Tag: Self-Help

My Abundant Life 4-22-26

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April 22nd, 2026

Sensory Awakening

“Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”

Oscar Wilde (Irish Author and Poet; December 30th, 1865 to January 18th, 1936)

“We were created to experience, interpret, and savor the world through our senses–our ability to smell, taste, hear, touch, see, and intuit.”

“…to perceive the world with all its gushing beauty and terror, right on our pulses.”

Diane Ackerman (American Poet and Essayist; October 7th, 1948)

“…to begin to understand the gorgeous fever that is consciousness, we must try to understand the senses. The senses don’t just make sense of life in bold or subtle acts of clarity, they tear reality apart into vibrant morsels and reassemble them into a meaningful pattern.”

Diane Ackerman (American Poet and Essayist; October 7th, 1948)

“If we had keen vision and feeling for all ordinary human life it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel’s heart beat, and we should die of the roar which lies on the other side of silence. As it is, the quickest of us walks about well wadded with stupidity.”

George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) (English Novelist and Poet; November 22nd, 1819 to December 22nd, 1880)

“I have found ever since beginning my intentional journey in BEingness, all my senses have improved and become more acute. I am loving how wonderful our human protein sacks are to experience this beautiful world!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 127 to 128 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-21-26

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April 21st, 2026

Aromatherapy: The Restorative Comfort of Fragrance

“Smells are surer than sounds and sights to make heartstrings crack.”

Rudyard Kipling (English Journalist and Novelist; December 30th, 1865 to January 18th, 1936)

“Our sense of smell is our primordial link to our brains. When we inhale a scent, neurotransmitters in our brains trigger the production of biochemical secretions that affect our moods, feelings, and emotions. When an aromatic essential oil permeates our skin through the bath or a massage, the oil penetrates the epidermis, stimulates our sophisticated lymph duct system, and enters the bloodstream, eventually delivering well-being to our frazzled minds.”

“…smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived.”

Helen Keller (American Author; June 27th, 1880 to June 1st, 1968)

“Smell has always been a huge part of my experience of the world. Lately I have been playing with scent in a new way against the natural pheromones between my husband and myself…DELISCIOUS! One of the ways I knew Neil was my man, is that he always smells like snickerdoodle cookies to me. One of my favorite cookies!🏆“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 126 to 127 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-20-26

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April 20th, 2026

Taking the Cure: Bathing Pleasures

“There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.”

Sylvia Plath (American Poet and Author; October 27th, 1932 to February 11th, 1963)

“…a kind of mystic ceremony substituted for religious worship.”

Ambrose Bierce (American author and journalist; June 24th, 1842 to January 1914)

“My philosophy in life is very simple: when in doubt, take a bath.”

“I grew up as a swimmer and have been immersing myself in various bodies of water my whole life. Baths for me are a self-nurturing reset and not for cleansing.“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 125 to 126 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-19-26

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April 19th, 2026

Spring Rituals of Replenishment

“Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the world, and the immense, the boundless treasures that it holds in store.

All that you have within you, all that your heart desires, all that your nature so specially fits for–that or the counterpart of it waits embedded in the great Whole, for you. It will surely come to you.

Yet equally surely not one moment before its appointed time will it come. All your crying and fever and reaching out of hands will make no difference.

Therefore do not begin that game at all.”

Edward Carpenter (English Poet and Philosopher; August 29th, 1844 to June 28th, 1929)

“Sacred space and sacred time and something joyous to do is all we need. Almost anything then becomes a continuous and increasing joy.”

Joseph Campbell (American Writer; March 26th, 1904 to October 30th, 1987)

“I have learned to trust the flow of the Universe and ‘IT’ will unfold when it does at the perfect time and better than you could ever had expected or predicted.“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 124 to 125 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-18-26

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April 18th, 2026

The Face in the Looking Glass

“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.”

