May-Jun 2026
On Purpose Woman
Contributing Writers Angela Winter Carla Johnston Ginny Robertson Jennifer Sproul Laurie Morin Maria Petrucci Mary Perry Rosemary Robertson Bredeson Ruth Littlejohn Sandra Lee Suzie Jeffreys Tamara Robinson Vicki Semanie Cover Artist Joy DiMenna
On Purpose Woman Magazine is published bi-monthly online. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Neither the publishing team or the advertisers accept responsibility for errors. Publication and distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing for any reason. To reproduce articles, always credit On Purpose Woman Magazine with the link to the issue. Also, credit the author and leave their bio and contact info intact. On Purpose Woman Magazine shares ideas, stories, and opinions from a diverse community of women. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, creative director, writers, advertisers, or anyone else associated with the magazine.
Publisher/Editor Ginny Robertson Creative Director Anne Pamfilis
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Inside On Purpose Woman...
6 From the Publisher Ginny Robertson 10 Question Your Heart Elizabeth Presley 14 Be the Change: Living from Soul, Not Should Ginny Robertson 23 Events and Resources 30 Treading Water: When Life Looks Good but Doesn't Feel Right Ruth Littlejohn 38 Time is the New Money Jennifer Sproul 52 Eating for One: Why Nourishment Still Matters Carla Johnston 65 Sage Women Wisdom 66 When Your Body Holds a Story Your Mind Can't See Sandra Lee 76 I Was Taught to Ignore My Body, Now I Teach Women to Trust Theirs Tamara Robinson 86 The Emotional Body Rev. Rosemary Robertson Bredeson 96 Emotional Intelligence and Decision Making Vicki Semanie 108 The Reat Antidote to Burnout Laurie Morin 116 From Pretty to Powerful: Making Your Site a Tool for Connection & Growth Angela Winter 128 Cover Artist: Joy DiMenna 138 Members in the Spotlight Mar/Apr 140 Spring is Your Body's Natural Reset Button - Are You Listening? Suzie Jeffreys 152 How to Stop Recurring Headaches - Without Drugs Maria Petrucci 166 On Purpose Woman Global Community Directory 186 Sacred Summer Light Rev. Mary Perry
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From the Publisher Ginny Robertson
Reflections on Mother’s Day There’s something about this time of year that invites reflection as much as expansion. As this issue arrives around Mother’s Day, I find myself thinking about the many ways we experience “mother.” For some, the relationship with their mother is a place of deep love, safety, and belonging. For others, it may be layered, complicated, or even painful, filled with expectations, misunderstandings, or things left unsaid. And for many, it is all of these at once. The mother-daughter relationship can be one of the most profound connections in our lives, shaping how we see ourselves and how we move through the world. In honor of my mother, on page 10 I’ve shared a poem she wrote in 1944, during a time when she was stepping into her own sense of purpose, working, contributing, and quietly reflecting on life. My mother and I had one of those complicated relationships. It was sometimes hard being her daughter because she expected perfection from me on many levels, and I never felt like I measured up. Yet, I would hear from others how proud she was of me. I’m grateful that I made peace with it long before her passing. And now, reading her words all these years later, I find myself wishing I had known more of the woman who wrote that poem. It’s not a complex or elaborate piece, but the simplicity of what she was asking feels meaningful - simple questions about how we show up for others, and for ourselves. Through her words, I feel a connection that is both new and familiar. Over time, I’ve come to believe that we can have many mothers in a lifetime. There is the one who gave birth to you, and then there are the women who raised you up, the ones who saw something in you before you saw it in yourself, the ones who offered guidance, encouragement, and love in ways that helped shape who you are becoming. Wherever Mother’s Day finds you this year, in celebration, in remembrance, in healing, or in reflection, I invite you to honor your experience in whatever way feels true for you. And I hope you’ll spend time with our Mother’s Day spreads, where the beauty and complexity of these relationships come to life. Be Well, Love Big, Spread Joy, Shine Your Light, Make Your Difference.
In Part 1 of this series, I explored what it means to Be the Change, not as a concept, but as a way of living from the inside out. I spoke about peace, presence, and the invitation to embody what we want to see in the world. Once I consciously decided that I wanted to be part of the change the question became: How do I choose where, and how, to show up? The Quiet Weight of “Should” Many of us have spent years, decades even, living from “should.” I should say yes. I should help. I should care about this. I should do more. On the surface, it looks generous. Responsible. Even noble. But underneath, it can feel heavy. When we live from “should,” we slowly drift away from ourselves. We override our inner knowing. We say yes when our body is whispering no. And eventually, we feel it: Exhaustion Resentment Disconnection Not because we don’t care, but because we’ve lost touch with what is truly ours to do. “When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself.” ~ Paulo Coelho Ego Service vs. Soul Service Over time, I’ve come to see that not all service is the same. Some service comes from the ego. Some comes from the soul. The ego says: Say yes so they’ll like you. Say yes so they’ll think you’re a good person. Say yes because you should. The soul says: This matters to you. Your gifts belong here. There is something here for you to give - and receive. The ego speaks through pressure. The soul speaks through invitation. The ego lives in the head. The soul lives in the heart. And when we notice the difference, everything changes. When we serve from obligation, our energy contracts. When we serve from the soul, our energy expands. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou Not Every Good Cause Is Yours This was a big one for me. There are so many worthy causes in the world. So many ways to help. So many opportunities to give. And for a long time, I believed being a “good person” meant saying yes to as many of them as possible. But here’s what I’ve learned: Just because something is important doesn’t mean it’s mine to carry. We’re not meant to do everything. We’re meant to do what is ours. That’s what creates balance in the world. One woman is called to healing. Another to activism. Another to teaching. Another to building community. And sometimes, what lights one woman up may not resonate at all with another, and that’s not a problem. That’s the design. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” ~ Alice Walker Learning to Say No - With Love To live from the soul, we must learn to say no. And for many women, that’s one of the hardest things we’ll ever practice. We worry: Will I disappoint them? Will they think I’m selfish? Will I stop being included? But here’s the truth: Every time you say yes to something that isn’t aligned, you are saying no to something that is. Saying no is not rejection, it’s discernment. It’s choosing alignment over approval. “No is a complete sentence.” ~ Anne Lamott I remember saying yes to many forms of service early on: being the United Way rep for the large corporation I worked for and put in charge of the entire Baltimore City campaign, running a neighborhood organization for a community that I hadn’t even moved into yet, being a cub scout den leader because my son wanted to be a cub scout and no one else stepped up, serving as a mentor to middle school students as a favor to a friend, delivering meals to those with AIDS, and serving on various boards, sometimes three at the same time – all while I was still in my 30s. They were all worthwhile, and yet something didn’t feel quite right. Then I began saying yes where I felt internally, not externally, called and everything shifted. I felt energized. Engaged. Alive. Same intention - service. Different experience - alignment Service That Fits Your Life Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: Service is meant to fit your life, not take it over. You don’t have to squeeze yourself into something that doesn’t align. Instead, you can ask: Does this feel sustainable? Does this honor my energy? Can I give to this with ease and grace? If the answer is no, it doesn’t make the cause less worthy. It simply means it may not be yours in this season. And seasons matter. Following the Inner Nudge Living from soul requires trust. Trust in that quiet voice, that inner knowing, that gentle, or sometimes not so gentle, nudge. It doesn’t always make sense. But it’s always meaningful. In Part 1, I shared the story of the detour that led me to West Virginia, and ultimately into educating people about the destructive practice of mountaintop removal. That moment wasn’t planned; it was felt. And because I trusted it, a path unfolded - one that allowed me to serve using my natural gifts of connection, speaking, and gathering people.That’s how soul work happens. It’s not always loud, it’s often subtle, and it’s always true. From Obligation to Joy When we live from should, service feels heavy. When we live from soul, service feels expansive, even when it’s challenging. There’s a sense of rightness, a sense of alignment and a sense that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. And that feeling sustains you. It keeps your heart open. It keeps your energy flowing. It reminds you why you said yes. An Invitation to Come Home to Yourself You do not have to earn your worth by doing more. You are already enough. You are here with gifts. You are here with purpose. You are here with a unique way of contributing. Your role is not to say yes to everything. Your role is to listen deeply. To notice: What lights you up What drains you What calls you forward What asks you to step back Because the more you trust yourself, the clearer your path becomes. We Are Still the Ones In Part 1, we claimed the truth: We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. In Part 2, we refine it: We are the ones, and we don’t have to do it all. We simply have to do what is ours with intention, with clarity and with heart, and that is more than enough.
For 15 years we opened our home for an annual clothing sale to raise money for The Light of Truth Center, an organization that supports women in their recovery from addiction. It spoke to my soul.
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For 26 years, Ginny Robertson has offered women entrepreneurs opportunities for deep connection and supported them in being seen and heard so they can share their gifts and make their unique difference. She’s the Founder of the On Purpose Woman Global Community and On Purpose Woman Magazine, the Host of the Real Women Real Purpose Talk Show on YouTube, a speaker, writer and the Lead Author of On Purpose Woman: The Complete Holistic Guide for Women Entrepreneurs.
There was a season in my life when I wasn’t drowning—but I also wasn’t truly living. I call it treading water. From the outside, everything looked fine. I had a good job, a vibrant social life, and all the visible markers of success I had dreamed about. I was functioning, achieving, and showing up. But inside, something felt off. Treading water is deceptive. It can look like success. It can feel like stability. But it often hides a quiet disconnection—a sense that you are watching your life more than living it. I remember asking myself, If this is success, why don’t I feel at peace? My journey into that question began years earlier. After flunking out of college, I eventually returned, graduated, and entered a professional training program that opened the door to a promising career. During those 16 weeks, I built friendships, learned the business, and stepped into what I believed was the beginning of my “successful life.” And in many ways, it was. I moved into a lively apartment community, surrounded by energy, connection, and constant activity. My days were structured, my nights were social, and my lifestyle reflected everything I thought success should look like—visibility, independence, and achievement. But beneath it all, I felt uneasy. Some moments made me pause—moments when I realized I was not as in control as I appeared to be. Moments that left me questioning how I got there, both literally and emotionally. That quiet discomfort became impossible to ignore. It was then that I began what would become one of the most important practices of my life: a genuine conversation with myself. I asked questions I had avoided: What has my life really been like? How did I come to define success this way? How do I actually feel about myself and the life I’ve created? What I discovered was both simple and profound. Flunking out of college was something I had done; it was not who I was. External expectations, not internal truth, had shaped my definition of success. And I had built a life that looked successful but didn’t feel fulfilling. That realization permitted me to do something I had never considered before: I stepped off the merry-go-round. I began redefining success—first by adding meaning through service, community involvement, and giving back. But even then, I realized I had only addressed part of the equation. I had focused on my external life, while my internal world—my feelings of sadness, confusion, and unworthiness — remained unexamined. Treading water often looks like progress. But in reality, it can be a pause—a space where life is inviting you to become more aware. If you recognize yourself here—holding it all together yet feeling disconnected—I invite you to begin with one simple practice: start a conversation with yourself. Not a surface check-in, but an honest, compassionate inquiry into your life, your choices, and your truth. Awareness is where everything begins. It doesn’t demand immediate change—but it opens the door to transformation. And sometimes, the most powerful step you can take is to stop, listen, and tell yourself the truth. July/August Issue: Part 2: Surviving
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Publisher, Laura Di Franco, chats with Ginny Robertson about holistic, spiritual entrepreneurship and what it means to lead a purpose-driven life.
