Dr. Atkins’ Thoughts
October 4, 2022
Socrates said: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Ultimately, by living an examined life, we are giving ourselves an amazing gift. We receive a sense of freedom, clarity, and thus, peace. Socrates further says: “We must examine and understand the universe that dwells within [our] own soul.” […]
September 2, 2022
On August 9th, Primary Election Day, I was aware of my significant internal distress. I needed to understand what was going on. I quieted myself and began to write. I write as a way to sort out my feelings which, in this case, were deeply entwined with a powerful symbol […]
June 9, 2020
Many of you have read about and heard Amanda Salzhauer (co-author of The Kindness Advantage) and me discuss The Helper’s High, a term coined by Alan Lux). The Helper’s High refers to a flood of endorphins that occurs in a person doing a kind act that makes them feel good and encourages them to do another […]
June 9, 2020
Because of COVID-19, many of the critical ways we connect with others – person to person conversations, physical touch, hugs – have become impossible. Millions of people have turned to frequent phone calls, Zoom, and other internet platforms seeking to find ways to replace the missing connection. Often these efforts […]
May 1, 2020
The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus has a way of evoking every possible emotion. The short list includes: fear, sadness, grief, anxiety, anger, loneliness, despair, and worry. While it is understandable that we should feel many of these emotions, we face a challenge trying not to miss the opportunities […]
May 1, 2020
Connection is protection. The more connected we feel, the safer we feel. How do we manage that when we need to practice physical distancing? Many of us are feeling alienated and unsafe because we are disconnected from those with whom we normally interact. It’s normal to feel anxiety, depression, […]
March 19, 2020
During this period of social distancing it is important to keep connected with others, particularly for people who live alone. Now is the time to stay connected with technology (in addition to social media which can be VERY stressful). Social support helps us to deal with stressful situations because 1) […]
March 19, 2020
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), I am “old.” Not only that, I am “elderly.” WOW! I have spent my entire life keeping my mind, body, and spirit as healthy (and youthful) as possible. And I am still convinced that was (is) the right decision. These days, however, […]
March 3, 2020
One thing is for certain: for many people (particularly women) putting self-care high on our “to do” list or even the “what shall I be aware of” list can be challenging. Keeping our finger on our own pulse so to speak while we check in with and take care of […]
March 3, 2020
When everything is going our way, life is great. Things fall into place and we can see possibilities and opportunities easily. We can become attached to these feelings and never want them to end. We may expect that they will not end. Then something happens and our world changes, and […]