July Edition 2021

ISSUE NO.14

JULY 2021

DARE TO BEGIN

contents

PEOPLE WHO JUST BEGIN We are Millennial Women Girls Who Do Interiors Dana Taylor of Made on Grand

HOLISTIC LIVING What is Spirituality?

The Secret to Powerful Affirmations 10 Ways to Raise Your Vibration How I Found My Happy Monthly horoscopes by the Tarot Queen

WORKPLACE WELLNESS 8 Ways to Stay Active If You Sit at Your Desk All Day

TRAVEL Travel Destinations: The Wilburton Destination Resort Mini Guide To Napa Valley My Biggest Advice: Live Somewhere Else for a While.

SUSTAINABILITY The Relationship Between Spirituality & Sustainability A Lifestyle Suited For Waste Reduction To Help Fight Climate Change

BE INSPIRED All Skates Go to Heaven

YOU ARE THE MAIN CHARACTER

meet the team

Melissa Diaz Editor in Chief

Samantha Diaz Chief Designer & Photographer

Barbara Estrada Creative Partnerships Editor

Miriela Diaz Executive Director

Dorian Ash Creative Photography

Claire Muselman Contributor

Kaitlin Dowis Illustrator

Eddie Ortiz Editorial Intern

Melissa Cancio Contributor

Ajhada Gabriel Editorial Intern

Anjuli Sharpley Creative Strategist Intern

Anailis Diaz Senior Writer & Editor

July 2021

E D

If you are a new reader WELCOME and if you have been a reader for a while now I say THANK YOU! I am so excited to welcome you to our 14th issue. Our theme for this edition is the power of storytelling.

I

This issue is filled with the stories of many inspiring people who decided to JUST BEGIN. Such as the sisters behind We are Millennial Women and the “Girls Who Do Interiors”.

T

I suggest you sit in your favorite spot in your house, grab a cup of coffee, and get cozy to start reading the July edition.

O R S

N O T E

#SURFSIDESTRONG

PHOTO BY: GIORGIO VIERA @AFPPHOTO

#SURFSIDESTRONG

PHOTO BY: GIORGIO VIERA @AFPPHOTO

We want to dedicate a moment in this edition to all the families who have a loved one in this tragedy.

It's with a heavy heart that we, at Just Begin, extend our spirits to those affected.

In the words of Pittacus Lore, “When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.”

We pledge to donate $1 of every sale to the Neighbors4Neighbors Surfside Building Collapse Victim Fund.

FLOWER OF THE MONTH

ART BY KAITLIN DOWIS

PEOPLE WHO JUST BEGIN PEOPLE WHO JUST BEGIN PEOPLE WHO JUST BEGIN PEOPLE WHO JUST BEGIN

A CREATIVE PROJECT TURNED INTO A LIFE’S PURPOSE WITH THE SISTERS OF “WE ARE MILLENNIAL WOMEN”

1202

YLUUJ

BY BARBARA ESTRADA

Melissa was wrapping a Nickelodeon TV show and moved back to Los Angeles.

Stephanie lived in the city for her music career and while they both shared a small 1bedroom apartment in The Valley, they were both looking for something to motivate them at the time.

“There was literally nothing that was speaking to us and millennial women,” Melissa who was part of the cast of Nickelodeon's, Every Witch Way. The thought immediately fueled the actress and producer to draft a script and create a TV series called, “Millennial Girls.”

Along the creative process, she convinced her sister, Stephanie, to collaborate on the idea. The response to the show as it was being pitched around LA was positive; however, no one wanted to invest money in it.

At that time, Melissa had a “lightbulb moment” - a podcast.

“There is no way that we can get to know the women of our generation through fictional characters. We got to meet them, be with them, speak to them. They have to be around us and give them [and us] the ability to relate to each other.”

In 2018, they created We are Millennial Women, Inc. At the beginning of their company story, they began with a traveling podcast that hosted podcast events with a live audience across America to fully understand the millennial women. Since then, they have evolved to creating a podcast that delivers stories from the voices that have created a tidal wave of impact for the women of today.

They’ve spoken to a range of women that vary in age, profession, religion, and socio-economic backgrounds. From therapists to models to entrepreneurs, Melissa and Stephanie have spread the messages of women that both millennial (and, non-millennial) women can speak on and learn from for generations to come.

The intention for the podcast is to provide inspirational, insightful and resourceful content targeting women of our generation. It’s become a multimedia, content platform with the mission of helping women of our generation navigate the challenging journey of life through a lens of personal relevance. Their primary focus was meeting the interests, inspirations and aspirations of millennial women.

