Columnists Articles

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 […]

“When we are no longer able to change our situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” -Viktor Frankle We recognize August as the last month of the summer. The signal that summer is ending used to be the beginning of the school year. As new protocols had to be followed, even that event does not […]

For children, the act of wearing a mask (and seeing others wear them) can be daunting. Joni Downey, the founder of Characters of Character, utilizes her Behavior Bear character to share some tips and advice. This is an important message from Behavior Bear! I just want to let you know, I wear my mask wherever […]

Self-Esteem Elephant is one of nine Characters developed by Joni Downey, founder of Characters of Character NFP, Inc. The biggest message that Self-Esteem Elephant shares is, “I like ME!” – the perfect message for children to internalize at an early age. Why is building confidence in children important? Building confidence at an early age has […]

Think about the feeling you get after a wonderful workout, or maybe an incredible run where you may have dragged your feet a little bit to start. Or remember a friend in your community cheering you on more than you sometimes cheer for yourself. Those natural endorphins begin to kick in remembering how fantastic you […]

“The truth is that the only time I’m happy is when I’m doing absolutely nothing. I don’t understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of duty. Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.” -Ava Gardner My introduction to floating began about six […]

Dating is complicated in the best of times. Add in mask-wearing directives, social distancing, and fear of a highly contagious virus for which there is no cure, and it makes for a wonderfully confusing situation. But technology has meant the dating process has not stopped. Online dating apps have not only seen a spike in […]

Welcome to 2020! The year of total disaster! Or is it? Before you flip the page, this isn’t another “be the best version of yourself/everything happens for a reason” article. This is a, “See what you have and use it to provide happiness” reminder. Life is happening for us, not to us. Positivity and optimism […]