Yves Saint Laurent (French Fashion Designer; August 1st, 1936 to June 1st, 2008)

“I began to become aware of the fact that looking your best, working with what you have, and bringing out your natural beauty with makeup was not as superficial a goal as I had originally thought. Makeup was simply a tool to help me look my best. When I looked my best, I felt better. When I felt better, I had more energy and accomplished more and was more outgoing. When I accomplished more and reached out more to others, they responded positively and my self-esteem grew.”

“I began to see that the ten minutes I took in the morning to put my best face forward for myself and not the world was a small but important way of nurturing my authenticity.”

“I grew up with no one showing me how to use make-up beyond advertisements in magazines. It wasn’t until adulthood when I began to find my niche. I wanted a classy, sexy, subtle enhancement of my features. I already liked who looked back at me in the mirror and just wanted to extenuate my assets. One thing I thin would be fun to have in the bathroom was one of the mirrors that reverses your image to how others actually see you. That additional and new perspective might change how you choose your enhancements.“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 123 to 124 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-17-26

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April 17th, 2026

Making Peace with Your Hair

“Genius is of small use to a woman who does not know how to do her hair.”

Edith Wharton (American Writer and Designer; January 24th, 1862 to August 11th, 1937)

“Hair is a living, powerful, mercurial, metaphysical energy force to be respected, reckoned with, and reconciled to, but it cannot be controlled any more than atomic fusion.”

“Hair humbles us, and we need to make peace with it.”

“Growing up, I was obliged to have a short cut as I was told it was easier to keep up, etc. I hated my short hair. I understand better now as I embrace my cultural roots. Hair is sacred and a reflection of the sweet grass on Mother earth. My hair is a gift and I enjoy playing with it, untangling it and wrestling with it in the wind. I feel blessed to have fine dark hair which is an expression of my authentic self. With wedding #3 approaching, I believe wedding braids might be in order soon.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 120 to 123 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-16-26

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April 16th, 2026

Walking as Meditation

“I will tell you what I learned myself. For me a long, five- or six-mile walks helps. And one must got alone and every day.”

Brenda Ueland (American Journalist and Editor; October 24th, 1891 to March 5th, 1985)

“It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker.”

Henry David Thoreau (American Naturalist and essayist; July 12th,1817 to May 6th, 1862)

“…most days I go on walks for a ‘movement meditation’–fitness of the spirit. I try to quiet the voices in my head, take long strides, and concentrate on the slow, steady rhythm of my breath, comforted by the interior silence.”

“I love walking and try to get in a 3-5 minute walk every hour at work. Usually once around the block is enough to clear my head and breath fresh air. My favorite meditative walks are holding my husband’s hand and walking quietly together in wonder of the majesty of the beautiful planet we inhabit.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 120 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-15-26

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April 15th, 2026

Discovering the Momentum of Creative Movement

“The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.”

Martha Graham (American Dancer and Teacher; May 11th, 1894 to April 1st, 1991)

“The world as I know it is divided into two types of women–those who exercise and those who don’t.”

“Those who do exercise seem to have more energy, less stress, fewer weight problems, and generally a more positive and optimistic outlook on life. Women who are fit will tell you that regular exercise is the single most important thing they have ever done to improve their life.”

“Women who do not exercise don’t believe them and have every excuse in the world for why they can’t or won’t find out for themselves: they don’t have the time, they’re too out of shape, they’re coming down with the flu, it’s too cold or too hot, they’re too tired, they’re too depressed, maybe next week.

“Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes.”

Robert Maynard Hutchins (American Educator and Former Chancellor of the University of Chicago; January 17th, 1899 to May 17th, 1977)

“This is not good. This is not self-nurturing. This is not healthy. We know this intellectually.”

“Don’t refer to the activity as exercise or fitness any longer. If you must call it something, call it creative movement.”

“Think of creative movement as a life-enhancing, enjoyable pastime, because it is. Just pause for a moment and imagine all the ways that you could move creatively that bring you pleasure: dancing (ballet, jazz, or tap), swimming, fencing, horseback riding, racquetball. tennis, golf, riding a bike. …Start moving, a step at a time, step after step. The positive momentum will take if from there.”

