Storm & harmony Blog Library

Not everyone walks into the holidays carrying the same emotional history. For some, this season feels warm, steady, and familiar in the best way. Their family gatherings are predictable in a comforting sense, and showing up doesn’t require much emotional preparation. For others, the holidays can be a mixed bag. The love is there, but so are old roles, old patterns, and old versions of themselves that surface the moment they step back into certain rooms. Both experiences are r

The holiday season is almost here, and for many of us, that comes with a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and if we’re completely honest, a few landmines for our health goals. Every year, traditions show up in full force. Some of those traditions fill us up in the best ways. Others make it a lot harder to stay aligned with the habits we’ve been building all year. This blog isn’t here to tell you what to change. It’s here to get you thinking before the season fully arrives. Refle

This past week, I watched my oldest son earn his black belt at True North in Brookfield, and it hit me harder than I expected. The test lasted hours. Families filled the room, shoulder-to-shoulder, watching their kids work toward something they’ve poured years into. We sat there as they kicked, punched, jumped, and powered their way through each skill. In a couple of circumstances, a student had to perform a form alone, in front of a crowd of instructors, parents, peers, ever

Lately, I’ve been noticing how sometimes I move through my days without truly checking in with myself. I may jump from task to task—being a mom, supporting patients in my full time work while balancing ways to promote my business, trying to keep life and schedules flowing—and suddenly realize I haven’t taken a full, grounded breath in hours. It hit me this week in the most ordinary moment: rushing around the kitchen, juggling too much at once. My stomach felt tight, my shou

It starts before the first snowfall. Ignore the dusting we had Sunday. That doesn’t count. The air sharpens, the days shorten, and somehow the world seems to move faster. The grocery store aisles become shoulder to shoulder buzzing louder, inboxes fill quicker, and every to-do list grows a new page overnight. You are starting to feel it, this pressure to get ahead of the holidays. To plan, to host, to decorate, to make it all mean something. No matter how early you start, ti

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us — lists to make, meals to plan, gifts to wrap. Even when we’ve managed the stress and found a bit of balance, it’s easy to get swept back into the rush. But somewhere between the glittering lights and late-night wrapping, there’s a quiet truth: most of us don’t need more stuff. We crave more peace, more energy, more connection. This year, what if your gifts didn’t just fill a space under the tree but filled the people you love wi

Every year around this time, we start to feel it—that slow build of pressure as the holidays approach. The calendar fills, the lists grow longer, and somewhere between the shopping, cooking, and coordinating, we start to lose sight of the peace this season is meant to bring. It’s easy to say we’ll “do things differently this year,” but unless we pause with intention, the stress can take the wheel. Wellness during the holidays isn’t about perfection—it’s about learning how to

Halloween is over, but the real challenge just began.There’s a bowl of leftover candy on the counter, your kids’ bags are overflowing, and somehow, those Skittles and tiny little Reeses seem to call your nam e  every time you walk by. Let’s not pretend you don’t hear it. “Hey you…come a little closer. I have something for you. Remember how delicious I am?” Oh, they look and sound harmless. Small, even. But let’s be honest, it’s never just one. It’s just one, repeatedly throu

When we think about wellness, we often focus on human habits—our diets, our exercise routines, our mindfulness practices. But sometimes, the best wellness coaches come on four legs, perch on branches, or even flutter by when we least expect it. Animals, both pets and wildlife, have a lot to teach us about how to live well, and they do it simply by being themselves. The Calm in the Chaos: The Stress-Relief Power of Animals If you’ve ever had a pet, you know the grounding comfo

We all carry quiet stories about who we are and what we’re capable of. Some sound like logic. Others sound like experience. But many are simply delusions, false narratives that keep us safe inside familiar patterns while quietly paralyzing our potential. “I’ll start when life slows down.” “I’ve tried everything.” “I’m just not disciplined enough.” “I’m too far gone.” They sound believable because they once protected us. These thoughts help us make sense of disappointment and

There’s something special about the aroma of a home-cooked meal filling your kitchen—the sound of a sizzling pan, the sight of fresh ingredients transforming into something nourishing, and the sense of comfort that comes with sitting down to eat something you made yourself. In a world where takeout and drive-throughs often win for convenience, home cooking offers something far deeper: connection, health, and presence. Nourishment That Goes Beyond Nutrition Cooking at home giv

Traveling invites us to step outside of our daily routines—to explore new places, meet new people, and gain fresh perspective. But while those experiences can be deeply enriching, travel can also test the healthy habits we’ve worked hard to build. Between irregular schedules, limited food options, and disrupted sleep, it’s easy to feel like your wellness routine gets left behind at home. The truth is that travel challenges us to stay balanced in new environments—and that chal

Halloween has a way of sneaking up on us, not just with costumes and decorations, but with temptation . Our kids bring home pillowcases full of candy, our workplaces are stocked with treats, and suddenly, that “just one piece” becomes 5. Or 10. Or an entire evening. Well, you get the idea. And here’s the truth: it’s not about avoiding candy altogether. It’s about understanding what’s really going on, and learning how to make choices that feel good long after the sugar rush fa

In our last post, “What Does ‘Health’ Really Mean?” we explored how health can look and feel different for everyone, shaped by culture, lifestyle, and personal values. Once you begin to define what health means to you, the next question often becomes: how do I live it out consistently? That’s where working with a health coach can bridge the gap between intention and action. A Short-Term Partnership for Long-Term Change Sometimes, the hardest part of making a change is simply

As the air turns crisp and the trees transform into golden canopies, there’s something deeply comforting about turning on the oven and letting the scent of cinnamon, pumpkin, and baked apples fill your home. Fall has a way of inviting us into the kitchen—not just for indulgence, but for nourishment. Home baking doesn’t have to mean refined sugar or heavy desserts. With the right ingredients, fall baking can become a mindful, health-supportive ritual that celebrates seasonal a

Understanding the Many Ways People Define Well-Being When most people hear the word health , they think of diet and exercise. But health is so much more than that—it’s personal, layered, and constantly evolving. For one person, it might mean training for a race or feeling strong in their body. For another, it could mean managing stress, sleeping better, or having the energy to play with their kids. What “healthy” looks like depends on your experiences, your values, and even y

By a Health Coach Who’s Been There, Too. There comes a point when even the most well-intentioned plans start to unravel. Maybe it was the...

There’s something about the first cool breeze of fall that feels like an exhale. The air shifts, the leaves trade their greens for red,...

We’ve all wished for it, the “easy button.” That magical solution that would make living healthier simple. One press and suddenly we’d...

This past weekend, three generations of my family stepped into the woods together for an archery hunt, my dad, myself, and my 10-year-old...