital devices are recognized as a true addiction. But, unplugging is hard, and I get it even I want to check my phone first thing in the morning and tend to pick it up too much throughout the day. Have you ever left your house and forgotten to take your cell phone? I know you have, and how liberating was that?! Yeah, we can choose not to take a call or turn off the ringer, but, yep, we have the notification function on, so we're still distracted by the fact that something needs our attention. Where does all of that distraction lead us?

From my perspective based on personal experience, being perpetually plugged in doesn't give us as much opportunity to be human. Being in constant human-doing mode naturally disconnects us from the beauty of human being, not to mention the more significant concern of its impact on our nervous systems. We are not sleeping, we have more headaches, increased blood pressure, anxiety, and the list does go on from there. There is genuinely a trickle-down effect to our many hours of being plugged in. Okay, so it's not all gloom and doom; technology has many practical and helpful aspects. And I believe that we were endowed with the intelligence to design and use it, but there's a learning curve that we are discovering with its over-usage.

 I think we all know that excessive use of our devices may impact us on an intellectual level. But, practically speaking, we have to want to generate some space in our lives, which is up to us individually. Digital devices have become habit-forming, and just like altering any habit, we have first to want to change a pattern and give a new habit time to settle in. Discovering your reason for changing it up is an essential first step. I feel better when being disconnected for bits of time. I know I am giving myself the needed break to go inward, creating an intentional opportunity to just BE. Secondly, a part of my motivation is that on some level, it feels physically healthier not to have an electronic device so closely impacting my physical energy field with the radio-frequency or X-Rays that they omit. Here are some small change suggestions, keeping in mind that every new habit takes time to integrate, and turning the whole world down may be worth it! Discover your why before changing your habit and create one slight adjustment at a time.

1. This one is huge for setting the tone of your day; Upon awakening, maybe check to see if anything pressing has happened overnight and then leave your device right there on your nightstand for a predetermined amount of the morning, say the first cup of coffee, etc.

2. Turn off the notifications settings, especially at night! Do we need to be aware of every single FB entry!

3. Put devices away during mealtime engage with your meal and company.

4. Consider going to the store or running errands without your phone. If you feel you have to take it, maybe leave it tucked away in your car while in and out.

5. Try watching an entire program or movie without engaging your phone throughout.

6. Set realistic limits to your daily usage and utilize an app that reports your everyday use.

7. Preset a time to check emails, social media, etc. Maybe morning, the late day well before bedtime, don't carry that crap to bed with you!

8. Maybe even consider what apps could be deleted or unsubscribed to emails as a way of generating more space and less noise.

9. Give yourself time and space before sleep by unplugging well before bed, allowing your brain to slow down. You can set your phone at night to only receive calls from preset persons such as family etc., for the sake of emergency contact.

10. Put your device away when you're in a meeting or hanging out with friends and family. Show them that they are more important than everything else going on!

11. Be prepared for separation anxiety and remind yourself that you're creating a new healthy habit.

12. Try replacing the time on a device in conversation with another.

13. Find a book or magazine you love.

14. Sit in stillness, challenge yourself to utilize your senses to take in the world around you.

15. Get moving, put away your device. You can take it with you if it makes you feel safe, but let it be while getting some fresh air. Just bundle up!

16. Find a hobby, something more interesting than social media.

17. Don't take your phone to the bathroom with you. Take an actual time out!

18. Clean out a closet or tend to a project that doesn't require your device.

19. Spend a little time journaling

20. Volunteer your time

Ed's Song "Be Right Now"

