honoring nature's blue expanse & green vistas

wander | wander | women recently explored the concept of blue mind - the neuroscience of water associated peace that creates a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment. 

In contrast to red mind - which neuroscientist Catherine Franssen, PhD, describes as "an edgy high characterized by stress, anxiety, fear, and maybe even a little of anger and despair" - blue mind induces a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peace, unity. 

our island paradise

The difference between red mind and blue mind is that a red mind is one that has been impacted by the velocity of today’s society as compared with a blue mind that has been calmed by the soothing effects of water.

Bern, Switzerland

For wonder | wander | women's adventures in Switzerland last year, we were invited to stay with friends who live in one of the most fascinating medieval towns in the world. Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage site, founded in 1191 on a peninsula formed by the meandering Aare River.

View of Bern from the Rose Garden

saints, sinners, lovers, fools

April is here - bringing with it sunshine and warmth, fun and play outdoors, spring and allergies, upheavals and challenges. 

“The figure of the fool walked off the margins of medieval manuscripts into the unholy courts of the Renaissance, then returned to the page as Hamlet’s Yorick. Later, in the age of reason and democracy, the parodist of royal dignity became a mirror of the universal condition: Dostoevsky’s ‘holy fool’ and Picasso’s grubby clowns; Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.” ~ Dominic Green, The Wall Street Journal 

lousy world leaders - Firuz Kutal cartoon

Tough times call for more care and compassion. 

spring on the water

This season has really been a rollercoaster! wonder | wander | women are dressing in layers and making sure that the cotton shirts and the fleece pants are available, because we never know how the weather will change from one day to the next. 

Postman's Park by the Postal Museum

holy week - shaping perceptions, beliefs, relationships

Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is the last week of Lent. An opportune time to retreat from regular bustling busy business. Taking a few days of quiet and reflection for ourselves. 

Starting on Palm Sunday, wonder | wander | women gathered together to visit and pray with our parents who had passed away last year. 

Palm Sunday sunset

We arrived in time to catch the sun setting past the distant row of palms that bordered the property. Spending some time with siblings to offer prayers and chat around their urns. Filling them in on some updates we chose to share together.