How Families Can Invest in Their Overall Self-Care

Guest post by Julie Morris

Image via Freepik

Families are at their strongest when everyone feels healthy, grounded, and cared for. Yet between school drop-offs, packed calendars, and the daily grind, self-care can slip quietly into the background. It doesn’t have to. When families treat self-care as a collective priority — not just a personal indulgence — it becomes a way to deepen connection, reduce stress, and model resilience for kids. Here’s how you can make that shift, with actionable ways to start today.

Strengthening Bonds Through Movement

Nothing clears a room of tension like shared motion. Family walks after dinner, a bike ride on a Sunday afternoon, even an impromptu dance party in the living room — it’s less about the calories and more about the emotional release. Studies show kids mirror their parents’ habits, and adults benefit emotionally when you work out together. The energy shifts. Laughter comes easier. Suddenly, the idea of self-care feels less like an errand and more like a ritual everyone looks forward to.

Choosing the Right Supplements

As families aim to fill nutritional gaps and feel more energized, supplements can be a smart part of the equation. But it’s important to pick products that align with your values — clean, easy to use, and kid-friendly where possible. If you’re looking for helpful solutions, this is a good one to keep on hand as part of a well-rounded self-care approach. Taken daily, it can become one more small but meaningful way to invest in your family’s collective well-being.

Taking a Break from Screens

When was the last time your family sat in silence without a device in sight? It feels almost radical now, but it’s worth it. Even a single evening unplugged can shift the mood and open space for real conversation. One family described the difference a weekend screen-free reset made in reconnecting with their teens — the awkward silence gave way to stories, games, and even spontaneous plans. That kind of reset costs nothing yet pays off in presence, attention, and trust.

Investing in Yourself Without Guilt

Too many parents frame spending on wellness as a luxury. It’s not. Setting aside dollars for yoga, therapy, healthy food, or creative hobbies sends kids a powerful message: your well-being deserves a line item in the budget. A smart way to start is by building a wellness budget that factors in both short-term needs and long-term habits. Even a modest allocation each month can reduce guilt, prevent burnout, and keep you from sacrificing your health to everyone else’s demands.

Eating Well Without Overcomplicating It

For all the talk about superfoods and meal plans, family nutrition comes down to rhythm and intent. Keep it simple, keep it consistent, and keep it joyful. Start small — one or two weeknight meals everyone can count on, where vegetables and conversation are equally important. Parents who prioritize daily family meal routines find that kids pick up healthy eating patterns faster and resist less because they see it modeled. A stocked fruit bowl and a plan for who sets the table can work wonders.

Adding Layers of Calm

Sometimes the best thing a family can do is… pause. You don’t need a meditation app or a retreat to find your breath. Even five minutes sitting together, eyes closed, focusing on nothing but inhale and exhale, can shift a hectic evening into something quieter. One hospital recommends five-minute shared breathing exercises to help families cope with anxiety, proving how little time it really takes to recalibrate. It’s grounding, it’s free, and it builds resilience you can feel.

Building a Wellness Budget That Sticks

It’s easy to lose track of spending when it comes to “self-care splurges,” but intentional budgeting can turn impulse into strategy. A family that sets clear priorities — and ties those to specific financial actions — feels less conflict and more clarity when the credit card comes out. One parent said that by prioritizing wellness spend they finally stopped second-guessing whether to book the dentist, the therapy session, or the weekend away. It became an investment, not an indulgence.

Self-care doesn’t happen in isolation. When families treat it as something shared, it becomes easier — and much more powerful. Every moment you carve out for yourselves strengthens the foundation you all stand on. You don’t have to get it perfect. Start with what feels manageable, celebrate small wins, and keep going. It’s not just about feeling better today; it’s about teaching the next generation that they deserve care, too. And that lesson? It sticks.

Discover a wealth of resources and inspiration for personal growth and well-being at Be as One, where faith and creativity unite to help you live the life you truly desire!

Be sure to visit Julie’s website at juliemorris.org.
Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

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NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s
new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube

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Purchase Susan’s books.