Ruth Littlejohn is a life and spiritual coach, ordained minister, and facilitator who helps women move from simply getting through life to living with clarity, purpose, and alignment. She is passionate about guiding others to reimagine their lives and thrive.
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Welcome to Part III of the series I call “The New Centenarians.” In Parts I and II of The New Centenarians, I introduced an idea I now live by: I expect to live to at least 100. Not as wishful thinking—but as a working assumption. I call this PRE-writing history. The New Centenarians are Baby Boomers I call BLOOMERS — those of us who see the second half of life not as decline, but as expansion. In Part II, I introduced my practice: Living a Well-Integrated Life (AWIL). It revealed something I had never fully seen before: Much of what we call aging is actually conditioning. Conditioning that creates stress. Conditioning that drains energy. Conditioning that quietly scripts our decline. Left unexamined, we simply live out the model we inherited. Your Energy Is Telling the Truth Through this practice, I began noticing something subtle but life-changing: Some things gave me energy. Some things took it away. Simple—but not obvious. I tracked my days in detail—what I was doing, who I was with, even what I was thinking. Patterns emerged. What energized me was generative. What drained me was exhaustive. And here’s what surprised me most: It wasn’t just what I was doing. It was how I had been programmed to think about time. The Hidden Programming Most of us absorbed a model didn’t question it. • Monday–Friday = work • 9–5 = productive • Weekends = recovery • Retirement = relief But look closer. Does anyone you know actually live that way? Most hard-working people — especially women—have done far more. Boomer women, in particular, carried two full-time lives: • Career • Home and family There was no real off. Just shifting responsibilities. And now? We arrive at 65… tired. And facing a version of retirement that doesn’t feel quite right. The Quiet Fear Even if we don’t say it out loud, many of us feel it: • Time is running out • Money might not be enough • Everything starts to decline after 75 We’ve seen it. We’ve been shown it. We’ve come to expect it. But what if that story is outdated? Two Old Models Most people fall into one of two paths: Boomer A I can’t afford to stop. Keeps working… exhausted… waiting for relief that never comes. Boomer B I’ve earned this. Stops working… travels… checks the boxes… Then quietly wonders: Now what? Who am I now? Both paths were built on the same belief: Work now. Live later. The BLOOMER Shift There is another way. Boomer C — The BLOOMER She sees something different: Her life is not separate from her work. Her life IS her work. And her most valuable asset? Not money. Time. Time Is the New Money Every moment spent in: • worry (future) • regret (past) is a withdrawal from the only account that truly matters. The present. BLOOMERS live by a simple principle: Just Do Today. Not as a slogan— as a discipline. A return to presence. A refusal to spend time on thoughts that drain life instead of generating it. A Different Kind of Wealth Many of today’s most influential voices point to the same truth—often through recovery: Live one day at a time. Not because life is fragile… but because it is powerful when fully lived in the present. BLOOMERS begin to see: • There is more UN-doing than doing • More letting go than acquiring • More awareness than effort We stop blindly following the script. We start choosing. The Real Work of the Second Half We were taught: Work hard now. Save for later. Rest someday. But someday comes with a cost: A lifetime spent postponing life. This is where the shift happens. This is where the fault line appears. And this is where BLOOMERS choose differently. I’ll stop here—for now. Because this idea — Time is the New Money — deserves more space. Continued in Part IV in the July/August issue.
Jennifer K. Sproul is the founder of Graceing Agefully™, a platform she built to change the ‘culture’ of aging. Her program ‘Living a Well-Integrated Life™’ has become the foundational practice for her expansion. Jennifer is a Realtor™ in the Washington, DC metro area.
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“I just pour myself a bowl of cereal for dinner. It’s easy, cheap, and no trouble.” I’ve heard this statement so many times while delivering nutrition-based community education programs for older adults. On the surface, it sounds practical, even sensible. It always gave me pause, because what often sat beneath those words wasn’t just convenience, but resignation. So, I began asking a different question. “If a dear friend were joining you for lunch or dinner, would you serve cereal?” The answer was always the same: a firm and immediate no. That question served as the catalyst for a three-part workshop series, which is now the focus of this article. Why is it acceptable to serve ourselves something we would never offer someone we care about? And what does that say about how we view our own worth, health, and nourishment as we age? The name Eating for One itself emerged from a full-circle moment in my life. Many decades ago, during pregnancy, I was often reminded that I was “eating for two.” Years later, as I worked closely with seniors, I observed that being alone usually quietly eroded nutrition and nourishment. I began referring to this stage as “eating for one,” and the phrase immediately resonated and caught on. I believe this was because it addressed both independence and vulnerability. This article is a condensed overview of my work. While often framed as "Eating for One," the principles apply equally to empty nesters, couples, and anyone navigating transitions that alter eating habits. Nutrition vs. Nourishment Most of us understand that food is directly tied to health. Research consistently highlights the significant role of nutrition in energy, immunity, digestion, mood, and the prevention of chronic diseases. Yet much of the public conversation focuses narrowly on what to eat, or which diet is “best.” In my work, I find that this conversation requires greater nuance. Beyond what we eat, we must also consider what we don’t eat; most notably, fruits and vegetables. Beyond nutrients, we must consider the realities of life, including health conditions, medications (many of which can affect nutrient absorption), mobility, budget, energy, cooking skills, and emotional bandwidth. That’s why I distinguish between nutrition and nourishment. For me, nutrition is what’s on your meal plate. Nourishment is What’s on Life’s Plate. Caregiving responsibilities, illness, grief, stress, or simply living alone can reduce appetite, enjoyment of cooking, and motivation. When eating becomes a task instead of a pleasure, nourishment suffers, even if calories are technically met. The Gut, the Brain, and the Bigger Picture We hear a lot about gut health, its role in immunity, inflammation, mood, and cognition. Food truly does affect how we feel, both physically and emotionally. But knowing this doesn’t automatically translate into sustainable habits. The real question becomes: How do we make nourishing choices realistic, enjoyable, and repeatable, especially when cooking for one? One tool I use consistently when designing meals is CRAVE, an acronym I’ve redefined to guide the design of our meal plates, mirroring the famous MyPlate. C stands for Color: the more color, the better, helping ensure a wide range of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and antioxidants. R represents Recognizability: foods that are recognizable from nature and, when possible, aligned with seasonality. A is Awareness: noticing how I feel before I eat, why I’m eating, and the environment in which I’m eating. V is Variety, which supports balance across proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and grains, as well as texture, temperature, and spices. And finally, E is Enjoyment, a simple and often overlooked question: Am I truly enjoying this meal, or am I eating mindlessly? When meals satisfy CRAVE, nourishment naturally follows. The Most Common Objections and How to Rethink Them “I’m tired of leftovers. I don’t want to eat the same meal five more times this week.” “It’s hard to cook just for myself.” “I’m tired of the same old meals.” These are often the reasons many give up before they begin. The solution isn’t more willpower, in my view; it’s a more innovative approach. I teach a four-step framework: Plan, Shop, Prepare, Cook. Plan: One Main Meal, Many Possibilities Start by choosing one main meal for the week. A favorite example is a roasted chicken with colorful vegetables in a single pan—simple, balanced, and easy. Instead of eating the same meal four nights in a row, redesign it: Meal 2: Shred leftover chicken and combine with beans, vegetables, cheese, and spices for tacos or enchiladas Meal 3: Add broth or stock, noodles or rice, and remaining vegetables to create a nourishing soup Meal 4: Slice chicken over a robust Caesar or mixed-green salad for a lighter option I’m sure you can think of many other options! The remaining portions can be frozen individually to create your own nourishing frozen meals for future weeks. Perfect for those weeks when you are just too busy to think about cooking. Shop with Intention and Inspiration Build your shopping list around each planned meal, then “shop” your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer first. This prevents duplicate purchases and reduces waste. Be honest about your week. Will you realistically have time to cook? If not, adjust the plan. Bulk stores can save money, but only if food gets eaten. Wasted food is wasted money and nourishment. Stay curious in the produce section. When something catches your eye, let it inspire flavor. This is an effective way to increase vegetable intake in meals. Herbs and spices are simple tools that transform meals without adding more time. I created a simple, one-page worksheet that makes meal planning and a shopping list easy to follow. It is available in the Resources section of my website, just download and go! FIND IT HERE Prepare Before Food Prepares You Preparation is where good intentions often fall apart. Decide which foods need to be washed, chopped, cooked, or frozen first to prevent spoilage. Then decide when you’ll cook. Some prefer batch cooking on weekends. Others enjoy smaller, more frequent cooking sessions. The only correct answer is the one that works for you. Put it on your calendar. Planning cooking time is often overlooked, and one of the most effective ways to reduce food waste and decision fatigue. Eating Alone Doesn’t Have to Mean Eating Isolated For many, eating alone can reinforce loneliness and reduce motivation. “If it’s just me, why bother?” …Because Nourishment is an act of self-care! There are creative ways to make food more social: Form a small dinner group where each person hosts once, and leftovers are shared with the group. Host a cooking dinner where everyone helps prepare the meal and goes home with leftovers. Share bulk shopping and meal preparation with a friend. Years ago, I partnered with a neighbor who disliked cooking. I shopped and cooked (because I love being in my kitchen); she covered half the cost. We both benefited and felt supported. A quick aside…I didn’t charge her for those meals that didn’t turn out as I imagined- as I often like to be creative in the kitchen. Tools That Make Eating for One Easier A few reliable kitchen tools make nourishing meals far easier: Large roasting pan and sheet pan Crockpot or slow cooker Large soup pot Mixing bowls Instant Pot®, which allows sautéing before long cooking without constant oversight Quality cutting board Sharp knife These tools support flexibility, batch cooking, and creativity. A Final Thought on Worth and Nourishment Eating for One is not a downgrade. It’s not something to rush through or minimize. It’s an opportunity to practice self-care, intention, and respect for the body that carries you through this season of your life. You are worth more than cereal for dinner, unless cereal is genuinely what you want and it fits into a nourishing pattern. Nourishment isn’t about perfection (whatever that is!) It’s about habits that support vitality, connection, and well-being; one thoughtful meal at a time. I invite you to experiment, get creative, and have fun! Nourishment is meant to be supportive rather than stressful. And it must always begin with the belief that you are worth the effort in every decade of your life.
