It seems that once again things prevented me from meeting my blogging goal.  Like many people, I am someone who puts a lot on my plate and sometimes tough choices must be made.  In this case, I am only disappointing myself as I don't have anyone leaving comments on the blog posts, regardless, I can be pretty hard on myself.  Like many others, I had to make a decision:  get the staining done while the weather window was open and work was slower or write for the blog.   So, my house is finished, looking good and ready for winter and that makes me happy!  I made the right choice, but that doesn't mean I'm going to fall out of practice with the blog.  One thing I have learned about habits, especially those that are good for you like exercise and working on my blog, it is easy to fall out of the habit of doing them.  You get busy and the next thing you know you haven't been on a mountain bike ride in weeks.  I have learned that it is better to get out there and exercise, even for a shortened time frame, than to not go at all.  Exercise is important to my mental health and it is a priority for me too.  Exercise, whether that is mountain biking, golfing or just going for a walk, keeps me connected with nature and is grounding for me.  I wonder if it is the same with you?  Let me know.  
So, I prioritize exercise and time with my pets and friends in with working and regular adulting.  I think we are all figuring these things out, but I want to give you permission to take care of yourself and do the things that fill your cup.  Luckily for me my hypnotherapy and Reiki work fill my cup.  I had the chance to work with one of my amazing clients last week and...wow!  When someone comes to me for help getting past a block that is keeping them from reaching their full potential and they are fully ready and committed, anything is possible.  I have worked with this client on other things and each time I have helped guide them using their own words and goals and they have met every goal they have set.  This is not the case for everyone.  Sometimes people come to me and want me to do "to" them as if I can somehow make them change their bad habit or get past their phobia, that's not how it works.  I am the facilitator you are the one doing the work.  If you are not committed to doing the thing you are coming to me for, then what I do will not be effetive.  But...if you are committed and you truly want to make the change, Boom we can make it happen.  This is not to say that I can make someone into, for instance, an elite athlete, I can only help you achieve that which you are willing and able to do.  If you are struggling with your golf game, struggling to get started in your business, struggling to stop smoking, I can help you.  
I now have a help fund established for helping people who do not have the money to dedicate to their own well-being, but who want to make changes in their lives.  If you or someone you know can use my help, please schedule a free consultation and let's talk about it.  
I have a calling in this world to help others and meeting this calling fills my soul with joy!  Please don't hesitate to take care of yourself.  Prioritize yourself so that you can be your best for you and those you love. 
Take care,
​Mindy

I don't know where August went, but I do know that 8/8 is when my grieving for my friend began.  I am an organized, type A, busy lady and I don't like to make time to feel.  Well...I had to.  I was still busy as I'm sure anyone reading this as an adult can relate to, our plates are piled high these days.  I think the combination of being busy and working contributed to the time warp, I felt like I was in.  I was talking with someone about Labor Day and that's when it hit me, August is over!   I took some time to just be with my feelings and practice Reiki and hypnotherapy on myself.  I also had the opportunity to do Reiki work with two of my close friends and WOW!  My passion is helping others to heal and when I work in this area, it fills my cup and makes my spirit so happy.  It's energizing!  I am so grateful I took a leap of faith in 2022 and began my hypnotherapy training which led to my Reiki training.  Doing something you truly love is the best.  I did love teaching and still rejoice in seeing former students all grown up!  I cherish all of the memories from those 25+ years.  One does not take away from the other, but expanding after retiring gave me a different perspective.  When I "retired" from waitressing to become a teacher a freind wrote on a card for me, "Love what you do and always do what you love."  I did and I do.  
I actually planned to write about a different topic this week and then, once again, life had a different plan so I went along. 
After work Friday when I was planning for my notary signings the next day, I had a hypnotherpy client schedule a session for Sat. night. 
This is a client who I hadn't seen a almost a year and I was thinking about them as I know they are going through challenging scenarios and frankly, I was concerned.  (I know that some people put off seeking help because of money and I remind you here that if you are in this situation, where taking on one more debt is more distressing than what you are dealing with, let's talk.  I can work with any income and in certain situations can provide Pro Bono services.  It is more important for me to help people than to make money. ) This was holding my client back.  I am so glad they finally made the appointment to take care of themself and at the end of our session, they were too.  It looked like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders and they felt it.  I was exhausted and so happy and at peace.  That is the feeling that I get every time I use what I've learned through Reiki or hypnotherapy to help someone.  It is the best feeling in the world!  I am so grateful that I followed my heart and paid attention to the signs that were pointing me in this direction.  
Listen to your heart.  Pay attention to signs and clues, they are there for a reason.  Don't let anything get in your way if you need help.  There are many resources and if you are here, it may just be because you need to be here.  Book a free phone consultation and let's figure it out together.  
Take good care of yourself.  You are doing an amazing job! 
​Mindy

