Divorce: Scarlet Letter, or Badge of Honor?
By Deann Zampelli   |   July 8, 2025

A few years ago, I ran into a couple that my husband and I knew from our “pre-kid” lives in Los Angeles. They were visiting Montecito and had ridden their bikes to the lower village to have lunch together. As they walked into the restaurant, their hands found one other, instinctively entwining by their sides. […]

Tapping: Clearing the Way to Positive Thinking
By Ann Brode   |   May 20, 2025

Tune in to the news and there’s plenty to be worried about. With the underpinnings of civil society crumbling, political and economic unrest, and climate change rocking the planet, of course we feel unsettled. It’s hard to feel at ease when the ground underfoot is unsteady – metaphorically and literally. It’s also hard to be […]

 

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The Prevalence of Eating Disorders: And What Role Do We Play in Feeding Them?
By Deann Zampelli   |   May 20, 2025

Recently I attended a party for a dear friend. It was a well-attended gathering and a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends from my two decades in Montecito. However, I was gravely concerned at how many women were alarmingly thin. This wasn’t “Oh, I have started to do Pilates” thin. This was, “Is this […]

Is AI Good for Our Creative Souls? And How This Evolving Tool Is Shaping Our Species
By Deann Zampelli   |   May 6, 2025

My daughter and I have an ongoing joke that isn’t a joke, that we are always nice to Siri or our Google clocks – just in case some form of Artificial Intelligence takes over the world, and they might favorably remember we were the ones who always said please and asked them how their day […]

Savie Health
By Steven Libowitz   |   April 22, 2025

Fictional detective Harry Bosch, the star of more than a dozen best-selling books by Michael Connelly and two TV series on Amazon Prime, operates with a credo he adopted early in his career: “Everybody counts, or nobody counts.”  That’s basically the same philosophy behind Savie Health, the nonprofit free clinic in downtown Lompoc. It’s the […]

The New Face of Dermatology: How Eastern Medicine is Giving it a Facelift
By Deann Zampelli   |   April 22, 2025

When experiencing skin concerns, it is common to seek out a dermatologist. They are, after all, skin doctors. They will ask what is ailing you and prescribe a treatment that usually involves one or all the following: creams, laser treatments, chemical peels, Dermabrasion, medications, surgery, and more. When I recently brought my son to see […]

I Know I Should Exercise But: The Myth Busting New Book on Why We Get Stuck
By Deann Zampelli   |   April 8, 2025

“Permission to move granted.” When I read that line in, I Know I Should Exercise But, the new release by Dr. Diana Hill and Katy Bowman, I was intrigued. To find out more, I went to a workshop they were hosting at Yoga Soup, where the authors put their movement where their mouths are. The […]

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  • Greed: The Other Green-Eyed Monster
    By Deann Zampelli   |   March 25, 2025

    Avarice. Avidity. Cupidity. Covetousness. Voracity. Ravenousness. Rapacity. Gluttony. “Greed” actually comes from the Greek word, “Voracious,” meaning, always hungry for more. Different names, same ugly monster. Greed – the sibling to Envy – is often referred to in mythology, literature, and religion… and not in a good way. Recently, I had the misfortune of being […]

    Sober By Choice: The New Sobriety
    By Deann Zampelli   |   February 25, 2025

    “Not for me, thanks,” our friend told the waiter who was about to pour his favorite red wine into his glass. “I don’t drink anymore,” he shared with a somewhat smug look on his face. This wasn’t the “I’m an alcoholic” moment of old. Neither, “I am trying to cut down,” nor “I don’t drink […]

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    When the Wellness Faire Came to Town
    By Deann Zampelli   |   February 4, 2025

    The splashing of the fountains and the stunning backdrop of Santa Barbara created the perfect setting for PALMA Colectiva’s Wellness Faire on January 18, held on the rooftop of the Kimpton Canary Hotel. I had the good fortune of being there not only as a writer covering the event, but also as an exhibitor offering […]

    A 50-Year-Old’s Heart Attack and How He Saved his Own Life
    By Marian and Dan Shapiro   |   January 28, 2025

    My beloved 50-year-old nephew, Dan, had no idea he was having a heart attack, and didn’t recognize the symptoms – but eventually did several very crucial things which ultimately saved his life. He was so wise to write down what happened while lying in the hospital, when things were still fresh in his mind. I’m […]

    Jumpstart January Wellness Month with the Montecito YMCA
    By Joanne A Calitri   |   January 28, 2025

    For this week’s wellness feature, I dove into the pool of health offerings at the Montecito YMCA with its Executive Director Ryan Power. He said, “This is a great time to join the Montecito YMCA. We are currently running a membership promotion, if you sign up by January 31st the joining fee is $0. Your […]

    The Power of Friendship: And the Role It Plays in Aging
    By Deann Zampelli   |   January 21, 2025

    I can always tell when my husband is texting with his main group of friends (aka, The Core), his smirk and the mischief in his eyes give him away every time. They shamelessly partake in a level of silliness normally reserved for the enviable obliviousness of 10-year-olds. Their level of creativity, wit, and friendship toward one […]

    Playing to Win: Why Do We Compete?
    By Deann Zampelli   |   January 7, 2025

    I have always taken an odd amount of pride in the fact that I am not a competitive person, often even a bit smug about how primitive and foreign I find the very concept. I am just not that interested. Nope, not bothered at all. Until I compete, that is. Some years ago, a dear […]

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