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I have been writing a blog series that is taking “a spin on the wellness wheel.” Each week I have devoted a posting to one of the dimensions of wellness. I have not finished the series – however I am going to take a brief detour this week because of a special event. I will return to the spin next week.

I have been honored by Ruth Curran from Cranium Crunches to be nominated for a Liebster Award. I am very appreciative of the nomination because it makes me feel part of the blogging community

The Liebster Awards are about bloggers promoting other bloggers and getting to know each other just a bit better, and I am thrilled to participate.

I have met Ruth from Cranium Crunches  through reading her book, Being Brain Healthy. I was instantly captivated by her book and her account of her journey to being “ok” despite experiencing a Traumatic Brain Injury. Believing in “synchronicity” – I know this book has found its path to me because of my work with men and women who are struggling to adjust after  brain injury. Reading the book has also made a personal impact in my life.  The book closely aligns with my commitment to the dimensions of wellness.  I am recommending the book to everyone I encounter because it is a true testament to resilience and I want everyone to read it.

In honoring the Liebster Award I will respond to the questions that have been posed to me by Ruth and that were posed to Ruth by Kim Tackett.

1) What is your dream destination?

Home.  After spending nearly 30 years as a military spouse, moving nineteen times from state to state and country to country the perfect destination is “home.” There is an old Army saying – “Home is where the Army sends you,” but after nearly 30 years and now my husband’s retirement it is great to be able to arrive at the final destination – the home of our own choosing.

2) What places have you visited that you thought were highly overrated?

This is a tough one – I really can’t think of any place.

3) What is your favorite U.S. destination?

Although at heart I am Dorothy “There’s no place like home” we recently visited some very close friends who moved to South Carolina and live outside of Hilton Head. It was a wonderful visit with good friends and I loved the area. So, right now I probably have to say that Bluffton, South Carolina is my favorite U.S. destination.

4) What makes you happy?

So many things – but seeing my two daughters being happy in their lives makes me most happy. My oldest daughter just blessed me with two grandsons – one is nearly three and the other just 2 months old. Unfortunately they live far away. My other daughter is getting married in October and we are in the midst of wedding frenzy which is a great deal of fun.

This is truly a happy time in my life.

5) Why did you start blogging?

My blog if focused on self-development and self-improvement – I call it “Mid-Life Mosaic.” In my “other life” I work as a psychologist. There, I have the privilege of accompanying people on a journey to making their lives better. Through my work I have learned some ways of looking at things that have helped people view their lives differently. I like sharing these ideas, particularly with women in mid-life. I love the idea of helping women feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives and to be open to new possibilities. It is my hope that through reading my blog and maybe taking some of my courses, women can make some changes in their lives that create a sense of wellbeing.

 6) What are your top three bucket list items?

Three Adventures I would love to have are (in no particular order and for no particular reason):

1) Machu Picchu

2) Palma de Mallorca

3) A Rhine River Cruise

7) What is one piece of advice you would offer or one saying you live by?

I am always drawn to Glinda – The Good Witch – “You have always had The Power, My Dear, You just had to learn it.” That quote speaks to me at a deep level because it is about believing in yourself and trusting yourself.

8) What is the best thing anyone has ever said about your blog?

That they read it. I am relatively new to blogging and I am always pleased and maybe a bit surprised when people tell me that they read my blog.

9) What is your ultimate guilty pleasure?

Mindless TV.  I collapse at the end of the day and going up to bed and catching up on TV shows is a great pleasure.

 10) What is one product or service you cannot live without?

I live my life “plugged in” – I have my phone, my iPad and my lap top. I realize that it is probably not the best thing in the long run and that I am missing out on a great deal of life by being so plugged in but for now I accept that part of my life as such.

11) What two countries make you the happiest to visit?

The two countries that make me the happiest to visit are Mexico and Germany. Both hold a special place in my heart. I grew up living in Mexico (Mexico City) and only moved to the US when I was a teenager. However, my parents were German and we lived among the German community in Mexico. That is why my heart belongs to all things Mexican and all things German and I feel my heritage is a mosaic – maybe that is what prompted the name for my blog.

Now it is my turn to pass the torch. Although I have not had direct contact with these fascinating women I have enjoyed their writing and I read their blogs. I would love the opportunity to get to know them better.

Ladies I would like to nominate you to the Liebster Award

Beverly Golden

Ellen Dolgen

Meryl Hershey Beck