So...I fell behind again and I make no apologies.  I am human and I was going through grief and mourning.  
I have written about the memorial I was planning for my closest friend who passed away last summer.  I thought I had dealt with the emotions of grief and the process of mourning, I felt strong...until I didn't.  
What I realize now, that I didn't know then.  I had spent months helping to care for my friend and his daughter and by the last weeks was spending regular shifts at the house which also meant making sure my pets were taken care of at home and I was balancing work.  I had help.  After he passed we went right into packing and then I worked on building a relationship with the daughter's mother, stepdad and sister.  I kept myself very busy (this is my coping mechanism, don't recommend).  
I spent a lot of this summer planning for the memorial. while juggling work and adulting.  The memorial was beautiful with an amazing turnout of people sharing stories.  His daughter brought down the house with a beautiful song she wrote and performed for us.  There was not a dry eye to be found, even the caterers.  I was exhausted and at peace.  I worked the next day and the following I found out that a famous eagle mom that I have watched for 6 years, died.  That was the breaking point for me.  My first full day off of work was difficult, because all the feelings came out hard.  I felt pain that I haven't felt in years.  I was mourning for both of them.  I cried more tears than I have in years, slept (my bodies coping mechanism), cried more and barely functioned.  The eagles had been my happy place when I was surrounded by pain and suffering.  Last year's eaglets flegded and were last seen in BBV the day my friend died.  Queen Jackie died the day after his memorial.  Pow, bam, a 1-2 punch.  I couldn't escape it this time!  I tried to do my "normal" routines, but found myself weeping at the mention of him or Jackie.  I had to go through it, I couldn't run from it anymore.  I do not like to "let" myself get so down, but I also realized that I had to to be able to get back up and emerge from the other side.  I let myself. It was at this time I was reminded of something I heard Tyler Perry say, I think on an Oprah show, "Grief waits until you are ready."  It did, hard.  I felt it, sat with it, and processed it.  I actually had to check myself to make sure I was sad and not falling into depression. 
Then, I started doing things to fill my cup again.  "Meet up at the Movies" was a big help, it brought me right back to the feeling of being at a Dead show.  Peace, love and happiness.  
I share this, because not only is it part of my reality, I think that people are going through this every day and maybe not giving themselves a break.  Maybe you just keeping on truckin' like I was?  Maybe you "don't have time" to cry and feel sad.  If you don't make time now, you will have to later.  In the meantime, you may experience some of the same feelings I had.  I became grumpy, short-tempered, senstitive to how others were talking to me, none of my "normal" qualities, I was pushing people away.  I didn't like this version of me either, grieving changed that by allowing me to process and let go I also let go of those negative feelings.  I didn't have the energy to exercise which I know my mental state requires, but this week, I got back to it.  
My point, make time to grieve, allow yourself to do what needs to be done and nothing else, cry, yell, punch a pillow, whatever. Feel the feels and then be grateful for the experience.  I shared at the memorial, "I heard it stated somewhere that grief is like a stone you carry in your pocket.  Sometimes you lean against it and it hits you with a sharp pain, sometimes you feel it and find comfort, sometimes it is small and you almost forget it is there, but it is.  However you grieve is right for you."  I feel the love and I love you back.  
Love yourself!
Mindy
,
​

