Dear Michiganders, We find ourselves, once again, in the midst of a blustery winter storm (Snowmageddeon) that has seemingly caught us by surprise…even though it is winter in Michigan. I view snow days as an opportunity to crush my to-do list and catch up on all the tasks I keep putting off. Here are my […]
First off, I hate the word self-care, so I am annoyed I used it in the title to this blog. It is, however, the quickest way to say “take care of yourself,” because no one else will. The holidays really seem to kick people’s asses, mine included. I embrace all things Christmas with a fervor […]
As we approach the holidays, I wanted to write this blog as a reminder that it can be a hard time for many. As we age, the holidays can lead to stress, exhaustion, sadness and more. We tend to put unreasonable demands on ourselves and have unrealistic expectations for others. I have never understood why […]
If you live in Grand Rapids, chances are you have seen the controversy surrounding the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s decision to endorse Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Bill Schuette. 8THIRTYFOUR, along with multiple other businesses chose to cancel their Chamber memberships in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ community and women everywhere. While the Chamber […]
I am not a terribly patient person, my anxiety at times is off the charts. I’m not really a ‘go with the flow’ individual and when it comes to travel I tend to try the patience of everyone around me. However, it doesn’t stop me from traveling and experiencing the world. I never left the […]
I have heard the word mindfulness at least 15 times this week (ok, maybe it was 3 times), so I started wondering what the hell it is. Here is the dictionary definition: The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, […]
This won’t be exciting for anyone reading it, but I’m going to write it anyways – because it is my birthday. This past year has been exciting, terrifying and adventurous to say the least. Here are my top takeaways as I enter my 38th year. The non-traditional family. I do not have a great relationship […]
I was reading a recent Inc Magazine article and they interviewed multiple entrepreneurs such as Reddit, IPSY, SLACK and Shark Tank about how they spend their day. I thought, what a great idea! I will share a day in the life of a business owner…me. 9:00 p.m. Go to bed. Sit in bed and check social […]
Entire sections of bookstores are dedicated to self-help and self-improvement. Many individuals dedicate hours and hours to the pursuit of happiness. They turn the focus inward and change their own behavior and habits and focus on the betterment of themselves. A recent Fast Company article contradicts this by stating that other people are the key to our […]
This past weekend, I attended the West Point gala, Founder’s Day. The event is a celebration of Michigan graduates of the academy, as well as those who have just been accepted. This year’s speaker was Colonel Greg Gadson of the United States Army and ’89 West Point graduate. To say his story is incredible is […]