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Carla Johnston is deeply passionate about redefining what it means to age. As a National Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Master Certified Health Coach, she honors the uniqueness of every woman’s wellness journey, embracing both what is now and what is next. She is the founder of the Dynamic Decades© community, for women 60 and older, who endeavor to focus on wellness, embracing what is now and what is next.
This is the third in a series for spirit-led women exploring mindset, healing, pain, perspective shifts, and simple practices to reconnect with your inner resourcefulness. I can't do this alone. That thought beat differently in my heart than it ever had before, its voice a whisper instead of a shout. Like flipping a switch, the dark room lit up, and the pain began to melt. For years, that belief filled my head and stopped my hands. Then, in a flash of healing and release, the comfortable certainty of I can't do this dissolved away. Have you ever reached a breaking point? Resisted as long and hard as you could, then, in an explosion of awareness, released a familiar yet restrictive handhold and discovered a clarity that had been there all along? "Why didn't I see this before?" You couldn't see it until it was your time. The Pattern I Couldn't Break Building a business felt impossible. Every time I got close to completing something important, I'd freeze. Hesitate. Find a reason to wait. The pattern was exhausting. Start strong, hit resistance, spiral into I can't do this alone, then stop. I'd stare at my screen, knowing what needed to happen next, but my hands wouldn't move. My body braced against invisible danger. My shoulders climbed toward my ears. My solar plexus clenched. My right arm held tension like armor. Sometimes the pain was so sharp I couldn't ignore it. But I never connected it to the belief running underneath. One day, a practitioner asked me to tune into my right side. "What's being held there?" The answer came immediately, clear as day. Immediately, the answer called out: Everything I haven't allowed myself to do. Finding the Root During my NLP master certification training, I got the chance to trace I can't do this back to where it started. I was six months old. My parents traveled for three days and left me with family. To a baby, three days feels like forever. I screamed. Panicked. Tried everything to make her come back. And when she didn't, my body decided: I'm alone. I can't survive this. That infant decision became the operating system for my adult life. As I moved through the healing process, everything surfaced. Tears. Tightness in my throat. That familiar ache in my neck and head. My coach guided me to imagine my mother standing before me. "What do you need to say?" Words I'd never spoken poured out. Wave after wave. Eventually, I reached the bottom. "I am completely alone." The words released. The crying softened. And something inside me... shifted. Plus, something momentous happened. The neck pain I'd carried for years? Gone. There was no pain! I exhaled. The heaviness lifted. The pain wasn't stuck in my muscles. It was anchored to a belief I formed before I had language. A belief that shaped how I showed up in my business, my relationships, everything. What I Discovered When the belief released, so did the pain. That showed me something I couldn't unsee: our bodies hold the stories we can't speak. The tension, the chronic aches, the patterns that won't budge, no matter how many practitioners we see? They're often protecting old decisions we made about safety, worth, or belonging. This breakthrough changed how I work with clients. I guide them to find the root belief beneath their symptoms and release it at the source. There's More to the Story What I've shared here is just the beginning. The full story, including the profound realization that transformed everything, appears in my chapter of The Ultimate Guide to Self-Healing, Volume #6. You’ll discover how stories become symptoms and what happens when you name the deeper truth your body has been holding. I also share a self-reflection tool to help you understand what your pain is trying to communicate.
Sandra Lee blends science and intuition to help women uncover what’s beneath migraines, headaches, and chronic pain. With 30+ years of experience, she guides women back to clarity and connection.
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I was taught to ignore my body. Not in those exact words, of course. No one ever sat me down and said, “Don’t trust yourself,” but the message was there. It lived in what I saw, what I didn’t see, and what I quietly learned to accept as normal. Growing up, my family showed affection in ways that felt loving and consistent. But inside my childhood home, something was missing. I never saw my parents hug each other, hold hands, laugh closely, or express the kind of intimacy I would later come to associate with connection. And as a child, I noticed. I remember asking my mother why they weren’t affectionate like couples on television. Her answer was simple. “When you get older, you don’t want that.” At the time, I accepted it. Not because it felt true, but because she was my mother, and I assumed she knew something about life that I didn’t. So, without realizing it, I stored that belief away as truth. Now, at 52, I can say with certainty, I feel the exact opposite. I want connection, affection, and intimacy that feels alive, present, and expressed. That realization led me to a deeper question: Was that ever true, or was it simply true for her? That moment shifted everything. Because what I began to understand is that many of the beliefs we carry about love, relationships, and even our own bodies are not consciously chosen. They are inherited, passed down through observation, silence, and well-meaning statements that reflect someone else’s lived experience rather than a universal truth. For many women, especially in midlife, this shows up in subtle but powerful ways. We find ourselves disconnected from our desires, unsure of what we actually want, or questioning whether what we long for is even realistic. We may feel numb or indifferent in our relationships, believing that this is just “how it is” over time. But often, what we are experiencing is not the natural evolution of intimacy. It is the continuation of a pattern we learned long before we had the awareness to question it. In my own life, I was also exposed to messaging, both at home and through religious teachings, that framed the body, especially a woman’s body, as something to control, suppress, or disconnect from. Desire was not something to explore; it was something to manage, ignore, or keep quiet. Over time, that creates a very specific kind of disconnection. You learn to override what you feel, question your instincts, and prioritize what is expected over what feels true for you. And that doesn’t stay in childhood. It follows you into adulthood, into relationships, and into intimacy. When I work with clients, one of the first things I often explore is their upbringing. Not to place blame, but to create understanding. Just as a doctor asks for your family medical history to better understand your physical health, your emotional and relational history offers insight into how you experience love, connection, and intimacy. I might ask questions like: What did you see growing up? What were you taught about your body? What was modeled for you when it came to love and affection? And more importantly: Are you still living by those same beliefs? For me, the journey became one of unlearning. Unlearning that intimacy fades with age. Unlearning that desire should be silenced. Unlearning that my body was something to ignore rather than something to trust. In that process, something beautiful began to unfold. I started to reconnect with myself, not all at once, but slowly and intentionally. I began listening to my body again and paying attention to what felt good, what felt off, and what felt true. I realized that my body had always been communicating with me, and I had been taught not to listen. That reconnection is now the foundation of the work I do. Today, as a pleasure and intimacy coach for women over 40, I help women rebuild that relationship with themselves, not by giving them something outside of who they are, but by guiding them back to what has always been within them. Their awareness. Their desire. Their truth. You are allowed to want what you want, to experience connection in a way that feels fulfilling, and to question anything that tells you otherwise. You might pause and ask yourself: What did I learn about love growing up? What messages did I receive about my body and desire? What have I accepted as “normal” that doesn’t actually feel true for me? And what would it look like to choose something different now? Sometimes, the most powerful shift is realizing that what you were taught was not the only option, and that you now can choose something different. I was taught to ignore my body. Now I trust it, and I help other women do the same.
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Tamara Robinson is a pleasure and intimacy coach helping women over 40 reconnect with their bodies and experience intimacy that finally feels good.
You are a multi-dimensional being living on a 3-dimensional planet. Any problems or challenges that you face could have started in a dimension of you beyond your physical body. In Part 1 of this series (in the March/April issue of this magazine) – HERE, we looked at your Physical Body and environment. But you also have an Emotional Body, a Mental Body, a Spiritual Body, and a Cosmic Body. If you only consider the Physical realm in which you exist, you might not find the source of an issue in your life. So, let’s explore your Emotional Body and what can be happening at that level. We know that an event can happen to or around us, and we have a knee-jerk reaction to that event. Emotions can pop up out of nowhere and try to run the show. But if we hit the pause button at that point, we can take a moment to consider other options beyond what our reaction and emotions might lead us to choose as a response. That pause button is essential to living a conscious life. It puts us at choice, so we are not reacting but operating from a conscious response. Dr. Joe Dispenza teaches us about emotions and that we can become addicted to the chemicals associated with certain emotions. It’s as if we get a fix when a familiar chemical shows up in our system. What if we keep staying in that addiction? What if an emotion becomes so familiar that the chemical it initiates feels like normal to us? What’s familiar feels like Truth to us. I often tell my clients this when I recognize a pattern that’s keeping them stuck. An emotion can feel so familiar that our unconscious mind keeps attaching to it, as if it were the truth of who we are. Have you known people who seem to be stuck in an emotional pattern that they can’t break out of? Have YOU ever felt that way? When I worked on the Hubble Space Telescope Project, there was a fellow who answered the polite “How are you doing?” question with “I’d have to get better to die!” Even if he meant that as a kind of joke, it carried the energy he projected of unhappiness and pain. And then there are the folks who always have a smile for you, who seem to find joy in everyday life. When you live at choice, you realize that you can CHOOSE the emotional frequency that you carry with you each day. Your Emotional Body is holding a frequency that you’re selecting. It doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with feeling the feelings that come up for you. But you have the power to examine, check in with yourself, and decide how attached you are to carrying that frequency with you. For example, if someone does something you find hurtful, do you keep thinking about it, reinforcing the feeling of being hurt, and turning that into anger towards that person? Or can you speak your truth about it (if appropriate) and choose whether you will carry that with you going forward? Remember that forgiveness isn’t about the other person or saying that it’s okay that you were hurt. Forgiveness is choosing to release the energy from YOU so that you’re not giving away your power to an event, experience, or person that pains you. You are always at choice. It may not be okay that it happened, but you don’t have to drain your energy by staying attached to it. Sometimes the pain you experience today is based on something that happened a long time ago - in childhood, or a past life, or yesterday. And it can be difficult to discern the source. But emotions held in our Emotional Body can subtly impact our daily life at the unconscious level and keep us stuck in patterns that we don’t recognize. What is happening in the Emotional Body can ultimately impact the Physical Body. If you’re familiar with the work of Louise Hay, you know that she addresses the emotional component of almost any physical problem you can have. She then offers an affirmation to use to help you change the pattern. We often find ourselves living within patterns we’ve been conditioned to accept, shaped by outside influences. At times, others may apply pressure that fosters fear, making us easier to control. Fear, after all, can be a powerful tool when it’s used to influence another person’s choices. But, unless a saber-toothed tiger is chasing you, you can probably deal with a problem without living in fear. Sadly, some choose to stay in a heightened state of awareness or hypervigilance because they’ve been trained to live in fear. Children who grow up with unstable or alcoholic parents can often spend their childhood walking on eggshells. That becomes a hypervigilance that they take into adulthood, even when they’re safe. This pattern lives in the Emotional Body and must be recognized before we can shift to a healthier way of life. First, we must be convinced that we’re safe before we can let go of that pattern. This is why it’s so important to do the Meta*Physical Checkup on the multiple bodies, the multiple dimensions, of our self. Remember the formula: Event Happens > Knee Jerk Reaction Occurs > PAUSE BUTTON > CHOOSE RESPONSE This is the tool that helps to shift our Emotional Body from automatic operation to conscious living. In the July/August Issue: The Mental Body - where our thoughts reside and can unconsciously direct our lives.