“With enlightenment and self-awareness, we can reguide and realign our whole selves: our bodies, by finding new ways of moving and celebrating them and by adding good food in amounts they tell us they need; our souls, our sense of ourselves as good and worthwhile, by connecting them to the earth and to each other.”

Diana Roesch (Theater and Film Producer)

“I have always loved movement and feel more of myself when moving. I have learned to move in new ways in this chapter of my life. Specifically, my husband introduced me to rowing regularly which eases the stress on aging joints. BRILLIANT! I had coached rowing for years and in all that time, I rarely participated. Now I have an rowing ergometer in our living room. WINNING!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 119 to 120 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-14-26

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April 14th, 2026

When You Hunger and Thirst

“The body must ne nourished, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We’re spiritually starved in this culture–not underfed but undernourished.”

Carol Hornig

“When I first became aware that when I ‘swallowed’ life I was really hungry and thirsty for joy and serenity, it was a turning point for me in learning self-nurturance. Finally, I understood that I wasn’t underfed but spiritually undernourished. I realized I could go within and ask my soul–my authentic self–what I needed. I learned to stop and ask myself the questions ‘How can I care for you? What is it you truly need?'”

“As you nurture your spirit with kindness, your physical cravings will loose their grip.”

“Realize today that your hunger and thirst for a reason. Ask your authentic self to reveal your deeper needs, so that Spirit can quench and satisfy your parched and ravenous soul.”

“I love food for all the ways it flirts with me in smell, taste, texture and sight. I used to only look as food as fuel and from a lens of scarcity. I have never been an overeater, more of a grazer. I eat when I’m hungry. I often get engrossed in whatever I am up to and forget to eat until my project is done. When this happens, I assess what my body needs and take in the fuel my body is demanding…usually protein. I really have never been much of an emotional eater. I notice more my desire based on cravings which usually point out other deficiencies in my daily diet. I do my best to listen.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 118 to 119 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-13-26

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April 13th, 2026

The Only Weight-Loss Aid You’ll Ever Need

“Self-love is the only weight-loss aid that really works in the long run.”

Genevieve Marie Craig (Jenny Craig) (American Businesswoman; August 7th, 1932)

“…food is not our enemy. If we’re alive, we’re supposed to love to eat. Food is the source of vital fuel our bodies convert to energy in order to survive.”

“Don’t fight your hunger. Instead, respect it and respond to it with nutritious food that appeals to all your senses–not just taste but sight and smell as well.”

“..the more we starve ourselves, the more weight we eventually gain, and then we end up hating ourselves.”

“The only way to stop this heartbreaking cycle of self-loathing is to stop dieting and use our common sense. Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thristy, sleep when you’re tired, get in harmony with your body through regular exercise, and nourish your soul through prayer and meditation.”

“Be really whole, and all things will come to you.”

Lao-Tzu (Chinese Philosopher; 571 B.C.)

“Taoism–the Eastern philosophy of Lao-Tzu–teaches that the only way to be made Whole is to yield. Yield to the fact that your body answers to a Wisdom that’s higher than wanting to look like the waif on the cover of Vogue.”

“Every woman has an ideal weight that’s ideal for her opposed to an ideal weight. This is the weight at which you feel the most comfortable, have the mot energy, can stay well and feel good about how you look. We can achieve that weight whenwe begin to trust our bodies. Forget size and abandon the scale. Instead, of weighing yourself, let your favorite clothes tell you how you are doing. Above all, trust the guidance of your authentic self. Go within and visualize her. See what weoght she carries. Ask her to help you achieve your perfect weight through the power of Love. Today, be willing to believe that self-love is the only weight-loss aid you’ll ever truly need, because it’s the only one that works.”

“All of this advice is true. For the last 30+ years I have been counseling and working alongside all types of people desiring to get to their full potential. Whether that be weight, athletics, mental toughness, etc. they all had to let go or yield to what they thought they knew and listen to their bodies.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 117 to 118 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.