I am always the last one to go to sleep at family gatherings. My eyes will be drooping down and I know I need to get to bed and yet, I am afraid I will miss the "bonding" moment of the weekend so I fight it big time.

And if my friends or all going to something and I can't make it, oh, I feel it!

That's what my son, Zubin, said to his sister yesterday, "You can't do what I just did...". It's a phrase most of us might call gloating or arrogant.

If you haven't felt right lately, it means you are human and you feel. The world has been a difficult place regardless of political leanings. (This is not a political post and at the same time, I am happy to state all of mine anytime.) This is a note about humanity, loss, and feeling scared, sad, rage-filled or powerless.

There's no one in the entire world that can't resonate with the feelings of uncertainty this pandemic has brought us. It has been two years plus of not knowing, thinking we know, confirming we don't, hoping we know again, and then not knowing once more and on and on.

I taught a short ZOOM workshop on the power of gratitude yesterday. That's pretty common but what was unusual was the audience. They wanted me to speak to the neuroscience, the latest evidence and how to put a gratitude practice into a real-life usable tool.

I'll admit I'm a sucker for New Year's resolutions. A chance to start over, try something new, or just commit to a goal. I'm all in. But there's one resolution I've learned eclipses all others. And if you don't take this one seriously, there's no use even trying.

I'm a fabulous cook, I won't lie. But I still feel the stress of big holiday dinners. From the menu to the decorations, it can be a lot. So, I'm letting you in on my little secret so next week you're all set!

Now, if you know me, you know I don't love the end of summer. It's my favorite season and as the coolness sets in and the days get shorter, I feel my anxiety start to mount. Literally.

This paddleboard 🌊has given me SO much JOY! one of the best investments I have made. And it was another gorgeous summer day. But when I am with my son, I have to get creative. They haven't invented a paddling wheelchair yet! (Although, what a great idea! 💡)

I still remember the day before giving my TEDx talk, they had us come do a 2 minute sound check on the red circle in the exact venue. I stepped out there onto the circle and it was just as I had imagined for weeks. It felt like I had been there before...even though it was only in my mind...and I felt completely comfortable and confident.

Moving of any kind is critical for our body AND mind. We clear out toxins in our sweat and we create endorphins as we move. But most of all, we MOVE emotions and get unstuck. So think about how you can move today. Listen to my short video on why this is so important and know that moving goes well beyond exercise.

Today, I invite you to take a bath with me, a forest bath. It's one of my top ways to literally recharge and reset and I really needed it this week! I don't just walk through the woods. I intentionally bathe in them and I want to show you how!

Let's talk resilience. It's not positivity. It's not strength. It's not feeling on top of the world when the world is down. The dictionary definition is being "elastic" or "flexible" during a crisis and coming back to "normal" when it's done. My definition is more encompassing. I do think it means being elastic but I'd like to think it means we find a "NEW NORMAL" when it's done, that you have learned so much about yourself that when another stressor comes your way, you get to start from a new place and do it all over again.

You and I deserve to take care of ourselves because we are scared humans on this precious planet.

Family is a big package. And sometimes the ribbons come undone. But whatever’s in there is ours. And we can’t sort through it and choose only the parts we enjoy. Sometimes, we have to take ALL of it. Fair and square.

Instead of a marathon, what about 26 one mile runs and 26 gratitudes?

Do you know that the more loving and gentle you are with yourself, the MORE LIKELY you are to stick with any change you’re trying to make?

Give yourself nurturing medicine all day and your thoughts will begin to nurture you back.

Lovingkindness meditation has different parts, where you send lovingkindness to yourself, to someone you love, to someone who challenges you, to the world at large. But it’s often taught that no one should go further than themselves until they learn that important job.

Mantra is just using a word or phrase as a repetitive touchstone to bring you back to the present moment.