Born and raised in Hialeah, a residential town in Miami, the creative sisters have always turned to the arts. When it came to their professional endeavors, they knew they had to leave the 305 to, sort of speak, “make it.” After pursuing their creative careers in the city of Angels, Melissa decided to move back while Stephanie was still inbetween cities pre-pandemic. As the intensity of the pandemic kept growing, it gave Stephanie a moment to reflect on the current season of her life and enjoy it once deciding to settle back home as well.

“I turned 30 and something clicked. I really feel that I’m in such an amazing place because I found this stillness and peace within my own internal world. When you are able to calm the storms in your mind and spirit, then you are really joyful," says Stephanie.

Despite always using a microphone to sing, Stephanie found another way to use her voice.

She too felt passionate about creating a platform for millennial women to represent themselves. The driving force behind this “accident project” was giving millennial women the power to write the narrative.

And now, it’s turned into their life’s purpose.

“What did you do today to get you closer to your goal?” would give Stephanie anxiety until she applied a practical approach to her life.

The biggest lesson for her when beginning a creative endeavor, project, or pipe dream [however you want to call it] is to dissect the dream into small, daily tasks that you can do every single day to arrive.

The other big lesson for the sisters was getting rid of the “starving artist mentality.” It’s typical to hear as an artist to “pay your dues,” however the question arises - until when? It took Melissa and Stephanie a lot of courage to put a price to their work, especially as women.

“This is a service. There’s an exchange and these have been the biggest lessons that we’ve learned. The biggest mistake we made was not monetizing in season 1 but you should be covering some business costs,” says the sisters.

If you want to know the rest of the We are Millennial Women founders story, search and listen to the conversation on Just Begin’s podcast on all streaming services.

Meet The Girls

By Melly Diaz

Girls Who Do Interiors

I had the pleasure of chatting with The Girls Who Do Interiors. I stumbled upon their perfectly curated pastel aesthetic instagram and knew I needed to speak to them.

The mission behind GWDI is to develop and service clients, showcase their lifestyle as students and business women, and collaborate with other like-minded creatives.

After watching their youtube videos, stalking their website, and recording a podcast with them one-on-four (which you can listen to now) you can call me a super fan of the girls.

They felt there was a void in the interior design industry especially for students “As students we weren’t really exposed to the professional interior design industry yet. We kind of just knew about the culture within school. But I know that we felt that we were missing the personality part of designers”.

SO WHO ARE THE GIRLS?

Girls Who Do Interiors (GWDI) was founded by four Latinas (Gabriell, Jennifer, Yaileen, and Daniela) who are currently studying Interior Architecture at Florida International University. We laughed that they “just began” because they started their business during the pandemic and grad school!

When asked what they would tell their past selves when they started they said “I would tell her to hold on tight we did not expect it to grow this fast”. As typical Just Begin fashion, I was pleased to hear about how we share a similar story. They decided to just go for it and not look back.

“It’s geared more towards a sisterhood. Just because we like to have a community of like minded creators, maybe not just interior designers or students who are interested in starting their own business in something creative.”

After speaking with the girls I learned that there is a major difference between an interior designer and a decorator. There seems to be a misconception that they are the same, however, an interior designer is much more complex and requires schooling.

So don’t fall for the influencers on instagram who are telling you otherwise!

“We 100% wanted to prioritize on our end to show the rawness of what it takes to be an interior designer” Communities/businesses like these are so valuable because they are creating a space for future students to learn about what it takes and not just what your university is telling you to do.

The girls decided they wanted to open their own business rather than going into an internship. “They pretty much write out your future for you. You get a whole track sheet for five years because we are in a five year masters program with all of your classes and in bold they have INTERNSHIP.” However, the girls collectively felt that didn’t align with their future.

Now they all own an entity and community that is growing and thriving! I think the most important thing to take away from this is that YOU make the DECISIONS of your life. Don’t let anyone stop you from creating the life you want.

Want to hear our full conversation? Listen to the podcast available now on all platforms.

Girls Who Do Interiors

ARE AL E L W

ENERGY FROM THE S

A

ME

C R SOU

E

Photo by Dorian Ash

MEET DANA TAYLOR THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF MADE ON GRAND

BY MELLY DIAZ

MADE ON GRAND

Meet Dana Taylor— New York designer of the brand "Made on Grand". Our cover photo is actually her daughter.

Can you describe/outline your typical day? (Routines, Rituals, that you live by)

Dana's label is named after the street she used to reside on in New York City. She never planned on being a fashion designer prior to Made on Grand she was a real estate investor.

I like getting up early in the morning, having a cup of coffee and walking about 3 miles to the studio (rain or shine.)

