WellnessWithHolli

  Dedicated to my Fellow Speakers  ~ Holli Kenley One year ago Twelve Speakers gathered together Excited. Eager to share their messages   Six months of preparation and practice Leading to this moment in time A TEDx Talk.  A Dream   They knew early on They shared a common theme Compassion. Caring. Giving to others   The audience gathered Confusion. Tech issues. Nerves. Each took the stage Each radiant voice illuminating a strand of possibilities – Learning.  Healing. Transforming   Voices of Courage to Change Charlene teaching truths about domestic violence, offering concrete tools for a path to freedom Holli providing new insight into shame and relapse, offering an empathic approach for a path to healing Veronica inspiring others to rewrite their painful stories, offering empowering steps for a path to  positivity   Voices of Commitment to Self- Care Martina shifting perspectives on the power of ...

  For most of my adult life, I have dealt with pesky skin spots and minor skin growths. A trip to the dermatologist has always remedied these nuisances with a quick freezing or a simple shaving .   Unfortunately, over the past fifteen years, the basal cell carcinomas which were easily treated on my back, legs, and upper chest began to surface on my scalp. While recuperating at home the last few days after an eighth surgery on my scalp, I am well-aware that my journey with skin cancer thus far may not be as life-threatening as with individuals who are suffering from other kinds of cancer, chronic illnesses, or serious conditions. Nonetheless, I believe in the concept of shared suffering and in the healing connections which draw us together.   Therefore, my message is two-fold. I have learned that I am not be able to control the progression or the outcome of living with skin cancer. However, I can embrace a mindset of self-compassion. Let’s explore three healing pro...

We are discussing shaming. More specifically, we are exploring Public Shaming . In  Public Shaming - Part One: Two Costly Casualties , we examined  how the viral nature of Public Shaming is harming Our Children and Our Human Condition.  If you have not already read Part One, please do so before joining us for Public Shaming Part Two: Two Restorative Responses. Although Public Shaming has caused and continues to cause a great deal of injury and pain, we have it in our power to eradicate this toxic behavior. However, it requires that each of us decides whether we want to be part of the ongoing problem or if we want to partake in its solution. It's as simple as that. If you are ready to commit, let's get started with Part Two. 2 Restorative Responses To Public Shaming: A Position of Restraint and A Posture of Unconditional Regard A Position of Restraint Whether you have been shaming others publicly or not, we are going to make a commitment right now to ado...

With the holiday season upon us, it is easy to feel anxious and stressed. There is much to do and not enough time to do it in. In addition, with worries around the costs of gift-giving and travel as well as meeting family expectations, our joy begins to slip away. To add to the tension of the holidays, stores are crammed with pushy shoppers and streets are filled with impatient drivers. Gosh, no wonder with each passing day, we feel more agitated and less appreciative of the season. Let’s take a look at how we navigate a happier and healthier mindset during Holiday Turbulence. 3 Easy Practices For Staying Balanced! Breathe and Hold Suspend Beliefs Be In The Moment Let’s begin with our first practice. Breathe and Hold You’ve probably heard about the importance to taking deep breaths when dealing with stress or anxiety. However, we’re going to change it up a little.   The exercise is as follows: 1) When you feel mad, tense, anxious, irritable etc., clo...

We are having a conversation about friendships! For the purposes of this series, we are looking at healthy friendships as a necessary component of any relationship such as a best friend, a family member, a co-worker, or a life-partner. In week one, we examined the quality of being   Easy ,  and we discussed the importance of friendships being Authentic, Honest , and Trustworthy. In week two, we addressed how healthy friendships need to be  Equal   , and we focused on three essential elements: Balance, Reciprocal , and Respectful . In order to get the most out of our series, please go back and read Easy and Equal . Today, we are moving onto the third quality to consider in cultivating healthy friendships – Enriching. Are my friendships Enriching? This question might sound odd or silly! And yet, it is an important one. Because of negative portrayals of friendships such as arguing, fighting, backstabbing, bullying, cyber bullying, and other aggressiv...

As the holiday season is upon us, it is only natural to think about what gifts we want to give and to receive. Everywhere we look, there is a ton of stuff from which to choose. And with all the advertisements in the stores as well as on our technology, there is no escaping the message – Buy!  Buy!  Buy! It can be overwhelming and expensive. And yet, there is something we can give that is not only completely free but it will give back to us as well! What can this gift be? Many years ago, I taught 8 th grade English and literature at a brand new middle school in Southern California. I will never forget my first year there where I met an extraordinary student named Sunshine. With her long auburn wavy locks bouncing around her shoulders, her freckled face and pearly white teeth, and always wearing very simple and clean but worn clothes, Sunshine entered our classroom every day with a positive selfless attitude.  Whether it was before school started, or during...