Welcome to this week’s issue of Weekly Wellness Wisdom! 

What’s New from Centered Living

This fall I’ll be offering a series of tele-classes designed to enlighten and educate about Authentic Wellness.  I’m very excited to be introducing powerful ideas and strategies for becoming more centered, authentic and joyful.  Please stay tuned for more details in the weeks to come.

Weekly Wellness Wisdom is on its new weekly schedule.  Every Saturday you will receive the latest issue.  If for any reason, you don’t receive your weekly email, please email me at lori@loriboothroyd.com and we’ll help. 

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Wellness Wisdom Feature Article

The Gift of Time

Ahhh… the dog days of summer have arrived!  A wise man named Sam Keen once said “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability”.  For us in the Grand Traverse area, deep summer means laziness, summer vacation time and of course… the cherries!  (Traverse City, Michigan is known as the cherry capital of the world).   July is the time to indeed celebrate life with a bowl of cherries.  It is also time to slow down and be with our friends and family.  Summertime is filled with pleasurable memories of campfires, sunsets, swimming and hammocks. 

As summer arrives, take advantage of the opportunities to be meaningfully connected with your family and closest friends.  The quality of time we spend together is just as important (if not more so) than the quantity of time.  Meaningful, healthy communication is key to more deeply savoring and enjoying the time shared during deep summer.  Here are some suggestions and tips to get you started:

1.  Instead of just dreaming about the lazy, hazy days of summer – make a plan to spend time with a dear friend or members of your family.  Schedule it just as you would your other life responsibilities and then honor the time you’ve set aside.  Make very conscious choices about how you wish to spend these precious days of summer.  If you haven’t already planned a day, or even an afternoon to share some summer moments with someone near and dear to you, please do so today!

2.  Encourage Mindful family time.  Camping trips, family vacations and travel during the summer can sometimes be hectic and chaotic.  Slowing down and teaching yourself and family to savor and enjoy laughing, singing, telling stories and sharing calm silence is the glue that cements families and creates cherished memories.  Remind yourself to pause, take a deep breath and be deeply aware of such moments.  It can reduce the pressure to hurry and do everything on a vacation itinerary and simply be together. 

3.  Along with creating mindful time with your family, there is no better opportunity than a family holiday to deepen healthy and meaningful communication and connection within your family.  How do we create meaningful connection?  Sometimes we need to slow down and show our family that we are listening very deeply to what they have to say.  Ever notice at the dinner table a sense of everyone talking, but no one really listening?  When we listen carefully and deeply, it is a powerful way to show how much we care. It also creates wellness in a relationship and a deep sense of connection.  Along with intentional, focused listening is the power of speaking up to tell your truth.  Sometimes family vacations become stressful due to poor communication.  Being honest about what you are feeling and what you each need in an open family discussion will cut through the tension and help you arrive at a place where you can all enjoy each other (and your vacation experience).  Ask questions to better understand each other and listen with intent to understand and accept.  It will work wonders! 

4.  Finally… always look for the joy!  In each moment, look for the gratitude, the joke, the silliness.  Let go and let yourself laugh, just a little bit more.  Do you recall that camping trip when it poured rain the entire weekend?  Or that flat tire on your camper trailer?  The midnight camp visit from a ransacking raccoon?  I recall these incidents;  what I remember most vividly however, was laughing and savoring joy with my family in the most unexpected and unplanned moments.  

Take each cherry in the bowl just as it is:  Summer living at its best.  Declare a dog day for yourself and most of all – Enjoy!

Personal Reflections

Savoring Shared Time

I was inspired to write about sharing mindful time because of a wonderful brunch we had at our home last week.  We intentionally chose as our guests some friends who so often give of themselves in important ways – sharing themselves in service.   Greg (my husband) and I wanted to really serve them for a change and make the day feel special.  We shared good food, meaningful conversation, lots of laughs and admired the beautiful day.  Our guests enjoyed watching the fish in our water garden, admiring the flowers and sharing a mindful morning with us.  What a joy it is to savor time together and leave each other’s company feeling renewed!

To your wellness,
Lori

About Lori

Dr. Lori Boothroyd is known as the “Coaching Psychologist”. She has served her clients and students well over the years through integrating her knowledge from earninga Ph.D. in psychology, as well as her advanced training in coaching and wellness psychology. Appreciated for her warmth and down-to-earth style as much as her expertise, Lori is a dynamic speaker, author and coach. She lives in Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, Dr. Gregory Boothroyd.

For a complimentary coaching consult, to inquire about programs or to ask any questions, please email: lori@loriboothroyd.com