According to her interview with Vogue in 2018 she stated “All of my favorite T-shirts were falling apart and since I could not find exactly what I wanted to replace them, I just decided to make my own.”

I’m fearless.

We asked Dana some rapid fire questions and here are her answers...

Q&A

Tell us something interesting about yourself most people don’t know?

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

Being able to transfer ideas in my head, to a finished product.

If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?

Start earlier in life.

I like playing online poker!

How do you define success?

How did the idea for your business come about?

When I'm happy.

I needed a good quality T-Shirt.

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

How did you raise funding for your venture?

My own bank account.

Passion, determination and communication.

Photo by Dorian Ash

SUSTAIN ABILITY

SUSTAIN ABILITY

SUSTAIN ABILITY

just begin magazine | 53

The Relationship Between Spirituality and Sustainability

BY SAMANTHA DIAZ

My relationship with spirituality has been a journey for me (and I’m assuming most people). There’s been high points, low points, confusion, and mixed messages galore. However, there’s always been one key thing that it all can be related to: at its most basic level, spirituality is about being connected to something bigger than ourselves. It’s about forming a relationship with a higher, universal energy that makes up everything in existence. This energy is the very life force that flows through you, me, and the world around us. Whether we like it or not, we and everything that exists today are made up of the same essence. Everything is intimately connected through this energetic relationship.

A huge part of spirituality is the idea that we are “made of love” and that we should extend this love to ourselves and everyone around us. We should be living our lives intentionally and with love. This makes sense when you consider the above notion of us being interconnected beings. If my coworker and the person running the cash register at the grocery store are made from the same energy, why wouldn’t I treat them with loving-kindness? In a world filled with negativity and hatred, we need all the love we can get. I see this loving energy being shared in the spiritual community, and it brings me joy every day. I genuinely believe that the world is a better place for it. There is one place that I feel is lacking in the love department: the Earth.

Our planet is our home and houses every living soul. However, the Earth is dying, and humanity seems to be doing nothing about it.

Like I said before, every single thing in this universe is made from the same universal energy. This includes the Earth. Our planet is made from the same energy as you and me. If we are making a point to show love to one another as a part of our spirituality, why are we not making the same effort to show love to our planet? I believe it is our responsibility as spiritual individuals to extend the love and care we feel for our fellow human beings to the Earth. Without her, the human experience as we know it would cease to exist. The further along my spiritual journey I travel, and the more self-aware I become, the more I realize how intimately spirituality and sustainability are intertwined.

So many of our spiritual principles are rooted in nature:

Using mindfulness and gratitude to appreciate the world around us Getting "grounded" to stay connected to the Earth and reality Taking walks or meditating in nature

All of these things, and more, are integral parts of today's understanding of spirituality. Why? Because the natural world reminds us of what's essential. It forces us to slow down and appreciate the marvelous things the universe is capable of creating.

It makes us feel connected to the vastness we are all a part of that modern living often takes away from us.

You can even ask most non-spiritual people, and they will agree that nature is incredible. But despite the importance mother Earth plays in spirituality, we are slowly destroying her. As much as we might try to be one with nature, we are so disconnected from what is happening and how our actions are directly impacting the environment. Often without even realizing what we are doing.

Please don't beat yourself up for not knowing; our society is created in a way that pulls the wool over our eyes. Corporations don't want us to learn about their unsustainable manufacturing practices. The reality about emissions and landfills, and bottled water isn't pretty or glamorous. In fact, we're often happier not knowing these things. As they say, ignorance is bliss.

And being ignorant of these issues is far easier than it should be. However, if you've gotten this far, you've at least had your attention brought to the issue at hand.

You've cared enough to keep reading this far, and I am very thankful to you for that. From one spiritually inclined person to another, I implore you to extend some of the love you practice in your spirituality to the Earth. You don't have to make drastic lifestyle changes to make a difference. Simply living intentionally and extending the same thoughtfulness to Mother Earth that you would help your fellow human beings.

Three easy, actionable steps that you can do to make a difference are:

Refuse single-use plastics such as disposable cutlery, cups, plates, and straws in your daily life Commit to participating in Meatless Monday and reduce your meat intake Be mindful about your purchases and vote with your dollar

These three actions take little-to-no effort on your part but help divert waste and emissions that negatively impact the environment. I also encourage you to consider your place in the world and how you can help make a difference on an individual level. Read up on environmental issues, learn about the climate crisis, and evaluate how your life impacts Earth's health.

There are so many excellent resources out there.

Moving forward, this blog will cover not only spiritual topics but also holistic wellness and sustainability.