First, I want to acknowledge that I didn't meet my posting goal last week and I am giving myself grace for that.  I have to, I would give a friend grace, so why not me?  I did find in my travels as a mobile notary, that the Mel Robbins podcast had a episode about How to Master Your Emotions on July 15, right around my last post.  Coincidence, I don't believe in them.  The last time I posted, I didn't have a plan or a script, I wrote about what was on my mind that day and that day I heard the Podcast. There was a section where negative self-talk was addressed and I discovered where it gets it's roots.  It's a great Podcast all the way around, but this episode struck me.  I've cut my negative self-talk and when I catch myself, I also have tools to stop and redirect.  I "erase" or "delete" that comment and it works!  It's my new way of taking back my power.  
I also learned that I can still be hard on myself.  I expect and enjoy exercising, usually mtn. biking and golfing in the summer, five days a week.  I also expect to work as much as I can, to post on my blog and to focus on my hypnotherapy space while running my house and keeping chickens.  Then, I took on the position of hosting a memorial for my closest friend.  Something has to give and while I "need" exercise and the connection with nature to help my overall well-being, I don't have hours to give right now.  I had to listen to my body, which was actually asking for a break.  I resort to sleeping/rest when I am experiencing trauma, so...I've had to sleep and just make sure I'm getting the things done that are a priority.  I will return to my regularily scheduled programming next week!  
This is HARD for me, I feel a sense of guilt when I don't get out there and ride, but...it's OK.  It's not forever.  
This week, I want to make this memorial everything my friend's daughter wants it to be.  
My advice, be kind and gentle with yourself, just like you are with friends and family.  Give yourself a break, because guess what?  You are doing great.  You are crushing it.  You are loved and you are supported if you look in the right places.  

Take care because you matter,
Mindy

One of the multitude of things that I learned during my hypnotherapy training was about the power of taking slow deep breaths to help regulate our systems.  "Deep breathing is a powerful, free tool to instantly regulate your nervous system. By consciously drawing air deep into your belly rather than your chest, you trigger your parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest and digest" mode). This simple physical action slows your heart rate, decreases your cortisol levels, and stabilizes your blood pressure in minutes" Yale School of Medicine.  I add the quote, because I don't expect people to just believe me, it's proven.  But...if you are like me, it is somehting we forget to do.  A stressful situation happens and I forget the tools I've been trained to use because my brain is in survival mode.  BTW, I think a lot of us live in this state more often than we'd like to admit.  This is when I start doing things to survive rather than cope.  
I drive a lot for my job as a mobile notary.  I live in the mountains where we kid (but it's not funny) that there are two seasons, construction and toursit seasons.  Getting stopped in construction zones when I wasn't aware of construction happening (yes, it happens where I live...often) can lead to delays which can make me late for appointments which equals stress.  I have found that using this valuable time to practice breathing, has helped my stress levels a lot.  I also carry a squeeze ball in the car so that if I am really frustrated I can also put that frustration into the ball and let it go.  It may sound kooky, but with practice, it works.  
The breathing technique that I share with my clients and that I use before starting hypnosis, is based on 5-5-5, but can be modified for those with breathing issues.  It used to suprise me to find that most of my clients are reluctant to take slow, deep breaths.  People resist it, and I used to as well, but the results are undeniable.   You don't have to be stressed to try it, do it now and see what you think.  The next time you find yourself in a stressful situation, try it!  If you watch sports you will see athletes doing this all of the time, the basketball player about to make a free throw or the soccer player about to kick a penalty shot.  
Keep spreading kindness, it makes the world a better place. 

