I found this wonderful piece by Carol Kappus in the Spring 2026 edition of Folk Harp Journal. Carol Kappus is an award-winning Celtic harpist and I found some of her music this past Christmas and loved it. To get another one of her pieces, and for free, was a big win. A lot of her … [Read more…]
Burnout isn’t just a mental health issue. The physical consequences are pretty serious too. Employees that have burnout have been found to have: •An 180% increased risk of depressive disorders •An 84% increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes •A 40% increased risk of hypertension •More frequent illness •Disrupted Sleep •Increased risk of coronary heart disease … [Read more…]
Carpe Now: 10 Habits to Master the Authenic You, Eliminate Excuses, & Create the Blueprint for Your Best Life, by Jake Barrena is an excellent read. I first became acquainted with Jake’s work though the YouVersion Bible app on my phone (I do believe there is a desktop computer version too.) He was the author … [Read more…]
I have experienced every single one of these burnout symptoms at one time or another. Have you? On one level I’ve always just assumed this was some version of normal within a busy and sometimes demanding life. But, if I take a closer look, the above signs and symptoms seem to indicate more of a … [Read more…]
You may have noticed that I skipped posting a gratitude/happy things blog for April. That wasn’t exactly intentional, but it does reflect that I was having more trouble noticing the positives in April. Honestly, May has been tough too. It’s not that there was an absence of things to be thankful for, but instead there … [Read more…]
In The Backward Way is written in waltz form. What dance is more reminiscent of times past, elegance, and romance? The waltz is a ballroom dance, in 3/4 time, and characterized by a step-slide-step pattern. The dancing couple is touching throughout the dance, and was considered somewhat shocking in the late 18th century because of … [Read more…]
Definition: According to the World Health Organization, workplace burnout is an occupation-related syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It involves ongoing emotional exhaustion, psychological distance or negativity, and feelings of inefficacy. Studies show that workplace burnout leads to increased absenteeism, increased risk of depressive disorders, increased risk for diabetes, … [Read more…]
I decided that I wanted to write a minuet. Why? I have no idea. Actually, I had the title first – As It Ever Was. This is a line from one of my favorite books by Nora Roberts, in the Dragon Heart Legacy. The meaning is “as is always the case”, “as has long been … [Read more…]
Its that time again. A time for gratitude, and a time to recount the “happy things” that I noticed in the past month. I’m sure there were many more that went unnoticed or unrecorded. How many times can I write down “bacon?” February Happy Things Sometimes when people are writing in gratitude journals or making … [Read more…]
Some pieces of music seem to flow or to touch my heart more than others. Song From a Secret Garden is one of those. Song from a Secret Garden, not to be confused with the children’s novel about Mary Lennox, was composed by Rolf Lovland and was released on the album of the same name … [Read more…]