Earlier today, I was desperate for a visit from my Fairy Godmother. Track practice this morning had left me with an injured hip and an inability to walk, run or even move without sharp, shooting pains. I spent all afternoon wondering when it would heal and looking for an answer for an immediate fix. Being impatient by nature, I wanted to
PLUGGED IN
Fall makes me think about my family and friends more than any other season. I don’t know why, but there is something about the crispness of the air, the changing colors of the leaves and the promises of the holidays to come that seem to make life’s vibrancy imperative to share. Inevitably, Fall inspires me to
LAVENDER DAYS
“How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward.” This Spanish proverb inspires me to slow down my too-busy American schedule, and to remember the beautiful pace of life I once lived in France. Much like this rhythm de vivre I exprienced in France, the Spanish have also mastered what I call “lavender days.”
HAPPINESS TAKES TALENT
Dancing moves the soul in ways that words, feelings and emotions can’t. It removes thinking and compels your body to find its’ own rhythm. Happy people dance. There’s no simpler way to state it. Last night, I had the pleasure of being with a lot of happy people and a lot of dancing feet, and I still
JABS AND STABS
Sometimes, it’s just one of those weeks. You know, the kind of week where nothing in particular is wrong, but where you find yourself being constantly and exhaustively criticized. These jabs can be directed at your personality, at your job performance, at your clothes or at some of your quirks. Everyone has experienced these types of jabs, and even though they
STARBUCKS, SLEEPING IN AND SAUVIGNON BLANC
Starbucks, sleeping in and a glass of sauvignon blanc all mean the same thing to me: quality. I’m not talking about the quality of coffee, the vintage of the wine I choose or the new feather pillows I just bought for my bed. No, I’m talking about quality of life. American culture has programmed us
BODIES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE PERFECT
Yesterday at work, a co-worker made a simple statement that became a ten-year-long awaited epiphany for me. Over typical trainer discussion about perfecting clients’ bodies, as well as our own, my friend Adam pointed out a valuable truth that should never be forgotten. His words rocked my world and the world of my other friend in the room,
WHAT IS A SKINNY, SEXY MIND?
The word “skinny” has haunted me my entire life. It’s a word loaded with societal pressure, adolescent insecurity and body-acceptance conflicts. I am not skinny; I am also not not skinny. I spent years in a muddled mindset in which I was convinced that the only way to be beautiful was to be dangerously skinny.
SENTENCES THAT SENTENCE
The sentences you speak sentence your life. During my long 17 mile run this Sunday through the campus of UVA and endless hills of Charlottesville, I thought a lot about this statement. No matter what you do, the outcome is ultimately decided by the thoughts you think. So, think yourself positive. Whether you are struggling
SOIS TOI
Maya Angelou once said that “words mean more than what is set down on paper. [and that] it takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.” I couldn’t agree more. Every aspect of life is simply “life” until it is sparked by true human voice. When I think of true human