Once again, I thank you for reading this far, and I hope you can fully appreciate just how intimately spirituality and sustainability are related. Every time you extend love to the Earth, you're helping to improve the health of not only the planet but every single living being on it.

CHART OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT

FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF

Do random acts of kindness

Learn a new skill

Get enough sleep

Use positive self-talk

Practice gratitude daily

Take care of your body and mind Champion selfcompassion

YLUUJ 1202 A LIFESTYLE SUITED FOR WASTE REDUCTION TO HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

BY JUST BEGIN MAGAZINE

Lately, I find myself overwhelmed with thoughts about how I’m impacting the environment day-to-day. In my research, I have found many aspects of our life can be adapted to live more sustainably and benefit future generations to come. This has become the foundational reason to create a resource and a list of things I could continue doing every day to minimize my effect on the world. That second item is one of my biggest motivations to make a change in my lifestyle.

I hope that those after me live to see the same beauty and perhaps even experience a cleaner and more elegant Earth. I fear that they will awake to one covered in trash with immensely polluted water & air.

If you have similar hopes and fears but are caught in the daily life we all lead, this post is for you! I understand life can be overwhelming, so one of my drives is to help those looking to make a change but who cannot find time to explore solutions.

Are you looking for ways to minimize your footprint? It can be near menacing at times to think about the amount of waste you and your family are producing, but little by little, you can start minimizing and feel great about doing it and the long-term effects your actions will have!

Food Waste

Food waste is a significant problem, especially here in the US. Did you know that an astonishing 40% of the food produced each year in America is thrown away? Yikes. It roughly comes out to $161 billion worth of food. We're basically throwing money away when we send our food to landfills. Not only are we wasting precious food that could have helped feed millions of people, but because most of this food goes into landfills, it produces methane gas, which is 25 times more effective at trapping heat than CO2.

The fantastic thing is that there are many things you can do to help reduce your food waste:

1. Make an "eat me first" box in the fridge.

2. Only buy what you need.

3. Plan your meals before heading to the market.

4. Make a grocery list and stick with it.

5. Pick the unperfect looking produce.

Just because it's not perfectly shaped doesn't mean it's not good to eat.

Many things get thrown away due to cosmetic reasons.

6. Freeze fruits and veggies that are going bad if you don't plan to use them any time soon.

7. Compost food scraps and anything that has gone bad in a backyard or worm compost.

Paper Waste

Having worked at an office before, it blew my mind to see the massive amount of paper waste that went on behind the scenes. Even more astonishing is that with today's technologies, going paperless is simpler than ever before, yet paper is continuously being used as if it were some "infinite" resource. Each year, more than 4 billion trees are cut down worldwide for the production of paper. Here are a few changes that could be made to reduce your paper waste: 1. Make to-do lists and reminders on your phone! You can use many apps if you don't like the one provided by your phone.

2. Buy digital books instead of paper books, unless you're buying used books.

3. Opt-in to receive your receipts via email whenever possible or no receipt at all.

4. Sign up for Paperless billing when available.

5. Place a "No Junk Mail" sign on your mailbox.

6. Politely decline business cards and flyers or take a picture instead.

7. Consider installing a bidet in your toilets to reduce (or eliminate) your toilet paper use or…

8. Purchase toilet paper from a company such as, Who Gives A Crap, who offers bamboo and recycled toilet paper!

9. Use reusable napkins & cleaning rags.

10. Reuse cardboard boxes before recycling or put them on Craigslist for someone else to use 11. Limit your online shopping and instead source locally 12. Put down the paper, and go digital whenever possible! School, work, journal? See if making the switch is possible.

Materialistic Waste

With the amount of exposure we face daily, it's no stranger why we are so obsessed with the stuff. Companies take advantage of our human psyche, utilizing advertisement at every corner of our life! The internet, stores, tv, and movies all have brands displayed in them. Because of this cultural mentality nurtured in western societies, each year, more items are becoming disposable. Cheap materials that will cost less are being used more, and long-term, hurt you less because of the thought they push, "oh well, it was only 20 bucks." This is unsustainable and is where the term "quality over quantity" fits so well. Save yourself some headache and money by following these guidelines: 1. Donate before you throw away. Just because an item isn't valuable to you doesn't mean it won't be to the next person.

2. Exchange or give to family members & friends that might need whatever it is you're giving away 3. Again, quality over quantity. Buy things that are made to last, even if they're more expensive.

4. Stay away from items made of plastic. These are typically made to break.

5. Say no to free stuff, especially if these free things are a form of advertisement.

6. Before purchasing something, ask yourself, "What is the purpose of this item?"

7. Shop second-hand before seeking newly made items and buying new places a demand for further production.

Plastic Waste

Around 8 million tons of plastic are dumped in the oceans each year, translating to 1 garbage truck being dumped each minute! At this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050. Because the ocean takes up 71% of the entire planet, it leaves me deeply perturbed.