Just stay here and be right now,

XO Donna

The Nature Of Things

As with all things in nature in our lives, there are cycles. Cycles represent the opportunity for completion, beginnings, hope, growth, and newness. There is never complacency in the natural order of things; every event is for the betterment of the whole and comes with renewed hope for an even better future. Nature is defined as “The phenomena of the physical world collectively” we humans would be represented in the “nature of things.”
With the winter solstice, a new solar cycle begins—a time when the Earth is silent. In Latin, solstice means “sun and sistere,” meaning to make a stand. As a most powerful point of the year, the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts, and moves in the opposite direction, and for three days around the solstice, we experience that pause or standstill. This shift is a powerful example to us within “the nature of things.”
“The nature of things,” tells us that there is light ahead but for now to rest in the quiet peace of darkness. It’s essential to embrace the experience of the dark, allowing ourselves to feel our emotions and harnessing the power of those feelings and emotions to guide us forward into the light. There is personal power in feeling our emotions as a tool for transformation. Our personal growth cycles are linked to the natural cycles, and winter is a time for going inward to gain introspection and focus on our personal goals. The stillness of winter is perfect for gaining momentum in visualizing our desires and moving in the direction of the brighter rays of spring. Taking time to honor and appreciate endings and new beginnings allows us to pause in quiet reflection as we come together in community, prepare for and make room for the newness of the coming year.
With “the nature of things,” the quietness of winter turns up the volume on our intuition; it is time to trust and focus on what we “feel.” Using that inner peace and clarity at this vital time helps us to make choices based on what our soul is telling us. Leaving behind the struggles of the past, we can look forward to our future with faith, love, and hope. Winter can be a time to redefine ourselves with the awareness of what we want in our lives and shift in that direction.

Rituals found and experienced throughout history serve as an act of strengthening our action and establishing confidence on the ceremonial bridge of passing. As a winter ritual for reflection and transforming the inner darkness into the renewed light, ask yourself the following questions.

What am I struggling right now with…… ?
My fears hold me back from…….?
The old me is constantly…….?
Any additional journaling you may want to add.

Now harness the energy of the winter by moving from the dark into the light. Light a white candle. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, ask to be released from the past and see all that no longer serves you in the highest way going into the flame of the candle.

Next, ask yourself the following questions.
What does my intuition tell me in this situation………..?
I will honor myself by……….?
The new me is going to………..?
Any other journaling you may want to add.

Now ask the highest light to surround you and guide you in the direction of wisdom, peace, and compassion for all you envision in your life with gratitude for the darkness and the light, then with conviction and confidence, blow out the candle.

You are the light!

XO Donna

Being Self Centered For The Holidays

It's interesting how all things are subject to interpretation, Including how we label the term "Self Centered" Culturally speaking, that tone may say that it's more appropriate to serve others first and that it's selfish to consider oneself before others. This point of view can generate a tone of exhaustion, discontent, depletion, and potentially perpetuating even more selfishness. How do you draw from an empty well?

With the Holiday season in full swing, permitting yourself to be a little more self-centered could be just the thing to bring about more joy to yourself and those around you. I used to have a holiday routine that was super festive and pretty exhausting. I became aware (awareness being the first step in making any change) that this was not very fun, as I began to feel dread starting around mid-summer; I knew It was time to rethink how I was doing some things and, by the way, this keeps evolving.

Pause, notice, and choose; this is the golden rule for living consciously in life and the three words that can carry you more mindfully throughout the holiday season. When there's a stressful or depleting situation, take a PAUSE. Pausing allows us to NOTICE intentionally. By noticing what my true feelings are around any given situation, where I feel dis-regulated in my body, and what my choices are for shifting, I can CHOOSE. Choosing gives us options for moving out of dysregulation. Do I choose to stay exhausted by a situation, or do I find a more helpful solution? Paying attention to the core values making up my WHY can help guide me. Sure it takes paying attention to become better at self-regulation, but we arrive at a better place little by little.

