Clarity Wellness

Some of you might know about my struggles with running this year...an achy hip on one side, and a super-tight calf on the other. I really haven't run much since April, and then only in short spurts. I've had to resign myself to being a walker for many months, and was trying to embrace the mental break that it gave me, even though I really missed my runs, my running group, and, let's be totally honest, the ability to eat just a little bit more without my weight creeping up on me. A few weeks ago I decided that I'd had enough and was ready to be a runner again. After all, the same hip that was giving me angst was the same hip that ached through 22 marathons and countless physical therapy sessions. I know what I have to do--I just don't do enough of it. Life has been busy, but I'd managed to go out and run a few times a week, and I'd felt pretty good. Best of all, I felt like I was getting my mojo back, and that's pretty priceless to me right now! It w...

There have been many times in the last week that I have had to say to myself, "Keep it simple." My kids are finishing up the first semester at school and everyone's just the tiniest bit grumpy. Complicated is not an option right now. It's officially the holiday season, which means you're planning for big dinners, parties, gift-giving, housecleaning, decorating, and essentially creating a whole lotta magic in your house, especially for the little ones. Some of you even have elves creating mayhem in your house on a nightly basis!  I love to see your pictures of them on Facebook, but I'm a tiny bit glad I never had one show up in my house. ;) With all this background noise in your head, it's hard to concentrate on the here and now, and sometimes you just need to take a break and remember that you don't have to do it all.  Nor should you.  I love to cook and try new recipes.  However, I've found lately that it's very frustrating when I spend an hou...