Back at it! Bells are ringing and students are lining up for a bright future, all thanks to you.

Being part of the team that supports education in Vermont is an amazing role, filled with joy and heartbreak. It takes a mountain of courage to do the work you do. That’s why we have a multitude of resources for you in the VEHI PATH program. That’s why we get out of bed each day.

You get out of bed each day to give every cell of your being to the young people who need you. Herculean work like that can overwhelm, even when it is welcome and wonderful. Researchers in emotional wellbeing are sending out a giant notice to all caregivers like you, that strength isn’t just about grit and pushing through. Strength is also about wrangling support, early and often.

Every year, The PATH Healthy Life Survey aggregate data shows that Vermont school employees are notoriously bad at asking for help. Sorry but it’s true. Our New England “stiff upper lip” mentality often translates to higher stress and anxiety, heart palpitations, neck pain, lack of energy, and more.

We get it. Cultural stigma and the hero complex run deep in our world. Besides, no one wants to be that person who seems needy or cloying, who overshares or is undone by the smallest hiccup. But here’s the deal… Only 1% of the population is that person so chances are, it’s not you. Further… social support makes everything better. Period. Like a beautiful sunrise washing over you, why wouldn’t you soak it up?

Strength in asking for help means that you are bolstering what is best about you and what you have to give to others. Everyone wants that for you. Don’t you want it for everyone else? It also means you are proactively choosing to grow rather than hand wringing in silence. Finally, it means you’re allowing empathy to cover you with a shield of power. It’s all such a relief. Trusting and accepting help radiates confidence and resilience (both of which are contagious, by the way). In short, success requires support.

And boy oh boy… people love to feel needed and trusted. Studies show we way underestimate this.

Receiving help might not fix everything right away. Airing your fears and working out your thoughts with people who care and are there for you can make the solutions feel within reach and the road ahead less bumpy.

Don’t wait until you’re in crisis mode. Dive into your support network now and make it part of your daily go-to for working at your best.

For immediate mental health support from PATH or national help lines, scroll down.

“Whether you’re rich or poor, young or old, established in your career or just starting out, your circumstances aren’t fixed… Alongside the realities you have no power to change, there’s almost always something you can.”   — Angela Duckworth

See you on the PATH Ahead,

Gillian Pieper with Lisa Locke, Amy Gilbert, and the VEHI PATH Team

Tomypath.com | VEHI.org

If you or someone you love is struggling with connection or emotional health, consider the following resources:

Invest EAP for employees of VEHI member SU/SD’s (and anyone in their household): 24/7 line: 1-866-660-9533. Short term counseling to manage a crisis or pressing issue.

Progress Coaching – Log into your PATH account and click on the Coaching button. Support for lifestyle, health, and wellbeing goals

Mental Health America: MHAnational.org

National Crisis Text Lines Or Call 988:

• United States: Text HOME or HOLA to 741741
• Canada: Text CONNECT to 686868
• crisistextline.org

National Eating Disorder Association National Helpline: 1-800-931-2237  nationaleatingdisorders.org

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Helpline: 1-800-662-4357  samhsa.gov

National Alliance on Mental Illness – Vermont: namivt.org/resources/

Literal Notes Part One:

When thinking about notes of joy, the first thing that jumps to mind is music. I think we all have that one song that as soon as you hear the intro, it grabs you. Of course, the volume goes up, you start dancing around and you are ready to sing your heart out. Each note from the guitar and beat of the drums trigger brain chemicals like dopamine, and the feeling of excitement comes over you making you want to move around. I don’t even think about how silly I might look. I can’t help myself!

What about listening to someone playing the piano? That can give you goosebumps, chills, or maybe even some deep emotions. It is almost like the notes are singing to directly to you. Your total focus is on the music. Your mind is clear. Your heart is happy and you may even be wiggling. Either way, I bet you have a big smile on your face. Even while writing this, there are so many songs going through my head, and I am having a hard time sitting still. Ok, really, I am doing the shimmy shake in my chair.

Literal Notes Part Two:

Then there are those written notes of joy. Have you ever had a pen pal? Do you write to a relative or a friend who moved away? Do you have a box of blank cards? Do you send spontaneous notes of joy to someone who you can’t seem to stop thinking about in a given day? Not only is doing any of the above making the recipients day, it gives you time away from the screens and can also bring you comfort. Maybe you are having an off day and writing a letter can shift your focus to happy thoughts. You can have fun with it. Use stickers on the envelope, include a photo, tell a funny story or sketch flowers. I have to say I have written a few letters never meaning to send them. It was a release for me. Sweeping out my internal vault and letting it go. Then after I have finished, I simply toss the letter in the firepit, watch it burn without judgement and just breathe.  