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Whose We Are
The wonder of trust Strewn through the dust The depths of desire ignite the fire The faith of a seed In the innocence of need We are who we are, Whose we are
Lauren Hill
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Cell Phone: 410-991-6139
Rosemary Robertson Bredeson is The Scientific Mystic and Oracle of The New Consciousness. She has mentored clients for 30 years and guides them to break through blocks to transform their lives and live their dreams. Using Human Design, NLP, and cosmic wisdom, Rosemary helps YOU live as YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF.
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Emotional intelligence (EI) influences far more than how we understand ourselves or relate to others. It plays a critical role in how we make decisions. For small business owners and entrepreneurs, decision making is personal. The choices you make directly impact your clients, your reputation, your finances, and ultimately, the success of your business. According to Multi-Health Systems, "The Decision Making Composite scale addresses how one uses emotional information. This facet of emotional intelligence includes problem solving, reality testing, and impulse control. Collectively, this composite scale reveals how well one understands the impact emotions have on decision making, including the ability to resist or delay impulses and remain objective to avoid rash behaviors and ineffective attempts at problem solving." In this article, we explore each of these three areas and how they shape the quality of your decisions. Problem Solving: Moving Forward When Emotions Interfere Problem solving is essential to running a business. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you often make decisions across multiple areas, including operations, marketing, sales, and finance. There is rarely the luxury of handing decisions off to someone else, and those decisions can feel very personal. One of the most common challenges in problem solving is not a lack of capability; it's the influence of emotions. You may be afraid that your decision will negatively impact sales. Or you're anxious that a client conversation will result in a canceled contract. These emotions can slow or stall decision making, and you may find yourself revisiting the same issue, overthinking, or delaying action. If this feels familiar, you're not alone. Practical Steps for Moving Forward The first step is to create space to think. It can be difficult to balance multiple responsibilities. Still, even a short period of focused time without distractions can make a meaningful difference. Emotions can distract you from thinking clearly, but by creating intentional space, you can effectively separate the two. Next, define the problem clearly. When emotions are involved, it’s easy to expand the issue into something larger and more overwhelming than it needs to be. A clear, concise problem statement becomes your anchor. For example, instead of thinking, This situation with my client is frustrating and could impact my business, define it as, I need to address a pattern of late payments that is affecting cash flow. Clarity reduces overwhelm and allows you to focus on what needs to be addressed. Another important discipline is limiting the number of factors you consider. As business owners, we can easily factor in everything: past experiences, future risks, relationships, and emotions. However, too many inputs can cloud your thinking. Narrow your focus to a few relevant factors to move forward with clarity. Over time, you begin to trust your ability to work through challenges without getting stuck. That confidence is essential not only for your decision making but also for how you show up in your business every day. Reality Testing: Seeing Clearly, Even When It’s Uncomfortable The second component of decision making is reality testing, the ability to see situations as they truly are. It includes recognizing when emotions, assumptions, or personal biases are influencing your perception. Reality testing is not simply about being realistic. It is about maintaining objectivity, even when doing so challenges your natural tendencies. Consider the business owner who consistently views her business through a positive lens. She may be optimistic and deeply committed to what she's building. These are powerful strengths. However, when optimism overrides evidence, it can distort reality. Challenges are minimized, financial or operational risks overlooked, and early warning signs dismissed. She believes things will work out, even when there's limited evidence to support that conclusion. When optimism replaces objectivity, decision quality suffers. Issues go unaddressed, decisions are delayed, and over time, the impact multiplies. Strong reality testing requires self-awareness. It begins with the willingness to ask, Where might my perspective be incomplete? For someone with a naturally optimistic bias, this means intentionally seeking out alternative viewpoints. As a small business owner, this may mean reaching out to a trusted advisor, peer, or mentor for a more objective perspective. Optimism remains an asset, but it must be balanced with a clear understanding of the facts. Similarly, individuals with a more cautious or skeptical perspective must also challenge their assumptions. They may overemphasize potential downsides or hesitate to take necessary risks, limiting growth or opportunity. This is the person who thinks, Last time I reached out to a potential client, all I heard was crickets. This negative perspective stops action in its place. In these cases, engaging with others who bring a possibility-oriented view can create balance. For entrepreneurs, this balance is especially important because you may not have a large team that naturally provides different perspectives. It makes it even more critical to intentionally build a network, whether that includes peers, advisors, or other business owners who can offer honest, constructive input. Reality testing, at its core, is a commitment to clarity. It requires the discipline to step back, examine the situation objectively, and ensure that your decisions are grounded not only in how you feel, but in what is true. Impulse Control: Creating Space Between Reaction and Response The final component of decision making is impulse control. At its core, impulse control is the ability to pause and delay the urge to act when emotions are high or a situation feels urgent. Impulse control exists on a spectrum. On one end is the individual who reacts too quickly. This is the person who sends the email they later regret or delivers sharp feedback in the middle of a meeting. The reaction may feel justified in the moment, but the impact can be lasting. Relationships can be strained, trust can be eroded, and quick decisions often require additional time and energy to repair. For small business owners, this can be particularly costly. Your relationships with clients, partners, and vendors are critical to your success. A quick reaction, driven by frustration or urgency, can have ripple effects that extend beyond the immediate moment. When you react too quickly, you lose the opportunity to think through the implications of your words and actions. You are responding to the emotion, not the situation. Developing impulse control requires discipline. It starts with creating a pause. That pause does not need to be long, but it must be deliberate. Step away from your desk, shift your focus to another task, or give yourself time to reset before responding. If the situation involves communication, write the email, but do not send it. Give yourself time to revisit it with a clearer perspective. If emotions are high, it can also be helpful to talk it through with a trusted colleague or advisor before acting. The goal is not to silence emotion, but to create enough space for your response to be thoughtful rather than reactive. On the other end of the spectrum is the individual who delays too long. This person does not feel the same urgency to act and may be overly comfortable waiting. Decisions are postponed, conversations are avoided, and opportunities can be missed. For entrepreneurs, this can show up as putting off difficult client conversations, delaying pricing decisions, or hesitating to address issues within the business. While this may feel like patience, it often leads to prolonged challenges and unnecessary stress. Effective business owners recognize where they naturally fall on this spectrum and build habits to create balance. If you tend to react quickly, your focus is on slowing down. If you tend to delay, your focus is on creating momentum. At the end of the day, decision making is not just about choosing the right course of action; it is about how you show up in the process. Emotional intelligence gives you the ability to recognize what is influencing your thinking, to create space when emotions run high, and to move forward with clarity and intention. As a business owner, your decisions shape not only outcomes but also the experience of those around you. When you strengthen your ability to manage emotions, test reality, and control impulses, you build trust in yourself and confidence in your leadership. And that is what allows you to make decisions that are not only effective but also sustainable over time.
Vicki founded Seven Stones in January 2023 after a long career as a finance and operations executive. She built an exceptional career and meaningful life because
of her ability to pragmatically achieve her goals regardless of obstacles. As a mentor, parent, and coach, Vicki has seen that if people are accountable to another person vested in their success, great progress and even transformation can occur.