Take care,
Mindy

Let's face it, life can be really challenging sometimes.  Balancing whatever obligations we have can be like juggling on a tight rope.  Last week was like that for me.  My notary work was very busy, then I found out that I am helping my friend's daughter plan his memorial, then I was getting ready for my one vacation of the year, so a little hectic, but that's life right?!
Well, even for someone with training in handling and dealing with stress and trauma, I have to admit I began to struggle, feeling a little like a marionette with multiple people operating my strings pulling me in all directions.  Time for Reiki.  I worked on myself every night and morning so that I would feel stronger handling work schedule, making tough phone calls and dealing with frustration.  If I didn't have this tool to rely on, I don't know what I would have done. I forgot to mention, I need exercise at least 5 days a week and my schedule limited me to 2.  Not only is exercise good for me, it also helps me feel balanced and allows me to connect with nature which helps me feel grounded.  So last week could be looked at as a recipe for disaster, but it wasn't.  
I worked to set a date for the memorial, to secure a venue and a caterer.  That was a relief, I'll worry about paying for everything later.  Dealt with work as we must do and prepped for the camping trip to NASCAR.  I got through everything and hit the road.  Smooth drive, fun night with friends, lots of laughs.  Then, 5am Sat morning I was woken up abrubtly when a camping neighbor started their generator, quiet hours ar 11pm-8am.  Keep that in mind.  Had and excellent day on Saturday, did everything I wanted and was able to relax after a quick notary for a friend.  
We turned in at 10pm, generator still going, but not quiet time.  Eleven rolled by, then at 1am I went to knock on their camper door.  I am getting old, for sure.  No answer.  About 1:45am I located security and they went to talk to the people.  Talk lasted 15 secs. and I was told there was an exception for health issues.  I began to think about my camping companion who couldn't use he CPAC because of the generator issue.  I began to think about my own mental health, yes I was getting dramatic, but at this point I had tried ear plugs and watching tv, but I could still hear it.  This is my only vacation and chance to really sleep, or so I thought.  
I ended up using Reiki and breathing techniques, combined with self-hypnosis and was able to sleep around 2:30am so that when I woke up at 6am, I wasn't ruined.  The anxiety I was feeling and the feeling that my trip was ruined, would have made it impossible to sleep. .
I am thankful for the training I have and that I can work to help others with these same issues and others.  Anxiety, stress, frustration especially when some of it is out of your control can cause your brain to "spin" and focus on the things that are going wrong instead of all that is right.  
All of the things that went right, made this weekend excellent for me, and I am grateful.  
If you or someone you know is having difficulty sleeping due to distracting thoughts or ruminating over something, click the schedule button on the opening page and set up a free phone call to discuss what is right for you.  
Take care of yourself, 
Mindy

I am so thrilled to finally have a space to meet with my clients in person.  I know how effective both hypnotherapy and Reiki can be through online sessions, but I've only had a few opportunities to work with clients in person.  Many clients have children or other members of the household who are home when they would like to have a session, which doesn't allow them to fully focus on themselves, the session or their goals.  Now I can help those clients as well and that makes me happy and energized.  I feel I was born to help others, I've been doing it since I was a young girl and am often the trusted friend that people will share their deepest secrets.  I've earned that through being trustworthy and being fully present when I am needed.  There were times in my life, before I learned about hypnosis and hypnotherapy where this role left me feeling drained.  I hadn't learned how to protect myself and not take on the emotions and feelings of others. Now that I have learned how to shield myself, I feel empowered to help people.  I think those of us who teach are drawn to this partially because we are the "helpers".  When I left teaching I knew I wouldn't feel fulfilled if I wasn't helping others and becoming a hypnotherapist was the BEST solution for me.  Learning about the brain and body is empowering and I love sharing this knowledge with my clients.  Many have the "ah ha" moment when they realize why they are stuck and that there is a solution and a way past it.  This is where I come in to play, as a hypnotherapist I can show you how your mind works and how much power your subsconscious mind has over your conscious mind.  This helps clients understand why they hit a block when they consciously want to make a change, but their subsconscious mind gets in the way.  You do not have to stay stuck all you need is the desire to change and change is possible.  
Schedule a free phone consultation and learn more.  
Give yourself a break today and spread kindness!  
Best wishes,
​Mindy