Figurative Notes – doing joyful things and experiencing joy in the world around you:

I love to go rockhounding — searching for special rocks, minerals, or gems. It brings me so much joy. I get so lost in what I am doing that hours pass by, and it feels like only minutes. It’s a joy-filled flow. I can’t believe how far I have walked in the process — an extra bonus! I just let a rock catch my eye, and I know it’s the one.

My father-in-law often walks around with me (he lives right next-door), and we live on a dirt road. He saw me picking up rocks here and there and tucking them into my pocket. He first questioned, “what are you doing?” I explained that certain rocks just stand out to me and I must pick them up. He shook his head. I also showed him several of my rocks and where I keep them (which is everywhere). But now, I will come home from work and occasionally, there will be a rock or maybe two on my porch. Guess who is leaving them? Yup my father-in-law! That absolutely fills my heart!

“Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.” — Eckhart Tolle

We’ll see you on The PATH Ahead

Lisa Locke with Gillian Pieper, Amy Gilbert and the VEHI PATH Team

Tomypath.com  VEHI.org

Here’s some inspiring neuroscience… Your Reticular Activating System (RAS) is your friend. No really. It’s a part of the brain that decides, in real time, what information moves from your conscious mind to your unconscious to be automatically acted on. Put another way, when you a) sense something important, or b) tell your brain to pay attention to something important, the RAS picks that up and embeds it in your subconscious so that you can prepare to deal with it. This friend, the RAS, fires up the brain to notice all that will help pull you through.

The RAS is why when you say something like, “I’ve decided to buy a red truck,” suddenly, you start noticing red trucks everywhere — information you need to pick out which red truck would be best.

Your RAS automatically organizes and prioritizes four top signals: 1) when your name is called, 2) when your safety is threatened, 3) when you feel a crush on someone (or them on you), and 4) when you set an intention. These are all neurological reactions to help you prosper; some seemingly primitive, others rooting you to your potential. That’s deep. Your brain is hard wired to go forth with passionate purpose.

Surely your system needs to know why someone is calling your name, obviously you need to know how to handle a threat, and you absolutely need to know if a person could be a good mate. All for survival, right?  Isn’t it wild that “setting an intention” lives in the same place as all those survival tools? That’s how important and useful intentions are.

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one aspect of You are found all the aspects of existence.” — Kahlil Gibran

As you begin to ease back into the school year, what could be smarter than to set an intention for positive outcomes. Give your brain the direction it craves. Be it in terms of your health, your sanity, or your skills, wherever you are right now, choose a topic that feels like it will hold you steady throughout the year. Then, choose an outcome you want your brain to fixate on.

As soon as you say it out loud, your RAS will begin wiring in the information you need to succeed.

“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” — Car Jung

Great philosophers have often said we have all that we need within us. Neuroscience now backs this up. Put it all together and your dreams can become a powerful awakening. Sound too lofty? Maybe. Sounds pretty practical to us. Set your intention and let your RAS churn, driving you toward your passions.

See you on The PATH Ahead.

Gillian Pieper with Lisa Lock, Amy Gilbert, and the VEHI PATH Team

tomypath.com and vehi.org

My friends and I hit the road and go exploring a different state or two every year. One year we decided to explore our own beautiful state of Vermont and do a classic staycation. We found so many hidden and not so hidden gems that we sort of maybe took for granted, not on purpose of course.

It is easy to get in a routine and not take the time for yourself to explore that inviting path you drive by every day; not ever knowing at the end, is a beautiful waterfall with so many cool rocks, magnificent trees, wildflowers, and birds along the way that catch your eye. You feel awe-inspired and wonder why you had not taken the time to explore this path before; to take it all in, feel the contentment, and realize just how amazing it is.   

Don’t worry, it’s never too late to uncover extraordinary things within the ordinary. Let’s get started!

