Among our family and friends, shared meals and delicious food are an essential part of connection, a time to enjoy each other and strengthen the ties that enrich our lives. To that end, I’ll be adding some of my favorite recipes to Heartspoken. I invite you to send me your favorites too, preferably with a […]
Blog
The Shocking Truth About Money And Happiness
Money Can’t Always Buy Happiness… …but it can sure make us miserable sometimes! Let’s get smart and ditch the unhealthy relationship many of us have with money. Like any tool, we should learn how to use it wisely and make sure it’s in alignment with our highest values. Money is neither our enemy nor our […]
5 Great Ways To Make Lasting Memories
No matter how old—or young—you are, you can create memorable moments by adding touches of novelty to your life. Look for novelty There’s an oft-told—and very true—story in our family about my Uncle Edmund Taylor (see “Happy 100th Birthday, Uncle Edmund!”), who famously enjoyed pushing his loved ones slightly beyond their comfort zone to instill […]
5 Easy Things To Do This Week To Celebrate The Fall Equinox And Reconnect With Nature
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Reflection for the Fall Equinox: Your deepest roots are in nature. No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation. ~ Charles Cook Today is the Fall (Autumnal) Equinox in Virginia There are so […]
Valedictory Challenge: What Will Your Legacy Be?
It is always a joy to meet young people whose spirit and vision for the future are inspiring and compelling. Today I want to introduce you to just such a young woman: Annabelle Palmer. My friend Coe Sherrard, owner of The Woodstock Café and Shoppes, pulled me aside recently to share an excerpt from the […]
Learn To Set Healthy Boundaries
Giving is good…until it’s too much. Let’s talk about setting boundaries. This is updated from an earlier post, but the message is even more important than ever for those striving to live the Heartspoken life. It’s important to remember that while generosity and giving of ourselves is essential, if we don’t set healthy boundaries, we […]
Book Review: Grief Works by Julia Samuel (a helpful primer)
We cannot escape death and grief, so we must learn how to deal with them. Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving by Julia Samuel Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell 4 stars out of 5 [NOTE: this is a more detailed review than the one I posted on Amazon and Goodreads.] Grief Works was highly recommended […]
Rediscover Your Inner Child
If you’ve lost your inner child, maybe it’s time you found her again—when you do, you’ll also rediscover the joy and wonder and fearlessness you once knew. If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree… I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, Not me! Lyrics by […]