If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.

-Steve Jobs        

When I started learning about mindfulness meditation in my twenties, I was surrounded by like-minded people eager to make meditation a regular practice in their lives. After a few months of daily practice on my own, I went on a 10-day silent meditation retreat. For ten days I had only my meditation practice to focus on, mostly sitting, sometimes walking. I ate lovely vegetarian food and basked in the beauty of the mountain setting. The only distraction was internal – my wandering mind – but even that was part of the process. I learned invaluable lessons about myself during the retreat and I came home with a renewed sense of joy and connection.

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You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.

-Author Unknown

All of us will be affected by the death of someone close to us at some point in our lives. Whether it is an anticipated loss as in the case of a loved one dealing with a terminal illness or old age, or whether it is a tragedy such as an accident, natural disaster, or suicide, pain and grief will be experienced by the bereaved survivors.  Getting support and engaging in self-care during this period are important steps to take during the grieving process for mourners. Remember that there is help available with finding a face to face counselor by calling the 24 hour live toll free number for your EAP.

Read more about the grieving process, how to take care...

Anxiety is on the rise on college campuses. Campus mental health clinics have seen an increase in clients and they must get creative in serving them all. In addition to individual counseling, some clinics are promoting workshops and therapy groups focused on anxiety. One campus is helping students de-stress by having visiting hours with a certified therapy dog.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/anxious-students-strain-college-mental-health-centers/?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=mini-moth&region=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below&_r=0

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See the light in others and treat them as if that is all you see.

Dr. Wayne Dyer

Newly published guidelines have the potential to alter the routine in certain workplace environments.   The article linked below offers an interesting perspective on how standing and light activity during the day can affect your risk for certain diseases.  As always, before making any changes that could affect your health, always talk with your physician.  Only your physician has the expertise to make recommendations that are right for your individual health and conditions.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11458569

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

- Anne Frank

Having a dog or cat in your life has a great impact on your mental health and sense of well-being. A study from 2011 showed that pet owners had increased self-esteem, experienced less loneliness and fear, were better able to deal with rejection, were more physically fit, and were overall happier and better adjusted than people who did not own pets. No wonder we love our pets so much!

To read about more benefits of pet ownership found in the study, click here for the American Psychological Association article...

Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

-Thomas Edison