Here are a few hidden gems you may like to explore:

• Tour Iconic Bridges and Barns: Plan a Vermont covered bridge and round barns day tour. You may not see them all, but you can choose a route with the ones you want to see and maybe even take a second or third tour…who’s counting. The Vermont Covered Bridge Society has a tour guide on their website; www.vermontbridges.org
• Sightsee Through History: Visit the Vermont Historical sites website: vermontvacation.com/things-to-do/art-culture/history/historic-sites/ for exciting ideas. Maybe venture out to see the Eureka Schoolhouse, the oldest one-room schoolhouse in Vermont, and one of the few surviving 18^th century public buildings in the state. While you are there, you may also want to visit the Baltimore Covered Bridge, it was constructed in 1870, saved from demolition and relocated in 1970. Perhaps the Vermont Archaeology Heritage Center might pique your interest. Explore 13,000 years of history through exhibits, workshops and lectures. I bet there are several hidden gems there.
• Seak Out Nature: Even a tiny flower in a patch of moss can be a delight. Take a walk in one of Vermont’s dense, remote forest, keep an eye out – hey – was that sasquatch…

Why does a hidden gem make a difference to your wellbeing? “Though new findings on the physiological effects of awe continue to emerge, there is an even more robust body of research attesting to awe’s psychological effects. These effects include both cognitive (e.g., one’s perception of time) and emotional (e.g., positive mood) outcomes,” says Summer Allen, Ph.D, a Research/Writing Fellow with the Greater Good Science Center of the University of California, Berkley.

Life is meant to be lived with joy, not every minute, but certainly more often than not. Finding it in unlikely places offers that delicious rush of excitement and a sense of magic. The brain loves this sensation and the novelty of it all. Start your “awe and wonder” scavenger hunt today!

See you on the PATH Ahead

Lisa Locke with Gillian Pieper and the VEHI PATH Team

Tomypath.com and vehi.org

It’s no secret that outdoor play does a body good. Studies from all over the world show that kids who spend time in green spaces have better focus, fewer ADHD symptoms, and less aggressive behavior, and are more fit overall. If it’s good for a kid—or the gander, as it were—who are we to say it isn’t equally good for the goose?

Research does clarify that playfulness reduces stress for adults while increasing physical wellness. Did we really need studies on that? Yes. We’re so hyper-focused on meaningful work outcomes and over-producing on our to-do lists, we forget the value of letting loose.

As adults, our over-productive brain wants data and outcomes! If it doesn’t get me results, I’m not doing it. Ok, then, take a look at this list of classic lawn games and see what kind of intensity happens while having fun. The list shows caloric burn (or the equivalent milage distance) for common party games:

100 cals or 3300 steps (about 1 mile at a good clip)

• Croquet
• Bean Bag Toss (Cornhole)
• Bocce or Lawn Bowling

150 cals or 4410 steps (about 1.25 miles at a good clip)

• Badminton
• Basketball (shooting hoops)
• Catch or Frisbee
• Disc Golf
• Hacky Sack (it’s making a comeback, friends)

200 cals or 5520 steps (about 1.50 miles at a good clip)

• Volleyball
• Pickle Ball
• Soccer (kicking the ball around)
• Spikeball

And, you get a bonus for dancing in between your turns, or laughing at your best friend’s quirks (like a little leg kick when hitting the pickle ball, or a skip when going to kick the hacky sack).

Moreover, the joys of play, beyond the fitness tracking credit you’ll accrue, are endless…

When was the last time you cracked yourself up for tossing a frisbee into the trees all wobbly and awkward-like? Your wrist took on a mind of its own, whirling laughter into the skies. You and your pals bend over trying to catch your breath from the goofiness.

Did you ever score a totally impossible shot in a game, and everyone hoots for joy, jumping up and down, and high fiving like mad? What a feeling!

A game well played, for its own sake, and a game completely botched make for great stories and a host of back patting, firm side hugs, and hearty chortles.

Comradery is the ultimate winner here, of course. As cliché as that sounds, it is an ancient, visceral hunger. People who live the longest have one most notable asset in common: unconditional, positive friendship. The more the better.

Oh, and it’s a well-known fact that children who are at risk (victims of trauma, poverty, abuse, etc.), survive to become healthy, vibrant adults only when they have a consistent, positive adult figure in their lives who loves them unconditionally. There’s that gander and goose thing again.

Why would we sacrifice the most precious commodity we have as children only to become grumpy old folks? As the kids say, that math isn’t mathing. The term lawn games might seem frivolous on the surface, but mark my words, being in nature, being active, and being together all at once are the key ingredients for a remarkable life. Nothing trivial about that.

Get out and play while the sun is still in our favor this summer.

See you on the PATH Ahead,

Gillian Pieper with Lisa Locke, Amy Gilbert, and the VEHI PATH Team.

