If you live in West Michigan, you’ve experienced what many refer to as the “dog days” of summer, with heat and humidity at a high point. The name “dog days” came from the ancient Romans because they associated the hottest days of summer with the star Sirius. Sirius was known as the “Dog Star” because Read More
Once there was an eagle’s nest with four beautiful eggs perched on the side of a mountain. An earthquake occurred causing one of the eggs to roll out of the nest and down the mountain side. It landed in the middle of a chicken farm below. The chickens gathered around the egg and decided they Read More
In my last post, I talked about focusing on the positive and paying attention to the present moment. One way to stay positive is in your actions. Take time each day to build others up to look for ways to be kind to someone. Look for ways to do someone a favor. It is easy Read More
You are probably familiar with the Japanese proverb Fall down seven times, stand up eight. In other words, continue to try. Too many people give up when success doesn’t come quickly enough. In her book, Your Journey to Greatness Through Routine, author Michelle Steffes says, “Imagine your success journey as a train. Unless you begin Read More
In 2014, a wide receiver for a Texas high school football team, Apollos Hester, was interviewed after a stunning comeback against the opponent expected to win the game. His interview went viral on YouTube. Here is what he said: “You’re going to be successful because you put in all the time, all the effort, all Read More
A laugh a day will keep the doctor away. Yes, I know this is a modification of the old saying “an apple a day…” Laughter, though, has many health benefits! It relaxes the whole body, boosts the immune system, protects the heart, burns calories, and helps you live longer. Laughter also plays a key part Read More
With only a few days left in the year, our thoughts turn to what can we can do differently in the next year to improve. However irritating you may find the phrase ‘attitude is everything’, it is SO important to remember if you’re determined to cultivate more positive emotions and experiences in your life. The way we perceive Read More
In my blog post on November 1, you were invited to participate in a gratitude challenge. I know many of you started, and I hope you all finished the challenge and feel better as a result. Neuroscientists have discovered that practicing gratitude releases the happiness hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin is nicknamed the “happiness hormone” because Read More
We can all appreciate a good night’s rest, but did you know that cultivating more gratitude throughout the rest of your day actually adds to your ability to maintain levels of deep sleep for longer? By focusing on the positive side of life in our daily experiences before we settle down to sleep, we are Read More
Once there was a carpenter who decided to retire after a long and storied career. When he told his boss, the builder, of his intentions, the builder asked the carpenter if he would do one last job. The carpenter reluctantly agreed. He approached this project like none other. In the past, he had always given Read More
