First and foremost, I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! I celebrated THREE over the past week plus a 4 year old's birthday party, so mine were definitely good!

Second, I came across this quote and it really hit me as truth. We go through so many ups and downs in this crazy thing called life, and I know we often think of the downs as these terrible happenings. We think, "Why me? Why is this happening to me?" But what if we looked at them and thought, "What can I learn from this?" How different would that be?

I know I've had my share of ups and downs throughout my life. And especially over the past year and a half. I felt as if I was moving two steps forward and three steps back. And I had my share of "Why me's?" 

But in between the two, I had a lot of ordinary, mundane life happenings. Things that, in retrospect, were big happenings. Things that changed my life, all for the better. And yes, even the downs changed my life for the better. Sometimes things going bad, or things being taken away from you, are actually the best things to ever happen to you. 

It's taken me awhile, and it's still a work in progress, but I've finally started changing my outlook to "What can I learn from this?" And there have been so many lessons I've taken away from everything I've gone through. I certainly would hope I've taken something away from it all...because I sure as heck don't ever want to go through any of it again! And let me tell you...you go through the same stuff over and over again until you learn whatever lesson you're supposed to. 

I've also learned THAT the hard way too. 

So remember, life is going to constantly be both beautiful and amazing, but also terrible and awful. There will be ups and there will be downs. But there will also be routine and mundane and the same old stuff, day after day. 

Enjoy the amazing moments in life. Don't rush through them. Relish them. Hold on through the awful. Know that it won't last forever. And breathe through the ordinary. Don't rush through those parts either. Because they may be boring and mundane and routine, but they are a part of life.

Have an amazing day and enjoy your week! It's the last week of November! Holy cow! Can't even believe we are heading into December already. 

With love and wellness (and all sorts of ups and downs!), 
Whitney

Happy Monday and Happy Thanksgiving week! 

I don't know about you guys, but this time of year always hits me really hard. It gets dark super early and by 430 p.m., I already feel like it's so late. I get tired sooner and feel like I don't have a whole lot of energy. And for a lot of people, they also feel down and depressed. I mean, we spend a lot of our time during the winter in the night-time (aka, dark) hours, so it makes sense. 

​There's also a name for this...it's called Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Luckily, however, there are ways to combat and treat this disorder. And I have an amazing guest blogger today to help shed some light on those ways! 

​Allow me to introduce Kimberly Hayes! 

​Kimberly enjoys writing about health and wellness and created PublicHealthAlert.info to help keep the public informed about the latest developments in popular health issues and concerns. In addition to studying to become a crisis intervention counselor, Kimberly is hard at work on her new book, which discusses the ins and outs of alternative addiction treatments.

​Check out what she has to say about Seasonal ​​Affective Disorder (SAD).

During the holidays, winter can seem magical, but as the months drag on and darkness and chill set in, some may find themselves with low energy and feeling depressed. The lack of sunlight can have an adverse effect on one’s brain chemistry. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a condition that commonly occurs in the winter months, and it’s important to learn how to combat the disorder, either for yourself or those you love.
 
What Is It?
 
SAD is a form of clinical depression, which is why it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. If you seem to be spending longer in bed, are fatigued no matter how much sleep you get, are eating carb-heavy foods and craving more, can’t concentrate, or feel down and can’t shake it, you may be suffering from SAD. If you have a familial history of mood disorders or are a woman or young adult, you’re more likely to suffer from the disorder. Since the cause of SAD is related to imbalanced brain chemistry, you or your loved one won’t simply be able to will yourself to get better. You need to take action, which can be difficult when suffering with the disorder. It’s important, then, to be proactive at the beginning of these dark months or when you first start to notice the signs. Luckily, there are several ways to treat the condition.
 
Light Therapy
 
It may sound New Agey, but light therapy has a documented effect on seasonal affective disorder. Get as much early morning light as you can. Avoid sunglasses at this time, as the light passing through the eye is what triggers the shift in your brain. However, if you can’t get access to sunlight, there are specialized lamps and light boxes you can purchase to simulate the sunlight. These fixtures use cool-white fluorescent light and only require you to use the device for 20-60 minutes a day. If you don’t have the time to bask in light for so long, there are dawn simulators that use full-spectrum lighting to wake you. Recent studies suggest they may be as effective as light boxes.
 
Staying Active
 
If you notice a friend or loved one becoming withdrawn, it may be time to encourage them to get out. When we become depressed, our motivation dwindles, and even doing basic tasks like showering or eating regularly can be hard to manage. Yet, it’s suggested that socialization and being surrounded by friends and loved ones can have a positive mental effect. If you find that you no longer have the desire or drive to visit your friends, it may be time to text them and ask them to come over. It’s a start, requires minimal effort on your part, and may be the motivation that gets you back into the swing of things. Ask your friends to help you get outside and to make plans and hold you to them.
 