Plastic is also responsible for the deaths of millions of animals each year and majorly pollutes our drinking water. After all, plastic is a petroleum product, and I don't recall a day in recent times where petroleum was considered food. We all must work together on reducing plastic use. This act, in turn, inspires companies to the responsible thing and find an alternative that caters to us, the people buying their items. Here's what you can do: 1. Switch to reusables: Water bottles, cotton shopping bags and produce bags, coffee cups, straws, utensils, etc. Learn about more simple swaps you could make here 2. Buy unpackaged produce as much as possible.

3. Bring your containers for left-over foods when you go to restaurants.

4. Shop at the farmers' market – This will also help reduce your carbon footprint.

5. Look for products that come in aluminum, glass, or cardboard.

6. Start an in-depth decluttering.

7. Switch to a Zero-Waste oral care routine!

8. Avoid buying shower essentials in plastic, and instead, switch to the bar or those that come in aluminum refillable bottles.

Water & Energy Waste

Consume less meat, especially beef.

Around 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce just 1 pound of meat.

While you're waiting for your water to heat up, place a bucket to catch the water and use it for watering plants.

Set your thermometer a few degrees higher Switch your appliances to those that conserve energy Shop at thrift stores instead of buying new ones. A lot of energy and water goes into the production of new items, and by purchasing new ones, you are also putting demand on that product.

Always refuse, reduce, reuse before recycling.

I hope that these tips can help you live out the best version of your life for future generations to come!

POETRY POETRY POETRY POETRY POETRY POETRY

POEMS BY B

To still be standing, To still be dreaming.

The feeling of being still...

How sweet it is to taste a familiar mouth, And see you but not be felt by you.

To be drowned in your eyes, Yet I am still swimming in foreign waters.

Attracted by your smell, But confused by the fear you emit.

Do you get it by now?

It's feeling so much and still managing to receive n o t h i n g...

To me, it's alternative facts.

To you, it's the great abyss of empty feelings.

I see transparency through you, but I no longer swim in your deceitful chambers of "love."

You don't know what it means, and Neither do I. Welcome to our greatest love story.

-B

FI

ER OM EHT

L L O ER W OM M EHT ,LUOS Y MA I

IE O R LL O M WO E H T , L UOS YM

AM

D. THE MO E D R A RE W IF RE O

R E W A R .DED

july journal prompts

What one goal will you accomplish this month?

Write about an influential friend.

What motivates you?

Use fifty words to describe your favorite season.

How are you motivated to try new things?

What advice do you need to give yourself today?

If you could travel anywhere that you haven’t been. before, where would it be?

Share three positive thoughts.

Today I feel…

What is the hardest thing that you have ever done?

HOLISTIC

LIVING HOLISTIC

LIVING HOLISTIC

LIVING

H

O

W

I FOU

N

D

MY HAPPY

BY CLAIRE MUSELMAN

HOW I FOUND MY HAPPY

As we look over a year ago when Just Begin was born, we began to encompass a journey as readers and as contributors to this great adventure. We began to start paying attention to the beautiful things in life and how they make us feel. We began to highlight and take notice of the little things that truly showcase the big things.

We took time to reflect and now, we look at this past year to see what we learned and how we found our way along the journey to happiness.

This space, Just Begin, created an avenue to explore pieces and parts of me I had not gone into depth to dig into, especially considering 2020 was a challenging year. In addition to the global pandemic, I also lost my very best friend who was the Godfather to my daughter, and I lost my Mentor. These two people were my family, one personally and one professionally.

The loss was immense and adding to the isolation from the pandemic, I was not happy all the time, but persistence coupled with resilience, and I found ways to return to my happiness. This is a story I want to share with you.

Growing up, I have always been a happy and optimistic kiddo. I was in a few foster families and was adopted into a family that loved me the best they could. My adopted parents suffered from substance abuse and mental illness; however, I continued to find my happiness by circling my own wagons of protection and finding avenues of release to keep my momentum going in the most positive direction possible. I think a lot of the resilience through my childhood and youth is why I can bounce forward.

One memorable moment of my childhood, when I was seven years old, occurred around Christmas time when I was sitting at the top of the stairs, helping bring up boxes from the basement to decorate our house. I was sitting next to my dog, an English Springer Spaniel named Mandy, while I unpacked antique Santas for the mantel in the family room.

My parents had been arguing and my mother turned to me to tell me this argument was my fault.