Good afternoon,
The first question I am met with when I share with people that I am a Reiki practioner is, what is it and why would you need it?  When I explain that practicioners are using the universal life force energy to help the person they are working with by working with the sacred Reiki symbols to help guide that energy to where it is needed.  It's too vague of a description for most people and I can see some "check out" as they make a decision in their head about it without even trying.  For some, it is just too "foo foo" or not believable even though it has been practiced for thousands of years. I do not try to convince people.  I share my own experience and without disclosing names, the experience of those I work with.  I try hard to not find this disappointing.  I find that we as humans believe in so many things that are either or a hoax, a gimmick or something that is truely not good for us.  When it comes to things like meditation, Reiki or hypnosis, people are more quick to be skeptical. I am not trying to say that you should just beleive in someone without educating yourself, you should.  However, when it comes to something that can help you and something that has no deterimental effect why wouldn't you try it?  The only thing you need to bring to the Reiki session is an open mind, the belief that it can work and the time for the session.  
I do not try to convice anyone because, just as with hypnosis, if you do not believe it will work for you, your are controlling that.  You facilitate your own outcome.  
I worked with one hypnotherapy client who told me straight out, you can do all of this, but I "know" I am going to keep doing what I am doing.  I was astonished because why are you here then?  I cannot change what you know, believe or desire.  If you are not willing to believe you can stop the bad habit you came to me to stop, then there is not point in trying.  Not to be rude, but if you don't truly "want" the change, it will not happen.  I can only work with the things people want to change.  The same is true for Reiki.  If you belive whatever you are dealing with can change, *medical conditions excluded* and you are willing to use that belief in your mind and body, we can make the change.  
So, is there a habit that you would like to stop or a fear/phobia that you would like to address and eliminate?  Contact me for a FREE phone consultation.  Why wait, to live the life you aspire to live?
Take care,
Mindy

I hope you are well and if you are not, please reach out to me or anyone with whom you feel safe.  This is a difficult time in the world, things happening that I've not seen in my lifetime.  It is easy to be hard on ourselves and from what I know, to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we do just about anyone else.  What does that mean?  We give others a break for their mistakes or letting us down, but we don't show the same grace to our own selves.  I am working on this every day, because we are all simply humans, doing our best with our time on this Earth.  Unless you knowingly hurt others and plan that in your daily activities, you need to give yourself grace.  Humans make mistakes, a lot of them. 
Mistakes are part of life and learning.  I always encouraged my students to try even if they make a mistake because that is what school is for, you see children develop this habit of perfectionism EARLY in life.  It's concerning and I think as adults it's important to share our mistakes and the lessons that we learn from them.  To model appropriate and healthy reactions.  This is what I did as a teacher.  I wasn't proud of my mistakes, maybe beccause I was one of those perfectionist types, but I wanted to show my students how to deal with them in a healthy way.  I was not shown that as a child and it took me over 30 years to learn to live with mistakes and not beat myself up.  So I share that message here.  Give yourself a break.  When possible, laugh at your mistakes or yourself.  No one is perfect, no one.  Then, do what needs to be done to fix it and learn from it.  Another thing I do when considering doing something I haven't tried before or something which I'm not sure of the approach, is to consider the worst case scenario.  What is the worst that can happen?  If I can live with the worst possible outcome, I continue.  
I did this with my dryer, just yesterday.  It started making noise and after some research, it seemed that the rollers were bad.  I looked up a video on how to fix this and I ordered original manufactured parts.  I followed the directions on the video, ran into a road block, got frustrated and then dug deeper into videos for my exact model, figured out where I went wrong and got back to it.  After a few hours of blood (yep), sweat and tears, it was finished!  It works and all seems fine, but if it's not, I now feel confident getting back in there and solving it.  I would never have done this 20 years ago.  I would have had to hire someone or buy a new dryer.  I did consider this as my dryer is 14 years old, but for $40 in parts and a few hours, it was definitenly worth the try!  I am proud of myself.  How often do you allow yourself to feel proud of what you have done?  I'm giving you permission.  Throw your arms up in victory, give your friend a high five and say to yourself, good job, you did it!  I like to throw a little party dance in there as well because that makes me smile.  Do something that makes you smile! 
My goal for this blog was to post two times a week, but I haven't met that goal yet, so I am adjusting.  I will post once a week with an occasional extra post here and there as things come up.  
Until next time, be kind to yourself and others.  The world  needs more kindness.  
Mindy