Have you ever looked up at the sky and noticed that a cloud looks like a cool shape? Maybe an owl, a dinosaur, or an angel, so many hidden pictures. My sister and I used to swing and look up to the sky pointing out all the clouds that looked like Nana’s mashed potatoes.

Skygazing is a fantastic way to take some time to relax from the everyday stressors of life. Go outside, make yourself comfortable. Breathe in the fresh air, maybe even close your eyes if that works for you, take a few deep, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, then when you are ready, open your eyes and look up at the sky. What do you see?

How beautiful is the full moon? Whenever we can, when there is going to be a full moon, my friends and I will plan a walk or a hike to an appropriate vantage point to watch it rise over the horizon. This is generally at a slower pace because it is at night. I recommend wearing headlamps, or having a flashlight, and dressing for the temperatures whether you are on a path or the road. We also take the dogs, they love it! Yes, it can make you have second thoughts because it is dark outside and you are probably pretty much settled in for the night. I have to say though, the payoff is so worth it! The moonlit night sky is magical! Just take it in! Take a picture or two and see how they come out. Occasionally I get one of the perfect (in my eyes) moon, which is amazing. In some pictures, the moon is so bright that the picture comes out looking like it is daylight. It’s so cool.

Unplugging, why not? If you are like me, I have a work cell, personal cell, home phone, work laptop, and a home computer system. Wow that is a lot!  Of all of them, I have to say my personal cell phone is the device I use the most. It seems normal to be on it for most of the evening. But should it be?  Research shows that putting the phone down and reducing your screen time can positively impact your life.

An expert in how digital technology and health, Professor Kostadin Kushlev writes, “If we think about what we’re trying to detox from, it’s not the calling and the texting for the most part. It is the social media. It’s the gaming. It’s all of those short dopamine bursts that we get from all these things we do on our phones.”

The trick is to find those small dopamine bursts in other ways. I have recently started digital detoxing when I get home from work and on the weekends. It is a process for sure! Putting the phone down and taking that walk I kept saying I am going to take after dinner. Stretching and breathing. Sitting on the porch talking with my husband. Spotting the butterflies. Listening to the music of the birds all around us, and the buzz of the hummingbirds flying to the feeder. So tranquil.

Balance your screen time with screen-free moments that captivate and decompress you. Your brain, your sleep, and your body will thank you.

See you on the PATH Ahead,

Lisa Locke, with Gillian Pieper, Amy Gilbert, and the VEHI PATH Team.

“Ohhh, Oh-oh-oh-ohhhhh, Vermont Green, Vermont Green!”

Feet stomp on the bleachers, people sing and sway together, fists pump in air, and all shades of green swag ripple in the breeze on the 1500 fans at Virtue Field where the Vermont Green Football Club plays. The feelings of camaraderie, loyalty, and hope are all deeply palpable. The best feeling of all, however? The sense of belonging. We are fans and that bonds us. You might go to for the love of the sport, but you’ll come back again and again for the community you embraced the moment you checked your ticket at the gate; the moment the ticket taker smiled at you and said, “Go Green”.

Ok, maybe soccer isn’t your thing. I wasn’t certain it was mine either, but watching these talented athletes work that ball down the field together, while we collectively rooted for them got under my skin and into my heart.

It’s being a part of something bigger than ourselves that brightens our psyche. At times work and family can give us that feeling but there is another connection worth the investment. It’s called a third space—a place of joy that’s novel and yet familiar in ways home can’t provide. It doesn’t ask you do the dishes or solve work issues.

It’s commonality without judgement that helps you connect to parts of the world that go beyond your comfortable niche. Afterall, our lives are all interwoven in some way. The more we get to know each other, the better we understand perspective and behavior, and then the better we are at creative solutions to living our best lives together on this planet. Psychology research is powerfully clear that connection and being out in the world adds quality years to our lives.

• Participating in the Arts (from attending events to being artistic) = 10 years
• Socializing regularly = 15 years
• Having close positive friendships = 10 years
• Being thoughtful and conscientious of others = 5 years
• Connecting through spirituality and fellowship = 10 years
• Having a sense of purpose = 5-10 years
• Having a sense of belonging = 8 years
• Having gratitude regularly = 6 years
• Joining a group = 7 years

“Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies; they protect our brains,” says Harvard researcher Robert Waldinger, author of the most comprehensive, longitudinal study on aging well. Further, “We actually crave in-person connection,” says Emily Bloomberg of Murmuration, a nonprofit that survey adults on hope. She says showing in person and experiencing those surprising little moments of joy are magic and build on each other.

