Did you know 47% of Americans have at least one of three risk factors for heart disease? Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women? Did you know one person dies every 34 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease? And, did you know that one in five heart attacks are silent? These facts can serve as a first step to opening our eyes to the importance of cardiovascular health, but there’s more we can do for ourselves to achieve full and healthy … [Read more...] about Getting to the Heart of the Matter with Gratitude
gratitude
Living in Gratitude at Altitudes
On a typical “bluebird” winter day on Arizona’s highest mountain, expert skiers like Lynda Fleischer greet the crystal clear bluest-of-blue sky with a huge smile to the heavens after a night of fresh-fallen snow. “This is where I belong,” she said. “The mountain is part of who I am. It makes me who I am. It makes me better. It makes me powerful and in control. It makes me feel alive.” Fleischer found the majestic San Francisco Peaks when she arrived at Northern Arizona University, where she … [Read more...] about Living in Gratitude at Altitudes
Making Friends with Fear, Uncertainty
This year has been one for the record books with chaos, division, fear and uncertainty unlike anything many of us have experienced in our lifetime. Anxiety is best defined as a fear of the unknown. But the unknown is also a collection of infinite possibilities. Choosing to correlate uncertainty with possibility can help us embrace it and make friends with fear. In my last year of college, I was engaged to my high school sweetheart. The wedding plans were complete, the invitations about to be … [Read more...] about Making Friends with Fear, Uncertainty
Gratitude: A Gift to Ourselves
For so many people all over the world, these are stressful times, exacerbated by isolation and social and traditional media. There are worries about catching a serious disease, or others getting sick, negative financial situations, whether present or possible, and political and social unrest. It’s natural to focus on threating things. The media tends to feature negative events. Scary, explosive, violent, fast things get attention. Peaceful, calm, slow things aren’t as exciting and don’t sell … [Read more...] about Gratitude: A Gift to Ourselves
Reflecting Back, Looking Ahead, Expressing Gratitude
Hello, Northern Arizona! Well, this is my second-to-last column for you as Flagstaff’s mayor. It has been a joy and an honor to serve my hometown, and I hope to continue to find ways to do so. When I was growing up, this community nurtured my brother and me. This community made sure we had what we needed, and that we had opportunities. Many of you know that I grew up in public housing, the daughter of a single parent on disability. It was this community that made sure I could play hockey and … [Read more...] about Reflecting Back, Looking Ahead, Expressing Gratitude