5 ways to improve communication in your relationships
We spend so much of our daily lives communicating in one form or another. Research from the University of Missouri shows we spend 70 to 80 percent of each day communicating, with 45 percent of that time spent listening and
This International Women’s Day, equality starts with you
Activist, journalist and feminist Gloria Steinem once said, "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights." In the same way
Finding love in the midst of heartbreak
To my mother, on Valentine’s Day. By Elizabeth Burbank – Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to celebrating love. Chocolates, relationships, flowers, etcetera. As a newlywed, I could share the story of how I met my husband. I could write all about
The arc of identity
We grow and develop almost in tandem with the characters we love. Every good film in some way wrestles with identity—a character struggling with the gap between who they are and who they want to be. Seeing another person’s journey, no
Why you need a true Sabbath each week
Do you know how many times the average person touches their phone in a day? 2,617 times. A day! The American Psychological Association calls these people “constant checkers.” Is that you? Are you of the “rise and grind” mindset, day in
5 New Year’s Resolutions for parenting in 2020
As parents, we’re doing the best we can each day to provide a great life for our children. Because, ultimately, seeing them happy and helping them thrive is all that matters. But we’re also hard on ourselves. Even the most confident
10 sources of inspiration for starting 2020 with focus
How many times have you set New Year’s resolutions for yourself, only to struggle to find the motivation to start pursuing those goals? Resolutions are easy to make, but not always so easy to complete. Instead, let’s start this 2020 with
The dramatic and lasting effects of gratitude
Practicing gratitude boosts emotional and physical well being A growing body of research is confirming that an ounce of gratitude is worth a pound of cure. “The practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life,” said Robert
Feeling blue this Christmas? Here’s 3 tips to help
Behold! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people! Could have fooled me. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! Unless you are me. Ever had such thoughts? Sometimes we can
A joyful bucket list with kids
It’s here—the season of merriment and good cheer. Use these December days to encourage joy and giving with your children, starting with these 10 bucket list ideas: 1. Send a meaningful letter. Sometimes, the best gifts are words. Who can you
5 ways to strengthen your relationship with your kids
There’s a natural tendency for us as parents to fall into the routine of daily family life. The reality is that between school, work, cooking, cleaning, running errands, sports, extracurricular activities and more, we are so busy juggling our adult
7 situations to say ‘thank you’ instead of anything else
I don't say “Thank You” as often as I should and I doubt I'm the only one. In fact, I'm starting to believe that “Thank You” is the most under-appreciated and under-used phrase on the planet. It is appropriate in nearly