www.sevenstoneslifecoaching.com
Did you ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed on a Monday morning and wonder why? When I was teaching full-time and commuting an hour each way through rush-hour traffic, the Sunday night blues were my constant companion. It wasn't because I hated my job. It was just the cumulative stress of 10-hour days, eating dinner after 8:00 every night, with no time for exercise or self-care. Now that I have my own business and work on my own schedule, those Sunday night blues have largely disappeared. But last week, a sneak attack of Monday-morning ennui caught me by surprise. Why do I feel so unmotivated? I wondered as I dragged myself into sweatpants and a T-shirt to head to Starbucks. I hope this almond milk latte energizes me. I have a lot of work to do today. Back at home, after drinking my latte and scrolling Facebook for far too long, I couldn't shake the feeling that all I wanted to do was head back to my warm, comfortable bed. Usually, I blame that feeling on stress or burnout. But there was no reason for me to be so tired. I had just taken two whole weekends off, with a sunrise sound bath on the beach, blooming azaleas at a nearby park, and relaxing dinners with friends. I took myself on an artist date to my favorite metaphysical store, took long walks, and spent a beautiful Sunday morning chatting with my writing group. As Julia Cameron advises, I had filled my well to overflowing. I should have been brimming with energy and creativity, but instead I was dreading the day. What was wrong with me? Like many of us, I am good at powering through no matter how I feel. So I sat my butt down at the computer and started on my to-do list. My first task was to send five direct messages on LinkedIn to women I wanted to interview for my book on professional legacy. I had drafted a template to personalize my message to each of them. All I had to do was fill in the blanks. That minor task, which should have taken less than an hour, took up most of the morning. I might as well take a lunch break, I thought. I'm not being very productive today. I had just enough energy to spread some peanut butter on a few crackers and sit at the kitchen counter staring at my iPhone. How am I going to get out of this funk? I wondered as I scrolled, looking for something that would captivate my imagination. The Universe led me to a LinkedIn post by Camille Miller about the Soul Professional movement, a movement for people who are more interested in helping, connection, and community than in profit, and are tired of trying to fit into business models that aren't made for them. That's me! I thought. I'm tired of following cookie-cutter business advice that doesn't feel genuine and focuses primarily on making money. That's why I'm so resistant to working today. I'm following advice to turn "prospects" into clients, when all I really want to do is connect with people authentically. That doesn't mean I had to ditch my entire strategy. My business coaches are brilliant at what they do, and their strategies were sound. I just had to do it in a way that felt more aligned with who I am. Energized, I sat back down at my computer and sent out a flurry of messages to women I genuinely wanted to meet. That felt so good, I actually picked up my phone to follow up with someone about a potential collaboration. I can't say it entirely turned my day around, but it definitely was on an upswing. So, if you find yourself having one of those days, ask where you are out of alignment with who you really are, what you really want, and how you want to feel. Then take one small step in the direction of that vision and check in on your mood. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Laurie Morin is a best-selling author and book doula. Her mission is to help you give birth to a life-changing book based on your personal experiences. She loves working with writers who want to tell their stories to help people heal old wounds and change their lives. Are you longing to write your own life stories, but don’t know where to begin? Get her free mini course, 5 Keys to Planning Your Memoir.
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This is part 4 (last one) of a series on Web Design. Have you ever been drawn into a store by its window display? You're walking past, not necessarily looking for anything, when something stops you. A carefully arranged vignette. Objects that seem to belong together in a way you couldn't quite explain. A quality of light. You find yourself pushing open the door before you've made a conscious decision to do so. And then you step inside. And the spell breaks. A jumble of merchandise with no clear path through it. Racks too close together, shelves competing for attention, no sense of where to begin or where to go. You look around for someone to help and can't even locate the register. You wander briefly, growing quietly uncomfortable in your body, and eventually drift back out the way you came. The window promised something the interior couldn't deliver. It happens on websites every day. A site can be genuinely beautiful — thoughtfully designed, with words that seem to speak directly to your people — and still not convert. Not because it lacks quality. Because it lacks cohesion. The invisible thread that turns a visitor's interest into trust, and trust into action. So how do we address that gap and turn your website into a powerful tool for your business? Story. Yours, and theirs. Your Brand Story Imagine your website as the store, and your brand as the world you bring to life within it, the space you invite your people into. Everything inside that space tells a story. The story of you: who you are, the transformation you offer, how you see, support, and value the people who come to you. Your visuals and your messaging are working together to convey that story at every turn — backgrounds, colors, fonts, photos, and shapes, all the way through to tone, headlines, copy, and calls to action. Each element communicates something about your work, your brand, and the care you bring to the people you serve. To move a pretty site into a powerful one, that story needs to be cohesive, relevant, and true. It's where refinement becomes something more than aesthetics. It becomes discernment. Do your images reflect the clients you actually work with and the way you work with them? Do your visuals carry your personality and the feeling of the container in which you do your work? Do your words reflect the values you stand for, and do they create real emotional resonance — not through vague inspiration, but through specific, tangible language? The best copy comes from your clients' own mouths: from intake forms and consultations, from testimonials and conversations, from the exact phrases people have used when describing what brought them to your door. And is all of this consistent as someone moves through your site? Because each page is an opportunity. When brand, message, and visual language are truly aligned, visitors don't just read about your work; they feel it deepening as they go. They gain a richer, more intimate sense of what it's like to be in your world. By the time they reach your contact page or your offer, they already feel they know you. That's not a marketing trick. That's resonance. And resonance is what converts. Your Client's Story At the same time, your website is guiding your visitor through a story of her own. Think of the way a beautifully curated store leads customers through the space — arrangements that draw the eye forward, displays that spark curiosity or recognition. This natural progression helps someone see herself in what's being offered. Your website does the same work, whether you've designed it intentionally or not. So let's be intentional. Begin by asking: Where is she when she first finds you? Did she arrive through a specific funnel, or through a more general search? Was she referred by someone who already trusts you? And what is her inner life like in this moment — has she been searching for what you offer for a long time, or is she just beginning to name what she needs? Is she ready to act, or still gathering courage? The answers shape everything: what she needs to see first, how you speak to her, how much you explain, and how much you invite her to simply feel. From there, ask: What does she need to feel safe? Seen? Understood? Not intellectually convinced — felt. There's a difference. Safety comes before decision-making. When a visitor feels genuinely recognized, when she reads your words and thinks, yes, that's exactly it, that's me, her nervous system settles. She can breathe. She can consider taking a step forward. Which leads to the next question: What is the one step you most want her to take? Not three steps. Not five options. One clear, aligned invitation, whether that's joining your newsletter, booking a discovery call, or stepping into a lower-commitment offer that lets her experience your work before diving deeper. Every page of your site should be oriented toward that same destination. When the path is clear and consistent, visitors don't have to work to figure out where to go. They simply follow the thread. And for those who aren't quite ready? Consider the alternative. Do you have ways for people to stay connected — to remain in your world — that feel supportive rather than pressured? A thoughtful lead magnet, a weekly email, a podcast they can return to? The visitor who isn't ready today may become your most aligned client six months from now, if you've made it easy for her to stay close. The Shift That Changes Everything When brand story and client journey align, something changes — not just on the site, but in you. You share it more freely. You speak about your work with greater ease and confidence. You stop wincing when someone asks for your link. Because your website finally feels like you — not a version of you from two years ago, not a performance of professionalism, but the real, current, full expression of the work you're here to do. And your visitors feel that before they've read every word. Before they've clicked every page. They feel it the way you feel it when you walk into a store that seems to have been designed just for you: the scent, the light, the quiet sense that someone here understood exactly what you needed before you arrived. This is for me. That recognition is where everything begins. Not after the sales call. Not after the contract is signed. Right there, in the first few moments of landing on your page. When your website tells a true story — yours and theirs — it stops being a digital brochure and becomes something far more powerful. It becomes a threshold. And the right people will cross it.
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Angela Winter is a brand alchemist and intuitive web designer who helps mission-driven entrepreneurs translate the soul of their work into aligned, magnetic online homes. Through her signature BrandBodiment(TM) approach, she guides clients to express their deepest essence with clarity, beauty, and resonance that attracts their right people.
ginnyrobertsonOPW@gmail.com
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Joy DiMenna Illuminating The Colors of The Soul My work is rooted in beauty and spirituality, with the intention of bringing a deep emotional transformational experience to the viewer through Colors’ energetic vitality, intelligence and ascending frequencies. By exploring my own inner world, what previously seemed mysterious and unknown, becomes clear with color, form and purpose. Trusting my intuition, I cast what is revealed to me onto my canvas. Calm, living, ripples of supportive energy are released through my brush. There is a musical quality and rhythm to the Colors I see, a vibrational harmonic, a chime of celestial nature that ignites and awakens information held within the heart. Through my paint and brush, I become a witness and conveyer of a deep intelligence. These magical, mystical fields of Color create and illuminate their own path, and I am their willing Emissary. The purpose of my work is to allow the vibrational frequencies of the Colors to resonate within the viewer, igniting memory and understanding of their deeper nature, revealing spiritual truths.
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My Essay and Painting will be featured in the University of Baltimore Welter Literary Journal’s print version and available as soon as they post it under Spring Journal - 2026.
Something shifts when the world around you is blooming with new energy, but you’re still feeling stuck in those same old patterns. You see it everywhere—trees budding, flowers blooming, the world waking up. Yet you’re still running on empty, caught in the cycle of work deadlines, family obligations, and putting everyone else first. After three decades in this work, I’ve watched thousands of women try to force their health into someone else’s blueprint, and fail. The breakthrough comes when you stop trying to fit your life into a rigid plan and start building one that fits your actual life. Real transformation isn’t about having more hours in the day or fewer responsibilities. It’s about recognizing that the same skills that make you successful everywhere else — problem-solving, prioritizing, adapting—are exactly what your health journey needs. Your body doesn’t need you to be someone else. It needs you to be the same strategic, capable woman you already are, just pointed in its direction. Why Your Body Is Craving a Spring Reset—It’s Simpler Than You Think You already know the basics: eat better, move more, stress less. But your body isn’t just asking for exercise and salads. It’s asking for consistent movement that gets your blood flowing and energy that actually sustains you through your busy days. Late spring has a way of making your body want to move. With longer days and warmer weather comes that pull to be outside. Your body is ready to match that energy, but your schedule keeps you tethered to desks, cars, and couches, when what you’re really craving is to feel alive in your own skin. Here’s what most women don’t realize: we’re sitting for an average of 10+ hours a day. Research from the Mayo Clinic shows this increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and early death by 60%. They’re literally calling sitting “the new smoking.” Even worse, prolonged sitting independently damages your health by shutting down muscle activity and dropping good cholesterol by 20% after just two hours, even if you exercise regularly. But here’s the empowering part: simple movement breaks can reverse these risks and boost your energy. The body is incredibly responsive to small, consistent changes. Even 10 minutes of intentional movement can shift how you feel for the rest of the day. Even adding one energizing food to your routine makes a difference. Your body doesn’t need a complete overhaul—it needs consistent care. And spring is the perfect time to give it exactly that. The Professional Woman’s Movement Strategy: Combat Sitting Fatigue One Hour at a Time If you’re spending most of your day in a chair, your energy is stuck too. But you don’t need to abandon your career to feel strong and healthy, you just need to be strategic about breaking up long periods of sitting. These aren’t replacements for your regular workouts. They’re energy boosters designed to keep your body awake and engaged throughout your workday. The magic number? Every hour, for just 2–5 minutes. Set a phone alarm or use your computer’s reminder system—whatever works for your flow. When it goes off, try this simple strategy: The Power Hour Reset: Stand up and take 50–100 steps right where you are. Add 30 seconds of calf raises or a few wall push-ups if you’re feeling energetic. If possible, step outside for a few minutes—fresh air and sunlight (hello, Vitamin D) can make a noticeable difference. The Meeting Move: Take phone calls standing up. Walk during virtual meetings when you’re not presenting. Suggest walking meetings for one-on-ones when possible. The Bathroom Break Bonus: Use a restroom on a different floor and take the stairs. Take the long way back to your desk. These micro-movements might seem small, but they send constant signals to your body to stay active and engaged. Your body doesn’t care how you spread your movement throughout the day, it just cares that you’re moving consistently. Movement gets your energy flowing, but that’s only half the equation. The other half is how you fuel your body. Spring’s Energy-Boosting Foods That Actually Taste Good Let’s talk about eating in a way that supports your energy and vitality without feeling like you’re on a restrictive plan that makes social situations awkward. Spring offers incredible ingredients that naturally boost energy and support overall health, and they make meals more interesting, not more boring. Asparagus supports healthy blood flow and sustains energy. Roast it with olive oil and garlic or add it to eggs. Leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and spring lettuce are nutrient powerhouses that support steady energy—perfect for smoothies, salads, or sautéed sides. And strawberries, at their peak, are packed with antioxidants that fight inflammation and support sustained energy—great for snacking or adding to yogurt. Your Spring Reset Starts Right Now Change doesn’t happen because you found the perfect plan or waited for the perfect moment. It happens because you decided that feeling stuck, tired, and worried about your health isn’t how your story ends. Spring is offering you a natural reset button, but you still have to choose to press it. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life this week. Pick one thing from this article and commit to it for the next seven days. It might be setting that hourly movement alarm, adding greens to your lunch, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Your body has been patient with you through every busy season, every skipped workout, every stress-filled day. It’s time to return that patience with consistent, gentle care. Your spring reset doesn’t start tomorrow, Monday, or next month. It starts with your very next choice. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress that fits into your real life.
