By: Sandy Churchill Summer is a paradise time of year for gardeners, landscapers and aficionados of all things green. My family falls into the third category: we appreciate lush lawns and flowers and mulch but the proverbial green thumb is not a natural gift. Case in point: we have mint growing around the perimeter of … More Unexpected Blessings and Accidental Squash
By: Sandy Churchill
There is a beautiful term in the world of psychology called sublimation—where a negative or unpleasant emotion or experience can yield or be transformed into a positive result. During the COVID Quarantine of 2020, there are amazing bouts of connection and productivity happening. … More When the Fruits of COVID Anxiety Turn Into a Comforting Children’s Book
By: Sandy Churchill May has arrived, brimming with birdsong, sunny days, First Communions, and graduations—and this year the month holds indisputable “firsts” in so many ways—social distancing, masked attendees everywhere you look, virtual baby showers, and canceled sports, concerts, parties, and classes. This is the time for inspirational milestone speeches—at high school and college graduations, … More Beyond the COVID Crisis, 2020 Is About Vision
By: Sandy Churchill When people say it’s finding joy in the little things, there is great wisdom in such an adage. A trendy word in psychology and self-care circles is “intentionality,” a focused, deliberate paying attention to the here and now, and not rushing through actions in a mindless race to the next to-do item … More The Gift of the Scents
By: Sandy Churchill Schools are closed. Recitals, games, rehearsals canceled… Eat-in restaurants are now closed and a federal state-of-emergency launched… Coronavirus seems to be taking our former lives hostage and ushering in a “new normal” with the steady blips and beeps of e-mail updates, texts, and news counts of the latest number infected, tested, … More Fear vs. Friendship: Choosing Good Amid Coronavirus Chaos
By: Sandy Churchill “Making the decision to have a child—it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ” ― Elizabeth Stone This tender quote is as fitting for a mom of teens, twenty-somethings or mid-lifers as it is for a newly-minted parent of infants, toddlers, or … More Parenting Holds Your Heart Forever
By: Sandy Churchill During this over-the-top academic season as a homeschooling mom, I had a discussion with my super-motivated teenage son about dedication, effort, and “doing your best”. While he is juggling two community college classes as a high school freshman, four co-op courses that meet weekly, a literary theatre class, chemistry, and his own … More Why Your Best is Rarely 100%
By: Sandy Churchill “When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.”–Kathleen Kelly, You’ve Got Mail At our house, it is nearly impossible to be objective and unbiased when it comes to reading. We are all hooked, pure and simple. There are bookcases, literally … More Gifts of Reading Help You Grow
By: Sandy Churchill I trust in you, I trust in you, I trust in you… Maybe if I say it enough, like a mantra, my very being will absorb it as an unshakeable truth. Trust is hard. Having faith in the future can be juggling an overwhelmingly weighty barbell precariously on one shoulder, with your … More Trusting in Yourself and Taking Risks
By: Sandy Churchill ‘Tis the season for gift-giving, shopping for the perfect presents, wrapping in a frenzy, and celebrating faith, family, and friends. At our house, there are always the “easy” folks to buy for, those who have myriad interests and a grateful spirit, so gift-giving is truly a pleasure. Then there are the “difficult” … More Gifts of Experience Make Memories
Community Voices for Health 