Cards adorned with pink and red hearts, bouquets of aromatic flowers, boxes of delectable chocolates wrapped up with red satin bows–the ultimate expressions of love, right? Valentine’s Day is a good excuse to talk about love. I’m not talking about romantic love. I’m talking about the love you give yourself. What expressions of love do you bestow upon yourself? Does that sound wildly preposterous? Begin by listening to that voice inside of you that is usually the one that tells you how you feel, think and what you really want. You know, the one that you usually shove aside, because you don’t have time, or don’t want to be bothered. That internal voice is your inner wise man. He knows what he’s talking about. So make time and pay attention. Nourish the needs that you have through: Taking care of your body. Getting enough sleep. Eating well. Finding ways to reduce stress. Setting limits for yourself. Stop comparing yourself to others. Acknowledging the gifts you have. Sprinkling humor into difficult situations. Spending time with compassionate people. Forgiving yourself . Embrace your life. By giving numero uno some attention, we let go of anger, shame and blame, and accept ourselves, flaws and all. The more we direct love towards ourselves, the more we practice love and acceptance toward others. It’s a win win. When you direct love inward, you are purposely creating a more healthy and meaningful life by living intentionally. Now about those chocolates… Give yourself some...

Happy New Year! From now on, I will only eat chia seeds and kale. I’m going to ride my unicycle to work every day. I will never raise my voice in anger or frustration again.  Especially when I’m driving. No–I really mean it! Have you stuck to your resolutions?  Neither have I.  Frankly, I think making resolutions is a set up for failure. Most folks wax poetic and create unrealistic goals for themselves, leaving them feeling frustrated and, ultimately, giving up. Ah, but a fresh start, that’s something that you can wrap your head around.  It’s small and obtainable.   The best thing about a fresh start is thatyou can begin anytime you like. Each moment of every day is another opportunity to do something for yourself so that you can be your best self as you go out into the world. You actually have the opportunity to wake up and declare one,  small, doable goal.  Some examples are: Begin each day with a healthy breakfast of oatmeal. Spend a few minutes in the morning stretching and clearing your mind. Take the stairs at work. Smile at someone and wish them good morning. We get stuck in our ways.  We dig our heels in and don’t want to change.  Why should we? Because once we make one shift, there is a cascading effect where one change creates another. The end result is feeling healthier, having more energy, sleeping better, handling stress more stealthfully and presenting a better version of you. So bag those resolutions.  Begin to make small changes in your behavior and lifestyle each and every day.  You deserve it.  Here’s to fresh...