Suzie Jeffreys is a leader in the field of Health and Fitness with 3+ decades experience. She holds a degree in Kinesiology, is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, Diabetes Prevention Coach and has credentials as an “Exercise is Medicine” specialist.
Suzie Jeffreys Living Fitness Rx - Your Rx for Heart Healthy Living 443-574-5274 www.livingfitnessrx.com
For years, I suffered from headache pain and pressure. The headaches began in my 20s, when I was exploring nutrition and natural healing, so I decided not to take medication. My headaches would start during the day. I tolerated them, waiting until I got home and could lie down in a quiet room. The next morning, they’d be gone, but they’d start up again. At that time, I was averaging around 4 headaches a week. Headaches are a signal that something is not working well in the body-brain-mind. Sometimes the cause is simple. Sometimes it’s more complex. For me, it turned out to be more complex, a combination of factors. I sought out different avenues, trying to get to the cause and “cure.” I checked with my optometrist to see if my new glasses were the culprit. That can be a factor for some people, but it wasn’t for me. I consulted a nutrition-oriented medical doctor. Among other things, he had me drinking a lot more water. This was my first major shift. Drinking water reduced my headaches from about 4 times a week to 1 or 2 times a week. Not gone —but cut in half. While in chiropractic school I continued exploring different approaches, including more nutritional improvements, chiropractic, and other natural therapies. Each one seemed to address a different piece of the puzzle. Gradually, the headaches became less frequent, settling in at once a month. In time, they stopped altogether. Looking back, I surmised that I had some dysfunction or imbalance in my hormones because the headaches stopped completely after going through menopause. What Causes Headaches? There are many possible causes of headaches, and probably even more solutions. Dehydration, which includes not enough minerals Inadequate circulation, which can be a matter of simply moving more Tension from physical and emotional stress Breathing in and eating/drinking toxic chemical substances, even small amounts over time Constipation Allergies Food sensitivities or intolerances Hormonal imbalances Injury anywhere in the body. Your body adapts until it can’t anymore, which can lead to a problem distant from the initial injury Muscle/joint/nerve interference problems A combination of these and more Natural Treatments for Headaches Using natural treatments and remedies can help you alleviate your headache relatively quickly and identify the cause, eventually preventing them altogether. A natural/holistic healthcare professional can help you find and treat the cause of your headaches, so you don’t become dependent on medications, which can make your headaches worse. Some natural treatments to explore include nutrition, herbs, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, functional/integrative medicine, and stress reduction/vagus nerve activation techniques. You can also try the following steps on your own, right now: Become more aware. Write down your experience with headaches. For example, what days and times do you experience them? How long do they last? Where on your head and neck do you feel them? What are their characteristics i.e. intensity, quality of pain, what helps alleviate them, etc.? Do you get headaches at work, inside or outside, around certain people, when stressed or under a deadline? Keep a food diary and track what you eat for a week. See if you can correlate headache pain with certain foods. This is not always easy, and you may need to go on an elimination diet. Track your movement and exercise. Movement gets your blood circulating throughout your body, from heart to head and feet. Your blood brings nutrients to every organ and cell. It removes waste products and toxins, both of which are very important for keeping your body healthy and pain-free. Track the quality and hours of sleep you get. Do you notice any correlation? Water. Drink more but also use trace mineral drops or electrolyte drinks, without added chemicals or colors. Most recommendations suggest drinking half your weight in ounces per day. You can also check your urine color. By the end of the day, it should be a light yellow or amber, even better if it’s clear or almost clear. If it tends to be darker, you probably need more water, regardless of how much you’re drinking, or add in some minerals. Magnesium. Sometimes called a natural muscle relaxer or tension reducer, magnesium can be found in many foods, including beans, nuts, and green leafy vegetables. Go internal. Listen to the thoughts that accompany your headaches. What thoughts and beliefs make you feel stressed? See if you can reframe them and change your perspective over time. So that you don’t get overwhelmed, pick an easy place to start and explore one option every week or two. This is a work in progress. Pain is like a car’s warning light: a sign that something’s not working right. If ignored or masked, it can lead to other serious conditions. Find the cause and use safe remedies, treatments, and habits. Your body-mind knows how to heal itself. Give it the right ingredients and activities, and watch your headaches disappear.
To get on the waiting list, email mpetrucci.dc@gmail.com. In the meantime, she’s offering reduced 30-minute craniosacral therapy sessions ($50) throughout May, as an extension of her April offerings for Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Month.
Maria Petrucci, D.C. uses chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, and mind-body tools to help alleviate pain, tension, and stress. Along with improving physical conditions, these approaches help release mental and emotional barriers stuck in the body. This makes it easier for people to reach their full potential and live on purpose. Maria will be offering a virtual class to go deeper into finding the cause and natural solutions for recurring headaches.
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SPRINGTIME A cup of coffee. Time to reflect. To be present. To listen. To feel. To be with myself. Birds all around me. Nature waking up. Life presents herself. I listen. I feel. I am here with her. A small bird in the treetop. A voice so loud and strong. A cold breeze on my skin. A sun changing color on my face. I was a child longing for an identity. Here I am, someone, trustworthy and loved.
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Dr. Ahriana Platten, Colorado Springs, CO A Soulfull World I certify spiritual practitioners to expand services, increase income, and support clients through times of chaos and creativity. www.asoulfullworld.com Ahriana@asoulfullworld.com 719-332-9788 Alicia J. Alexander, MSL, Providence, RI Make A Difference Consulting www.MakeADifferenceConsulting.com Alicia@MakeADifferenceConsulting.com Amanda (AJ) Schwarz, Mason, OH Mended Digital. Website Design and Digital Marketing. Feel confident about putting yourself & your business online. www.mendeddigital.com aschwarz@mendeddigital.com Andrea Hylen, Santa Monica, CA Ancestral Lineage Healing. Mental Health Fitness. Somatic-Intuitive and Developmental Writing Coach. Zoom and Online. www.AndreaHylen.com Anita Kugler, NBHWC, Gainesville, FL MondayForMe.com. Free weekly self-care newsletter and wellness coaching services. www.mondayforme.com www.contactanita.com anita@anitakugler.com Dr. Arlene Spann. Upper Marlboro, MD Beginning With Compassion. Offering digital products focused on self-care tailored to caregivers personal journey and wholistic needs. www.beginningwithcompassion.com beginningwithcompassion@gmail.com 240-354-9174 Dr. Belinda Lee Wright, Fallston, MD I help women rediscover their true essence so that they can create fulfilling and meaningful relationships. www.BelindaLeeWright.com Belinda@belindaleewright.com Beth Shekinah Terrence, Annapolis, MD & Virtual. Holistic Recovery Pathways, LLC. Holistic Shamanic Transformation Programs. Holistic Recovery Coaching for Addiction, Mental Health & Trauma. Healers Mentorship. https://bethshekinah.com connect@bethshekinah.com 443-223-0848 Beverly Hamilton, CHT, Baltimore, MD Soul-utions Hypnosis. Connecting women to their starbabies; 3Keys® Hypnofertility/Hypnobirth. Free self-hypnosis recording www.SoulutionsHypnosis.com HypnoAromaBev@gmail.com 410-663-5089 Cassandra Herbert, Burtonsville, MD Zest and Harmony. Holistic herbalism, 1:1 and group health and wellness coaching, women circles www.zestandharmonycounseling.com/ cassandra@zestandharmony.com 410-415-1454 Charlotte Habegger. QC CanadaConnect With Wellness. Natural nutrition, home and body care for a wholesome, purposeful, and minimalist lifestyle. ca.shaklee.com/en_CA/charlottehabegger charhabegger@gmail.com 367 380-3019 Charleen M. Michel, Ph.D. Quartino/Ticino/Switzerland Wisdom Unleashed with Charleen Michel. Guiding women to embody truth, express their voice, and transform their lives with inner authority. www.wisdomunleashed.ch charleen.michel@icloud.com +41 79 419 6409 Cheri Martin, Maryville, TN So Social Visionary. The Soulful Strategist in a Season of Shift. Author-in-Progress; Where love, loss, and leadership meet, that’s where my next chapter begins. www.linkedin.com/in/cherimartin Cherryll Sevy, Los Gatos, CA Living Forward After Fifty. Writer/Speaker, inspiring and guiding women to a full life. www.cherryllsevy.com Cindy Freland, Bowie, MD Cindy Freland, Author. Children learn about the Chesapeake Bay by reading my books. www.cbaykidsbooks.com cindyrenefreland@gmail.com 240-882-5429 Claudette W. Gadsden, Caret, VA Coach Claudette & Associates. We guide women to more clear concise conversations. Let's Talk! www.CoachClaudette.com Debb Walker, Orlando, FL Sunshine and Smiles Photography. Images of nature's beauty for your home and office and custom headshot/branding images for entrepreneurs. www.sunshineandsmilesphotography.com www.weeklynaturebreaks.com debb@sunshineandsmilesphotography.com Doria Musaga, Columbia, MD BEMER Distributor. BEMER therapy improves blood flow to increase energy. Decreases, pain chronic fatigue, aids recovery from injury. www.bmruniversity.com/whatisbemer www.nursedoria.bemergroup.com 667-786-1032 Ellen Koronet, Frederick Co, MD LNK Creative. Lead Magnet Strategies: creative bubble mapping, quizzes, and assessments. EllenKoronet@LNKcreative.com Free chat: bit.ly/LNK-talk 240-315-3371 Elizabeth Lerner, Washington, DC CAT, LCPAT, LPC ATR-BC. Your Inspired Choices, LLC. Personal Coaching, Psychotherapy, Divorce Well and Thrive® Coaching, Enlightened Communication™ courses +retreats for luminous living. www.yourinspiredchoices.com Emily Shull, The Netherlands Me Myself and Money. I offer holistic money coaching to help you understand and heal your relationship with money. www.memyselfandmoney.com Gail Dixon, Tallahassee, FL The Heart’s Voice Movement. We guide people to discover and express their life’s purpose and passion. www.heartsvoicemovement.com Gerise Pappas, Phoenix, MD Transformational Life Coach & Enneagram Facilitator working with growth-oriented individuals ready to replace fear-based habits with inspired action. www.GerisePappas.com Gina Hogan Edwards, Tallahassee, FL Creativity Coach, Author, Editor, Podcaster. Story Camp Women’s Writing Retreats,Women Writing for CHANGE www.ginahoganedwards.com/Links gina@AroundTheWritersTable.com 850-766-6029 Ginny Robertson, Lutherville, MD On Purpose Woman Global Community. 