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While the madness ensues and I am bouncing between tearfulness and anger daily, I decided to stop and take a look at human civilizations over the centuries. This round of authoritarianism, I found, was a replay from so many that came before it. I also ruminated on the chance of it rising again.

This blog post is dedicated to the current state of democracy in the United States as seen through the lens of human well-being. I am unable to remain silent while basic human, constitutional and civil rights are being blatantly disregarded.

As the old year of 2025 wound down and the new one was on the horizon, I imagine many us turned our thoughts to the way we will greet, meet and initiate the upcoming year. Perhaps many also decided to resolve to change a behavior or set a goal using New Year’s Resolutions. Not to be pessimistic, but most resolutions fail, and fail rather quickly.

The holiday season holds the magic of meaning for all of us celebrating holidays around the world in the month of December. Each holiday is held sacred and defined by the culture in which it grew.

As the daylight shortens and leaves fall, we are reminded of the impermanence of our lives. Sharing time with others in this season is warm and comforting. It brings us two elements of human well-being: connection and joy.

The experience of well-being is a desired state for human beings; however, it is often harder to attain than we might hope. The current trauma-inducing state of our world often stands in the way of well-being for countless individuals who endure poverty, suffering, disease, hunger and so many more reasons.

First Harvest and the Festival of Loaf Mass, Lammas, Lammastide, and also called Lughnasadh!

Walking outdoors in the month of July in any northern hemisphere locale, olfactory nerves are tickled with the flowery smells, blossoming trees, grasses, and the sweet aroma of herbs growing in our gardens.  Our optic nerves are stimulated with a flood of color and taste buds await the first harvest of herbs to spice our food, adding beauty, flavor and good medicine to our plates. 

When I was a child, we celebrated May Day with the traditional Maypole, May baskets and community gatherings for these events. Sadly, those things have gone away in most communities, but it does not lessen the joy the month of May brings.