Summer is the season in which we celebrate the sweetness of life. Appreciating even the little lifts that come our way can do a world of good – especially in these stress filled times. The latest issue of ACP Enews is filled with fun and creative inspiration from an egg yolk surprise to a cool new product to a mini art gallery with a mission you’ll love. Stay cool, stay smiling and stay clear! Check it out here.
Thanks to all who donated to the Do Good garden project this Spring. The residents really dug creating their own mini gardens and raised beds. Take a look at the results and view the property’s latest wish list. Also, read about the surprising delight of a kiwi that came my way, get a tip on cleaning products and learn about the elevating energy of rose. Have a clear day everyone! Read all about it in the latest ACP Enews.
The latest ACP Enews includes segments about: Sam Cooke’s timeless A Change is Gonna Come; a gifted Earth loving artist from Boulder, CO; the latest from EWG and three vignettes about the neighbors on my floor. Wherever this time finds you – now more than ever, it’s SO important to find ways to share your story. To listen. To act. To offer help. To find the humor. To embrace change. And to come from a clear place – one that is based on understanding and compassion. Stay safe and stay connected! View here.
Part of enjoying a clear space involves being mindful of what’s in it. In this month’s ACP Enews I feature a few of my favorite ways to shift into enjoying life right where you are – starting with what I call ‘piece’ practice. This is a wonderful exercise in gratitude and appreciation for what you have. (And a wake up call for what isn’t working for you.)
Read the simple ‘how to’ steps.
Wherever you are, I wish you a clear and a joyful Spring!
We can all use a bit more self love. Make that a LOT more. The messages we tell ourselves matter most. Read the latest ACP Enews to find out why and get a simple way to start giving yourself good vibes right now. I also share a personal grief story and some tips on how to spread the warmth this winter season. Here’s to a warm, loving and clear new year! Take a look now.
“Fan mail from some flounder?” A one liner from my youth that never fails to bring a smile to my face. It also serves as a reminder that messages do matter – especially ones of gratitude. Click here to read my latest Enews and its dedicated message about the power of cultivating gratitude in your home and in the world.
Whew! Lots of bad news going around these days. But there’s plenty of good stuff, too. Starting with a recent cover from The New Yorker, I talk about tending the garden that is your heart. I also share a personal story about my Dad and suggest a way that you can focus your good energy and really make a difference in the world. I even threw in a little green tip on mighty arugula. Take a moment and read the June issue of ACP Enews.
Here’s to making it a good news day everyday!
Illustration by Tom Gauld courtesy of TNY.
Sounds like a joke set-up but it’s not. Last month, I witnessed a guy get into a dumpster and close the lid. He didn’t come out. After 30 minutes, I called the police thinking what if he was sick, wounded, dying? Two squad cars responded within 5 minutes and he turned out to be none of those. But he was clearly disheveled, disturbed and in trouble. This incident weighed on my heart. How does one get to such a low point in life as to seek refuge in a dumpster? More importantly, what could I or anyone do to help? The mental health system continues to be overwhelmed. Police are getting special training in counseling and intervention. Street drugs have become the norm. Homelessness has arrived at our doorstep. So again, what can be done to help? I called back the police to thank them for their quick response and to ask what they suggest if a citizen wants to help in prevention or solution? The answer? 211. Ever hear of it? Me neither. Apparently, a lot of folks don’t know about it including my neighbors, my dentist, his assistant and pretty much anyone I’ve talked with in the last few weeks. 211 is the 911 for resources. Everything from suicide to abuse to hunger to shelter to senior needs and paying bills. It’s a clearinghouse for 50k programs and over 3k agencies across the nation and Canada. Anyone can call the 211 hotline and talk to an operator who is trained to listen and provide appropriate connections. Part of the 211 manifesto reads: WE BELIEVE in the transformative power of collective action. So do I. Please share this number. Visit 211.org to learn more about services and volunteering opportunities in your local community. Shine the light!
Here’s the Facebook page for the Oregon area.
What do Air Wick, d-CON and Sani-Flush have in common? They are just a few of the 30+ power brands produced by the humongous conglomerate known as Reckitt Benckiser (RB for short). I’m focusing on Air Wick today as, once again, I am incensed by their continued false ad campaigns. Inspired by the latest blast by Truth in Advertising, I did some more digging. I wanted to know how a product that contains Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, Hexyl salicylate and a chemically derived camphor was getting away with it. Easy. They don’t list the ingredients on the label. None of their products do. Instead, they refer you to their website where you’ll find all the ingredients conveniently entitled “fragrance components” – wow. What’s more, RB has the nerve to claim that their Air Wick products “help people lead healthier lives” – really? I guess they’re counting on consumers ignoring the product ratings from EWG (Environmental Working Group) which has given every one of Air Wick’s 104 products a D or an F (scale of A to F) with warnings like: “Potential for skin irritation/allergies/damage; acute aquatic toxicity; nervous system effects.” So here’s my annual Buyer Beware reminder: There is no regulation for the terms fragrance, natural or pure. Branding pros can slap that on a label with no accountability. When in doubt, avoid anything with the word fragrance. Ditto the word scented. Never buy anything that doesn’t list the ingredients on the label. I use authentic essential oils daily and have for years but whether it’s oils, herbs or supplements – know your source and use wisely.
Fall is officially here and most of us couldn’t be happier. Autumn is, in fact, THE most popular season of our nation. A Gallup poll done a few years ago ranked it number one with Summer coming in 2nd, Spring 3rd and Winter 4th. This is the time of year when I remind everyone (myself included) about the power of letting go. Whether it’s stuff in your space, weight on your heart or things in your head – letting go brings clearer energy and renewed strength. Like leaves that release from their branches, Nature shows us that it is the letting go that allows for new growth to happen. So, use this natural energy to help you remove and restore on all levels. It’s SO worth it!
Watch here for favorite tips on getting clear this season.
A Clear Place 