8 Free Zoom gatherings each month. In-person meeting in Columbia, MD and Tallahassee, FL www.OPWGC.com Ginny Robertson, Lutherville, MD On Purpose Woman Magazine. Go to the website to read the current and back issues, for advertising rates, and info on writing for the magazine or being our cover artist. www.OPWGC/magazine Dr. Heather Tucker Another Level Living, Inc. Virtual. Biz/Life Harmony Training and Coaching to Increase Your Confidence, Calm, and Cash Flow! www.AnotherLevelLiving.com Jamie Cole, Columbia, MD Direct Reflect Expect. Life coaching with your Human Design. Calibrate to your inner guidance system. Navigate with confidence. www.directreflectexpect.net jamiec@directreflectexpect.net Text: 443-791-6123 Jennifer Palmer, Columbia, MD Nourishing Journey Café & Wellness Center. Healing Bodies ~ Opening Minds ~ Uniting Hearts. Columbia MD. www.nourishing-journey.com 410-992-3001 Jennifer Sproul, Gaithersburg, MD Graceing Agefully™ . Inspiring Baby Boomer women to THRIVE after 60. I call them “Baby BLOOMERS” https://graceingagefully.com jensproul90@gmail.com 240-888-9495 JoAnne Dykhuizen, Tinley Park, IL Feel So Good Canine Massage, LLC. Providing canine massage that reduces discomfort, eases stress, enhances mobility, and supports lifelong wellness. jdykhuizen2005@gmail.com 815-341-0919 Joanne Young Elliott, Greater Los Angeles Area Spiritual Life Coach and Licensed Science of Mind Practitioner. Reach your goals faster through self-compassion and self-knowledge. soulsprite@joanneyoungelliott.com Judy Micale, Tallahassee, FL Judy Micale, LLC. Executive Coach, Team/Group Coach, Leadership Coach, Mentor Coaches, Mindfulness Mentoring www.judymicale.com jmicalecoach@gmail.com Karen DaGrava, Hanover, MD Stepping Stones To Perfect Health. Health Coaching. End yo-yo dieting. Lose weight with ease through lifestyle, by honoring your hormones. karen@steppingstonestoperfecthealth.com 410-881-8969 Karen Robinson, Alexandria, VA MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCTP-II Heal Thrive Dream Holistic Care, INC. Empowers trauma survivors with therapy, coaching, retreats, courses, and transformative healing. www.htdholisticservices.com www.healthrivedream.com healthrivedream@gmail.com 571-409-0998 Karen Tasto, Derwood, MD Open Heart Healing, LLC. Life Coaching, Women’s Circles, & Circle Facilitator Mentoring for Aligning with Your WHOLE Self within COMMUNITY. www.karentasto.com karen@karentasto.com 301-646-4385 Kathryn Yarborough, Lake Mary, FL Speakers with Heart. Online. Speaking opportunities, training and community for women solopreneurs who use speaking to attract clients. www.speakerswithheart.com Kay Miller, Mobile, AL Mindfully Well, LLC. Discover your soul's purpose and heal limiting beliefs through the lens of the Akashic Records. www.kaymillercoach.com kay@kaymiller.coach Kristen Burton, Jarrettsville, MD A Pivotal Shift. Trauma-informed equine-guided coaching helping women heal, reconnect, and grow through transformative horse experiences. www.apivotalshift.com kristen@apivotalshift.com 443-570-0884 Laura Di Franco, MPT, Bethesda, MD Brave Healer Productions. Have fun with your fear and share your healing message with the world. www.BraveHealer.com 703-915-3653 Laurie Morin, Wilmington, NC Writing for Empowerment I am a book doula helping people give birth to personal stories that heal, uplift, and inspire. www.LaurieMorin.com Laurie@LaurieMorin.com Lilia Shoshanna Rae, Severna Park, MD Author of The Art of Listening to Angels, Reiki Master. me@lilia.com www.LiliaShoshannaRae.com Lisa Beacham, Baltimore, MD Spiritual Director Workshop/Retreat Leader Helping spiritually minded professionals move from feeling disconnected, empty, lost to a fulfilling impactful next chapter. www.lisabeacham.com Lisa@lisabeacham.com Lisa Montgomery, Palm Bay, FL The Guideline Providing intuitive coaching to eliminate obstacles, uncover clarity, and create a fulfilling, purpose-driven business transformation. www.TheGuideline.com letschat@TheGuideline.com Liz Jameson, Tallahassee, FL Edited by Liz. Freelance editing by writer/editor/content reviewer. editedbyliz.com lcjameson@yahoo.com 850-264-3080 Elizabeth Lerner, Washington DC CAT, LCPAT, LPC ATR-BC. Your Inspired Choices, LLC. Personal Coaching, Psychotherapy, Divorce Well and Thrive® Coaching, Enlightened Communication™ courses +retreats for luminous living. www.yourinspiredchoices.com Lori Pieper, Cincinnati, OH Journey to Inner Joy, LLC. Empowering women to break free from exhaustion and ignite their path to vibrant, joyful living. www.JourneyToInnerJoy.com Lori@JourneyToInnerJoy.com 513-332-7928 Lorraine Cuff, North Hanover, NJ Reset, Renew, & Reclaim Wellness. AF veteran, keynote speaker helping service-driven women restore vitality through rest, resilience, and metabolic awareness. www.lorrainecuff.com coach@lorrainecuff.com 609-746-9382 Lydia Romero Johnson. Columbia, MD Lydia Romero Johnson, LLC. As a nurse and holistic coach with lupus experience, I promote holistic health through nutrition, mental well-being, and physical balance for a fulfilling life. www.lydiaromerojohnson.com Margie Hamner, Montclair, VA CPTC, ACC. Best Selling Author: Magic Ball of Light: Summer Camp. Empowering children through stories. www.instagram.com/authormargiehamner/ Margie@magicballoflight.com www.magicballoflight.com 703-507-1466 Maria Petrucci, DC, Columbia, MD Craniosacral Therapy, Chiropractic, and Mind-Body Tools to alleviate pain and stress. www.mariapetruccidc.com mpetrucci.dc@hotmail.com 240-394-2037 Marie Ek Lipanovska, Malmoe, Sweden Writer, illustrator, artist and meditation teacher. Illustrator of Sötnosen, Jesus and Madame Ooh la la. Founder of Heal My Voice Sweden. www.marieeklipanovska.se Mary E Knippel, Half Moon Bay, CA Your Writing Mentor, Soul Story Sanctuary Community, Written In Her Own Words Co-author book, Wise Woman Wisdom Creativity Retreat, Writing Workshops. www.maryeknippel.com MentorMary@yourwritingmentor.com 650-899-3345 Mary Perry, Sparrows Point, MD Wings Unfurled. I offer Intuitive Angel Readings and Healing Sessions. www.Wings-Unfurled.com Mary Scott, St. Louis, MO BusinessRiff. Startup Consulting, Problem Solving, Business Resources. Get that one thing off your plate TODAY. www.BusinessRiff.com businessriff@gmail.com 917-628-6322 Mia Zachary, Columbia, MD Elemental Abundance. Energy Balancing; Intuitive Counseling; Holistic Coaching. www.ro7es.com Michele Silva-Dockery, Elkridge, MD Caring Onward LLC. Energy healing to help you clear what's holding you back - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. www.caringonward.com michele@caringonward.com Monisha Mittal, Fairfax, VA Center for Somatic Leadership & Communications monishamittal.com monisha@monishamittal.com Rosemary Robertson Bredeson, Severna Park, MD A New Alliance for Change, LLC. Spiritual Mentor/Medium/Teacher. I help evolving individuals discover their purpose, repattern beliefs, and develop tools to live authentically. www.TheScientificMystic.com rosemary@TheScientificMystic.com Sandra Lee, Penticton/BC/Canada Miracle Inspirations. Do you hold yourself back? I help you find freedom from the inner critic. www.MiracleInspirations.com Sandra@miracleinspirations.com 253-921-8389 Shari Sternberger, Highland, MD Wellness By Shari. Supporting your body through surgery, spots injury, using Healing Touch, Flower Essences, Aromatherapy for balance. www.wellnessbyshari.com WBSBUS@Sternberger.Today 301-854-0403 Shelly O’Connell, Vacaville, CA. Coaching by Shelly. Gain confidence flirting, attract meaningful connections, move past limits, and have fun with Flirting Coach. www.shellyoconnell.com Dr. Sree Meleth, Atlanta, GA Freeing Ourselves. I help clients cultivate contentment by dropping self-judgement, lovingly integrating their shadow & flowing with life. www.instagram.com/freedomwithsree Stacey Gayer, PT , N. Bethesda, MD Holistic Trauma-Informed Fascia Pelvic Health PT In-person, hands on Myofascial Release, Visceral Manipulation, Craniosacral Therapy & Pelvic Health for All Genders. Also works remotely. www.StaceyGayerPT.com Sue Camaione, Bethesda, MD Write On Sister. My writing guides the reader through life's foibles, vulnerabilities, and humor, offering resilience to help women overcome trauma. www.suecamaione.com Susan L. Ernst. Washington, DC. Author | Advocate for Children’s Safety and Freedom. Raising awareness / inspiring action to end child sex trafficking. www.susanernstauthor.com sernst992@gmail.com 415-713-0588 Susan Flerchinger, Spokane Valley, WA Formed To Soar. Holistic healing: chronic pain relief, energy restoration, angelic guidance, and alignment with Divine purpose. www.FormedToSoar.com formedtosoar@gmail.com Suzie Jeffreys, Ellicott City, MD Living Fitness Rx I help women rebuild strength, energy, and confidence after health setbacks, especially heart scares. www.livingfitnessrx.com Suzie@LivingFitnessRx.com Tamara Robinson, Hanover, MD Love Heals Coaching, LLC. Author and Passion & Pleasure Coach. Heal and connect with your desires, reclaim your pleasure and have more confidence www.passionpleasurecoach.com Tameaka Shelton, Hanover, MD Employ and Relate. I provide fractional HR support for Micro-Businesses. www.employandrelate.com tameaka@tameakashelton.com 443-290-9278 Toni Gitles, Lake Mary, FL Heart of Caregiving I support family caregivers and their teams in creating memories, finding joy, and achieving success. www.heartofcaregiving.com Toni@HOCToni.com 407-304-6534 Veronica Grey, Baltimore, MD National Campaign for Financial Literacy. Free financial educational presentation and workshops. Text Veronica 443-929-1140 Veronica Grey, Baltimore, MD VG Total Care. We focus on Financial Literacy through workshops and life coaching. vgtotalcare@gmail.com Vicki Ibaugh, Orlando, FL Know You To Grow You. Personalized business coaching for women solopreneurs. www.KnowYouToGrowYou.com Vicki@KnowYouToGrowYou.com 407-342-4434 Vicki Semanie, Havre de Grace, MD Seven Stones. Life and Business Coach who has a passion for helping people reach goals they never thought possible www.sevenstoneslifecoaching.com vicki@sevenstoneslifecoaching.com Wencke Meteling, Washington, D.C Eight Wire – Equine Inspired Growth. We offer customized horse retreats for teams, groups, and individuals just north of D.C. www.connectwitheightwire.com wencke.meteling@gmail.com
