Fresh Living

This is the post in which we say goodbye.  We’re both leaving our respective jobs at Beliefnet, and so it’s time to step away from the blog. So, this is the post in which we say goodbye…by saying thank you.  Thank you to you, the readers, for clicking and visiting and sharing the myriad ways…

Are you a frustrated dreamer? I know I am. I often wake up with fragments of scenes echoing in my mind that seem really meaningful–but then I leap out of bed, start my morning routine, and in seconds they’re gone. I want to linger in that realm and tap into the guidance and insight rising…

Because I lack an engineering degree and don’t understand why we can’t just stop this thing NOW with a 10-ton wad of gum or giant boulder or massive Q-tip, I’ll share more spiritual wisdom from elders. This is from the beautiful, amazing International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers–they each represent a continent and a native…

“Worry is a prayer for something you don’t want.” – Sharon Gannon I love that. The other day someone expressed concern about my excessive worrying habit, and I’ve been contemplating on it ever since. Doing my best to actually contemplate, rather than worry. I’ve been on a renewed Gilmore Girls binge lately and last night as Lorelai,…

In addition to co-writing this blog and working at Beliefnet full-time, I’m writing a book. It’s about how I got through cancer five years ago with a combination of heavy-duty Western meds and all I knew from my personal and journalistic experience of yoga, meditation, non-religious spirituality, and alternative medicine. Meaning, I had chemo and…

I haven’t been writing about the oil spill in the Gulf because, frankly, every time I think of it I feel such a deep sense of overwhelming, immobilizing sadness and anger. But this prayer from Dr. Masaru Emoto, the author of “The Hidden Messages in Water” inspired me today. He’s the Japanese scientist who has…

This morning, I want to introduce you Fresh Lifers to our new brother blogger, Jonathan Ellerby!  Jonathan is an extraordinary writer as well as being the spiritual program director at Canyon Ranch Resort in Tuscon.  His blog, Practical Spirituality, is an inspiring, highly bookmark-able place to center yourself and learn how to find the sacred…

I’m almost through editing a new Beliefnet feature that’s currently titled “How to Put Boundaries Around Worry,” and….yeah.  This passage from the introduction might just become my new mantra.  Try reading this out loud to yourself in a (lovingly) strong tone of voice:  “The act of worrying is an obsessive, habitual behavior–and one you can…

“It’s painful to face how we harm others, and it takes a while. It;s a journey that happens because of our commitment to gentleness and honesty, our commitment to staying wake, to being mindful.” – Pema Chödrön   Need more morning inspiration?  Read our entire Fresh Morning collection! Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/freshliving/#ixzz0r7HvnpNw

Michael Franti & Spearhead have a another feel-good shake-yer-booty-to-a-better-mood single. This is Shake It, Shake It, Shake It and it rules. Forget this “video”–the real one isn’t out yet, far as I know–and dance around!   Like what you see? Click here to subscribe and get Fresh Living in your in-box every day!

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about

Valerie Reiss

Valerie Reiss is Holistic Living Editor at Beliefnet. She was a founding editor at Breathe magazine, and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Women's Health, Natural Health, Yoga Journal, Lime.com, Vegetarian Times, and ABCNEWS.com. A native New Yorker, Valerie holds an M.S. from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. from Beloit College in Creative Writing with a minor in Women's Studies. She also lived in Maui for a while where she drank green papaya juice and taught some creative writing. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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