I love it when it rains in Southern California. Not much discussion is given to the fact that the home to Tinseltown and Disneyland is in fact, the desert. Those who live here are aware, though. We regularly contend with drought conditions and runaway fires that have turned our beloved golden state into a crispy state. It is because of these things that I get so excited when the forecast predicts a possibility of rain that is greater than 20%. In the last couple of weeks, the weather has cooled a lot and rain has been a welcome (by some) occurrence. As much as I love the cool and melodic rain showers, it is what happens after the rain that really inspires me. It’s as if the view to the landscape has been sprayed with window cleaner and then squeegee’d clear. Southern California is as eclectic in its landscape as it is diverse in cultures. In the cooler months of the year, the snow-topped mountains serve as the backdrop to skyscrapers and a lanyard of freeways that encircle the area. After the rain, everything is so bright and crisp.

Everything just seems better after a generous rain. The air is fresher, colors appear brighter and even the trees and plant life awaken. Rain is so special that it is able to accomplish things that nothing else can. We water our lawns regularly to keep them healthy and verdant but nothing compares to the shade of green they become after a shower.  The rain does more than quench. It refreshes.

A refreshing of a different kind has begun with winter’s official arrival. The shorter days, cooler temperatures and holidays are all part of nature’s perfect formula. Every year at this time, we’re given another chance to slow down and cool off. We have arrived at that point. After our greatly anticipated holiday celebrations, we race home to put on whatever feels most comfortable and do whatever we find comforting. We hibernate, which isn’t a bad thing.  Hibernation is a survival tool. It is a natural response to the shorter and colder days which prepares us for more active or hectic times. This slower and more cloistered season is perfect for rest, reflection and planning. It is our own gift of refreshing.  Much like the rainfall that cleans and clears, this time of year can provide an oft, much-needed revitalization.

As we begin the countdown to a new year, take full advantage of this season. I know many of us are already declaring resolutions and bemoaning the tax preparation commercials that we’ll soon start to see but STOP! Hibernate a little longer. Bask in the joy of this season. Wrap yourself up in the warmth of something wonderful.  Rest in the accomplishments of this year. When it is time to rejoin the masses, we can do it knowing that we are ready. We will be prepared because will we be refreshed.

We’ve made it to the end of the year! With Thanksgiving (literally) under our belts, Black Friday behind us, Small Business Saturday underway and Cyber-Monday swiftly approaching, the holiday season is now in full swing. It seems like we were just sweltering in summer’s heat and now we’re putting up Christmas trees and putting away holiday leftovers.

The holiday season is an amazing time of celebration. Whether we’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, this is the time of year when sharing with friends and family seems to be in full focus. We look forward to gatherings and parties where we get to connect and catch-up with those we care about. Since many of the holiday traditions of this time of the year also include gift giving, we try to figure out what to give to whom and how to present it (gift bag or completely wrapped). It doesn’t matter if we’re seeking the perfect secret Santa gift or preparing the ultimate family dinner, this is the time of year when we focus a lot on bringing joy and smiles to others.

I must admit that Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year.  It is joyous, exciting and visually stunning. For more reasons than I can count, this time of year brings a smile to my spirit. Wouldn’t it be great if we felt this way all year? Can you imagine what the world would be like if the focus, intention and positive behavior of the holiday season was the baseline for the rest of the year? It could be pretty awesome.

This year as you crank up your holiday spirit, I hope you’ll focus on the things that matter most.  While gifts are awesome they don’t always have to be expensive or even tangible. There are some gifts that are worth more than anything we can imagine. Take, for example, the gift of time. In the rush-rush world that we live in, we can take for granted the beauty in spending real time in the presence of our friends and loved ones. This gift serves both the giver and the receiver. Give someone your time this year. Catch up. Listen. Share.

Happy holidays to each of you. Be safe. Be happy. Enjoy!

Every summer from the fourth grade through my senior year of high school, I went to summer camp in the Big Bear Mountains of California. It was called Camp Oakes and I loved it!  A quick Google search tells me that it still exists with modern additions like zip lines. When I think about it now, I can smell the trees and soil. I can see the cabins with their bunk beds and concrete floors. I remember the mess hall where we gathered for meals and took turns setting tables. One of my favorite things at camp was arts & crafts.  If I spent my canteen money on anything, it was arts and crafts! It’s where I learned to make candles and where I learned to use a wood burner tool to carve words and designs into wood. I loved the scent of the warm, scorched wood. The trees in those mountains captivated me. They were so tall and lush and green. In my young imagination, they came alive at night while we slept, playing games and singing camp songs just like we did.

