In life and work, we often encounter moments where accountability becomes a defining factor. Truth is, taking accountability is not always easy, not by any means. Habitual patterns pop in, making excuses or projecting blame onto others or onto the situation sometimes just easier. There is no growth in the patterns, excuses or blaming others. We need to face our challenges head-on, learn from our setbacks, reframing obstacles as opportunities. Being 100% responsible is about owning our actio...

Are you searching for the perfect gift this holiday season? I think I may have found it but know for sure that it is hard to find, as it is truly a rare treasure! Let me explain.

Burnout. Compassion fatigue. Stress and anxiety. Feeling overwhelmed. Regardless of words used to describe the feeling, the expression holds similar meaning: the light once held for the excitement and passion of the work is being snuffed out. Whether short-term or lasting in duration, it can be a dark and lonely place to exist. If you’ve ever been in total darkness, you know how amazing the light of one candle can be. I’d like to suggest that when you feel as though you’re facing dark ...

It is said that water is the source of all life, and without water all life would cease to exist. That is an accepted fact, right? Water does sustain all living things.What we often forget is that we can go without any water for approximately three days. We cannot go without oxygen for more than 4 to 6 minutes before permanent damage starts to happen to our brain. Take a moment to just breathe, notice it, be grateful for it, be present with it, receive clarity through it, be refueled by it.

As adults, we often find ourselves running on the adult..itis gerbil wheel, with so many responsibilities that there is no time for play or fun in our lives. Let’s step back in time for a moment to remember the pure joy of playing as a kid. Being free to run, jump, play games, be spontaneous and laughing until our stomachs hurt. As adults, it is easy to forget the importance of play and how essential it is in refueling our hearts and for our overall well-being. This month I challenge this gr...

What a powerful question. One that each of us need to ask ourselves at least daily, if not several times a day. In healthcare, we are givers at heart. We give and give and give to others. Sometimes to the point of exhaustion. At what expense? Truth is, at the expense of ourselves. As healthcare workers, we are at very high risk for emotional exhaustion, burnout and compassion fatigue. Really, this comes at no surprise if we are not taking time out for ourselves. Time to refuel, to resto...

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, LOVE is in the air whether it is LOVE for self, LOVE for your family, LOVE for your relationships including significant others and friends. LOVE makes the “world-go-round”.

Being an adult is challenging somedays, if not most days. There are so many things to do, between work, home and all the extracurricular activities you have said yes to with your family, friends and community. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I am running in the gerbil wheel of responsibilities, get off exhausted, fall into bed, sleep for a few hours if I am blessed, and then get up to do it all over again. Can you identify? It is time to get off the gerbil wheel more often...

I recently bought a Christmas puzzle as I anticipated needing something to keep my brain busy as I was recovering from hip replacement surgery during the month of December. Well, let me tell you that puzzle has caused me deeply rooted frustration on so many levels. I spent hours just trying to build the outside edges. (Apparently, I am not very skilled at building puzzles. Who knew?) I want to use the puzzle pieces as a metaphor when thinking about self-care and refueling this month.

My recommendation for all of us this holiday season is to let go of expectations, decide to have no expectations in whatever we are experiencing or planning to experience. Choose to “just be” in the moment, to be present in the moment of now. The present is our true gift!