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

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Budget-Friendly Self-Care: Simple Strategies for Your Well-Being

Guest post by Julie Morris

In a world where self-care can sometimes feel like a luxury, finding affordable ways to care for yourself is crucial. Prioritizing self-care doesn’t have to break the bank. By making small, intentional changes to your routine and mindset, you can cultivate well-being without overspending. Here are some budget-friendly methods to incorporate self-care into your life, ensuring you maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle without financial strain.

Enhance Your Sleep Quality

Getting more sleep is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to practice self-care. Quality rest boosts your mood, improves cognitive function, and enhances overall health. Establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and making your sleeping environment comfortable are practical steps you can take. Ensuring you get enough rest each night sets a foundation for other self-care activities, helping you feel more energized and balanced.

Manage Your Finances

Creating a budget ensures you don’t overspend on self-care activities. Start by using free budget templates to systematically organize and manage your financial information. Give this a try to customize expense categories, set realistic budget limits, and track and monitor your expenses. This allows you to allocate funds specifically for self-care without feeling guilty or financially strained. A well-planned budget empowers you to enjoy self-care activities with peace of mind.

Discover Affordable Hobbies

Finding an affordable hobby can provide you with joy and relaxation without a hefty price tag. Whether it’s reading, gardening, drawing, or knitting, hobbies offer a creative outlet and a break from daily stressors. Engaging in a hobby can help you disconnect from work and other responsibilities, promoting mental well-being. The key is to choose activities that interest you and fit within your budget, ensuring you can enjoy them regularly.

Embrace Meditation

Meditation is a powerful tool for managing stress and promoting emotional health. You can learn to meditate at home without spending any money. Many free resources, such as online videos and apps, provide guided meditation sessions for beginners. By incorporating meditation into your daily routine, you can enhance your mental clarity, reduce anxiety, and improve overall well-being. The practice of meditation also complements other self-care activities, fostering a more holistic approach to health.

Start a Yoga Practice

Practicing yoga offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. You don’t need to join an expensive studio to enjoy yoga; many free online classes and tutorials are available to help you get started. Yoga enhances flexibility, strength, and mindfulness, making it a valuable addition to your self-care routine. Regular practice can help you manage stress, improve posture, and increase your overall sense of well-being, all without straining your budget or resources.

Exercise at Home

Exercising at home is an excellent way to stay fit without the cost of a gym membership. You can find various free workout videos online that cater to different fitness levels and interests. From bodyweight exercises to cardio routines, home workouts can be effective and enjoyable. Regular exercise improves physical health, boosts mood, and increases energy levels. By committing to a consistent home exercise routine, you can maintain your fitness without financial burden.

Stay Local and Enjoy a Staycation

A staycation can be a refreshing break without the expense of travel. Explore your local area, visit nearby parks, or simply relax at home with activities you enjoy. A staycation allows you to unwind and recharge without the stress and cost associated with travel. You can plan fun and relaxing activities that make you feel like you’re on vacation while staying within your budget. This approach helps you enjoy quality downtime without overspending.

Self-care is vital for maintaining balance and well-being. By adopting budget-friendly practices, you can nurture yourself without financial stress. These small, intentional changes foster resilience and health, helping you navigate life’s challenges more effectively. Embrace these strategies to boost your happiness and well-being without overspending, demonstrating that self-care can be both affordable and impactful.

You can find out more about Julie Morris at juliemorris.org.

Join us in building a stronger, more connected community through faith and creativity at Be as One. Explore our resources and find inspiration.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

amazing grace album cover
NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s
new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube

00 cover smalllouisa cover smallimaginary-heroes_cover
Purchase Susan’s books.

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

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Don’t Just Survive, Thrive: A Guide to Achieving Fulfillment as an Introvert 

Guest post by Julie Morris

In a world that celebrates extroverted traits, navigating life as an introvert can be challenging. However, it’s essential to remember that being an introvert is not a weakness but a different approach to life. Understanding your introverted tendencies and how they affect you can help establish a self-care plan that suits your needs. This article shared by Be As One will provide tips and strategies for creating a comprehensive self-care plan for introverts.