So I became pretty aware that some shifting needed to occur in my Holiday routine. You've all heard it "happy wife, happy life." there's some truth to the old saying taking care of ourselves allows us to have more giving capacity, and filling our joy cup will enable it to runneth over. With that awareness in mind, you build choices based on what truly matters to you (this is your WHY) in any given self-regulating scenario. For me, a priority is to provide a joyful, festive environment. My WHY?…..Because it makes me happy to bring happiness to my friends and family. But trying to get enjoyment from a depleted place was counterproductive. My first order of business was permitting myself to have a change of mindset. I decided that the holiday wouldn't be about focusing on just one big day.
Christmas is one day, but we can enjoy the fun festive season over some time. I guess in this case; it's about the quantity of little bits of quality. With so much family out west, shipping them lots of love was truly overwhelming, not to mention the cost of shipping anymore. With so many options now to direct ship and creatively gift with experiences, that was the first thing that I so happily permitted myself to change up. Can we talk about decking the halls?! I used to do it all, outside, inside, and everywhere in between. Nope, don't do that anymore, and putting away the goods after the holiday became so much easier.
I do, however, enjoy lights and festive decorations inside, so I still choose to dedicate some time to indoor decorating; WHY? Because I enjoy it, and then the bonus is that everyone else gets to enjoy it. Oh yeah, and let's not forget holiday baking, because of course, what's a holiday without mom baking in the kitchen? Well, this mom was exhausted and frankly overeating too many of her creations, but I do have a favorite, and I make it a point to bake them each year, and my family appreciates them even more. Now let's tackle the "monster in the room" gift giving! I love gift-giving, so it wasn't about eliminating my gifts, but it also had to shift somehow. I genuinely do feel more joy in giving a gift than in receiving one. The problem for me there was "what to give" and waiting too late in the game to choose. So an easy fix, I keep a list on my phone of things that I may notice throughout the year as they come into conversation or observation. Probably the more practical aspect for me of gift-giving was to start early. Usually, midsummer seems to kick off my treasure hunting, and that one works out well with the shipping slowdown. We generate more energy and motivation for celebrations, activities, and festivities when we can self-regulate by pulling energy reserves from things that deplete us into those that complete us.
In the big scheme of things, when considering my holiday core values, family tradition, gratitude, compassion, generosity, and celebration fuel my WHY. For you, your WHY may develop from a different set of holiday core values. Take a moment and notice where your WHY comes from and how that feels for you. Motivation comes from a desire to live into your WHY. Living into your WHY requires that you become self-centered; filling your cup gives you that capacity to show up in a way that is healthy, joyful, and plentiful not only for you but for all.

Have the merriest (joyful and lively) of holidays!
XO Donna

Footprints

When they die, everyone leaves something behind, a footprint of sorts that impression you make on the surface. Does it ever occur to you what footprint you will leave behind, that something that your energy touched somehow? With an entirely different blog topic in mind this morning, I switched it up completely as I felt compelled to expand more on the subject of our footprint and what that may mean to us.

It wasn’t until I had children that I became fully aware of my impact on another and how the legacy of parenting could generate future positive footprints. I was always a big fan of baby-feet photos, and I was drawn to the tiny, perfect, unmarked little feet fully intact, ready to take on the world. Brand new in the world, they held so much potential. I could either teach and guide through love and example, or well, and there’s the other. I knew this job would be probably the most important job that I would have, and as it turns out, it was! Parenting for me was by far the most rewarding, especially when I saw my children reflecting the values and qualities of my parenting footprint.

Of course, we all know that our impact on life comes in countless ways. When you stop to consider your WHY behind your footprint, it indeed doesn’t have to be a grandiose act but rather a consistent stream of small actions. Consider how a few kind words to someone emotionally vulnerable on any given day can have a lasting impression. I value the power of words, so being mindful of my word choices is at the top of my WHY list. We all come into this world with a special gift, and sharing that gift with the world establishes our footprint. Consider the trickle-down effect that your sense of humor left on the whole when you could laugh at something that would typically cause someone to growl. Perhaps you’re a gifted crafter, and your mark is left in the inspiring pieces created. Family recipes and traditions are a rich way of leaving behind treasure. Your legacy can come through your body of work, or mentoring others can have a lasting impact. Small acts of kindness such as remembering someone’s name, smiling, and making eye contact bring about a human connection that is meaningful. Holding space for another and giving without being asked is simply treating others the way you would wish to be treated. Be true to who you are, and identify your strengths; that’s where your impact lays; it’s there for each of us. The legacy of what we leave behind goes far beyond our possessions.

