Linda Gorchels blogs

For as long as I remember, my mom began each day drinking a cup of warm water. I thought it was, well, weird. But as an adult, I joined her in this ritual. She lived to 102 and needed no prescription medications.

Recently my brother told me he had started drinking warm water (with apple cider vinegar and honey) after developing some health problems. He believed it has helped him.

I decided to explore the topic a bit more.

According to ancient Chinese medicine, hot water is a yin beverage, trusted to restore balance in a person’s health. The belief has existed for centuries, aided by periods during which the government advocated consuming boiled water. (The boiling may have been to kill bacteria, but the practice continued as a part of Chinese culture.… Read the rest

How are you feeling? Tired? Rushed? Anxious? Stressed?

That seems to be a fact of life in today’s society. We keep trying to do more in less time. And as the saying goes, we’re often running on fumes.

Stop it.

Right. Easier said than done. I get that. But yet refueling your well-being is so very, very important.

Check Your Fuel Gauge

Go back to my initial question. How are you feeling? Do a thorough scan of your mind, body, and spirit.  Where do you most need to refuel? Maybe you could just “top off” your well-being in some areas and recharge in others.

What you need right now may differ from what you needed yesterday. Or what you’ll need tomorrow.… Read the rest

I felt eyes boring into my back as I walked along the wooded bike trail near my home.

It was early morning, the air crisp and clean. There was no noise other than the sound of my steps and the gurgle of a creek. I was alone, but yet I wasn’t. Stopping, I did a 360° turn, scanning all directions.

Who—or what—was watching me?

The crack of a twig drew my eyes upward and I saw a large white owl. Its head swiveled slowly as I walked. I had found my watcher.

Eerie though it might have been, it was also an epiphany of sorts. I had been paying attention to the present moment.

I had been mindful.

But that wasn’t always the case.… Read the rest

Did anyone ever tell you to “stand up straight” or “sit up straight”?

Check your posture right now. Are you slumping?

Modern living is having a dramatic (and mostly negative) effect on our posture. Being hunched over computers and cell phones, slouching, and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to a host of problems. But improvements are possible with better posture. And the benefits are worth it.

Mental Health Benefits of Good Posture

Mood. Improving your posture has several psychological benefits.  A 2017 study from the University of Auckland found that good posture helps ease depressive symptoms. Individuals with mild to moderate depression had more energy and a less negative mood after sitting up straight compared with others who slouched.… Read the rest

In an online meditation series, Oprah Winfrey talked about her experience keeping a gratitude journal. Each day she would note several things for which she was grateful in the prior 24 hours.

So, I dabbled with my own diary.  And gradually stopped.

Over the next few months I came across several articles espousing the value of gratitude on a person’s well-being.

I again restarted the diary for a short time. Until life got in the way.

Last fall I took a Coursera course from Yale on the Science of Well-Being. Guess what? One of the assignments was a gratitude journal.

I guess the universe was trying to tell me something. It just took three nudges for me to get the message.… Read the rest