life, travel, stories – Join the journey, Love Raven
Dear Reader, When was your last vacation? This question became a topic of conversation at my last staff meeting as we were reminded to take our accumulated vacation time. Interestingly, it seems that at my work, many of us are neglecting to take vacations, which seems a bit odd. Nearly all companies offer their employees... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Are you or a loved one suffering from burnout? Yes, this opening was deliberately intended to sound like a commercial for some hard-to-pronounce drug. Jokes aside, burnout is an important issue that a simple pill cannot solve. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized ‘burnout’ as an ‘occupational phenomenon.’ In a Gallup... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Are you still able to make it outside during these uncertain times? If you are, how much of that outdoor time do you spend in nature? A new study has found that living close to nature and spending time outside has significant and wide-ranging health benefits, including reducing the risk of certain diseases.... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, How long have you been enduring the ‘new normal?’ Just over five weeks ago, Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all non-essential businesses and organizations in Massachusetts to close their physical facilities to employees, customers and the public. One week later, Gov. Baker extended the state's stay-at-home advisory and required all... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, The present and engaged mind is the mortal enemy of stress. Last week, I took a course on presentation skills and had an opportunity to give a three-minute talk on a topic of my choosing. Encouraged to speak about something that makes our heart sing, I immediately thought to make stress the theme... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Humans are both indoor and outdoor creatures. We have simultaneously erected megacities while protecting forests and swamplands from manmade development. Some of us assuage our craving for nature by integrating brisk walks into our day and, perhaps, the occasional outdoor excursion into our otherwise sheltered lives. Even those of us who would rather... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Do you know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? In the fairytale that I grew up hearing, a young girl enters into the home of three bears while they are away. She tries their porridge remarking that one is too hot, another is too cold, and the third is just right.... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, How free is your free time? For a single working adult, free time could simply be the time not spent at work. However, for a mother of two young children, free time may only be the hour or two at the end of the day after the little ones are tucked into bed.... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Sometimes “finding the time” can feel like a treasure hunt rather than a simple task. We’ve all got things going on, but on occasion our schedules feel like too much to handle. I am lucky enough to have a manageable calendar this spring, however, with an irregular work schedule and a course, settling... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, When I was in high school, I remember one of my friends proclaiming that 26 is the average age of a first marriage in the US. Years later, I cannot remember from which website or magazine this was gleaned, however, this factoid for some reason is still stuck within the fibers of my... Continue Reading →
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