How will the world be a better place because you were in it? What do you want your life to stand for? Becoming aware of your answer may influence your day-to-day decisions and interactions positively. This isn’t ego-driven; instead, it’s reflective of how we leave our trace. Everything we do and everywhere we go leaves a trace in the world. Consider for a moment the trace that is left virtually with social media and other online activity. Your fingerprints formed well before you made an appearance in the world mark your unique stamp of having been present on earth at some point. You did come here to leave your mark in the world. Every moment of every day, we are energetically imprinting some part of ourselves on humankind. Others will follow us, and the imprint of our existence will remain; what will your footprint be? Remember that we are connected at this moment and will be 300 years from now. Be the change the world needs.

We try to leave the world a little bit better. Years from now, what will people miss about you? What will they even remember about you? We want to feel as if our life mattered. Still, perhaps it’s more in the knowing that when we return home, we have left a footprint that acknowledges we did our best most of the time and we took advantage of the opportunity, one moment, one person, one animal, one planet at a time to cast love into the world.

Light The Path!
Donna XO

Ancient Fossilized Footprints

Are You A Humdinger ?

Are You  A Humdinger

Are you a hummer? Do you find yourself with a steady stream of sounds emanating from your body as you go about your day? I have a friend that once said her grandma used to hum constantly, and it made her a little crazy. My first thought was “oh no, that’s me” my next thought was, it’s pretty cool that on some level she unconsciously gave herself what her body and psyche needed and what a lovely thing to have a built in instrument that provides that for us. There’s a lot of research showing us the benefits of humming, sound and music to the body, mind, and spirit.  Depending on the sounds we choose it can calm, or energize us, reduce anxiety and lift our mood. The steady rhythm of a drum or humming can be very soothing and healing and even boost the immune system, while helping with pain management, and enhanced sleep. In addition, the steady vibration of humming can lower the heart rate and blood pressure while increasing oxytocin, and dopamine. 

Healing with sound dates back to ancient civilizations and likely since the beginning of time. Temples were built on magnetic vortices with a constructed design for capturing the power of light and sound waves and people would travel to these locations to capture the resonant recalibration of body, mind, and spirit. Throughout history sound and music have been used to celebrate life, boost morale, and comfort, as well as inspire and motivate us. We were designed with a built in sound system. 

Just like an orchestra, our body strives for cellular harmony. Without the proper pitch the lack of harmony will spread to other parts of the orchestra bringing the whole out of tune. When sound waves are perceived through the ears they are converted into electrical signals that travel to the brain triggering responses within the body. These perceived responses can alter our emotions, and release hormones that direct the body’s cellular orchestra. We can relate to this when we hear a song that evokes a specific memory and emotion. Sound comes at different frequencies and healing with sound happens by resonating with frequencies that are healing and relaxing. Research shows us that in the presence of rhythmic music our heartbeats become synchronized with the music so slowing down the rhythm when life, and stress get the best of us can slow down the body’s stress responders. Everything is vibrating including the cells in your body. With sound by slowing down your brain waves talking to the body’s cells you’re tuning your body much like you would tune an instrument aligning it to whatever it needs,

There are many types of sound therapy ranging from more scientifically based while others are more relaxing and restorative. Sound therapy can  treat a range of conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety, autism, behavioral disorders, cancer and other types of physical distresses. There is something for everyone in the realm of sound healing, whether we are working specifically with music therapy, a group sound bath, or a one on one sound healing session with a holistic practitioner there’s a healing and restorative process to them all. On a physical level sound and tuning forks can help reduce pain. You can calm the mind and destress yourself while mindfully following the sound of a singing bowl. Spiritually cultures all over the world transform consciousness as a form of meditation for connecting with the essence of who we are by focusing on the sound of a steady rhythmic beat. 

