LFC= Love, Forgive , and Create. A reflection on the gift of living at my fullest capacity.

Driving into Griffith Park, I suddenly remembered the years ( over twenty) that I have been an avid hiker, and the amazing physical, mental, and social benefits of this low-impact form of "exercise”. I chose an easy basic trail, and parked near "The Merry-Go-Round". After the initial muscle stretching uphill pace, the trail settled into a slow and steady path that curved and climbed with amazing scenery throughout. One ofmany beautiful things about this park is that there are over 4,300 acres to explore. Taking a hike there can be slow and steady, or it can be a cardio blast at a fast uphill pace.It’s your choice. As I reached "Five-Points", a flat resting area where the trails go in five different directions. I headed for my right and choose a trail headed for the "Helicopter landing Pad". A rush of good feelings hit me, and I kept heading up, up, avoiding large rocks, and keeping my eyes open for snakes and lizards. Once ...

Creativity - The use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. Feeding our creativity is like eating a healthy diet with the right combinations of tools and techniques. Getting grounded, spending quality alone time, healthy treats, and music are all good things to feed our spirit & soul with, which can promote our creativity. 1) Getting grounded- Breathe, get connected with nature. Prioritize your physical wellness by getting good rest, eating right, & exercising. Good rest & sleep restores our physical bodies, and that can feel good. Eating a healthy well balanced diet feeds our cells & body parts with what they need, good food is like good gas in our tank. Exercise raises our serotonin levels, and flushes out stale energy from our bodies. This helps us to feel better and stay grounded & more connected with our physical bodies. 2) Spend some alone time & schedule an “Artist Date” with yourself. Accordi...

Self love can start with letting yourself have fun” or, giving your self permission to have fun. Re-parenting yourself & taking time to enjoy life in a nature setting. Almost any form / place in nature can be healing, and studies have shown that when we take ourselves out in nature it can be pleasant, healing, and relaxing. A simple way I have found to “re-parent” myself, is by letting myself do the fun things that I loved / enjoyed as a child. One “Easy way to empower yourself” is by trying new things, and starting small works best for me. This means to take something I already like to do & expand on it, taking it a step further. For me, exercising in nature is fun, one favorite way is going to different parks on excursions and giving myself time to sit / be in nature. A favorite place I went as a child was the “L.A. Arboretum”. As an adult, this can be the perfect outing for or myself when I need time alone, or am looking for inspiration. The grounds are large...

    Tree in Australian Section  For myself, Love can express it's self with a tiny escape in the city of Los Angeles at the L.A. Arboretum, a large public garden / park area of 127 acres in the San Gabriel Valley.  Tiny Waterfall in Tropical Garden / La Arboretum Here I can immerse myself in my love of nature, while exploring the Los Angeles County history at the same time. This beautiful place has 11 different gardens, and numerous tree and plant collections. My desire for “self-care” and a glimpse of beauty has brought me here on a Fall day in 2022. The Los Angeles Arboretum was created in 1947 with California & Los Angeles jointly purchasing 11 acres to create an Arboretum around the land that belonged to “Lucky Baldwin”.  My time spent in nature is soothing and provides space in my mind in order to think clearly about my life. A long 2 mile walk, and glimpse of the various trees, flowers, and wildlife brings forth calmness and helps me remain cent...