For as long as I can remember I’ve lived with animals and been responsible for their wellbeing. When I was a child, my chores would always include making the coffee and feeding our cats and dogs. I can still remember sitting on my roof most nights, listening to palm trees sway and the tides change in the quiet company of our two cats Snowflake and Tiger. My love for animals,
Over the past year, we’ve faced so much change in so many different ways. Almost every month of last year transformed our daily life in a new way, and much of that transformation came in the form of adversity, sacrifice, and loss. Now we’re experiencing different change in the start of a new year and, with the presidential inauguration, a new chapter in our history as a country. No matter
One thing that’s harder to come by in the days of quarantine is a genuine brush with wildlife. Nature is such an important part of life, but while many of us stay at home we remain disconnected from a lot of the natural world and all the restoration and inspiration it can provide. Luckily, many wildlife preserves, aquariums and zoos have live cams that allow us to bring that experience
As a Capricorn, I’ve always relished new beginnings and the opportunity to start fresh. Every new year, to me, is a gift to leave the past behind and place energy into hope for the future. This year, that hope might be a bit harder to conjure for many of us. Last year was full of difficulties, and the new year doesn’t change the fact that we are still living with
We might not be able to have “events” the way we’ve had in the past; as we shelter in place and keep each other safe, it might feel like we don’t have very many excuses to get dressed up and celebrate. But there’s no reason we can’t still create special occasions, even if we’re celebrating on our own or with our partners or families. If you’re looking to celebrate on
Each and every new year, we find ourselves pressured to remember the same few things; we’re told to reflect on the year behind us and set goals for the year ahead. Yet, it feels so easy to let the new year slip by, to make an arbitrary commitment to a resolution that won’t last to February (I’m no stranger to the abandoned resolution!). We’ve heard so much about resolutions each
As someone who lives with with autoimmune disorders (lupus, fibromyalgia, APL, Sjogren’s Syndrome, RA and chronic pain from spinal stenosis), COVID-19 was an illness I hoped I’d never have to face. My conditions make me immunocompromised, meaning I was always at higher risk for serious complications if I contracted a respiratory virus like COVID-19. When I tested positive, I felt so many emotions: sadness, fear, confusion, and loneliness. Something that
If you celebrate, I would like to start by wishing you a very warm and merry Christmas. I know that for most of us, this holiday doesn’t look the same as it has in the past. Mixed in with the sentimentality and warmth might be loss, grief, the overwhelming absence of ones we wish we could be with. For many this month marks the end of a very long year,
Finding gifts for your loved ones over the holidays can always be a bit stressful, but on a tight budget it can start to feel overwhelming. It’s easy to feel like you’re caught between your finances and the expectations of the people you care about the most. If anxiety starts to rise as you think about how to get your friends and family gifts that they’ll love, it’s so important
It’s never easy to be alone during the holidays, and it can be especially tough if you’re older and facing issues like limited mobility or financial stresses. It’s so important to remember that you are valuable and you are loved, and there are so many ways to keep this at the top of your mind this holiday season. Do Things for Your Own Joy Spending a holiday alone can be
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