As a woman, I feel like I grew up not fearing, but dreading when I would enter this life phase.  It was something that was presented to me in a negative light.  Then, in what felt like a flash, I was there.  I had always dealt with terrible periods.  I had dibilitating cramps which left me unable to stand up straight, made me vomit and interrupted my sleep and work.  I was ok when on birth control pills, but over time these started to make me feel crazy.  Like PMS on steriods that lasted two weeks, some generic brands gave me hives.  Fianlly I was prescribed Norco, yep, but...I truly needed it and lucky for me, I didn't rely on it.  Problem was, these cramps always seemed to hit at 3am, not a good time to take a pain pill, so they only worked just before bed.  I struggled with using a IUD because I was afraid of the complications AND I was still hoping to have a baby.  Well, time passed and I finally decided that kids were not in the cards for me.  I also was able to see a wonderful OB-GYN doctor who addresssed all of my concerns and I got an IUD.  It was a short, but painful procedure.  The pain was so strong that I was doubled over driving for a short time  (5mins)and then...my monthly cycle changed 100%.  First, no more cramps!  (party dancing happened)  Then, after I few months I went from heavy and horrible to no flow!  OMG, I wish I had made this decision sooner or at least would have understood that having an IUD might mean, no more pain pills! 
I mention all of this because I know I am not alone, but also to help if you are in a similar situation.  Of course, you have to educate yourself as to all of the side effects and things that could go wrong in order to make the decision that is right for you. I also believe that having an IUD helped with other symptoms of menopause.  I talked to my wonderful accupuncture doctor and she recommeded an herbal supplement that I also believe helped.  
Let's talk "night sweats", first it's more like a night sauna.  I've exercised/worked out in hot and humid climates all over the world, but I have not ever sweated as much as I did during a night sweat.  I would wake up drenched, no joke, the sweat rolling down my body would wake me.  I would find any night clothing I was wearing, soaked.  The sheets on my bed, soaked.  I know women who will get up and change their sheets, not this woman.  I am lazy, I would get up, dry off and put towels down over my sheets, move to the dry side of the bed and go back to sleep.  I'm lucky that I don't share a bed at this time. (I am blessed to be able to go back to sleep in an instant, that's another story)
Regardless, it's disgusting and changing/washing sheets all the time isn't fun.  I started paying attention to when it would happen the most and what I was ingesting or putting on my skin, ie. lotion.  First, cutting back on drinking helped a lot.  The nights when I was out partying tended to be the worst.  What also happended on these nights is I would take a late afternoon/evening shower a slather on lotion.  Long story short, I got a filter for my shower and then stopped using lotion.  When I don't bathe or wash in chlorinated water, I don't need lotion.  I stopped using lotion at night and guess what?  The night sweats decreased.  I stopped using lotion after the shower totally and the night sweats stopped.  The only time I get them now is when I use lotion and don't clean it off before bed.  To me, it makes sense.  I was covering my pores and they couldn't breathe.  That's my thought and I'm sticking with it, but I am not a scientist.  What we do know is that every woman is different.  I wanted to share just in case this slight change of habit, which shouldn't hurt you in any way, might change your sleeping.  If you don't want to get a shower filter and/or stop using lotion, just try taking a shower before bed without putting on lotion for a week or two and see if you notice a change.  Please let me know what you experience either way.  
Wishing you comfortable sleep, peace and kindness. 
​Mindy