Tag archives: health
I am sitting in the shade of military-grade netting that has been – carelessly but effectively – erected to protect us from the relentless midday sun. The camouflaged men and sole woman are readying their weapons. Hip Hop blares in the background; more distraction than entertainment, but it also aids in dulling the soundtrack of […]
Your situation is mildly frustrating but not uncommon:your soul is a supernova, throwing fire and creativity and moment-by-moment enthusiasm – but your chassis is showing its wear through the twin rigors of Life and Love. The Age of Joyous Wisdom tends to have an overlap with the Age of Emollients. All you want – all […]
Sometimes, taking time away to be quiet and introspective is exactly what’s called for. This might be simply when you’ve been working hard and need a break. Or, in response to a significant event like a big birthday, a career change, or when the kids leave home. It might be precipitated by a health issue, […]
There is an old saying that is often attributed (incorrectly) to Henry Ford; “You don’t stop learning when you get old; you only get old when you stop learning.” His version was not quite as eloquent as this one, but his meaning was just as poignant. These words never felt truer than when I was […]
Time to lace up those running shoes and follow the Oat Bakery on Instagram for the next installment of their Run Club. The club was established in honor of owner Louise’s mom Else, who was a professional athlete and marathon runner. Post-run treats by the bakery are on hand. Run #2 in Montecito took place […]
Dr. Leonie H. Mattison, Ed.D., MBA, president and CEO of Pacifica Graduate Institute (PGI), is inviting mental health organizations in Santa Barbara County to join a free event via Zoom on Sept. 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PGI will provide a platform to connect and work together on the mental health issues in the […]
Earlier this week I sat down with Drake Peterson, co-founder of Wellness Loud, the first wellness media and podcast network of its kind. Many here in town might know Drake from his Isla Vista formed band, Iration, but lately his focus has been on spreading the word of health, one podcast at a time. Incorrectly […]
The first rays of dawn can be the most depressing sight in the world for an insomniac, as it means any hope of a good night’s sleep is officially gone. As someone who has often struggled with insomnia for the better part of a decade, I know only too well the frustration; the tossing and […]
Brett Matthews is showing me around Kate Farms’ Innovation and Quality Center, a lab and office complex the size of an airplane hangar. Bewilderingly complex machines festooned with tubes are being tended to by folks in clean room suits. We stop outside a sealed central workspace and stare through a glass wall. The largish, inelegant […]
President & CEO of SB Cottage Health Ron Werft first made his announcement to retire via internal hospital communication last week, resulting in a press release the same day. The announcement initially caught both internal staff and the town a tad off guard, in view of his full-on 37-year career at SBCH, one marked by […]
I recently had an email exchange with a man who was interested in renting our vacation home for a stay with his grown sons. His wife had died the week before and as she loved the beach, he felt it would be a wonderful way to honor her. I offered what I hoped were words […]
It’s been a landmark year for major anniversaries in Santa Barbara. The Granada Theatre launched its year-long Granada 100 celebration in the spring. The Summer Solstice Parade held its 50th festival on the first day of summer. And Old Spanish Days Fiesta is in the midst of its centennial celebration as this issue hits newsstands. […]
The year I was a therapy intern, I remember feeling a great sense of overall well-being. I knew I was being a good mom to my young children, and a loving and present partner to my husband. I was in graduate school to expand my mind, and I was being of service to low-income seniors […]
My 16-year-old son recently came home from school, freaking out that he might get a B in an AP class. Historically, this has not been his M.O., but at the beginning of his sophomore year it started to dawn on him that it was time to get to work. He was hearing and feeling the […]
Shortly after I got married, my 64-year-old mother lost her battle with breast cancer. Seven years later my father joined her. The loss isn’t any less painful just because you are a grown-up. I was 39 and an orphan. It sounds strange to say it that way, but that was how it felt. “Untethered,” was […]
I met a woman a few weeks ago who doesn’t like to get massages. I felt like I needed an interpreter. What could she possibly mean by speaking this heresy? I have heard of people who weren’t into it, but I assumed that like “uptight yoga instructors,” and mean Trader Joe’s employees they were mythological […]
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers authoritative information about mental disorders, a range of related topics, the latest mental health research, and resources online. The history of May for mental health dates to 1949, when the United States Congress designated May as Mental Health […]
The VNA Health’s 23rd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon Fundraiser took place Friday, May 10 at the Santa Barbara Hilton Ballroom. The event celebrated Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree as their Remembered Mother and Leslie Person Ryan as their Honored Mother. The sold-out event opened with a champagne reception, and silent auction tables in the ballroom. Raffle tickets […]
Your body tension is like a barometer that registers levels of comfort. Pressure decreases when you settle in to read a good book or sit around a dinner table with good friends. It increases when you enter a crowded room or sit for a performance review. Worry about a problem, pressure goes up; find a […]
A few years ago, my athletic prowess and inherent grace caused me to tear a few ligaments in my ankle by falling UP the stairs of my home. Anyone can fall down a set of stairs, but you need to be very special to do it in reverse. Following months of resting, healing, wearing a […]
