Thirst is a late signal. By the time you feel it, you're dehydrated. A better strategy is to front-load your hydration: drink a full glass of water immediately upon waking, before coffee or food. Overnight, your body loses fluid through respiration and mild sweating, so morning is a natural deficit to address. This morning habit is one of the best hydration strategies.
Read MoreAs a writer, the blank page is your most feared and intimate companion. Now, artificial intelligence is here and the question you need answer is not whether to acknowledge it, but how to use it. The answer is not to use AI as a ghostwriter. It is not a shortcut. You can use it as a mirror, a sounding board, and an editorial assistant that is never too tired to proofread.
Read MoreThe use of artificial intelligence in the creative process raises ethical and legal questions that you can’t ignore. While AI offers powerful tools for content generation, it operates within frameworks that intersect with intellectual property law, authorship, transparency, and integrity.
Read MoreSo, embrace your unique voice! Create with intention! In a world shaped by AI, your human purpose, integrity, and lived experience is irreplaceable.
Read MoreGetting back on track isn't about punishment for time lost or dramatic overhauls announced at full volume. It's a quiet, honest conversation with yourself: What do I actually want? Why does it matter to me? And how will I show up — on the hard days too?
Read MoreSleep is one of the most critical factors for brain health, yet it is often the first thing you sacrifice. While you sleep, the brain performs essential maintenance tasks that support memory, emotional regulation, learning, and detoxification. A consistent lack of quality sleep can lead to cognitive decline, increased risk of neurological diseases, and impaired decision-making.
Read MoreMost importantly, gratitude reconnects us to our bodies, to other people, and to the present moment. It fosters stronger relationships, which are among the most powerful predictors of long-term health and longevity. Feeling supported, seen, and appreciative creates a sense of belonging that no supplement or workout routine can replace.
Read MoreIt was a white sky night. I remember because I was in DeRon’s bed. His bed’s under the window and I was staring at the sky. DeRon said the streetlights make the sky white and I ain’t never gonna see no star. But I was tryin’ anyway. I want to be an astronaut when I grow up, but I never seen a real, live star out my window.
The couch creaked when daddy got up to get his phone. I listened, but daddy didn’t say nothin’. Then I heard his boots walkin’ to my room. I pulled the covers over my eyes and pretended I was sleeping. But he just turned on the lights.
“We gotta go the hospital,” daddy said. “Your brother’s…hurt.”
Read MoreLasting change is not about willpower in the month of January. It is about cultivating an inner framework that aligns identity, process, emotional resilience, compassion, patience, and choice. When mindset supports behavior, change stops being something you try to force—and becomes something you naturally sustain.
Read MoreSelf-compassion is essential during this period. The body and mind may feel slower than usual, and productivity may lag. Instead of demanding immediate “normalcy,” it helps to view recovery as a transition rather than a reset. Rest is not laziness; it is repair. Emotional sensitivity is not weakness; it is information.
Read MoreOne of the primary ways exercise supports brain function is by increasing blood flow to the brain. When you engage in aerobic activities like walking, swimming, or cycling, your heart pumps more blood, delivering oxygen and essential nutrients to brain cells. This boost in circulation helps the brain function more efficiently, supporting clearer thinking, faster processing, and sharper memory.
Read MoreI had the pleasure of talking to Art Kilmer about my novel THIS CHRISTMAS on A Cozy Christmas Podcast.
Enjoy this discussion in which we cover happy Christmas memories (of course), making Christmas special in difficult times. the challenge of addiction and the love of family.
Read MoreThe food we eat has a direct impact not just on our physical health, but on the health and function of our brains. Just like the body, the brain requires a steady supply of fuel—and the quality of that fuel plays a crucial role in how well it operates. From memory and focus to emotional balance and long-term cognitive health, nutrition is one of the most powerful tools we have to support and enhance brain function.
Read MoreImportantly, exercise doesn’t need to be intense or time-consuming to be effective. The key is consistency and finding a form of movement that feels enjoyable and sustainable. Walking, cycling, dancing, gardening—any activity that raises your heart rate and engages your body can have a positive impact on your mind.
Read MoreMarie Downs is grieving the loss of her husband when her drug-addicted daughter disappears in their small town, which is rife with opioid addiction. Marie becomes the caregiver for her two grandchildren as she engages in the dangerous search for her daughter. All the while, she drifts in and out of the memories of her beloved husband of over 40 years. When her comatose daughter turns up in the intensive care unit clinging to life after an overdose, Marie is challenged to face her anger with her daughter and find hope in her life as it is now. This Christmas is a testament to faith in yourself, hope for others and the love of family.
Read MoreAging is an inevitable part of life, but how you age is significantly influenced by the choices you make, especially when it comes to physical activity. While there’s no magic pill to stop time, regular exercise is the closest thing science has found to an anti-aging elixir. Breaking a sweat benefits you down to the cellular level and improves your quality of life.
Read MoreAt the most basic level, exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, promoting the growth of new brain cells and improving overall brain function. This biological boost can lead to sharper thinking and better memory, but it also has a profound effect on creative thought. Studies have shown that moderate aerobic exercise—such as walking, jogging, or cycling—can increase divergent thinking and allows you to generate multiple solutions to a problem. This contrasts with convergent thinking, which seeks a single correct answer, divergent thinking is the heart of creativity.
Read MoreLife is tight. That’s a saying a friend of mine likes to repeat. What does that mean? In slang terms it means: Life Is Great. Even if you don’t think that’s true all the time, when you embrace each moment with gratitude and intention you may change your mind. Life is tight.
Read MoreThe biggest challenge many of us face today is our relationship with technology. Who’s in charge of who? Are you uncomfortable without your phone? Do you obsess about how many downloads your video is getting? Have you felt sad if a recent post didn’t get many likes? Nevermind the oncoming freight train of AI. .It is time to make your peace and find a healthy balance with technology.
Read MoreWhat do you do when your life becomes a little too rich with experience? It is easy to become overwhelmed in this world. Consider the video screens you find on many gas pumps. What the…? Do we need or want constant news, music, and trivia? This stimulation is on top of the phones we all carry and the social media fascination, which steals so much time and emotional energy. Given the state of the world, you need to consciously connect with mindfulness to focus and feel a sense of balance.
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