Sugar, man, what the hell? You are the bane of my existence. The temptations, bad enough most of the year, will only increase with the holidays of Autumn until you bombard me with promises of bliss, then leave me with poor health. Will power goes down during the day, but naps can reboot. Maybe I …

It is very hard to uncensor myself. I don’t mean publicly; if the digital age has taught us anything, it’s that the “small town” is now global: everyone knows everyone’s business. But privately, in my own little journal I keep by my bedside, it is still difficult to express deep negative feelings. I should practice …

Many thoughts tumble, spin, and act out in the theater of my mind this morning. I brewed a simple chamomile to calm and soothe these acrobats into a slower pace so I could see their tricks more clearly, and discover the truth in their movements. Forgive the prose, I’m in the midst of reading Till …

I’ve always been fascinated by the Hades/Persephone tale. Eating a pomegranate right now reminds me of it. Maybe I like it because the story shows the power of a female god: all the other gods have to plead with Hades to let Persephone go because Demeter won’t let Spring come until she gets her daughter …

Transitions are hard. I have a new piano student this year who is an adult and complete beginner. She mentioned her life is in transition, and learning something she had always wanted to do was a way of coping. Personally, I picture myself at the edge of a chasm with no where to go but across. …

 A quarter of my homeschooling group was out due to illness, so my teas today were all about boosting my immune system. Although the first activity for my son begins at ten, we arrive at nine to help set up for the day. And then he and I retreat upstairs to read together. Regardless of …

Eudaimonia: the sense of harmony with self and with others that arises naturally out of virtuous activity in the soul. A Beginner’s Guide to Philosophy By Dominique Janicaud. In prepping for my philosophy class, while sipping the last bit of whatever black tea was in a random bag on my shelf, I came upon “eudaimonia”. …

Food is love! This is a semi-joke quoted by a friend of mine who is a food nutrition counselor.  Food was my grandmothers’ way of expressing love. And eating it was supposed to show love back. That message is still a battle for me (and for many.)  Tea is love?  “Aunt Becca, you make the …

Ok, let’s talk about Starbucks, Oprah, and that young bearded man at the next table in full Catholic monk regalia. I have exactly forty five minutes between activities; not enough to go home, but I can sit somewhere and write- preferably with tea. Starbucks is close (it always is). There is also an independent cafe …