The Wisdom of Pookie

The Wisdom of Pookie. Two images of Pookie the Cat in a fallen laundry basket.

Several years ago, I befriended an ill kitty that was a part of my area’s feral community. He stole my heart and has been an inside cat ever since. His name is Pookie, and he is my constant companion. Since I was a child, dogs have always been a part of my family. So, having…

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Finding Beauty in Change

Finding Beauty in Change - Image of Belinda Haverdill in front of the field of Sunflowers mentioned in this blog.

At times it is hard for me to believe I have resided in North Carolina for more than twenty years. What initially drew me to Union County, NC, was the presence of small churches, family farms, and winding roads through beautiful, untouched areas of nature. I laugh at the memory of realizing most of the…

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Comfortability

Silhouette of a girl standing in front of an orange-red sunset, with her arms in the air. She seems to be at peace and in a state of comfort.

Since I was young, I have had the tendency to make up words. They have always made sense to me, although maybe not to those around me listening. Recently, I used the word “comfortability,” thinking it was one of my fanciful made-up words. I had to chuckle when I discovered it was a real word…

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Freedom

Freedom. Image of the silhouette of a woman holding a paddle, standing on a paddleboard on a lake. The sun and a forest of trees can be seen on the horizon in the background.

One of the first things I try to do upon rising in the morning is to meditate for five to ten minutes. Since it is so early in the morning, I often use a guided meditation from one of the apps I like to use. No thinking required. This is such a sacred time for…

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Transformation

Transformation. Silhouette of a dragonfly sitting on the tip of a plant in front of a sunset sky.

During a walk, not so long ago, I heard a sound I have not heard in a while. It was the sound of leaves in the trees being rustled by the wind. Such a different sound than when the branches are bare during the winter months. It touched my heart with joy to hear this…

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A Good Bad Day

A Good Bad Day. Image of a woman covering her face by holding her hand up against a glass window covered in rain drops in front of her.

Some of the things I do for self-care:  Exercise Meditate Spend time in nature Try to connect with friends Love on my pet kitty, Pookie Complete the Five-Minute Journal daily Ingest wonderful supplements The list goes on and on…. Yet, despite all these wonderful practices, I found myself in an old, familiar place this past…

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Receiving the Extraordinary

Receiving the Extraordinary. Image a person holing up a glass jar. A galaxy sky can be seen in the background through the glass jar. Joy.

Can you recall a moment in your life where you felt pure joy? Or a time that you felt so loved by something bigger than yourself? For me, there are no words that can thoroughly explain the experience. I am fully present and able to receive these gifts without any hesitation. There is a feeling of…

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The Power of Looking Back

The Power of Looking Back. Self-reflection. Image of a woman in a white dress standing with her back facing the camera in an open, sandy area next to a puddle of water. In the background is a horizon line of mountains an a blue sky with some clouds.

Have you ever listened to a podcast or read something online and some small truth just jumps out at you, prompting you to see things in a whole new light? I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love these moments! I tend to revere them with tenderness and awe, knowing this type of opportunity…

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The Great Mystery

The Great Mystery. Image of a dark forest filled with large, bare trees and fallen leaves. A pathway runs through the middle of it. A bright light shines at the end of the path, illuminating it slightly. Death.

For many, this time of year is a welcome reprieve from the long “dog days of summer.” As the temperatures begin to drop, along with the leaves of the trees, change is in the air. Pots filled with flowers and the gardens we’ve planted have grown, bloomed, bore fruit, and now begin to wither. At…

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My Mother’s Wisdom

My Mother's Wisdom. Image of the silhouette of a mother and daughter standing near a tree as they look out at a colorful pink, purple, and blue galaxy.

As a child, my mother used to tell me and my siblings to go outside and “get the stink blown off you”. It did not matter if it was over 90 degrees and the taper candles on our dining room table were melting. Conversely, it also did not matter if it was so cold that…

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