Generosity Changes the World (and You!)

Is it better to give or to receive? As a kid, your answer probably would have been “receive” without even giving it a second thought. But as you’ve gotten older, you may have changed your mind on this. Why is that? Because you’ve realized that the way someone’s face lights up when you’ve done something kind for them is better than anything you could ever receive […]
Using Your Talents to Benefit Others

How do you use your talents? Your answer is probably something along the lines of, “I use them to do my job every day, of course.” Or you might say, “I use them to pursue my passions.” Both answers are certainly warranted, but what if there’s a greater purpose for the talents we have? How about […]
Improving Your Community

Being a part of a community is special. It means that you’re surrounded by a group of people with whom you have something in common. In the sense of where you live, your community might be a group of people who all love living in the mountains, the city, or near the beach. Maybe your community is a book […]
Building Better Friendships

People need friendships. Whether you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert, we all require genuine friendships to make life just a little bit easier on ourselves. Friendships are great for our health, as well! Science proves that adults with strong social ties have reduced risk for health issues like depression, high blood pressure, and unhealthy body […]
Unique Ways to Increase Your Family Connection

In the “go, go, go” world we live in, it’s hard to find time to do it all. Family connection is so important, but with clashing schedules and a mile-long to-do list, it can feel like you have no time to squeeze in a family dinner or game night, no matter how hard you try. […]
Conflict Resolution … Don’t Let It Keep You Up at Night

Tension. We all know it. We all feel it. Many of us dread it … especially when it involves a disagreement, miscommunication, or conflict with someone else. Awkward silences … harsh voices … wondering what you could or should have said differently. Even just reading this paragraph probably made you uncomfortable. As much as we all dislike […]
Staying Positive Isn’t Just About Smiling More Often

Staying positive is not always our first instinct. In fact, our brains are hard-wired to lean toward overthinking and over-worrying—which, one might say, is pretty much the exact opposite of positive thinking. It might have made sense back in the hunter-gatherer days when danger lurked around every corner (and kept “realistic” [negative] thinking in our […]
Risk Taking, Reward, and Handstands

Risk-taking can be scary, and everyone’s idea of “risk” looks a little bit different. Risk means that whatever the situation might be, there’s a chance for danger or loss; it means you have something to lose! Now, a risk doesn’t have to be something massive like cliff jumping off a waterfall in Bali, or swimming with hammerhead sharks in the open ocean. There can be risks […]
Staying Connected While Making Connections

“Staying connected” vs. “making connections?” There are distractions everywhere and it’s so difficult to balance staying connected with … well, staying balanced! Every day we’re inundated with constant information, and the worst offenders are often sitting quietly (or not so quietly) in our pockets, our purses, or on our wrists. How many times a day […]
Fall Activities While Still Social Distancing

There’s no question that this year is one for the history books and with the current environment, some of our favorite fall activities have changed a bit. But, it’s a new season, the weather’s changing, leaves are falling (at least here in the Northwest), and it’s the perfect time to embrace the changes around us. […]