By Koryn Sheppard
As January rings in a new year, we often feel a collective pressure to “fix” ourselves through rigid resolutions. However, instead of focusing on what needs to be corrected, we can look at the new year as an invitation to embrace the “beginner’s mind.” Starting something brand new in January offers profound benefits for our mental and emotional well-being.
By Koryn Sheppard
The leaves have fallen, the air has turned colder, and we are on the brink of the busy holiday season. The stretch from November to the new year often turns into a whirlwind of activities, events, obligations, and expectations. While we long to enjoy the special moments and feel festive, we often end up feeling exhausted and burnt out.
By Koryn Sheppard
In October, the festive spirit of “trick or treat” fills the neighborhood. Beyond the candy and costumes, this playful phrase offers a reminder to enhance your mental well-being. Before the holiday season sweeps us into its whirlwind of activity, let’s explore some “tricks” for self-care and “treats” for ourselves and others.
By Koryn Sheppard
As we move into September, we feel a shift in the air. The long, lazy days of summer are giving way to the crisp mornings and cool, golden-lit evenings of autumn. For many, this is a time of transition. Kids are heading back to school, summer vacations are now happy memories, and the busy holiday season is still on the horizon. This period can feel a little jarring, a sudden change in pace that can leave us feeling off-balance.
By Koryn Sheppard
Remember those endless summer days of childhood? The taste of a rocket pop melting down your fingers, the tart sweetness of homemade lemonade, the distinct smell of sunscreen, and the sheer, unadulterated joy of summer camp? As adults, we often trade in those carefree days for responsibilities, deadlines, and the everyday grind. But what if we told you that embracing a little bit of that inner summer camp kid is not just nostalgic, but essential for your well-being?
By Koryn Sheppard
The human heart is an incredible organ, beating more than 2.5 billion times over a lifetime —depending, of course, on how long that life lasts. On average, it beats 100,000 times per day and 35 million times per year.
By Koryn Sheppard
Election cycles, particularly in high-stakes political climates like the current one, can be exhilarating, exhausting — or both. The flood of political news, opinions, debates, and advertisements can overwhelm and even dismay. At its core, an election is a contest of values, ideas, opinions, and visions for the future. When it comes to presidential elections, many people feel a personal stake in the outcome. Emotional highs and lows can lead to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Some may even feel real fear. This fear is not unjustified, as polarizing political extremism has led to acts of terror, violence, and civil unrest. Additionally, the psychological impact can be equally severe. Many people, especially those in marginalized groups, feel an increasing sense of vulnerability during election cycles as the worry about hate crimes and discrimination adds a deeper layer of anxiety to an already tense period. Many people feel angry. This anger is not unjustified. Political discussion can easily turn heated, even between close friends and beloved relatives. It is easy, tempting, and even reflexively vindicating to resort to ad hominem attacks when you believe the other side is racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, etc.
By Heidi Weaver
The dictionary definition of “a walk in the park” is “something that is easy to do.” So why did I build this activity up in my mind as a big, time-consuming commitment? By way of context, there is a beautiful, green, shady park in my neighborhood that I always say I will go to, but hardly ever do. This is silly seeing as I live so close to this park that when live bands play there on hot summer nights, I can hear the music from my front porch. I even end up walking past it on my way to practically everywhere else in the neighborhood. When I do, I usually turn my head and gaze off longingly in the direction of the people enjoying themselves. There they are mere feet away, doing blissful park things like picnicking on a blanket, balancing on a tree tightrope, throwing a frisbee, pushing a toddler on a swing, or laying on the grass doing absolutely nothing. Watching these fortunate park souls, I always think to myself, one of these days I really need to carve out some time to go to the park.
By: Marta Manus
There is no such thing as work/life balance. We must create balance within. In our fast-paced world, the way we manage our actions, time, and energy profoundly impacts our sense of balance. Every action we take—whether deliberate or unintentional—can either contribute to a balanced life or lead us further away from it. The further away we get from balance, the more likely we are to burnout. Burnout is partly caused by an imbalance in our energetic state of being, experienced by feelings of extreme overwhelm, exhaustion, and disillusionment. When we go through our days working on things that are misaligned with our core values, we can fall out of the inner balance. Balancing life requires more than just checking off tasks; it involves a conscious effort to align actions with our values and goals.
By Tatiana Kline
As a Public Defender, I have become skilled at advocating on behalf of others. I take pride in my ability to fight for what is right and not back down until a just outcome is obtained for my clients. But when it comes to advocating for myself, that skill seems to vanish. I find myself unable to advocate in the same zealous manner when it comes to my needs.