AuthorThe Zen Den

Hello and welcome to The Zen Den. My name is Alison and while I am passionate about many things, my most inspiring driving force is human connection. Blogger, content writer, orthopedic exercise specialist, motivational speaker, international yoga pro, published songwriter, avid poker player, mom and wife are just a few of my titles. But when I do my job at NASA, I am known simply as “The Fairy Zenmother” a role I deeply love because people invite me into their space to help them find their center, relax and stretch their muscles and destress their mind. Here in the blogosphere version of The Zen Den, I invite you into my world where I will explore ideas for creating a better tomorrow and a kinder today. And hopefully, with insight, authenticity and humor; my words, observations and experiences will help you feel calm, centered, intellectually challenged and spiritually enlightened. Alternatively, if you have something you would like to see covered in The Zen Den, just let me know. Your feedback is welcome and valuable to the success of this blog. Finally, my heart is filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to share with all of you.

Go For Some Gratitude

If we overinflate our expectations of an event such as the perfect meal, an  amazing date, the best trip ever, a holiday family gathering . . . we are setting ourselves up for possible disappointment. When we feel disappointed unfortunately we are...

Her Voice

I placed my face as close as I could to her cheek. Although she was hovering between life and the ethereal passageway, I believed she could still hear my voice. “Mom,” I whispered in her ear, “I hope you can hear me, momma you are my everything and...

Valued

“Valued”, I’m not sure why this word popped into my mind this morning. Perhaps it is the emotional leftovers after our beautiful, blended friends and family Thanksgiving. Maybe it is all the “love gathering” pictures streaming across my timeline...

Her Body #HeGetsIt

“So totally random but, I want to tell you all about a revelation I recently had,” she says. Not an unusual statement coming from our lovely, intelligent 29-year-old daughter.  Unsure of what may be coming next, her adoring husband appearing a wee...

Destiny’s Mirror

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous essayist, lecturer and philosopher once eloquently stated, “the only person that you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Reminded of this quote, this morning I looked in the mirror and asked myself...

They Call Me Jew-“ish”

What happens when a 30 year-old, Jesus loving, bible-quoting Christian woman moves from a relatively small Oklahoma town to the big city of Charlotte and finds herself embedded in the Jewish community (employed at the JCC) for 22 years?  Life...

Hummingbird My Heart

All alone I sat on the balcony. I waited there, quiet and still. A wistful breeze gently tossed the leaves on the live oak. I listened. Nature’s orchestra began to serenade my soul; the squirrel’s lively chatter, the bright red cardinal’s love song...

Aspire to Inspire

Last night I watched Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. Then I turned the channel and listened to Tucker Carlson on FOX. Then I turned the channel and listened to Anderson Cooper on CNN, then to Hannity, back to Lawrence O’Donnell and then to Laura Ingraham...

Coffee with Cream, Hold the Tweets Please

While sipping on my pumpkin spice coffee this morning, listening to the political rehash of yesterday’s “unprecedented” tweet of the day, I had this interesting realization. Seriously, there is no amount of caffeine that can...

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