A vital part of humming is self-expression but humming is fun. We are generally humming when we feel good, and we hum to feel good. Conscious humming can be a meditative process transporting us into an altered state. Humming can create new connections in the brain and is used as a healing modality for depression, and PTSD. Humming can be empowering, knowing we can self heal by lowering our blood pressure, managing stress, altering our moods. What an amazing gift we have built in for self soothing, and healing, and it’s free! Mom’s humm to their babies, it comforts the elderly, everyone can hum it’s a beautiful part of our biology. 

Some tips for using your hum are:

1.Feeling stressed or down ; consciously hum choose a favorite song and watch how your mood transcends. 

2. Simply Breath; Breathe in through the nostrils and extend the exhale through the month with a hum

3. Hum at various pitches; Hum to send love into each chakra...do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti

4. Meditation; Focus on an area of the body that feels tense, place your hands on that area and hum... feel the vibration being carried to that body part. 

5. Humming for depression; Humming “OM”  reduces activity in areas of the brain associated with depression by stimulating the vagus nerve.

So be a “Humdinger” meaning a striking or extraordinary person or thing and use your built in hummer to soothe, to heal, and to find your happy. 

Humming Sound Of The Human Cell

Humming Sound Of The Earth

Inner Wellness Is Outer Beauty

In my many years of practicing skincare, I’ve learned that it is not enough to treat your skin from the outside only; you have to nurture it from the inside as well. In recent years I’ve been in a transformational process and struggled to see how my skincare practice fit into my expansion of holistic wellness. Viewing them as two separate elements from an occupational perspective left me feeling that I had to pull back from one practice to create time to support my passion in another. Little did I know that once again, the universe was at work demonstrating how following its lead, listening to its nudges, and trusting can open us to fantastic synchronicity in life, guiding us along our journey. 

I’ve always loved esthetics and the beauty industry. I am a self-admitted recovering beauty product junky. What I didn’t appreciate about the industry was the heavy emphasis on product marketing and outer beauty. What esthetician school and training were missing for me was the broader concept of skin health from a holistic, whole-body approach. Okay, so yes, I am hard-headed, and on some level, I guess I needed to learn the hard way how skincare and holistic wellness completely support each other, blending in the most integrated way. Following the solid nudge for not abandoning skincare, moving into my growth and expansion, and creating the boundaries necessary for my personal balance finally led me to embrace skincare from a whole new perspective. We think we’re in charge, but it’s only later that we learn there’s just junk ( growth opportunities ) that we have to go through to become even better at being us. I am finally arriving at a place where I believe my background perfectly blends my work as an esthetician and holistic wellness coach, bringing together two of my passions.

Okay, enough about me, let’s talk skin; what are the basics of holistic skincare? Ever wonder why you break out before an important meeting or that time of the month? Have you ever considered that poor gut health could be driving your skin sensitivities? How do stress and sluggish system or electromagnetic toxin create inflammation? Now that we’ve discovered the truth that the skin is a reflection of all that’s going on inside, we can look at the essence of holistic skincare, factoring in recommendations beyond just applying yummy serums and moisturizers.  

Stress In small amounts can be necessary even helpful when it’s related to a positive event. Negative stress can take its toll on the body, our health, and our skin. It can lead to acne flare-ups, rosacea, rashes, psoriasis, even hair loss. Stress impacts our immunity and can trigger problems in the skin, and is one of the most significant contributors to disease. We all know that life doesn’t come without stress, but we can learn ways to regulate life’s stressors better.

Feeding Your Machine We all know that we are what we eat. Supporting a healthy gut is pivotal for healthy skin. Food allergies and imbalances in the digestive system can lead to whole-body inflammation and sensitive skin. We support gut health and its microbiome (beneficial bacteria) with pre and probiotics, fiber, and protein and limit our intake of conventional dairy, sugar, processed foods, trans fats, and alcohol. Adding food rich in antioxidants and getting vitamins from their natural sources like raw veggies and fruit are essential for taking good care of the gut, body, and skin.