Establish a Consistent Routine

Introverts often thrive on consistency and predictability. A routine can provide comfort and control over your environment, reducing stress and anxiety. This routine could include waking up at the same time every day, sticking to a regular meal schedule, or setting aside specific times for work and relaxation. Remember, your routine should serve you rather than the other way around. Be flexible and adjust your schedule as needed to ensure it supports your well-being.

Allocate Ample Time for Solitude to Rejuvenate

As an introvert, solitude is not just preferred—it’s essential. Introverts recharge their energy by spending time alone, so incorporate ample alone time into your daily routine. Whether reading a book, walking in nature, or simply sitting quietly with your thoughts, these moments of solitude can help rejuvenate your mind and body.

Ensure You Set Aside Moments for Social Interactions

While introverts treasure their alone time, it doesn’t mean they should isolate themselves completely. Humans are social creatures and meaningful connections with others are crucial for our mental health. Try to find a balance between your need for solitude and social interactions. You might prefer one-on-one conversations or small gatherings rather than large parties. Remember, it’s about quality, not quantity, regarding relationships.

Engage in Energizing Activities

Find activities that energize and inspire you. These could be hobbies, exercise, creative pursuits, or anything else that brings you joy and boosts your energy levels. Engaging in such activities helps you relax and allows you to spend time in a way that aligns with your introverted nature.

Craft an Impressive and Professional Resume

Stepping onto a fresh career path can be equally exciting and overwhelming. One of your first steps in this journey should be crafting an impressive and professional resume that effectively showcases your skills, experience, and potential. A well-constructed resume can open doors to opportunities and be a powerful tool in your job search. If you need help figuring out where to start, seeking guidance on how to write a resume can be incredibly beneficial. From choosing the right format and writing

Allow Yourself the Right to Decline

As an introvert, you might feel pressured to say “yes” to every invitation or request, often leading to overcommitment and burnout. It’s important to realize that it’s okay to say no.’ Prioritize your mental health and well-being above societal expectations or obligations. Permitting yourself to decline can be liberating and contribute significantly to your self-care.

Make Restorative Sleep a Priority

Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining our physical and mental health. As an introvert, you may find your mind buzzing with thoughts at the end of the day, making it difficult to fall asleep. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine, create a peaceful sleep environment, and prioritize getting enough restful sleep.

Self-care for introverts involves understanding and honoring their unique needs and preferences. By establishing a consistent routine, prioritizing solitude, balancing social interactions, engaging in energizing activities, crafting a professional resume, allowing yourself to say ‘no,’ and prioritizing sleep, you can create a self-care plan that truly serves you. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to self-care. What matters most is finding what works best for you.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

amazing grace album cover
NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s
new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube

00 cover smalllouisa cover smallimaginary-heroes_cover
Purchase Susan’s books.

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

00 harmony color book featured imageMany people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

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The Journey of Personal Growth

I am pleased to present this guest post by Julie Morris, a life and career coach. She blogs regularly at juliemorris.org.

Before you begin your own quest for personal growth and development, you must define what that is for yourself. What is “self-improvement”? This depends on where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Make no mistake: personal growth is just that—personal. Nobody else, not even Tony Robbins or Dr. Phil, can define that for you.

Once you have defined self-improvement goals for yourself, there are several strategies available that can guide you to becoming who you want to be.

Meditation and Prayer

Practicing meditation is an excellent first step toward personal growth. Contrary to popular conception, meditation does not require the lotus position, mantras, incense, candles or other such accouterments. The only purpose of meditation is to empty your mind of distracting thoughts that may be holding you back. An easy and effective way to meditate is to sit in a comfortable chair with the room darkened and focus on some kind of white noise, like a hiss or a fan. There are many white noise generators available as apps and on YouTube.

The practice of prayer, whether alone or in community, can also be a useful means of personal growth. Whether you are praying for guidance or in appreciation for what you have accomplished, prayer can help you focus on those things of greatest importance.

Self-Care

Here is a radical, yet valid idea: it’s okay to be selfish. In fact, you should. Not in the obnoxious and demanding sense, but rather in prioritizing your own needs before the desires and demands of others. The reason is that if you are not satisfied and happy with yourself, you will be of little help to those around you. Take time to eat right, exercise, nourish your mind, and get rest when you need it. A healthy psyche and a healthy body go hand-in-hand—and the people around you will appreciate it and benefit.

