Counseling tips, thoughts, resources

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  People in my life are talking about parties, food, football games, gatherings, resolutions, gym memberships, and going back to work next week.  As I sift through people's Facebook posts, Instagram posts, and Tweets, I am looking for inspiration for topics to cover on these last days of 2017.  Something that a few friends have mentioned is finding love in 2018.  Whether they are divorced, never married, or widowed, I know people who are hoping to find that one true, and final, love of their life next year.  Sounds great.  Truly.  It does.  As I filter through advice columns, dating app reviews, and comments made by married people who are offering their own advice on dating, I have noticed a concept that has come up a few times.  Self-partnering.  Have you heard of self-partnering ?  Until this week, I had not.  Self-partnering, in the simplest terms, is loving yourself unconditionally.  It...

Did you know that cookies as we know them have roots in Medieval European history?  Check out this  food timeline .  Or, how about this link to a list of Christmas Cookies recipes? All I want for Christmas, apparently, is carbs.  I have been baking and baking for weeks now.  It usually happens like this.  The holiday season rolls around and I get the itch to bake amazing culinary creations.  There is no denying that I have a sweet tooth, so I'm no stranger to cookies all year long.  But, this season tends to bring out my bread and pie making abilities as well. Grandmom Wilson The Christmas season in general brings up memories for me of family, gifts, illnesses (for several years I was sick ON Christmas Day- which made for awful holiday pics), church, special homemade church outfits, decorations, and friends.  I could go on several bird-walks here about each of these areas of seasonal memories.  For now, I want to focus on family....

Today is International Mountain Day.   In all honesty, I had never heard of it until Elvis Duran mentioned it on his morning show today.  Did you know that 13% of the world's population live on mountains/in mountain communities?  And, mountains provide 60-80% of the world's freshwater?  I can't even wrap my head around that.  Check out more interesting facts here: http://www.un.org/en/events/mountainday/ So, what a perfect day for a mountain theme.  It is funny because a couple of weeks ago, the pastor at church asked, "Where does your mountain begin?"  That question resonated with me, both personally and professionally.  I have mountains.  You have mountains.  Without mountains, wouldn't life be plain?  Yes, pun intended there.  Not all mountains are the same though.  You start climbing your mountain where you are.  At different points in our lives we are faced with truths, struggles, choices, mountains.  Frie...

Trauma.  Crisis.  Emergency.  Loss.  Grief.  Pain.  Numb. Maybe you have experienced a traumatic event in your life.  Maybe you know someone else who has.  Chances are that it is one of the two, or both.  Trauma can create point in our lives that we think of as the "before" and "after."  "Before" the trauma happened, you were (fill in the blank).  "After" the trauma, you were (fill in the blank).  It affects the victim.  It affects the people in the victim's life.  Teachers see it in the classroom and are learning about "trauma informed classrooms."  Employers are learning more about the need to support their staff through EAP options.  We need to learn about trauma and its effects so we can be better friends, partners, teachers, co workers, parents, and responsible citizens. This video is 18 minutes long.  Don't let that stop you from watching it.  There is some great information in this video...

It's Winter Break!  Well, almost.  The rush to turn in assignments is happening.  The "What can I do for extra credit?" conversation can be heard in classrooms all over.  Making plans for vacations?  Mapping out a sleep and R&R schedule?  Have you started your holiday shopping yet?! It's an interesting time of year.  It is the end of 2017 so we reflect on the year.  Maybe your Facebook account has conveniently put a slideshow together for you.  It is also the mid-point in the academic year.  High school seniors wait for college acceptance letters.  College students bring laundry home.  Parents worry that two weeks out of school will set their child(ren) back academically.  So, how do you make the most out of Winter Break?  How do you balance relaxation with responsibilities?   Some experts recommend reading.  Read anything.  A book, magazines, web pages.  Just read.  Keep your ...

Tomorrow is the first day of the last month of 2017!  Did you accomplish whatever you set out to do on Jan 1?  Did you lose the weight?  Get the job?  Make amends with a friend/family member?  Finally clean out the garage/attic/basement?  December is a great time to reflect on the year and try to end the year on a high note, no matter how the other 11 months may have treated you.  So, in reflection, here is a Year in Review from several sources. Instagram ( source ) Most followed- Selena Gomez with 130 million followers Most liked photo- Beyonce with her pregnancy announcement photo Most liked video- Cristiano Ronaldo showing off his Bugatti Top Hashtags (in order starting with the most popular)- love, fashion, photooftheday, photography, art Most Instagrammed Location- DisneyLAND, California Top Baby Names of 2017 ( source ) "Girl" name- Sophia, for the 8th year in a row "Boy"name- Jackson, for the 5th year in a row Celebrities W...

Today's message in church was about priorities and money.  I promise I am not getting "churchy" on you.  'Tis the season for giving...and wanting.  "What do you want?"  It's a question I have said so many times in the last week to people I give gifts to during the holiday.  And, honestly, it's a question I have had run through my own mind this week.  Buy two for you, one for me.  I don't have many people who give me gifts during the holidays.  I have two family members, and that's pretty much it for me this year.  I used to get gifts from co-workers, but a recent job change has removed that from my life.  As I get older though, I have found that I don't want gifts from the people in my life.  Sure, it is nice to be thought of and it is nice to receive, but I don't expect it.  The holidays really have become more about giving than receiving.  Unfortunately, that isn't always the case. The question raised in church is wher...