Facing adversity is a part of life...sorry, that was sort of a DUH statement. It is in times of trial that we really see what we're made of. All of the bugs come out of the woodwork so to speak. And some of them can be big and ugly. I want you to think about how you handle hard events and emotional trial.

I'm a firm believer in the body's ability to heal itself. If any part of you - body, mind, and spirit - is missing an important component to thrive, it will certainly let you know in the fastest way possible. This may include pain, low energy, insomnia, headache, confusion, extreme emotions or any number of distress markers that we usually notice...real quick.

I was reminded today about how lucky I was that my two oldest children (now adults) were not high-strung, rebellious, down-right nasty, or any of those negative personas that make any woman reconsider her motherly throne. But that was like a million years ago.

I know this has nothing to do with women's health, wellness, or beauty, but it really touched me. I actually had tears in my eyes while watching this incredible event unfold. Check out what stole my heart...

OK, so I borrowed Journey's famous song title for this post, but please bear with me as I make a point that will change the way you see your life. Take a look at the refrain from the song that has now made a HUGE comeback thanks to that little TV show called GLEE.

If we could really understand what our bodies are trying to tell us on a regular basis, we would no doubt be saddened by the message it is sending. Through just being who we are and participating in the activities of our day, we constantly put unneeded pressure and torment on our bones, muscles, and connective tissue.

It is no shock that of those millions of patients, many either don't really need the meds or are being used as "experimental" subjects to determine if the drug will help conditions other than depression. It is in this fact that one has to be careful about not only starting an antidepressant but getting off of one.

Ah, those wonderful - and cursed - emotions, earning the right to compete with the most thrilling and frightening of roller-coasters. I'm not talking about the extremes that would land you a bi-polar diagnosis, no, just the ordinary ones that take you from one day to the next; the ones that may, on occasion, make you question your sanity but are benign...for the most part.

Have you ever noticed how the most significant events happen when you are not pining or asking for them? This truly incredible phenomenon is what I am grateful for this week.

Let's focus for a moment on all the campaigns that affect our lives, how they help, how they hurt, how they need to be changed. Ask yourself this: what campaign would I start if I had the chance? Really.

As one of the most sacred of spaces, the bedroom has the potential to bring peace and serenity or ill-health and distress. I'm only scratching the surface of how important it is to have balance in this area. Focus on the actual sleeping space of the room first. How does it make you feel?

You know how they say you thrive in the areas of your life on which you focus most of your attention? I was thinking about how much energy we moms put into the lives of our children.

I always loved playing tag when I was a kid, probably because I was a fast runner and always caught those little buggers. Well, I was tagged by Gina from A Muse In My Pocket for the Five/Five/Five blogging game (BTW, I just named it that).

As far as me, I'm thankful for all of the incredible opportunities that have flown through my door as of late. Desires that I had months and even years ago are coming to pass right before my eyes.

I've been tossing around the question: How long does it take to get healthy? My gut tells me several things immediately; first, it depends on what level of health you are seeking and from what point you are starting. Because there are varying degrees of wellness, we have to pay attention to more specific goals in order to get a clear understanding of our progress.