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The Inspirational Story of Our Magnolia Tree: Perseverance, Growth, and Resilience
About 16 years ago, Neal and the girls gave me a magnolia for Mother’s Day. We planted it in the backyard, near the deck, and that baby grew and bloomed over the years, making me happy. In 2016, we were redoing our septic, and the magnolia had to be moved further. So, we moved her, and she thrived. A few years later, we had a harsh winter and heavy snowfall. One day, I woke up and saw that a heavy branch from a nearby tree had fallen on the magnolia, splitting it in half and breaking the very top. I was devastated. I thought she would never come back from this.…
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On Memories, Anniversaries, and Nature Walks
The image of the river, flowing, contained by its banks that may or may not hold, carrying on, receiving, reflecting, flooding, and even drying up at times, being an integral part of an ever-changing landscape, isn't that how we live our lives? When it comes to it, this life has been flowing from one surprise to the next, with barely enough time to catch my breath in between.
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How to Find Our Way Through the Muck of Negative Thoughts and Emotions
This is the time of year when I write about the messages and metaphors of Spring as they relate to our new beginnings, and there are many. All one needs to do is look around and notice how everything is coming alive again, rapidly and undeniably, in glorious colors. The barren landscape of winter is giving way to life and new growth. In my garden, the trees are leafing out, and something new is blooming every day. The birds and the squirrels are keeping busy preparing for the months ahead. Every day, at 05:32 a.m., the birds begin to sing, announcing the beginning of a new day and urging me out…
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How to Set a Clear Intention During Times of Seasonal and Personal Change
Early spring is messy, isn’t it? Most trees are still bare. It tends to rain a lot, the ground is muddy and soft, and although the temperatures are warming up, it is still cold enough to require coats and heavy sweaters. Patches of green moss are coming alive, and the daffodils are blooming, but the yard and the flower beds look messy and beat up. This transition period between endings and new beginnings almost always feels messy and uncertain. Every time we catch a glimpse of what is next, the clouds move over the sun, the wind picks up, and we turn back inside for safety and warmth. The first day…
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How Unplugging Can Fuel Your Creativity and Forward Movement
Happy March! I wish you all a joyful new month as we transition from the dark of winter to the season of growth and possibilities. Did you know the month of March is named after the Roman god of war, Martius? In ancient Rome, this was the time of year to resume the military campaigns that had been interrupted by winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, March is the month of new growth and fertility. It brings the vernal equinox and the return of Daylight Saving Time! The other day, I was having lunch with a friend who mentioned that March 1st is designated as the Global Day of Unplugging, a day to…
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The Season for Clearing and Making Room for Growth
Happy February, I hope the new month unfolds in ways that support and inspire you as you move forward, creating your vision for the new year. This time of the year usually moves slowly for me. It is winter, after all, a time to slow down and linger, reflect, ask questions, and gain clarity before moving forward with what the new year asks of me. There are loss anniversaries to cope with, but there are also new beginnings to honor and celebrate. February is a landmark month for me. I was born in February. Thirty-nine years ago, I left Greece to move to the US, and in a few weeks, Neal…
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Finding Balance And Joy This Holiday Season!
As I try to gather my thoughts and put something useful on paper, I can feel the weight of all that has happened this year. We have three weeks to the end of 2023, and much changed in the world and our personal lives. December is the last month of the year and the first month of winter. It is also the month of many cultural and religious celebrations and rituals. Most people would agree that December can be hectic. Articles on surviving family get-togethers, gift shopping, traveling, and social events are hard to miss. The thing is, I love this season and its rituals, and the older I become, the…
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Finding Goodness, Gratitude, and Grace
Happy Thanksgiving week! November is moving faster than I remember it in previous years. I feel caught between wanting time to slow down and wishing for a different kind of days in which chaos, uncertainty, fear, and anxiety do not lurk behind every news headline. Still, Thanksgiving is upon us, gently reminding us that even in the darkest days, there is light, hope, and much to be grateful for. Maybe this stark contrast between chaos and celebration is what makes us pause, look closely at everything we can be grateful for, and not take it for granted. Thanksgiving is a seasonal ritual. It allows us to celebrate the end of the…
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Finding Refuge – Creating Sanctuary
We are in mid-October, and fall, once again, is bathing New England in golden and red hues. The march towards the cold time of the year has begun. As always, this season is rich in metaphors for endings and new beginnings, letting go, and preparing for the changes coming our way. Many of us talk and write about it, but this year, it is the animals’ behavior that caught my attention. They are obviously preparing for the cold months ahead. They are working tirelessly to fortify their nests and gather their provisions. They are being proactive because they know what’s coming. That’s when I began to reflect on the idea and…
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Two Benches in Newport, RI
Recently, one of my daughters and I spent a weekend together in Newport, RI. It’s not often that I get to go away alone with the girls. The four of us usually spend time together as a family. Ana and I had a great time together. We walked and hiked, shared meals, stories, and laughter, and caught up with one another. On Saturday afternoon, after a two-hour walk on the Cliffwalk, while driving back to our hotel, I noticed two bright yellow benches sitting in two different corners of a large garden surrounding a beautiful old home. The road in front of the house was busy. There was a lot of…
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When the Unexpected Happens
It has been almost two months since my last post, and today I am asking myself … How did that happen? April arrived, and I went with it, full speed ahead as usual, prepping the garden, watching it come alive, and enjoying the rituals of the new season. I started working on a new program I wanted to launch, and everything was moving along nicely. Then, something happened that stopped me in my tracks. Beginning of April, our 17-year-old cat’s health took a turn for the worse. After a visit to the vet, we had to accept the inevitable, and on April 24, we said goodbye to our sweet girl. The…
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The Lessons and Possibilities of Early Spring
Spring in New England can test a gardener. She begins her slow unfolding on March 20 and proceeds at a slow pace. Spring will not rush, no matter how much we’d like her to. Be patient, she whispers. It will all happen in due time. Patience has never been my thing, but I have learned to accept the futility of picking a fight with nature. April tends to be the month of slow marching through warmer days, cool nights, frosty mornings, and unpredictable weather. The daffodils, slightly confused by this year’s erratic temperatures, have been attempting to bloom for a while now. The landscape is still bare, but there are swelling…
