Almost 12 months ago, I cancelled a trip to Las Vegas. I was going to meet my daughter for a long weekend and attend my dear friend's St. Patrick's Day party. I canceled because of COVID-19. The challenge became to find adequate toilet paper and food before stores ran out or closed completely. To say it was an upsetting time falls short of the reality we all were experience in the early months of 2020. Then we thought it would be a month or two, right? Now we are in the early months of 2021. I am having groceries delivered because it is safer. I faithfully wear a mask when I leave my home. By summer, it will have been almost 18 months since I have been with my daughter (we usually are together 3 times a year). I am fortunate to live in the same city as my son & his family. We spent 8 months apart. After following all of the necessary protocols, including testing, I am now in their bubble and it has made a huge difference in my mental/emotional health and wellbeing. In another 5...

A number of years ago I recognized a pattern in my life when I experience stress. The source of that stress is insignificant. My response to stress is predictable and counter-productive. I hold my breath.

Welcome to the human race, Catherine Ann.

It is a very common reaction to the challenges life brings. Shortening or holding the breath sets off one of our natural survival mechanisms. The brain signals the nervous system for more oxygen. The nervous system signals the adrenals to fire which kicks everything into a higher gear so that the breath rate increases, sending oxygen to the brain. The drawback is that, in most situations, I don't need more adrenalin in my body because I am not in any danger. What I need are calming body chemicals so that I can make decisions or let something go and float on the calm waters of Life.

Somewhere along the way, I learned that the problem usually reveals the answer. Since I am shortening and holding my breath, the answer...