Belonging
Continue Reading: BelongingThe Cost of Love (and the Gift of Belonging) There is something almost unbelievable about rose oil. It takes approximately 252,000 individual petals—about 8,000 roses—to produce a single 5ml bottle. …
Gifts of the Winter Solstice
I am out of the gardens for the season. The plants are all tucked in for the winter, the horticultural off-season is here, and I am ready to start my Continue Reading
Closing Current Doors to Open New Ones
If you follow my blog posts and the story of Hope Grows, you may remember the spiritual and divine part of the beginning of the mission. I was always a Continue Reading
Be Present | Being an Opportunist
If only we could be in the moment or be present all the time; better yet, take advantage of opportunities that we are given. I don’t know how many times Continue Reading
Finding Your “Why”
The arrival of autumn brings a powerful metaphor for change, reflection, and letting go. I feel like this seasonal transition is one of the most talked about and I ponder Continue Reading
Gifts of the Autumn Equinox
When I was a child, I had one of those fold-out growth charts on my wall, where my mom would measure how tall I had gotten every few months, draw Continue Reading
Steadiness
I woke this morning and the temperatures were cooler and the sky clear and blue, almost an azure blue. There is a lot of historical significance, biological function, cultural and Continue Reading
Growth
August is typically a productive month in the gardens, with many plants reaching their peak growth and yielding a bountiful harvest. Right now, watering, weeding, and deadheading is what August Continue Reading
How Do You Find Courage in The Face of Fear?
Caregivers know how to find courage in the face of fear, developing the strength to persevere and overcome challenges in their vital role. Learn more. Continue Reading
Energy
I spent a bit of mindful energy this morning looking around at the beauty of the gardens here at the Iris Respite House & Healing Gardens. Some rain storms have Continue Reading
How To Protect Your Peace: Setting Boundaries & Knowing Yourself
In thinking about this month’s focus, “Protecting Your Peace,” I began MY life. What does it mean to “protect your peace?” Protecting your peace often starts by identifying what’s weighing Continue Reading
Finding Meaning in Life
I am an early riser. Most mornings, I awake before the sun and I sit and sip my coffee or tea and listen to the sounds of nature. Right now, Continue Reading
The Ability to Pivot
The ability to pivot in tough situations is a hallmark of resilience and is worth focusing on this month as winter changes to spring. Blossoms are plenty this time of Continue Reading