Even that brief smile between you and stranger offers a perfect hit of dopamine as well as our nurture hormones. Take it up to some small talk and BAM you’ve got a dose of good feelings rushing through you equal to a big belly laugh or a quick sprint. Lots of that goodness over time translates to a long, joyful life.

Get out there and belong to something (or soak up what you do belong to). Become a fan, join a book club, learn to play mah jong, dance at the town hall, yoga it up in the park, or get on a team. Just join. It’s great for your health, and even better for your heart.

See you on The PATH Ahead,

Gillian Pieper with Lisa Lock, Amy Gilbert, and the VEHI PATH Team

I don’t know about you, but I look forward to this time of year. The grass is green and the flowers are so radiant. Finally, it is time to get outside and play in the dirt! The benefits to your immune system and your state of mind are countless.  Luckily, there are so many ways to do so…

• My flower beds are calling. It is so tranquil to sit on the earth and get my hands, my clothes, my face…just about everything, dirty. Sure, looking at the flower beds with an invasion of weeds can be sad. But get ready to be happy, because once you get your hands into the dirt, and start pulling those weeds, look out. If you are like me, I always seem to move a few flowers around and can’t help myself from making a new flower bed and adding more to the flower family. I also make sure I have plenty of beebalm for the hummingbirds. For the bees and butterflies, there are purple cone flowers, marigolds and crocuses for early Spring to name a few. At the end of the day, I sit on the porch with my ice-cold glass of water and look at the flower beds and take in the beauty, knowing I started them, and keep them going year after year. So awe-inspiring!
• Let’s not forget vegetable gardening. From selecting and tilling up the patch or earth, raking out the freshly tilled dirt, and choosing your rows in preparation to grow healthy choices for you, your family and maybe the neighbors. It’s so fun choosing what you want to plant and what grows well together. For example, carrots, peas and peppers grow well together as do tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. Did you know that there are also herbs and vegetables that you can plant in the garden that are very beneficial for your garden overall? I must admit that I didn’t, but it’s true. Herbs like sage and thyme and vegetables like spinach and beans are all beneficial because they create a highly efficient, self-sustaining ecosystem by combining natural pest control, with soil enrichment, and smart vertical spacing.
• What about sand on your feet. Oh goodness, there is nothing like getting into a sandbox or playing in the dirt, or the sand at the beach/lake with the family. When I was much younger, we had these hills with sand exposed out behind our house. I set up my little mud/dirt snack table with an old long piece of wood I found and served my brother, sister and cousins, with all my favorite dirt recipe dishes. I used my plastic toys as molds to make and serve mud pie, dirt drinks or mud sandwiches. Truthfully, most of the time I had imaginary patrons but I still spent hours having fun and being creative.
• One last thought, you could also reach out to the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation at https://fpr.vermont.gov/ to inquire if they need volunteers for trail maintenance. Get out there and enjoy the trails, release those feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins and the sense of purpose for volunteering your time for a worthwhile, meaningful activity that brings personal fulfillment.

Get out there and start digging!

We’ll see you on The PATH Ahead,

Lisa Locke with Gillian Pieper, Amy Gilbert and the VEHI PATH Team

Tomypath.com

VEHI.org

This stat blew my mind…

“There are more self-storage facilities than McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Subway locations combined.”  — Self Storage USA

What does that say? We have a passion for “stuff”.

Recently, I cleaned out my parent’s house of 50 years and then my beloved aunt’s house of 40 years. If you’ve ever been through that, it’s one part memory lane, one part heart breaking, and one big part, “what one earth?!” Why did she have 25 boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix (that expired in 2014)?

After countless bags were sorted to piles of “trash, donate, sell, or recycle”, high fives went up for all. Once the dust settled, the empty houses gave off a movie reel of all that made their lives flourish. It’s the stories that happened in that space. If the stuff and the walls could talk, they would matter more, but the truth is, in the end, the experiences and the life lived are what remain, held close to our hearts and deep in our bones.

Philosophers and research giants teach us that the stuff we buy gives us a quick but big dose of dopamine, that happy hormone rush. Once we have the thing, however, our other stuff becomes less shiny just as the new item’s glitter also loses luster. It’s called the Diderot Effect in which possessions control us rather than us being in control. I call it the post purchase blues. It is how stuff piles up and spills over into a point of chaos.