Push the Boundaries

How long have you been doing the same things in the same manner? How is it working out for you? If the answer is “Very well,” then, by all means, continue. If not, it’s time to try something new. That may be a new career, which may involve returning to school for a new degree. Or, it may be something that builds on skills and knowledge you already have.

Either way, it will be time for you to dust off and update your resume. While this may seem daunting, the task will be made easier by using a free template online. Most of these are available at no charge and come in a vast variety of professional designs. Customizing these by adding your own content and elements is easily done.

Launching a Business

A common personal goal is to start a business, but it can be an intimidating task. Part of growing means seeking assistance when necessary to achieve one’s goals. If you’re wondering how to get an LLC, a formation service can guide you through the process so you can more effectively accomplish your goals of business ownership. And it will save you both time and money in the process.

Need Guidance?

Depending on your own personal development goals, it may be helpful to hire a coach or mentor. The advantage here is objectivity; sometimes, it is difficult to see the barriers we inadvertently place in front of ourselves. Furthermore, a life coach or mentor has valuable experience and knowledge that can help you on your journey.

Eye on the Prize

One way in which people sabotage themselves is by focusing on the bad news of the day, especially headlines. As grim as the global and national news may seem these days, it’s important to understand that very little of it can affect you personally. There are also uplifting and positive stories out there, even if the corporate media chooses to spin it into something else. By focusing on the beauty in the world, you can easily change your mindset into a more positive one over time—and this will manifest into positive change in virtually all areas of your life.

Whether you’re beginning a meditation practice, starting a business, or prioritizing your self-care, the tips above will help you become who you want to be.

Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp. Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

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How to Get a Spiritual Boost After a Tough Work Week

I am pleased to present this guest post by Julie Morris, a life and career coach. She blogs regularly at juliemorris.org. I have a feeling her post is not just helpful for us who feel overworked but also for those of us who just feel that life is one crashing wave after another with no relief. Julie offers some wonderful practical advice. Let us know what you think with your comments!

Photo by jarmoluk
Photo by jarmoluk

Many Americans feel overworked and underpaid. We work 50+ hour weeks, hardly ever use up our vacation days, and never seem satisfied with the success we’re able to receive. All of this hard work makes for stressful work weeks, especially when your work day is spilling over into your time away from the office via constant email checking. If this is the way you’re working and living, chances are you’re exhausted. So, what can you do to boost your spirits? Here are a few tips:

Get some rest.

yoppy sleep, Flickr Creative Commons
yoppy sleep, Flickr Creative Commons

This may sound pretty basic, but the reality is many of us get far fewer than the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night. When you get on a healthy sleep schedule, you’ll feel less fatigued and more focused, and a more focused brain means you’ll obsess over negative thoughts less often.

Change your surroundings.

A little change in scenery can go a long way toward replenishing your spiritual self after a tough week. Go camping. The fresh air and time away from home will work wonders for your mood. Or if camping isn’t your style, get a room for the weekend at a hotel. Even if it’s in your own town, the time away from home can help you get unstuck from the rut you’re in. And if you have a four-legged family member, not to worry. Many of today’s hotels are dog-friendly. Here’s a great selection:

Embrace gratitude.

Viewminder Gratitude, Flickr Creative Commons
Viewminder Gratitude, Flickr Creative Commons

When your job is making you stressed and exhausted, it can be difficult to be grateful, but do make some time for gratitude. If you pray, say a little prayer offering your thanks for having a job that helps you provide for yourself and your family. If you don’t pray, spend a quiet moment thinking about what your job enables you to do. Spending a little time on gratitude can provide some much-needed perspective when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Find a spot for outdoor yoga.

Yoga is great for your physical and mental health. It’s also a great excuse to get outside. No, you don’t have to practice yoga outdoors to get its amazing benefits, but when you do, you’ll probably find that you get an extra energy boost. For example, outdoor yoga will allow you to get some much-needed vitamin D. If you spend most of your day sequestered away in your cubicle chances are you probably don’t get much time in the sun, especially in winter. By going outdoors for some end-of-the-week yoga, you’ll get some vitamin D and the mental health boost that comes with it.

