Greetings and Salutations -

I'm about to do something that I haven't done for many years. I'm going to be going completely off-line for three days. I am going with my stepmother to a yoga and meditation retreat from now through Sunday afternoon.

If there is an urgent site issue, please contact one of the managers for assistance. You can find all their names and contact info in the Editor Assistance site - just go to the bio page there for a full listing. The managers know how to contact my house, and my boyfriend knows how to fix most things and how to track me down in a true emergency. So we've got all the bases covered!

So often we put off taking care of ourselves, instead taking care of others. However, whenever you go on an airplane flight they advise you to put on your OWN air mask before turning to help children or others. If you don't make sure you are OK first, then everyone suffers as a result. You cannot help others fully if you are only working at a fraction of your potential.

It's not always possible to get away for a full three days, but look for the mini-retreats as they present themselves! If you're waiting in line, visualize your favorite place and make it into a mini virtual retreat. If you have fifteen minutes before the laundry finishes, sit down with a cup of tea and just breathe in the fragrance. It's those small moments of calm which add up and help you face life's normal kaleidoscope of changes with serenity and energy.

I look forward to returning on Sunday with even more serene focus, and I'll share news about the retreat in the forums for anyone who wants to know what it was like!

Have a great weekend :)


Lisa Shea, owner
BellaOnline.com

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