Stewardship of Energy
Continue Reading: Stewardship of EnergyThings We Never Really Own There is an uncomfortable truth that nature quietly teaches us: nothing truly belongs to us. Not the towering oak that shades the garden, not the changing seasons that arrive without our permission, not even the breath we are taking at this very moment. For a time, we are simply entrusted with them. During my years as a hospice spiritual counselor, I came to understand something that no textbook could have…
Notes from the Garden: Coffee & Connection
October Plant of the Month: Coffea arabica doTERRA Essential Oil of the Month: Douglas Fir On the global level of plant consumption and connection, coffee is an international mogul. It’s one of the top ten most traded commodities in the world, and it serves to connect. There are estimates of 125 million people employed by… Continue Reading
Connection
As Autumn Equinox marked the change of seasons in September, celebrating others through the harvest, pumpkins, and change of leaves creates connection, which is our focus for the month of October. Understanding the importance of social interaction and in-person connections are fundamental aspects of human life. Connecting with others plays a vital role in our… Continue Reading
Health & Nutrition with Chef Hanna: September 2023
“Laughter is brightest where food is best.” – Irish Proverb We use food not only to nourish our bodies, but to share and connect with those around us. One of my earliest memories is laughing with my sister while we each wore slices of swiss cheese on our faces and looked through the holes at… Continue Reading
Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens September 2023
“The earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Laughter knows no bounds. Like the natural world, it serves to connect. Truth and innocence often carry it. It can serve to link us together when we least expect it, even in the scariest of moments, and the best ones are simply unforgettable. We need good… Continue Reading
Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens August 2023
Apple trees are ominous. They’re not just for food. They bear the tempter’s power. Don’t hang out around them. If you do, eat at your own risk. Mythologically speaking, apples have earned the right to be feared. One bite and you lose your innocence. A gateway to darkness. Nutritionally speaking, though, apples lose that power.… Continue Reading
Laughter
E.E. Cummings said, “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” What a great focus for September, along with a fabulous topic for discussion. September for me is all about the change of seasons, students and teachers returning to school, and the beginning of harvest time. My hope is that not only for… Continue Reading
Temptation
The focus for the month of August is Temptation. The focus was chosen due to the apple trees bearing fruit at this time of year, with harvest soon to follow. Autumn season is fast approaching at the Iris Respite House & Healing Gardens, as the squirrels begin to gnaw at the hickory nuts in the… Continue Reading
Liberty
When I think of liberty and all that comes with that word, I think of July 4th, fireworks, and our freedoms in the United States. I also think about the brave men and women who died to give us that right. Our focus for the month of July is liberty. We spent the month talking… Continue Reading
The Art of Letting Go: Balancing Expectations in Caregiving and Lessons from Nature
In the month of June, the ThinkCaregiver™ program and its Simple Suggestions talked about expectations and all it can ensue. We started the month off with the quote by Debra L. Reble, “We must let go of any expectations of how life should be, in order to experience how life can be.” Quite profound and… Continue Reading
Ebb and Flow
The ebb and flow of life is a natural cycle that is closely interconnected with the rhythms of nature. Just as the tides of the ocean ebb and flow, so too does life go through periods of growth, change, and renewal. Nature provides a powerful metaphor for the ebb and flow of life. For example,… Continue Reading
Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens – May 2023
Morning glory flowers shine in the morning, bloom vibrantly through the day and then stagger toward their end in the evening. Life, death and rebirth, all in 24 hours, and all on the vine of a plant many people regard as a weed! The ebb and flow of life is our focus for May. At… Continue Reading
Anticipation
What does anticipation do to our psyche? Anticipation can have both positive and negative effects on our psyche, depending on the situation and our individual personality traits and experiences. On the positive side, anticipation can create a sense of excitement and motivation. When we are looking forward to something that we expect to be enjoyable… Continue Reading