But that dopamine… It’s soooo compelling. We’re built to have it but how do we get it in a more lasting way that is healthy? Three ways:

1. Experiences (can’t say it enough) help dopamine linger thanks to the anticipation, the doing, the everlasting stories created, and the cozy memory of the feelings felt.
2. Clearing the clutter and turning “stuff” into stories puts an imprint on our brains.
3. Making eye contact with another human makes good feelings surge.

If that argument isn’t enough to get you moving, here are host of other reasons decluttering helps your wellbeing:

• Builds creativity by giving you a freeing feeling and the literal space to grow.
• A sense of accomplishment. Those “yay me” moments go a long way. Organization inspires contagious productivity and focus.
• Thwarts decision fatigue, anxiety, and depression — having less means having less to think about, and thus leads to better sleep.
• Tames allergies – less dust and easier to keep spaces clean.

Now a quick how-to:

1. Commit to putting it on the calendar. Schedule it with a friend so you stick to it. Agree on a plan and grab supplies you might need. Then, most importantly, make it fun.
2. Start small, one space at a time.
3. Here is a cool idea: The 20/20 Rule — if an item costs less than $20 and can be replaced in under 20 minutes, it’s safe to donate or discard.
4. Use an old adage: the “One-Year Rule” — if you haven’t used an item in the past year, you probably don’t need it.
5. Give everything a home to return to. Use labels and organization bins, etc.
6. Finally, NO JUDGING. It’s your brain and your life. Don’t compare yourself to others. Organize in a way that makes sense to you and declutter in a way that frees your brain.

It’s cliché but it bears repeating, your life will be remembered for the way you lived it, not the things you had. The things will literally disappear — a whole house-full in a poof. Your eternal soul, however, will float sweetly in the minds of all those who made eye contact with you throughout your days.

Clear space and save your money and time for those meaningful moments.

See you on The PATH Ahead,

Gillian Pieper with Amy Gilbert, Lisa Locke and the VEHI PATH Team

tomypath.com

This week: SKIP A STONE

It’s time to find some “Blue Spaces” and get into a “Blue MIndset” in all the good ways…

Close your eyes and picture this: you are in a kayak or perhaps a tube, floating around on your favorite (or first-time trying), body of water. Concentrate on the sound of the water. Is it a tranquil sound of the soft lapping waves, or maybe you can hear a Loon making a wail or a yodel. Can you hear the frogs croaking? Doesn’t it make you want to get out and experience it all? Well, what are you waiting for? No time like the present! How about sitting on a pier? Maybe take off your shoes and socks and put your feet in (toes first, slowly if you need to get used to the temperature).

I remember learning how to skip a stone. Oh boy, it did not go well at first, but now, let’s just say I taught my nephew and nieces all how to do it. Why not take a try at it. I think most everyone can remember being a kid and playing in the rain, my sister and I did every time our mom would let us go out in it. Not while thundering and lightning, of course!

Take some time, find a waterfall, or maybe answer the call of a kayak or paddleboard. Why not get out there and dive in!

Here are a few options to help get your started:

1. Do you feel like spending the day taking in a specific waterfall or maybe taking a day to map out a waterfall tour? Vermont Explore may assist in your decision; https://vermontexplored.com/beautiful-waterfalls-in-vermont/
2. How about spending time on or in the water at one of Vermont’s many lakes, brooks, or ponds? Do some swimming, gaze as the water comes in and goes out from the shore, take out a canoe or maybe do some fishing. For more information, visit The Agency of Natural Resources; https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/aboutlakes

“Water is dynamic, so it holds our attention in a peculiar way. It tends to have a dream-like quality that allows us to quiet our minds. For example, when you’re focused on the movement of water, you’re able to live in the moment and tune out all the other noise. Being near water can also facilitate a meditative state of gentle awareness by engaging the brain but not overwhelming it, providing an opportunity for introspection.” – Headlight Newsletter 12/28/22

According to marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, “being in, on, or around water activates our ‘blue mind’ – a peaceful, meditative state that lowers stress and boosts happiness.” Your heart rate lowers, your stress hormones calm, and your happiness transmitters (dopamine and serotonin) regulate. That’s the “blue mind theory.” Being near water (blue spaces) means becoming lighter and calmer with a quieter brain.

Tap into your blue mind this week and soak it up.

See you on the PATH Ahead,

Lisa Locke with Gillian Pieper and the VEHI PATH Team

tomypath.com and vehi.org