She continued to yell while telling me how they would send me back to the orphanage. Pretty intense verbiage for a child to hear and a moment in my life I can recall with ease. Those who are parents reading this, be mindful of your words.

They matter. Children do more than hear you.

They lack the understanding that you may be upset, blowing off steam and taking the words they hear as the truth. As an adult, I can acknowledge the words, understand the lack of truth, and how the heat of the moment can drive situations like this to occur. Even after all of the acknowledgment and understanding, there is still a heavy piece wired in my brain that keeps me with an ongoing desire to achieve in order to avoid “being sent back.”

Later that evening, I went into my bedroom and cried, rightfully so; however, I looked at a corkboard I had hanging in my room and decided to write “Most smiles are started by another smile.” I then drew a smiley face. This smiley face is something I have kept with me for almost thirty years as I added it after my name. You never know what someone is facing or experiencing but we can make every day better for one another. At seven, I thought a smiley face could be the start of that change. I continue to think this by writing notes on my receipts to those in the service industry, now adding a sun next to the smiley face with an additional message such as “Have a great week!” or “Enjoy the day!” because I believe even the littlest gesture can have a substantial ripple effect.

How do you bounce forward with whatever life throws at you? I have found profound results by focusing on a few areas which I would like to share with you. I found my happiness repeatedly in life by being mindful of kindness, gratitude, meditation, exercise, social connection, and as I have gotten older, sleep. When things feel somewhat pearshaped, returning to the basics of these elements is an easy reset to move forward in life, one step at a time.

Let us take a step back into understanding what truly makes us happy through science and how the areas I described above fall into the amplification of the hormones that play into creating our joy.

According to Olivia Schnur, a Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Upper Iowa University, there are four hormones that can be described as Happiness Hormones: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. Serotonin is related to sleep, digestion, hunger, and memory. If a disruption occurs with serotonin, it is commonly linked with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Dopamine is associated with memory and focus. It is naturally released when we engage in rewarding activities, and a disturbance in this is associated with depression and schizophrenia.

Oxytocin leads to feelings of connection in parent-child relationships and to the connection amongst friends. It has been referred to as the “cuddle hormone” and can be released from a simple act of a hug. A better term to describe oxytocin would be the connection hormone. Lastly, endorphins are feel-good hormones in response to pain, exercise, or rewarding activities. Endorphins are what people refer to when they experience the “runner’s high” or as Elle Woods describes in Legally Blond, “Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make people happy!”

HOW DO OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES MENTIONED ABOVE RELATE TO OUR HAPPINESS HORMONES?

Let us explore. Serotonin affects our mood.

Daily meditation can regulate our serotonin by helping decrease blood pressure and regulate our heartbeat. It has also been shown to stabilize our mood by increasing our ability to handle whatever life throws at us for the given day. Gratitude also plays into the serotonin effects as it can help set the tone or reflect on the tone of our day. Practicing gratitude helps our feelings of worth and can increase our mood shedding a positive light on what is within our scope of control. Begin your morning thinking of three things that make you happy or that you are thankful for when you awake. It will set the tone for a beautiful day ahead

Dopamine is released when we engage in rewarding activities. This can encompass social connection with friends or family, random acts of kindness, and savoring. Connecting with another person in a manner that could be coupled with a random act of kindness doubles the feel-good dopamine release enhancing your mood and overall feeling of well-being. Think about going out to lunch with a friend and putting your phone away to be fully engaged with the conversation and physically present with the person whose company you are sharing. You can call a friend through FaceTime to connect and listen. These interactive conversations are so imperative, and the importance has been amplified as a result of the pandemic. Meaningful telephone conversations can drastically improve the mood of both parties involved. Remember, people leave interactions feeling better or worse. There is no middle ground for impact with a human connection. Mediocre or middle ground interactions fall to the negative side as they do not enhance the people involved. Take the time to focus on enhancing the interactions you have with people. Add to it by holding the door, giving a compliment, or paying it forward with a cup of coffee. It matters and will make you happier too!

Oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle” hormone, releases through physical interactions. A hug from one person to another is powerful. When a hug is exchanged, our oxytocin levels rise. This allows our body to reduce stress as oxytocin causes a reduction in blood pressure and of the stress hormone norepinephrine. It also can increase our tolerance to pain. Hugging helps with social bonding. Think about how you feel when you hold hands with someone or when you get the warm embrace of a family member. Studies have shown a hug should last at least six seconds so the corresponding chemical process in the brain can be consolidated. If you pay attention, you can feel when this shift occurs in your body. It feels like a deep exhale into relaxation and can be very helpful if you are feeling anxious. While hugging has significant benefits, it is important to note the attitude towards the hug as hugs are contextdependent meaning the comforting and rewarding effects will be felt only if both parties want to engage. Coming out of the pandemic, it is important to make sure those with whom you choose to embrace feel safe to be in a close space and not socially distant.