There were also summers in the country with my grandfather. It was a dream for this city kid. The dirt roads, lush greenery, and beautiful trees made me giddy! Nature and I had clearly bonded. In her, I found a happy place. Some moments in life cause you to recall the stripped-down, barefoot version of yourself when your favorite experiences were wholly yours.  Today was one of those days for me.

After a morning walk, I kept thinking about going to the beach. I had no plans for the day so I grabbed my camera and took off.  It was a perfect day to be there. The weather was cool but the sun was bright. After shooting some pictures, I walked in the sand along the water’s edge. The cool water splashing over my feet as the waves rolled in was so refreshing.  I focused on the sights and sounds of the moment. Mother Nature had captivated me once again.

After leaving the beach, I stopped at a local botanical garden. It was clearly a day for Nature and me to reconnect.  I strolled through the beautiful sections of the garden trying not to miss a thing. There was the sun garden, the rose garden, the sensory garden (my favorite), the tropical conservatory, the library and more. I took my time and let it soak in. 

On the drive home I thought about the day.  I had planned nothing but I enjoyed everything.  It was sort of like being at summer camp so many years ago. I hadn’t thought about what I was doing, I just delighted in it. It was clear that Nature had beckoned me to her playground. She knew how much satisfaction was waiting for me there, so she tapped me on the shoulder until I answered.  Once there I was like a small child in a toy store, amazed by everything around me but not knowing where to look first. Where she led me I found blinding tranquility and peaceful panoramas. My reflection on the day led me to ask, ‘What kind of sorcery is this?’

It wasn’t sorcery at all. No, I had been transported to a place that I’d kinda forgotten. There have been subtle reminders, like the satisfaction that comes from walking outdoors or photographing nature. The reminders were somehow deafened by the noise of everyday life. Today I slowed down just enough to hear the call of something familiar. When I answered, the response was nourishing.  The response showed me who I had become. 

Have you felt a tug or tap of something that you’ve ignored? Have you slowed down enough to notice? With the responsibilities of life, it is very easy to get lost. Justifications aside, the end result is still the same. Take a little time to slow down to hear what you’ve been missing. You might be surprised to find out who you’ve become.

It’s the time of year when everything seems to be changing. The time, weather, wardrobes, and leaves are a few that I can think of. Soon after the candy bounty from Halloween is eaten, the time will ‘fall back’ (except for Arizona) and soon after, turkeys will be carved and Christmas trees will be lit. This time of year is when things move at a wildly fast pace. We cook and shop for the holidays, plan getaways, attend parties and so much more.  Everything is wonderful until we get a dreaded winter cold or the flu!

If you’re like me, you don’t often think about wellness until you’re not well.  Even a simple head cold can make me vow to do all sorts of things to stay healthy, usually with abysmal follow-thru. With that season approaching, I’ve been thinking a lot about wellness and what it means to me. No doubt you’ve seen corporate wellness program placards at work or received something from a healthcare provider. I see them often but have only recently begun to seriously think about what wellness really means to me.

The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as six interdependent dimensions that build a holistic sense of fulfillment. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as a state of complete well-being. If you search ‘what is wellness?‘ on the web, you’ll find a variety of results with some commonalities. While the definition is anything but universal, I have learned that wellness is more than just the absence of illness or disease. Wellness is a pursuit. It is a process of intentionally striving for complete physical, mental and social well-being. It is something we must work at and continually adapt, as necessary. It is a multi-faceted gift that we are given to cherish and to protect.

I’m currently enjoying a wellness reboot.  I’ve taken some time off to focus on my own gift of wellness. After a very robust year of adulting, business travel, and so much more, I started to recognize that I was in need of some time to really refresh my mind, body, and spirit.  It is a special kind of stay-cation that is all about feeling better in every conceivable way. We neglect so much in the busyness of our lives.  Our daily routines become…well, routine. Routine replaces thoughtfulness and intention and before we know it boredom, frustration and anxiety creep in. During my own special time away from the norm, I vowed to really focus on the things that contribute to my personal wellness. I promised myself I’d get some much-needed rest and relaxation; get some regular physical exercise; connect with friends; engage in spiritually enriching activities; and feed myself clean, nourishing foods. As I write, Day 7 is ending and I am happy to report that I’ve kept my word to myself! It has been a remarkable time of refreshing and refreshing reconnections.

What does wellness mean to you? How are your protecting and cherishing your own gift of wellness? The pursuit of wellness is not a cookie-cutter experience but one that is very personal. Some of us are great at monitoring what we put into our bodies, but not what we allow into our thoughts. Others of us are fantastic socially but horrible in the physical realm of wellness. Whatever your personal wellness need or needs may be, I hope you’ll begin your own intentional pursuits to achieve them.  After all, if wellness is missing everything else will surely follow.  Take good care of your gift.