Live on purpose

The Art of a Hug I am sure we all have heard of the benefits of human touch and specifically a hug, and likely have many times offered one to a friend having a bad day, or a family member in a time of stress or grief. If you grew up in a family anything like mine, you probably have hug calluses after a family get together. We are huggers, whether you are or not, so beware if you ever come to a family function. You have been warned. I have a brother-in-law, we'll call him Paul, because that's his name, who is a great hugger. The kind of hugger who leaves you thinking "I CAN start my own business!" by the time he's done with you.  But have you ever wondered WHY a hug is so therapeutic? Like on a cellular level what the heck is happening that can change our mood if we're mad, reduce our stress when nothing has actually changed in our situation, make us feel better even though we're in the middle of being sad? I had some sessions with a counselor last year reg...

        YOUER THAN YOU         Be authentic, be yourself, be real. We’ve all heard these buzz words and felt the push to not be afraid to show our true self, honestly and unapologetically. But what does that mean exactly, and is it always the wise, preferred method of being, or behaving? When I started thinking about what authenticity is and what it looks like to be authentic, I instead kept finding myself identifying what it is not. Here’s the list I came up with. Authenticity is not over-sharing, having a lack of boundaries, or just imitating others. It is not being unfiltered, or showing off, or attention-seeking. It is not manipulative, trying to gain the upper hand, or winning validation. Based on this list I was then able to come up with the following list of what authenticity is : staying true to, and standing up for, your principles and ideals; being vulnerable; accepting your strengths and weaknesses; showing humility; consistency in...