Understanding the WHY specific activities play into the overall happiness one experiences was fascinating to me as I embarked on this journey to design my days to be as pleasurable as possible. What I found was that if I focused on specific areas throughout the day and tracked these to become patterns, I could feel the overall happiness take over my body, mind, soul, and life. What did I do? I started to drink water. Kidding but also seriously, I did. And I implemented the following habits into my everyday routine:

- Sleep. For the first time ever, I sincerely focus on getting at least seven hours of sleep per night.

- Meditate. When I wake up, I meditate immediately. When I am very accountable, I also meditate before bed while doing a ‘Legs at the Wall” yoga pose for added circulatory benefit.

- Gratitude. I write down three things I am grateful for in the morning before I get out of bed, and when I get back into bed to sleep for the night.

- Exercise. I walk my fabulous puppy (okay he will be seven this year) at least once per day for 30 minutes. It is great for him, and it is great for me. We get outdoors which is an added bonus.

- Savor. Whether it be a food item or a moment during the day, I practice total focus on a specific moment to savor with all five senses. I am building this skill and continue to work towards growing this step in my life.

- Social Connection. I intentionally make time to share my energy with others while being fully present when we have allotted time. This can be through the phone, FaceTime, or in person.

- Kindness. I try to write a card to at least one person per day. I take this from Warren Buffet where he stated he wrote at least three thankyou notes per day. If he can do it, so can I.

Look at the goals you have created for yourself over the past year. Look at your aspirations and where you place your energy. Does it all align?

As you review and reflect upon these ideas for yourself, look at the areas where you can strategically focus energy to move the needle forward to drive an increase in your own wellbeing and overall happiness. Pick one activity for this month to focus on consistently. What will happen when you consistently create a concerted effort towards a habit that ultimately drives you to be happier? A lot of good. Add in another the following month and repeat the process. The best that can happen? You feel your life begin to shift and notice your overall mood is enhanced. You were made to THRIVE. Just begin!

- Sleep. Make sure you sleep at least seven hours a night several times a week.

- Meditate. Meditate for five or 10 minutes if you are a beginner. Expand to 20 for advanced.

- Gratitude. Express gratitude for the people and things in your life through a list or in person.

- Exercise. Increase your physical activity to 30 minutes a few times a week.

- Savor. Take time to savor things you enjoy. Focus on your five senses.

-Social Connection. Make connections with strangers and acquaintances along with scheduling time for the people in your life.

- Kindness. Increase your acts of kindness.

What i s Spi r i t ual i t y?

BY SAMANTHA DIAZ

What is spirituality? Is it your religion? Your practice? Your philosophy? Or none of these things?

It is a connection to your inner world. The knowing that all things have a natural balance and a higher order. A knowing that you, as the human, is not in charge of your reality entirely. We could call it a surrendering of your will. Your need to control or think that you create in a solo dance. You do not.

Spiritual– the spirit surrounding the ether, the nonphysical being, the energy of your non-physical self, and all non-physical others.

Ility– an ability to connect matter to non-matter. To interface duality. Physical/non-physical, dark/light, etc.

This “ability” to spiritualize your reality is acquired through living many lifetimes in self-realization along the way. With or without a practice or religion.

Those paths are tools to aid in your spirituality but are not spirituality itself. You are a spiritual being whether you believe in a god or you do not. It just is.

So why do we focus on what makes one spiritual?

Because your ego likes to measure less than or more than, it likes to keep score of whether you are higher than. We say to please throw this notion away. Yes, you will notice when one does not appear awakened. This does not mean they are not, or never will be, spiritual. We urge you to see your spiritual self in each face you see.

Encourage enlightenment by envisioning your awakened self in each spirit-filled face. This is how you can affect those still asleep. Be your spirituality and hold resonance for others to step into WITH you. This is the divine infinite intelligence way. This was Jesus’s way, Buddha’s way, Krishna’s way.

These conscious beings lived their truth, and so can you.

Next time you judge someone for not being spiritual, remember that you judge yourself and place limits on your power and love. Create autonomy within yourself and do differently. See your brother/sister, then be what you envision so they may see a new way.

