Every industry uses its own special lingo to describe certain processes/functions. Some examples you might be familiar with: Real Estate: Curb appealMedical: EventCulinary: Flavor profileEntertainment: CallbackFinancial: Cash flow In the therapeutic world, we have a few of our own: transference, projection, shadow, and, everyone’s favorite: “How does that make you feel?”. Even therapists can poke…
Dr. Barry Schwartz wrote a book called “The Paradox of Choice”. In it, he discusses how too many choices can actually increase feelings ofanxiety, depression, and loneliness. I see the reality of this phenomenon play out in my practice all the time: college students wondering which major to choose, singles deciding which dating app to…
We use the word foodie to describe someone who delights in the adventure of a culinary experience. It doesn’t seem too far a stretch, then, to propose the term ‘wordie’ to describe someone who marvels over well crafted words the same way a foodie savors creative and unexpected flavors. I’m not a foodie, but I…
In her book, The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion said, “You have to pick the places you don’t walk away from.” It has been more than a few years since I read that line and, still, it sticks with me. In very few words, Ms. Didion implies the importance of values like commitment, conviction,…
“YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME. Life hurts and it’s hard. Not because you’re doing it wrong, but because it hurts for everybody. Don’t avoid the pain. You need it. It’s meant for you. Be still with it, let it come, let it go, let it leave you with the fuel you’ll burn to get your work done on…
The other night, I was out to dinner. My drink came with a fruit wedge in it. It had a yellow rind, which made me think it was a lemon; I wanted a lime. Mildly disappointed, I shifted the glass just enough so that the ice cubes changed positions and, low and behold, that lemon…
And just like that…it’s beginning to look a lot like Springtime in Kentucky! The sun is starting to shine more days than not, daylight is extending well into evening, and flower buds are beginning to bloom. Though cliché to say, the spirit of renewal is all around and I, for one, am feeling its reverberation…
It has been a cold and dreary February in Kentucky. I’m beginning to think Mother Nature Herself is going through a bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder (how fitting that its acronym is SAD) given winter’s refusal to release its grip. The sun’s brief cameos are quickly drowned out by a relentless onslaught of “wintry mixes”. …
After posting “From the Toys of Babes” last month, the words “You are your own Dolly Alanna!” have continued to echo in my mind. I was speaking about setting intentions for the New Year; specifically, cultivating values (i.e. honesty) and feeling states (i.e grateful) rather than chasing the sometimes grandiose and unrealistic goals we’re conditioned…
Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. I love everything about it: shopping, baking, gift wrapping, ornaments, Santa Claus, holiday movies, family sing-a-longs, and, mostly, the buzz of anticipation that starts as soon as Thanksgiving ends. There’s something about all of the spirit filled festivity that makes me feel lighter, brighter, and more…