It feels like every time I think of writing there is something else I find causing me angst in the world that I feel the need to share…...so here is my latest.

I have an intense dislike for social media - the thing that promotes the highlight reels of people’s lives but not their real lives! How many posts have I seen of smiling faces and happy moments, but when speaking with the people who post them, they acknowledge that it was a terrible time, the kids were awful, they were fighting with their partner, but they did manage to capture a great shot of a happy family in the midst of it all!

Those are funny and temporary moments but there are others that are not. There are people who are really struggling in bad and abusive relationships, lonely, depressed and yet still feel the need to be seen and be present while putting on a brave face to the world.

About 15 years ago I made a small change in my operating system and have reaped the rewards ever since. I like to take advantage of every opportunity that life offers, spending time with friends, family, adventures, learning-the list goes on. The challenge: how to manage things that take place at the same time. Which to choose? My answer used to be both! So what if I am a bit late or cause some irritation - I can make it right. Or so I thought until I got snared for something quite minor that caused a friend to be upset, which she expressed in no uncertain terms. It hit home at the right time, as I was definitely feeling the stress of constant juggling.

Multiple studies confirm that we derive the most out of life when we live in gratitude and with appreciation for the things we have.. Spending time in nature as well as living in community with friends and family has been determined to extend our life expectancy. These are primal needs, not just “nice to have”. We know this, but we still get sucked into the materialism vortex that is all consuming and distracts us from what we know matters and which ultimately has a negative affect on our health. We often feel the need to surround ourselves with something new which unconsciously or consciously often compensates for the feelings of sadness, loneliness or lack of meaning in our lives.