Beauty Sleep Are you getting good rest? When we sleep, our body’s in rest and restore mode; it’s working hard to regenerate as the system shuts down for a period of time, just like your computer in sleep mode. A lack of proper restoration can lead to more inflammation and further worsen acne, eczema, psoriasis, and premature aging. Saggy skin and dark circles can be a result of higher levels of cortisol and stress hormones brought about by a lack of good rest.

Get It Moving Yep, here it is again ya, got to get moving. Exercise supports the immune system, stimulates the lymphatic system removing toxins. Strengthening tissue supports elastin and collagen. Movement also reduces stress and anxiety, which helps us sleep better, offering the necessary restoration.

Self Care A little self-love speaks very loud and clear to the body’s cells. Taking time to bring about balance by doing things that feed the soul allows us to connect with the core of who we are and our experience of life. Regular self-check-in for the ease and flow of life is essential to maintaining healthy stress levels.

The Skin Microbiome  Bringing balance by nurturing the skin’s microbiome is where product ingredients and skincare routine comes into play. Try to avoid known irritants and harsh products like parabens and synthetics that are stripping and harmful while utilizing nourishing ingredients to help repair and support skin conditions and premature aging. Establish a daily routine for your skin to give it the care it deserves.

Do you see a theme? It all flows together with stress and anxiety as a lingering culprit to unhealthy skin. We can’t stop the hands of time and the aging of our skin. Still, we can take a good look at the bigger picture, become more aware of the root cause of skin imbalances, and find support for healthier skin. A holistic health approach simply means looking at and considering how to treat the whole. Your skin is a reflection of everything going on inside of your body. As a holistic esthetician and coach, I encourage you to consider all factors impacting the body’s energy flow for creating a sustainable skincare routine. 

Healthy skin is an inside job reflecting on the outside.

I look forward to supporting you and your goal of wellness.

Keep Shining,

XO Donna

Losing Our Minds

I’ve always been so intrigued by “psychics” maybe it’s the notion that some mystical thing is happening, or perhaps it’s helpful to have someone else offer guidance and insight. For me, the psychic’s allure came from more than just a curiosity, as I began the evolution into the personal discovery of my own wonderfully weird intuitive guidance system.

How do we tap the source? Taking a good look in the mirror, you toss out the idea that only specific individuals possess this clever gift. I would learn it had always been there; I was just simply unpracticed at using my tool. Each of us is born with precisely the wiring we need for engaging this unique guidance system. We were born with the right equipment but were never trained on how to use that equipment. My passion is helping people help themselves. We’ve been given this beautiful navigation system, but how the heck does it work?

First, let’s start from scratch. The wiring has been there all along, what….did you think we were just tossed here without the proper equipment?! Yes, throw out the weirdness factor and all the beliefs generated around what being psychic means. Working from a place of fear won’t enable you to crank up the volume on your radio frequency. Next, I would suggest changing up the term psychic for intuitive. Being Intuitive means instinctive, using what one feels to be true without conscious reasoning (ego). Psychic better describes “someone” that simply uses their intuitive guidance. Who could be better at directing that guidance for you than you?!

Secondly, let’s get real, the intricacy of our intuitive nature presents in very subtle ways. A big misconception is that intuitiveness is all-knowing and guides with a whole lot of detail. One way to imagine this subtlety is you’ve got your radio turned on, but you’re not fully tuned in, so you get a bunch of static, and you’re making out every 5th word, and those words are in a different language! Of course, logically, it can’t be true that there’s only one possibility. Life is fluid and changing constantly, and nothing is ever concrete. Cultivating mindful practices can help quiet the noise, so you become more comfortable with trusting your guidance system as a means of navigating direction and better decision making. Although subtle and it takes practice, intuition can be developed on demand.