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On Purpose Woman Magazine Contributors ZOOM Mar-Apr 2026
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If you'd like some extra support in trying this out, I created a simple Journaling for Authentic Self Guide + Workbook Page you can download and use right away. Print it out, keep it by your bedside, or tuck it into your journal for those moments when you want to reconnect with yourself.
Did you ever have one of those days when you just didn't feel like doing anything? That's what happed to me this morning. I had a full day planned, starting with a morning gym class and a chiropractor appointment, followed by a full schedule of writing tasks (including this newsletter). But guess what? I didn't want to do any of it! Chalk it up to a bad night's sleep, or some chronic health issues, or just plain ennui - all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and throw the covers over my head. Fortunately, my good girl instincts took over and I made it to the chiro, but after he prescribed a rigorous elimination diet and twice weekly sessions to deal with some nerve issues, I felt even worse. Is this going to be it, I wondered? Am I joining the ranks of elders with long lists of aches and pains, doctor's appointments and medical treatments, and nothing interesting to talk about over dinner? Speaking of which, am I ever going to be able to enjoy the foods I love at dinner again? Obviously, I was in a funk and I had to shake myself out of it. So instead of heading home to my waiting laptop, I took myself for a walk at one of my favorite spots, Greenfield Lake. I hadn't noticed that it was a beautiful crisp fall day, with temperatures in the 70s and a light breeze. I had missed the sun dancing on the fall leaves, and the subtle colors of late-flowering plants. I had forgotten what it's like to wander aimlessly, with no destination and nothing on my mind but how to find a reason to go on. It took a good 10 minutes of walking with my head in the storm clouds before I started to notice the beauty all around me. When I did, I remembered that Mama Gaia is the greatest healer. She reminds us that to everything there is a season, and there is beauty even in the darkest winter. I can't say that walk made me forget my woes, but it did remind me to be grateful for all that I have instead of bemoaning all that I've lost. Sometimes playing hooky is the best medicine, even if your to-do list has to wait.
Hi! I'm Laurie Morin, best-selling author and book doula. I call myself the book doula because my mission is to help you give birth to a life-changing book based on your personal experiences. I love working with writers who want to tell their stories to help people heal old wounds and change their lives. Are you longing to write your own life stories, but don't know where to begin? Get my free mini course, 5 Keys to Planning Your Memoir.
Summer arrives not as a whisper, but as a radiant offering. It’s the season where light lingers… where the sun stretches its golden presence across our days… where life itself seems to breathe a little deeper, a little fuller. In this sacred expansion, the angels draw closer—not because they were ever far, but because we are more open to receiving them. Summer is not simply a season of warmth. It’s a spiritual invitation to expand into your light. I love mornings when the sunrise gently invites me—coffee in hand—onto my back porch to watch the world awaken. It feels like a beautiful, almost holy experience. The sun rises behind the trees across the water, ducks quack and splash, and a blue heron announces himself as he lands for breakfast. In these moments, my day begins with a sense of wonder, reminding me that there is so much more to life than my own concerns—or even the concerns of the world. We are on this planet together, and we all have that spark of God that helps us move through our lives. These mornings remind me that as I move through my day, I am connected to my higher self and Divine Presence. The days move differently when this connection is made. There’s also a golden hour at the end of the day that draws my attention. As I move about my home, I glance out the window, and the light is blazing in the sky, reminding me that no matter what happens during the day, here’s another opportunity to connect with the Divine and to release any energies that I don’t need to carry into the night. I love having access to this beautiful world, as it helps me feel closer to God and the Angels. The summer light enhances that connection, and it is Divine. The Energy of Summer: Illumination & Expression In the language of the soul, summer speaks of visibility. What has been quietly forming within you through the introspective seasons is now ready to be seen, expressed, and lived. The angels often guide us to grow gently—but in summer, their guidance carries a different frequency: one of confidence, joy, and radiant embodiment. You may notice: A desire to be more social, more connected Creative ideas flowing more freely A call to step forward in ways you once held back A deeper longing to feel fully alive in your life This is not accidental. This is alignment. The light outside of you is awakening the light within you. It was always there, but it becomes brighter in the summer light. I love the longer days, and it energizes me to embrace life in bigger ways. My word for 2026 is Alignment, and I recently received a message to accept any invitations I receive during June. June is my birthday month, and I always feel energized from April through fall, when the time changes and the light is less. I love embracing this period of time with joy. Walking with Angels in the Light Angels are beings of light—and in the brightness of summer, their presence can feel especially tangible. I love connecting with the angels in the morning or during the day. Whenever you feel called, it is the perfect time to make that connection. You may sense them in: The warmth of the sun on your skin The soft breeze that seems to carry a message Moments of unexpected joy or peace Sudden clarity about your path To walk with angels in summer is to walk consciously in partnership with light. Try this gentle practice: Sunlight Connection Ritual Step outside in the morning or early evening Close your eyes and turn your face toward the sun Place your hand on your heart Silently invite your angels to walk with you Breathe in the light as if it were filling your entire being You may feel peace… or warmth… or nothing at all. Trust that the connection is real, even when it is subtle. Expansion Without Overwhelm While summer is a season of growth, the angels remind us that expansion does not require exhaustion. It is easy to confuse expansion with constant doing, but true soul expansion is about alignment, not pressure. The angels may guide you to: Say yes to what truly lights you up. Release obligations that drain your energy. It’s OK to say No. Honor both activity and rest. I love naps, and napping in the sun feels good. Move at a pace that feels nourishing, not forceful. Expansion is not about becoming more than you are. It’s about allowing more of who you already are to shine. Angelic Support for the Summer Season During this time, you may feel drawn to specific angelic energies: Archangel Michael – supporting courage, confidence, and forward movement Archangel Ariel – guiding manifestation and connection to nature Archangel Uriel – bringing clarity, inspiration, and divine ideas Archangel Raphael – encouraging balance, healing, and energetic renewal You don’t need to know exactly how to connect. A simple intention is enough: Angels, walk with me in this season of light. Help me expand with grace, joy, and trust. Archangel Michael, I ask you to lovingly infuse me with confidence, protection, and courage to move forward in my life. Archangel Ariel, I welcome you to come walk with me in nature. I ask for healing energy and for help with manifesting the life I desire. Archangel Uriel, I love your help in clarifying my intentions and for bringing divine ideas to inspire and help me in my life. Archangel Raphael, in this season of light, I ask for your help in finding my balance, and for healing any out-of-balance areas in my energy fields. I love feeling renewed energetically. Living as Light Summer is a sacred mirror. It reflects your potential, your vitality, your capacity to live openly and fully. The angels are not asking you to become someone new; they are inviting you to remember the light you already carry. Let yourself be seen. Let yourself feel joy without apology. Let yourself follow what feels alive within you. This is the season of radiant permission. Let this be your mantra this summer season: I am living with radiant permission to shine my light in whatever way is right for me! Closing Reflection As the days stretch long and golden, may you feel held in something greater. May you walk not alone, but in quiet companionship with angels. May your path be illuminated not just by the sun above, but by the light within you. And may this sacred summer remind you: You were never meant to stay hidden. You were always meant to shine.
Rev. Mary Perry offers angelic guidance through Angel Readings and channelings. Her website, www.Wings-Unfurled.com, provides more information about these modalities.
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