By Amy Arvary, Crothers Consulting
Gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It’s a shift in perspective that changes how we move through the world. In a culture built on productivity and performance, gratitude can feel like a pause button we don’t have time to press. Yet that pause is precisely where transformation begins. When we stop to notice what’s good, even briefly, something powerful happens in the brain. The chemistry changes. Dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters responsible for motivation and well-being, are released, and the nervous system shifts from tension to calm. Gratitude isn’t a thought; it’s a physiological event. 

By Kate Garzón, M.Ed., Owner, Guided Parenting Support - GPS

​Critical thinking skills have never been more important for kids and teens than they are in this moment, when a 24-hour news cycle—and round the clock access to social media—means we are bombarded by information and stories from across the political spectrum. However, information is not the same as facts, and just because someone wrote it down or created a video about it does not make it true. 

​By Mary Ellen Zung, Mary Ellen Zung Health Coach 
We could all use some help when we feel overwhelmed, and much of what we really need is determined by our own self-reliance. But, if we don’t have the skills to muster up the strength or clarity to know what to do, things can get even more out of control. Learning to help ourselves cope is essential to our overall health and happiness. Here are 7 simple one-minute lifestyle hacks to try when feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or stressed out!  Really, all it takes is one minute!

By Mary Ellen Zung, Mary Ellen Zung Health Coach 
When is the last time you took a moment to ruminate on all the good in your life? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. Between jam-packed schedules, caring for others, and the never-ending daily list of chores, we tend to forget to create time to take a breather. Unlike other beneficial health practices, cultivating a gratitude practice can be done in very little time with no costly devices, memberships, or equipment.

By Kathy D'Agati, Owner, Back to Basic Wellness
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“Doesn’t everything die at last and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”     Mary Oliver
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We run away from the topic of death. We live in fear of that day that will come to us all. We let the fear keep us from thinking about it at all. That can be a big mistake.

By Mary Ellen Zung, Certified Holistic Health Coach
Life is constantly changing and challenging us with new “problems” or issues to face. We can look at these negatively and feel overwhelmed, or stuck and unhappy, or we can use strategies like goal setting, for example, to manage new priorities without having the issues throw us off our game, bring us down, cause stress, anxiety, or worry, and lead to emotional eating.  All unhealthy stuff!  ​Goal setting is one strategy that helps get into problem solving mode by focusing on and shifting my priorities

By Mary Ellen Zung, Mary Ellen Zung Health Coach 
​Is Work Stressing You Out? How does too much work, or stress effect your self-care, health and happiness? Think about it: you spend eight to 10 hours a day, five days a week at work. Chances are you spend more time with your coworkers than anyone else in your life. Some of us are still working from home, but are glued to our computers for that time. Many of us wear stress as a badge of honor, convinced that productivity requires endless turmoil. How does stress inform your food choices?