Thirdly, developing your navigational system does, to a certain degree, require you “lose your mind” yep, you got to come out of your head and become better attuned to feeling the many clues your body constantly provides. We’ve all likely heard the words clairvoyant, clairaudience, etc., the French words for our heightened physical senses. Those same physical senses that we all navigate this world with are firing off all the time and can become further developed.

Finally, ask yourself what do I think being intuitive means? If you’re looking for an absolute answer to something, I am afraid you’ll be disappointed. Intuitive is not being given the answer, but rather your system can offer navigational direction. Remember we always maintain free will, there are many roads that lead to the same destination. Your intuitive sense is constantly guiding but we have be open to accepting and allowing the process.

Still a skeptic? Try this to explore your style of sensory. Sit comfortably undistracted inside or out; it doesn’t matter your GPS is with you everywhere. Taking in all the details, scan the area around you for a few moments. Now close your eyes and try to recall using your senses what you just experienced. Do you visually remember (clairvoyance), or are descriptive words coming to you (clairaudient)? Perhaps instead you have a feeling (clairsentience) about something in your scan. Maybe you even imagined a sense of a smell (clairalience) or taste (clairgustance)of something. Did anything stand out? Pay attention to how you perceive and feel the review of your scan. For now, those are likely your primary senses until you develop others.
Next, bring to mind a question you may like some insight on. Become clear on the question and ask it out loud to only yourself, close your eyes, and once again see if you can perceive and feel through your senses any clues for gaining clarity.
Take this one step further; as you are gaining the clues, notice where and how you feel these clues as they present within your body, and do they feel good or not? Trusting the feeling that comes with the hint is that instinctual challenge. We go to our head with what the body is telling us, and we know that many different versions can be formulated in the mind throwing us even further off. Our minds can serve us in a powerful way when we allow the guidance, so practice losing your mind!

I have learned that embracing our intuitive nature and opening up to a bigger picture can empower and nurture self-love. However, it does mean doing the work. Think of all the places you could go. You’ve got a vehicle; why not learn to drive it?

See ya on the road !
XO Donna

Why Cry Over Spilled Milk?

This morning I was on a phone conversation and not fully paying attention when making a fresh cup of coffee. Then, while visiting away, suddenly I hear a crash. My porcelain coffee and milk-filled mug when tumbling off of the unstable base of the coffee maker. Needless to say, when I realized what had happened, I was not a happy camper because cleaning the spill that poured into every nook and cranny was not a pleasant way to start my day.

At this point in the game, I had a few choices. First, I could have used a few choice words, and believe me, they almost happened, followed by fussing my way through the cleanup and letting it determine how my day would begin. Secondly, I suppose I could have left it for a while until I found my motivation for cleaning up, but I knew that would create a sorry task. And a third option turned out to be the most optimal. My choice became acceptance, acknowledging that sometimes things just happen, some things we can’t change, and this was one of them. That spill was not going to clean up itself…..darn it! Quickly upon accepting that fact, the energy surge within my body had diffused. I let go of the frustration by acknowledging that our days aren’t always filled with pleasant moments. I was able to begin then to focus on the end result. Letting go of the frustration freed me to get it done. After all, it’s the unpleasant tasks that also make up a part of our life, but that contrast can make the exciting things even more pleasant.

Why cry over spilled milk? With the emotional triage underway, the first small step is the most difficult one. Time to grab the paper towels and stop the flow into everything directing my strategy toward cleaning up, and every unpleasant task comes with a positive reward. Focused on the finish line, I told myself that even though this sucks, I would rather not have sticky stained-up cabinet fronts and floors. Armed with the proper cleaning assets, I dug in, thoroughly removing sprayed droplets from every crevice top to bottom. The result of my attentiveness was that my cabinet fronts and floor were given an unscheduled scrub, and shine leaving them looking pretty darn tidy.

