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How Hygge Can Help your Family
Dozens of candles are lit. Soft instrumental music is playing. Your house is filled with the scent of stove-popped popcorn and you can taste the warm vanilla in your cup of hot tea. Your family enjoys a simple snack together at the dining room table while playing a game. Then, you move to the living room and pile onto the couch, snuggled under blankets. There’s laughter, coziness, togetherness. This is hygge. What is Hygge? “In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cozying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s…
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Everyday Gratitude
In a few days, Thanksgiving will be over. But giving thanks doesn’t have to be. I love Thanksgiving. Not only do I enjoy the fun, food, feasting, and fellowship, but I think it’s beautiful to have a season in which we reflect on what we are thankful for. It forces us to be reflective, permits us to recognize how much we’ve been blessed. I think it also makes us all a bit more cheerful; focusing on the positive things in life is good for us. It makes us more patient with our kids, more appreciative of our spouses, more optimistic about humanity in general. But a few months from…
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When Getting Gifts for Kids, Less is More
Black Friday is right around the corner, and the biggest shopping season of the year is upon is. We have been receiving circulars in the mail for weeks, our e-mail has been filled with promotions, the stores are overflowing with goods to be purchased. Is anyone else completely overwhelmed by this? Giving Gifts I love giving gifts, especially at Christmas. I love the whole process: from choosing items, to carefully wrapping them in beautiful paper, to presenting them to the recipient. It is a great source of joy to me. However, the materialistic, consumeristic nature of the season can definitely put a damper on my spirit. When it comes…
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Lucy – A Birth Story
Her birth was as all births are: paradoxically traumatic and beautiful. I remember laboring in the tub in the rosy glow of a salt lamp, my husband behind me, rubbing my back, whispering quiet encouragement in the dark veil of night. I remember the way the music echoed softly against the tile walls, the gentle swishing of water as I continually repositioned myself, the primal moaning that cadenced with each contraction. We were the only ones delivering in The Birth Center that night, and it was so peaceful and still, like we were the only people in the world who were awake. The midwife periodically snuck into the room, checked…
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naked and unashamed – a poem
This afternoon, As my toddler buzzed around the room happily after his bath, He caught a glimpse of himself in the full-length mirror. Upon seeing his reflection, All naked and plump and perfect, He let out a squeal of pure delight. May we all relearn to see ourselves with Such warmth, Such affection. 8/11/16