Don’t let your work deplete your spiritual self. When that happens, you’ll be more stressed, less innovative, and most likely less productive. Remember, working more doesn’t necessarily make you a better employee. If you aren’t able to do your best work, then you aren’t doing yourself or your employer any favors. Make time to replenish your spirit. When you do, you’ll also be refilling your passion for your work.

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Susan’s latest CD, “Mater Dei” is now available!
Purchase here.

Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp. Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

 

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Reaching my weight loss goal through the toolbox of Grace

My latest Catholic Free Press column (June 17, 2016)

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Grace is invisible.

We feel its power pushing us forward, carrying us as does a river’s current. It takes us many places both serene and chaotic. It molds and shapes us. Yet there’s nothing concrete to grasp onto. We cannot dip our hands into its waters nor physically feel that current.

Or can we?

Continue reading “Reaching my weight loss goal through the toolbox of Grace”

On the journey to harmony–Thoreau, the Sound Map and opening up the inner eye

In my quest for a harmonious life I understand the need to be still. Certain tools help in that effort:

  • Reading, to organize my thoughts.
  • Praying, to tap into my soul, drawing me closer to God.
  • Time spent outdoors, especially in the Spring, to quiet myself.

Achieving mindfulness

The landscape is slowly coming to life here in New England and when I see signs of Spring, I think of Henry David Thoreau. His intimate knowledge of the outdoors came from a sense of mindfulness–no detail missed his watchful eye. He took the time to be still and observe. And in following that simple maxim, the world revealed itself to him.

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New book on Thoreau

I recently reviewed a book on my Louisa May Alcott blog by Corinne Hosfeld Smith (certified tour guide of the Thoreau birthplace and author of Westward I Go Free: Tracing Thoreau’s Last Journey) called Henry David Thoreau for Kids:

thoreau for kids

Demanding writer

I welcomed this book because while I have always appreciated Thoreau’s message, I find his his works difficult to get through. The writing is dense, demanding your full attention. Many of us suffered through high school and college English classes with his classic Walden. And yet, that message of a different way of living got through to me even though I could not begin to digest all the words.

Making Thoreau concrete

What I loved about Henry David Thoreau for Kids were the twenty-one activities geared for middle school students that help you live out his ideas. Many of these activities are just as engaging for adults.

I was intrigued by the exercise which encouraged the participant to sit outdoors for thirty minutes in total silence, waiting for wildlife to appear. Sure enough, after a few moments birds and other creatures come close for observation. I was eager to try this exercise in my quest to be still.

pansies-640

Helpful tool

Stillness, however, does not come easily in this busy world so I was grateful that Smith recommended another exercise to help me focus–creating a sound map.

Sitting in my lawn chair, I sketched the area you see here in my notebook and every time I heard a sound from nature, I drew an “x” where I thought I heard it and wrote down what it was. As you can see, I heard quite a bit!

panoramic photo (uses first and third photo)2-720

From listening to observing

In the listening, I began to appreciate the visual imagery around me.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Stillness opens the inner eye

Stillness and mindfulness are hard to achieve in this high tech, multi-tasking, noisy world. Patience and due diligence are rewarded however with the opening of the inner eye, that which sees beauty and truth around us and eventually, within us. It’s a simple truth really: the wonder of life and how it was created, and how we are lucky to be alive despite all the challenges.

Houghton MS Am 1506 (4)-Cranch
Houghton MS Am 1506 (4)-Cranch

A compatriot of Thoreau’s, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once wrote of the transparent eyeball, an expression for which he was mocked. Wikipedia explains it this way:

 “The transparent eyeball is a philosophical metaphor originated by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The transparent eyeball is a representation of an eye that is absorbent rather than reflective, and therefore takes in all that nature has to offer.”

Emerson experienced an epiphany that day–the discovery of the ability to read between the lines in the world around him, and come to an understanding of a deeper existence within him.

Once that eye is opened …

… you never want it to close. All of a sudden, the smallest things become lovely, compelling, even exciting. Once I became mindful of what surrounded me in the natural world, I couldn’t get enough of it, especially when it came to bird watching and kayaking.