I’ve learned that how I respond to something and how I choose to navigate an unpleasant task is ultimately up to me. I always have a choice in how I respond, and sometimes those choices are hard, much more unpleasant than spilled coffee. Taking the time to become aware of why we need to do a particular task and the reward of how it may feel when it’s complete can create a shift in perspective, serving to motivate us even further.

With my disaster cleaned up, cabinets, and floors shinier than ever, I took a big breath and brewed a fresh cup of coffee, but this time I stayed right next to it until the pour was complete. I learned from my abrupt morning start to pay attention, not to leave the coffee while pouring. The Botton line is that the mug I chose was too large for the machine’s base, and I knew that when I placed it there but chose to leave it, and well then you know the rest of the story!

Acknowledge - pause & process.
Acceptance - power & direction
Let Go - freedom
Prioritize - choices & getting it done
Perspective - lessons learned
Embrace - duality & the reward


Stuff Happens!
XO Donna

Get Your Goof On

‘Have fun’ is my message. Be silly. You’re allowed to be silly. There’s nothing wrong with it. -Jimmy Fallon

Recently I traveled to Charleston with my daughter to celebrate her birthday. Nicole is one of those people that really brings out my inner goof! Like the kind of belly laughing, tear streaming, can’t hardly breathe, laughing kind of a goof, over and over again. After our trip, when we arrived back at the car at BWI long-term parking, our car battery was dead, but because we were so charged up with four days of endorphins, we just laughed some more and then soon quickly found the airport assistance. 

We all have an inner goof that someone inside us that is an unadulterated silly, complete, and absolute goofball. It may be that the goofball isn’t allowed out very often. The other subpersonalities won’t give the goof permission to play. When was a time that your guard came down, and you unleashed your goofy dam self? For some of us, goofy is more of a natural state, and it requires a bit more effort for others. Who is your goof partner, that someone or someone’s that for some reason you get each other’s humor, and they get you going? When do you feel safe letting down the judgment guard and just being silly and having fun? Of course, being a goof is never at the expense of someone else, and there are generally appropriate times for the goofball to come out, but that’s what makes goofiness so much fun! Those times when we do let out the goofball feels so liberating and very cathartic. There’s something intimate and vulnerable when we’ve let go of the need to be safe because someone may be judging. Laughter is a healthy thing, but being your goofy self takes it a step further. Goofiness says I respectfully can be vulnerable, and I can initiate and allow my joyful, authentic nature out to play. Maybe it’s been that we are (taught) or conditioned that being a goofball means that you can’t be taken seriously, or that being silly and making someone laugh somehow is ridiculous. Suppressing the inner goof is safe but not always as much fun.

Here are some excellent reasons for bravely getting your goof on. 

1. An injection of humor makes the serious stuff more palatable. 

2. Silliness creates a joyful environment.

3. Laughing it off is a great diversion and release of stress and tension.

4. It’s hard to be angry or depressed when things are funny.

5. Goofy laughter allows us not to take ourselves so seriously.

6. Being a goofball is being brave.

7. Goofy sharing enhances the intimacy of relationships.

8. Being silly is excellent therapy.

9. Goofy laughter has immense physical benefits. It increases immunity, stimulates our organs, and lowers blood pressure.

10. Laughter looks good on you.

Most people that know me also know that there is a goofball that resides within the house of Donna. It makes me happy to see others happy. Some of the most joyous times in my life, without exception, have been steeped in those fun, silly, laughable, memorable moments. We weren’t given this experience of life to be so serious; our true nature is to be in a joyful state. Unleash your inner goofball, try it on for size, and I bet pretty soon you’re going to require a larger suit…..just saying.

Most of us would be upset if we were accused of being 'silly.' But the word 'silly' comes from the old English word 'selig,' and its literal definition is 'to be blessed, happy, healthy and prosperous.'         - Zig Ziglar

Laugh often, and laugh out loud, my dearest goofballs!

XO Donna