Avoid Substance Abuse
 
It can be tempting to turn to substances to try to alleviate the symptoms of SAD during the winter months, especially if you’re in recovery. The idea of an instant fix may be appealing, but it won’t work. Alcohol and other substances will not make you feel better, especially in the long term. The withdrawals will have you needing more and more, until you have entered a vicious cycle that can send you spiraling. If you’re struggling with addiction, have phone numbers ready to call someone in an emergency. Stay active, incorporate light therapy, and go outside for positive activity. For example, go for a walk with a friend rather than going dancing at a club if you know you may be tempted to drink. See a movie with a family member, engage in activities that bring you joy, and if you cannot kick your depression, speak to your doctor.
 
SAD is a real condition and can be quite serious. People from all walks of life suffer from it, and there is no shame as you cannot control the chemicals in your brain. However, there are plenty of ways to ensure that you remain healthy and well, even during the darkest months of the year.
 
Image courtesy of Pixabay



Reach out to Kimberly if you have more questions about SAD. These are definitely great tips and ways to combat these short days and long evenings/nights. 

I hope you have a beautiful week and an amazing Thanksgiving with friends and family! 

With love and wellness, 
​Whitney

Far too often, we are afraid to live. We are afraid of taking chances. We are afraid of the consequences. I mean, what if we make the wrong choice? 

So instead of living, we stall. We stay in our lane. In our comfort zone. And far too often, nothing ever changes. It's the same old, same old, day after day. 

I was driving home last week and heard Tim McGraw's song, Live Like You Were Dying. It's always been one of my favorite songs, but for whatever reason, it really hit me that night. 

Why don't we live like we are dying? Like tomorrow was a gift? And we have eternity to think about what we'd do with it? 

Why do we put things off til tomorrow? Til Monday? Til next week? Til next month? Til next year? 

Here's the thing about that...do those things actually ever happen? The things we put off...do you ever get to them? 

The trouble with putting things off...we think we have time. We think we have all the time in the world. That we'll eventually get to it. That we'll eventually be able to do what we want to do.

And then we run out of time.

Nobody on their death bed, and I mean nobody, lays there saying, "I wish I had worked more." 

Don't wait until then to wish you'd done things differently. To wish you'd spent more time with your family. To wish you'd said the things you've always wanted to say to the people who matter to you. To wish you'd tried something new. To wish you'd started that business.

Whatever the case may be, don't wait until you're on your death bed.

Do it now. Live like you were dying now. Take chances now. Say what you want and need to the people who matter now. Do what you want now. 

Want to start a business? Do it. Take the chance. 

Want to tell the woman (or man) you love that you love her (him)? Tell her/him. Do it now. 

Want to learn how to dance? Sing? Play the piano? Do it now. 

Stop putting things off. Stop waiting until tomorrow. 

Live like you were dying. 

And enjoy your week. Thank a veteran today and every day. They've sacrificed so much for our freedom.

With love and wellness, 
​Whitney

Do you ever feel unsettled? Like the world is a mess or crumbling around you.
 
I’ve felt like that for a few days now…I needed to get myself organized and back on track. And I found myself tossing and turning Saturday night thinking of ways to do just that (yes, that’s how my brain works).
 
So I woke up Sunday morning and had a plan. I have always been the type of person who operates best when my personal space is organized and everything has a place. I may or may not be a little OCD.
 
So yep…did laundry, even the bedding, because that helps me too (I told you I’m weird). And I organized the crap out of my bedroom. With an abrupt move in the past couple months, things haven’t really had a place and I’ve felt out of sorts.

It was nice to get everything organized and cleaned up and to find a spot for things! It truly does make a difference for me.
 
What about for you? What helps you feel more settled? Is it getting things organized? Is it having things in their place? I’d love to hear what helps you out.
 
After getting my room situated and getting rid of a ton of things (be on the lookout for things for sale, because I seriously have SO MUCH STUFF. I didn’t realize I still had that much stuff left from my initial move out of my Pungo house. Good grief.), I decided to get ready for my week ahead.
 
And let me tell you, that involved laying on my bed watching Orange is the New Black with an open browser in front of me in an attempt to write this blog post. Yep…that’s real life.
 
I wanted to be real with you all. Owning a business isn’t always easy or glamorous. And from the outside, I know it can look like it comes easily…because that’s how social media is. We don’t always see the hard parts of it all. Nor do we always show it. Because, let’s be real, it’s hard to be vulnerable and show that we struggle too.
 
Getting back to me, to what I believe in, getting settled back into where I want to be, helps me get back to…well, me.
 
It feels good to be sitting in a clean room writing this post. It feels good knowing where things are and being back on track. And it feels good to have my November planned out and ready to go.
 
So here we go. To a fun and strong November!
 
Have a glorious week!
 
With love and wellness,
Whitney