This morning I was listening to a meditation program that addressed the ‘need’ for hope with everything that is going on in the world at this time.  The host quoted Maya Angelo when she said, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space.  Invite one to stay.”  As I attempted to follow the ensuing meditation, my mind kept wondering off.  I kept asking myself what ‘hope’ really meant and whether people actually believed that to hope empowered them.

            My experience has been listening to people talk about ‘hope’ while at the same time really focusing their energy on the ‘what if’ or the ‘fear’ that they are attempting to ‘hope’ away.  I am a true believer that our thoughts create our reality and that everything that happens, does so for a reason.  That being said, if you are ‘hoping’ for something but at the same time you are worried or fearful, where is your power being propelled to?

This morning I was listening to a meditation program that addressed the ‘need’ for hope with everything that is going on in the world at this time. The host quoted Maya Angelo when she said, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.” As I attempted to follow the ensuing meditation, my mind kept wondering off. I kept asking myself what ‘hope’ really meant and whether people actually believed that to hope empowered them.
My experience has been listening to people talk about ‘hope’ while at the same

Look around the area that you live in and what do you see? If you are lucky enough to live in the mountains of Western North Carolina, you are blessed to be surrounded by various species of trees, free flowing rivers and streams, and many other varieties of flora and fauna that call these forests home. I have lived in many states and their individual ecosystems over the last 30 years. The one thing that has continually drawn me away from a town or city I was living in was its lack of green. I grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri where I spent 90% of the daylight hours outside playing and climbing trees. As I grew up, spending time outdoors became less important as adult responsibilities and concerns took over. Life took me to many places like Mesa, Arizona where even the houses appear to all be painted either a tan or peach color, or the houses are so close together and the lots so small that there is no room for Mother Nature to show the residents her glory. Local flora is limited to drought hardy palm trees and cactus like bushes. Last week ….

When you hear that ‘C’ word, what is the first thing you think or feel? For most people, hearing ‘You have CANCER’ are the most terrifying words they can imagine hearing. So why is it, when individuals are given the opportunity to implement diet and lifestyle changes that have been shown to prevent the development of chronic disease, including CANCER, they choose to continue with the behaviors that can lead right to that diagnosis?