Columnists Articles

Oh, how I love Autumn! The colors of the leaves, the crispness in the air, the wonderful taste and smells of baked goods, and much more. I also love to diffuse essential oils in my diffuser that brings the scents of Autumn to my home such as clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange. Some companies even […]

Can your pet become infected with the COVID 19 virus? The most recent consensus is this: pets do not appear to be easily infected with this virus. Is it possible for your pet to spread the virus to others? Here is the official statement from the AVMA: Infectious disease experts including the CDC and OIE […]

There are 100’s of lymph nodes throughout your entire body and you are the pump for them. Your lymphatic system is a key part in fighting off infections and viruses in your body along with ridding bacterias and other substances that don’t serve you. I learned lymphatic drainage massage from a beautiful “witch doctor” as […]

We’ve talked about mental health since March, probably more than ever before in recent history. Things are messy and uncertain right now. Keeping your mental health in check, at least knowing where you stand daily, is one good way to recognize if you start to have a slip of bad, negative thoughts that seem to […]

“You can be fully in charge of your life only if you can acknowledge the reality of your body, in all its visceral dimensions.” -Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. I think it’s safe to say all of us have experienced some sort of trauma in our lives. From car accidents (I’ve been in 10) to […]

There is a little-known, yet powerful system working in your body to constantly keep you safe from harmful pathogens, lessen inflammation, and carry your immune system. The lymphatic system is one of the most under-studied and under-appreciated systems of the human body. It not only detoxes harmful viruses, bacteria, and toxins, it also bathes every […]

One of the best parts of late summer and early fall is the abundance of fresh produce. Living in Tennessee we have an abundance of produce available during peak growing seasons and some farms are opening their fields to you. Early summer may be berry picking season but as the fall approaches it’s time for […]

When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Are you the person you want to be? Please remember, your reflection shows up in all you say and do, and believe it or not, your children and others are watching you! I think we all know the old cliche, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t […]

The benefits of yoga are well documented. Pick up any publication from a woman’s magazine to the Costco flyer, or the Harvard Medical School Guide To Yoga and you are sure to find a lengthy list of validated benefits. For example, The Harvard Medical School Guide lists four pages of benefits. They state yoga has […]

Characters of Character is an organization with a mission is to provide a firm foundation for children to establish strong civic values. This initiative also donates resources and activity boxes to children’s hospitals across the country, including right here in Tennessee. Joni Downey, the founder of Characters of Character, explains more: Why donations are more […]

September has long been recognized nationwide as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. The increased rates of suicidal ideation and attempts over the last several decades are alarming, with a 30% increase in the last 20 years. The average individual has experienced mental health distress this year, with COVID-19 ramifications and the rise in police brutality […]

After my tour in Afghanistan (2011) I knew that life would never be the same again. A year over there had left me bitter and scarred, not the once happy kid I had been. Now an entirely new challenge was ahead of me being home. My time in war was not as dramatic as the […]