And once I made a commitment to pay attention to what was there inside of me, allowing myself to to be drawn closer to my Creator, I find I can’t get enough of that either.

Silence is becoming an elixir.

I understand from the great mystics that you can learn to be quiet and still even in the midst of noise and chaos. Wouldn’t that be something! Somehow I think a bunch of people with that kind of inner harmony could truly change the world for the good. Think about it.

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Your time of stillness

Try spending thirty minutes in the woods, in a field or by a pond this Spring. Create your own sound map and share it here. Let’s compare notes and find out how we are doing on our journey to harmony.

You can find out more about Henry David Thoreau for Kids here, and read about the author, Corinne Hosfeld Smith, here.

Click to Tweet & ShareOn the journey to harmony–Thoreau, the Sound Map and opening up the inner eye http://wp.me/p2D9hg-1IH

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Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

 

 

 

Fun Facts Friday: Dr. Seuss and historical women books; feral cat success story; fun in the mud; kayak adventures; singing for the Pope

Books

This book cover image released by Random House shows "What Pet Should I Get," by Dr. Seuss. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Random House
This book cover image released by Random House shows “What Pet Should I Get,” by Dr. Seuss. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Random House

“What Pet Should I Get?”, a recently discovered Dr. Seuss work, is on sale starting July 28.

Apparently. Dr. Seuss’ wife discovered a carton with manuscripts in the attic. AND, this book is just the beginning!

How cool is that???

historical novels

Novels About Real-Life Women Are Saving Forgotten History

Some fascinating women in history are explored through these interesting historical fiction novels.

Cats

people for happier cats

People for Happier Cats – Compassionate Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Pilot for Feral Cats

This is an amazing initiative by Tinykittens.com with a feral colony of cats. The first experiment, that of trapping a pregnant feral so that she could give birth in in a warm and safe place resulted in her four kittens being totally socialized and adopted out to loving families while the mother cat was returned to the colony where she would be the happiest.

forest kittens

Nature/Education

fun in the mud

Fun in the mud: Children benefit from exposure to nature

How many of us remember making mud pies? Hiking in the woods? Splashing in a stream? Observing birds and butterflies? Every kid needs to experience the outdoors and this program offers some amazing options.

Kayaking

kayaking through the caves

Kayaking Through the Apostle Island Sea Caves

Check out this video of a kayak trip through the Sea Caves of Apostle Island – heavenly!

veterans kayaking

War veterans say kayaking helps them cope with combat trauma

As an avid kayaker familiar with its therapeutic benefits, I can see how this would be a tremendous benefit to our vets.

Music

As you all seemed to enjoy the video I posted of Sarah Hart singing “Praying from a Broken Heart” so I thought I’d share this:
October 26, 2013 – Sarah Hart singing in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis and a crowd of 150,000; Sarah meeting the Pope at the end of the video

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Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read Susan’s blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

Confession of a timid soul

My latest Catholic Free Press column.

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The recent ruling by the Supreme Court on the legal state of marriage has reverberated across the country. People cannot stop talking about it and the conversations are often heated. A seismic shift has taken place in our culture. It caught me unprepared for the personal storm of confusion and fear that I would experience as a result.

Facing the inevitable

Christians are facing a “brave new world.” Confrontation is now inevitable; I cannot avoid it no matter how uncomfortable it makes me feel. I have to be clear as to what I think and how I feel and learn how to express it both firmly and in love, as Jesus would do. Continue reading “Confession of a timid soul”

Love begets love: how can something you love to do spread love to others?

This past Tuesday I did something I love doing.

We are fortunate in Massachusetts to have several chapters of WINGS, an organization dedicated to gathering together women of faith in an effort to support and deepen that faith.

wingshead

I was pleased to be invited to speak this past Tuesday at Christ the King Parish in Worcester, MA, at their first WINGS meeting of the season. I presented my “Let’s Go Swimming!” talk with songs, ending with a rousing rendition all together of “Can You Teach Me?” Continue reading “Love begets love: how can something you love to do spread love to others?”