well-being

Monday Musings 4-18-22

I am on the west coast spending time with my sister and brother-in-law at the beach in Carpinteria. I look forward to my ‘sister’ trips so much, and we fall into comfortable habits of living and working together as if we don’t live across the country from one another. I had the bonus fun of having my boys and their lovely ladies with us for Easter Sunday. We laughed on the beach, ate a fantastic meal, and enjoyed each other’s company. It was a day full of small, wonderful moments that I think we’ll all remember with a smile.

I was thinking about these small moments, and how sometimes we are so caught up moving from one thing to the next that we miss them. I’ve been practicing yoga while I’m out here nearly every day. Yesterday morning, I took a very, very hot power class. Who thought that was a good idea after wine tasting all day the day before? Apparently, I did when I scheduled it while blissed out on the fruits of the vine. Anyway, I went to the class, and there was a moment at the end when the instructor opened the door, allowing the cool air to rush in, and it felt absolutely wonderful. Something as simple as cool air on an overheated body was so satisfying and pleasurable I can call up the feeling of relief and euphoria right now!

On Easter, we took a walk through the marshes, sat in the sun with sand between our toes, watched a basketball game, and ate really good food. Small things. Simple things. And it was a perfect day.

“When simple is more than enough, you will feel happy more than enough!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

Monday Musings 8-12-19

I like Mondays. To me, they represent potential for the new week ahead. How I feel when I wake up on a Monday morning is a good measurement of my overall health and well-being. Usually, I wake up refreshed and ready to jump into things. Sometimes, I don’t. It might be something simple like a meeting I’m not looking forward to, but occasionally it’s more than that, and I have to pay attention.

For nearly a year, I woke up on Mondays feeling exhausted, dreading my to-do lists and projects, not because I didn’t like my work, but because I wasn’t in good physical health. That was a sign for me that I needed to get a handle on things.

A few years ago, when I knew it was time to change careers, I’d wake up on Mondays weary and apprehensive. It may have been safer and perhaps easier to stay on that path, to do the familiar job I was good at, but in my gut, I knew a change would be for the better if I had the courage to take the leap.

We all have that small, still voice inside us that let’s us know if we are on the right path. It takes courage to listen, but I believe in the end, I believe we are better off when we do.

“Your mind knows only some things. Your inner voice, your instinct, knows everything. If you listen to what you know instinctively, it will always lead you down the right path.” - Henry Winkler

In other news, I’ll be at Fan Expo Boston this weekend signing books and hosting panels. Stop by booth A703 and say hello! You can find more info on the Con schedule, tickets, and programming here: Fan Expo Boston

Here’s my panel schedule for the weekend:

Friday August 16 -  6pm in room 253B

World Building 101 

Saturday August 17 - 11:30am in room 160B

Girl Power: Exploring Themes of Feminism in Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Saturday August 17 - 1:30pm in room 253C

Exploring Real World Conflicts in Otherworldly Settings

Hope to see you there!!!