Author Archives: Karen
Aging Gratefully
I’m reluctant to admit this, but for about a year now, I’ve been acting like a baby about getting older. Of course, I realize I’m mortal and therefore not immune to the inevitabilities of aging, but I suppose I didn’t … Continue reading
Why Mess with Mother Nature?
McDonald’s new egg white breakfast sandwich, the Egg White Delight, makes me wonder if we will ever see the light in terms of nutrition and health. Food, the way nature intended, tastes good and is good for us. There’s no … Continue reading
The Trouble with Food Rules
If you were told that you could never EVER eat cake again, what would you do? If you like cake, even a little bit, you would probably experience a sequence of thoughts and emotional states—similar to the grieving process: 1. … Continue reading
Max Your Muscles for Overall Health
Muscle mass and strength is important for everybody—not just for body-builders or athletic-wear models. To maintain mobility, independence and quality of life as we age, adequate muscle mass and strength is of utmost importance. Strong muscles are also vital for … Continue reading
Flourish like Fireweed
This summer I noticed a pretty flower along the shore of Lake Superior near Munising. Soon I started noticing it in other places: in fields and roadside ditches here and there. I learned it was called Fireweed which surprised me—it’s … Continue reading
Sweet Pea Serenity
During a recent visit to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I experienced the awesome sights, smells and sounds of nature every day: The colorful sandstone cliffs and Caribbean-blue waters at Pictured Rocks, the Lake Superior shoreline at Grand Marais making its way … Continue reading
Beauty in My Own Backyard
When confusion or pain seems to tighten what is possible, when sadness or frustration shrinks your sense of well-being, when worry or fear agitates the peace right out of you, try lending your attention to the nearest thing . . … Continue reading
In the Beginning: The Nature Journal
Inspired by nature itself as well as the book, Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie—who, by the way, makes sketching nature look deceivingly easy—I started a nature journal of my own the summer of 2007 during our family’s … Continue reading
Yes, this can happen to you
I knew this happened—I had heard about it in the news. But I assumed it was a rare occurrence. In the United States, it happens 15-25 times a year. It can happen to anyone. It can happen to you. Human memory … Continue reading