Category: A Better You

Holistic Wellness, Slowing Down & Reflecting

I was fortunate enough to spend a recent day and a half at a holistic wellness retreat. It was exactly what I needed: some “me time,” time out in nature and a chance to slow down, step back from all my stresses, and reflect on my life, present and future.

I won the chance to attend this retreat through Labor-Management Healthcare Fund. They host various retreats annually at Beaver Hollow Conference Center, which is roughly 45 minutes from Buffalo, NY. I’ve actually never entered before and was pleasantly surprised when I learned that I’d won this one! Everything was included and best of all, free!

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by melissaburgess

In the Midst of My Invisalign Journey

As my Timehop reminded me, one year ago today, I started on my Invisalign journey with my initial consultation. After years of being told by dentists that I needed braces and should really consider them, I finally found myself in a place where I was able to do so.

For the record, it’s not that I never wanted braces, but orthodontics are, well, expensive. Not everyone can afford them and they can certainly be seen as a luxury! A few years ago, I got a price quote on Invisalign from my dentist (who only does Invisalign, not regular braces) and I was flabbergasted at the number. Turns out if you’re over a certain age (for me, it was 25), your insurance may not cover any orthodontic care.

At any rate, over the last year, I found myself financially in a position where I was able to do this, thanks to my dad’s estate after he passed away. And I decided to commit myself to it. A year ago, I had my consultation. I started my first tray on June 7, 2018.

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by melissaburgess

My #Last90Days Challenge

We’ve entered the final quarter of the 2018 calendar year. Honestly? Wow. It’s mind-blowing me to how quickly this year has passed, and it undoubtedly has to do with the fact that just four days in, my father died unexpectedly. That threw my entire year, and life, for a loop and in some ways threw me totally off course.

I’ll be honest: the one thing I told myself I was going to do this year – keep writing my novel that I started in late 2017, and then work on seriously getting it published, even if only as an eBook – is the one thing I didn’t touch. At all. I completely abandoned the entire thing, and sometimes, I feel bad about it. I wish I hadn’t. It’s still there, sitting, waiting for me to rescue it, and at some point, maybe I will. But I’m just not there yet.

That being said, when I stumbled upon Rachel Hollis’ #Last90Days challenge, I was intrigued. The final three months of the year are a great time to set intentions for yourself, and with the way this year has gone, it’s time to get myself in order.

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by melissaburgess

Book Review: Girl, Wash Your Face

Rachel Hollis puts a fresh spin on the traditional “inspirational” book in her 2018 release, Girl, Wash Your Face. This book will kick your butt into gear and make you want to get up and DO SOMETHING about your life… without using a ton of cliches to get you there.

I’m going to be straightforward with you here: I’d never heard of Rachel Hollis until a month or two ago. I saw the trailer for her “Made For More” movie, and it certainly caught my eye. I looked into it, and her, and discovered she had a) an Instagram (so I followed) and b) a book. I had to request the book at the library and was on a waiting list, so it took me a bit to get it – but it was worth the wait!

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by melissaburgess

Thinking about Life.

So far in the first five and a half months of the 2018 calendar year, I’ve been to two funerals.

The first, of course, was my dad’s. That was hands-down one of the most difficult experiences of my entire life. This past week, I also attended my uncle’s funeral. While we was older than my dad – by about 14 years – it was still very sad. The touching memories and time spent with family meant a lot.

All of this has made me think about life so much. I don’t like to say I’m thinking about death, because I’m not. But I’m thinking more about our lives and how we all only have these moments, and we never know when we won’t have any more moments. It’s all made me realize just how precious life is.

The pastor at my uncle’s funeral said something like “we have 1,440 minutes every day. you have to use those minutes that day, you can’t save them for the next day. and every day, you get to start over.”

How true is that? And what a blessing, to know that each day is a new opportunity for us. I don’t ever want to take a day for granted if I can help. I know it isn’t always easy; life isn’t always easy. Sometimes we have these experiences that are so tough, it feels like we’ll never make it to tomorrow and the new 1,440 minutes that await us. But we do. One day at a time.

How did you spend your 1,440 minutes yesterday? Did you do anything that you enjoy, or are passionate about? Did you spend half of doing something you hate? Did you spend it with people you love?

How are you going to spend tomorrow’s 1,440 minutes — assuming you get them?

Life is meant to be lived – so get out there and start living.

by melissaburgess