Summer has come to a quiet close. I intentionally made the most of the surprisingly cool, yet sunny summer days of Colorado by attempting to keep the cornucopia of technology just at arm's length. I vowed to purposefully spend more time just being present in the moment.

In The Art of Stillness, Pico Iyer writes, "In the age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention."

Such a true statement! It truly takes courage to step out of the fray, but when you do, it brings you closer to others. In the almost two years of living here, I've connected with people and have formed friendships in ways that I haven't in many years. And I've been blessed to create more lifelong memories with my sweet family and to re-connect with some of the dearest friends I'll ever know.

This blog post serves as a gentle reminder of the magic that happens when you let go of the pace that life throws at you and instead choose to embrace the stillness.

"The point of gathering stillness is not to enrich the sanctuary or mountaintop but to bring that calm into the motion, the commotion of the world."

The Art of Stillness – Pico Iyer

Eleven Mile State Park

My Besties

Breckenridge, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park

Garden of the Gods

Rocky Mountain Tea Festival

Grand Teton & Yellowstone

Solar Eclipse 2017

Remember to be still, my Huckleberries!

XOXO

It's the time of year when seasonal allergies are kicking into high gear, there's an overwhelming flurry of activities as school comes to an end, and people are desperately in need of a summer vacation. Maybe it's no coincidence that May is mental health month – a great reminder to slow down, take inventory of your mind, body and spirit and nurture those areas that have been neglected.

One of my favorite reminders to take pause in my day-to-day are visits from friends and family. These visits often lead to experiencing this amazing place I call home with new eyes. I believe it's also no coincidence that a friend that I haven't seen in over 15 years visited this month and introduced me to a new experience that nourished both my mind and body – a salt cave!!!

Now, I know some are of you are thinking that I've moved to Colorado and gone "all granola." Believe me, I was skeptical at first too. I did absolutely no research before I visited 5 Star Salt Caves in Denver. I only knew that I had an super annoying tickle in my throat from allergies and couldn't take a deep breath without coughing and my friend said that an hour sitting in this room full of salt was good for your health. What the what? However, mention anything spa-related and I'm all in.

I was completely amazed when I walked into the calm, serene space. I found myself surrounded by 13,000 pounds(!) of Himalayan rock salt, a simulated night sky sparkling from above, and soft, ambient music. I laid down and was covered with a cozy blanket. For me, it was the perfect opportunity to empty all of the busy thoughts wrestling in my mind and focus instead on peace and prayer. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 14:10 – Be still, and know that I am God. This space certainly offered the perfect environment to do just that. At some point I actually drifted off to sleep and darn if I didn't walk out feeling rested, at peace, and able to breath fully without having the urge to cough since.

I'm sure you still have questions. Here's what I've learned:

What is a salt room?

A room reproduced as a natural salt cave offering salt therapy.

What is salt therapy?

Salt therapy (also known as Halotherapy) is a drug-free treatment that uses salt vapor to treat ailments. "Halo" comes from the Greek work for salt.

What are the benefits?

Salt therapy treats respiratory ailments such as asthma, allergies, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses. It can also help skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and combats mental lethargy.