Category Archives: Contest

Pantheon of Paradox: Jennifer Louden on Self-Care

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I am delighted to announce a new feature that I will be hosting on my blog which I am calling “The Pantheon of Paradox”. In this series I am inviting authors, thinkers and innovators to share the paradox they have brought to the world. The paradox we are starting with is the idea that you can be more productive, more creative and even efficient by engaging in self-care. I know, I know…this is so counterintuitive to our “more is ALWAYS better” idea of what it takes to succeed. Many of us still hold to the bad, sad and self-destructive idea that you have to drain yourself and live on four-hours of sleep, a vat of coffee and deny yourself sunlight in order to achieve what you are after. Yes, it is shocking but true, the better we care for ourselves the more we can accomplish. Continue reading →

Self-Care/Comfort Contest

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In times of transition, grief, and loss (of any kind) we need some things that are pretty universal: support, people who care, places to tell our story (perhaps some therapy or a support group) and, of course, time. However, there are other things that are unique to us, special objects that have helped comfort us through a loss. I have made a package of those thing that helped me with self-care, self-kindness and self-nurturing during hard times. I would like to share mine with you. Do you know someone who just needs a little extra TLC to get through their grieving? Are you in a time of transition in which you are letting go?

Here are the contents of the self-care/comfort kit that I am giving away:

  • A signed copy of my book,  The Next Happy (once it is released, February 24, 2015)
  • A box of soothing Sleepytime tea.
  • A journal to write your heart out into.
  • A recipe for a comforting tuna casserole
  • A Voluspa 2 Wick Metallo-Laguna candle to remind us that there is light in darkness
  • Jewel’s “Lullaby” CD. For me, for some reason, Jewel singing “Simple Gifts”  can almost always soothe me.
  • Equally soothing, for me, is Thích Nhất Hạnh’s reminding me that all there is the breath. So, I am including his Plum Village Meditation in the package. “I am breathing in, I know I am breathing in.”
  • Jennifer Louden’s wonderful book, “The Comfort Queen’s Guide to Life”. It’s a warm, comfy and wonderful reminder about what is really comforting and to find more novel ways to soothe ourselves than the standard comforts we most often turn to.
  • The DVD “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”  which is one of my favorite movies on the promise of transforming grief into a “Next Happy”.

Please enter, and please be sure to share what things have helped you during hard times. Good luck!