2016 was shaping up to be a very important year. I had just gotten an associate degree in journalism and was all set to transfer to a four-year university in the fall to pursue my B.A. On top of that, I turned 21 in February and was looking forward to savoring all the exciting things… Read more »
This time of year we welcome cooler weather, outdoor activities and many native inhabitants of the desert landscape, including rattlesnakes. If left alone, rattlesnakes will usually move on; however, about 1,000 venomous snake bites do occur in the U.S. each year. They are seldom fatal but can be extremely painful and lead to other complications.… Read more »
Every moment of our lives, there is frailty in our health as we walk a fine line between a solid foundation of wellness and strength, and the fragility of impermanence and uncertainty. We can see the beauty of life in both of these extremes. This message unveils a profound truth learned about the life of… Read more »
This holiday season why not give yourself a precious gift and forgive those who have hurt you? When you forgive someone, you pardon the mistake or offense. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is an act of the will – a decision to let go of negative emotions like anger, resentment and thoughts of revenge.… Read more »
There will be times when life’s challenges will cause extreme misery and sorrow. No matter what you do or how hard you try, you may feel that your situation is hopeless. You feel stuck in the tunnel of despair. Everything around you looks dark and uncertain. It seems as if things are falling apart, and… Read more »
Life was simple in my early childhood. My retired grandparents’ small farm, east of Berlin, was my home in the turbulent years of 1932 to the 1940s. The village was surrounded by verdant farmland, managed forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, and crystal clear lakes teeming with fish. On our small piece of land my… Read more »
Did you get away this summer? Travel to new places and meet new people? Maybe you are one who packs up each May and leaves the desert for cooler climates. If so, I admire you. Packing up your life and setting up camp in a different location takes a lot of motivation. It also takes… Read more »
Whether it’s a workout buddy, Zumba class, or a Spartan team, working towards wellness alongside others creates a sense of accountability, motivation and fun. So why is it that the place many spend most of their day with the largest group of people–the workplace–is often the least healthy? From hours at the computer and stressful… Read more »
This column is a continuation of last issue’s feature story on Shay Moraga who at 39 years old was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. We are honored to have Shay sharing her journey with Desert Health® readers in an ongoing column. When we left Shay, she was close to finishing 20 weeks of chemo…… Read more »
Everywhere we look nowadays there is political antipathy. Two parties approach the finish line on November 8th holding steadfast to their ideals and platforms, as well as their assumptions about the opposite party. We get very wrapped up in the drama and constant barrage of media influence related to the campaigns. As individuals we hold… Read more »
A number of incidents in my life recently converged, causing me to examine stages of life, quality of each transition, and my preoccupation with aging. This awareness began after listening to Craig Marshall, a magnetic life coach, deliver a talk entitled ‘Don’t Retire, Just Rewire.’ At 23 years of age, Craig became a yoga monk with… Read more »
You have no doubt noticed that we live in chaotic, yet amazingly potent times. Our style and manner of thinking, acting and responding are undergoing a revolution. At no time in history has mankind experienced so many fundamental changes. A shift is underway as we try to function in a climate where everything is increasing… Read more »
Life is about growth, balance, and passion. Life is supposed to be lived peacefully and joyfully. Alas! How often we are stuck in the stresses and strains, losing ourselves completely in the maze of life…too often. Stress hinders growth, leads to imbalance and breeds dispassion. So, it is very important that we prevent stress and… Read more »
The desert is an amazing landscape which can look barren and dry for months of the year and then in spring, vibrancy occurs. There is no better way to explore this beauty than through hiking. This spring unveiled a burst of color on many plants like the beavertail cactus with bright fuchsia flowers which open… Read more »
Life is a delicate balance between routine experiences and new, unusual ones that provide unexpected surprise and “out of the box” change and growth. When traveling, one realizes how much of life is so predictable and mundane. Traveling away from our environment immediately exposes us to new adventures, often with unexpected outcomes. Then, as soon… Read more »
What are you feeling at this moment? Are you taking a quick break from your to do list or does the title “Giving Thanks” put a smile on your face? If you chose the latter, you may already understand the transformation that living a life of gratitude brings. Giving thanks is more than a seat… Read more »
This summer did not go well. In July, I lost my mother to a brutal disease, and thus inherited her responsibilities: keeping her home, caring for my father, and the minutia of wrapping up her “paper existence.” At the same time, my own family expanded. Our grandson moved in for the summer and our son… Read more »
Indie Lee was like many of us, an executive woman who worked hard, enjoyed life and paid great attention to what she put in her body. A native New Yorker, she had a large greenhouse in her back yard filled with organic herbs and vegetables and led a health-conscious existence. Then, in 2008, a string… Read more »
Almost daily, we witness ‘stick-to-itiveness’ and perseverance expressed as “true grit.” Personally, I am attracted to the word “grit” which suggests to me courage, resolve, firmness of character, and an indomitable spirit. These are all lofty personality traits to pursue. The elusive mystery resides in how we achieve the qualities of this simple, yet weighty,… Read more »
“Dogs need just you and love, that’s all.” – Jennifer Westfield Two yellow Labradors took our senior neighbor for a walk every morning and evening. We waved and smiled but never met. With sadness I noticed lately, one dog was missing. Surely because of the dog’s age, the owner had to come to the mournful… Read more »