E H W

N

E A D Y

U'RE O R Y

JUST BEGIN

T

H

E

SE

CRET

T

O

POWERFUL AFFIRMATIONS

You’ve probably heard about affirmations – or mantras, as they’re sometimes called. An affirmation is simply a statement (as opposed to a question) that affirms what you want in your life. Affirmations reprogram the subconscious mind with new, empowering beliefs that will attract experiences to you based on those new beliefs. For example, if we believe we are not worthy, we will have difficulty attracting the experiences we want because we don’t think we deserve them.

When we reprogram our subconscious mind to believe (and know) that we are worthy, we will attract experiences that validate our worthiness.

Imagine the possibilities! I’m sure you can see the value of using affirmations on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, I see many people using them incorrectly. There is so much information online, it can be confusing. So what’s the right way to use affirmations to get the best results?

Affirmations are always stated in the positive, present tense.

Some examples of simple affirmations are: I am loved.

I am abundant.

I am healthy.

They are positive: I am vs. I am not. They are in the present tense: I am vs. I will.

Examples of how not to do affirmations include: I want to be loved.

I will be abundant.

I wish I were healthy.

Stating that you want something, keeps you in a state of wanting instead of receiving.

You want to be loved, true. But you don’t want to continue to want to be loved, right?

You want to be abundant and healthy, but you don’t want to stay in a state of wishing you were healthy or waiting for abundance that will be in the future.

A really simple way to remember this is just to use phrases like: I am…

I enjoy…

I am attracting…

Followed by what it is that you want to be, do or have. For example: I am loved.

I am attracting a loving relationship into my life now.

I enjoy good health.

I am attracting abundance to me now.

State what you do want, not what you don’t want.

For example, let’s say that you want to quit smoking. You wouldn’t want to say, “I am not smoking,” or “I don’t smoke cigarettes anymore.” You can’t affirm the negative.

Our subconscious minds don’t hear the “no”; they only hear the rest of the sentence, which is what you don’t want. Instead state it in the positive, present tense: “I enjoy being smoke-free,” or “I enjoy breathing clean, fresh, smoke-free air.”

Let’s say you want to lose weight. You may think about saying something like, “I am losing weight.” It follows the guidelines I gave you, right? But it’s a tricky one because we’re programmed to not want to lose anything. So if you say, “I’m losing weight,” your subconscious mind is going to go, “Nope, no way. I’m not losing anything.”

It’s better to focus on the positive. “My body is getting healthier and fitter day by day,” or “My body is becoming more toned, fit and thin every day.” Think about what you do want instead of what you don’t want. You don’t really want to lose weight. You want what you’ll gain from losing weight: a healthy, fit, toned body.

The same goes for money, too. Let’s say you have debt and want to be debt-free.

The problem with saying something like, “I am becoming debt-free” is that it still focuses on what you don’t want: debt.

The question is: What do you really want? What will being debt-free give you? Financial freedom, independence.

That’s your affirmation: “I am financially free,” or “I enjoy financial independence.”

Affirmations need to evoke emotion

Repeatedly stating or writing an affirmation without any emotion is going to do very little for you. It’s still a far cry better than making negative statements, but what really attracts what you want are your emotions. When you come up with your affirmation, drill down – not to just what you want – but to your “why.”

For example, if you want to lose weight, why? To feel healthier, to have more energy, to have more self-confidence…

Why do you want those things? What’s underneath? What’s your real reason for wanting to lose weight? Maybe you want to be able to play with your kids or grandkids. Maybe you want to have more energy so you feel better in your body. Maybe someone you know is ill, and you realize you want to be in your body for a long time to be there for your family. There’s always a deeper “why.” That’s where the key to your emotions lies.

Deal with your resistance

It’s perfectly normal for you to come up against some resistance when you begin using affirmations. After all, you’re stating something you want to happen that isn’t really true yet. So your little gremlin that lives inside your head is going to rear its ugly head and say, “No, that’s not true.”

There’s a really easy way to deal with this. Just change the wording of your affirmation slightly. Instead of saying, “I am abundant,” when you’re really struggling financially, say, “I am attracting abundance into my life now.”

You can also flip it around to say, “Unlimited abundance is being magnetically drawn to me now.”

For you grammar nerds, it’s called, “Present Progressive Tense.” Basically it adds “ing” to a verb. Here are some examples: I am attracting…

I am becoming… _________ is being drawn to me now Manifestation tip: When you use “ing” in your affirmation, add the word “now” to reinforce that it is being magnetically drawn to you NOW, in the present.

10 Ways to Raise Your Vibration

BY SAMANTHA DIAZ

Some of you may be wondering why it even matters. Why raise my vibration? And what does “raising my vibration” mean?

Everything is energy. And all energy vibrates at a certain frequency. When something vibrates at a lower frequency, it feels heavy – both physically and emotionally. Things vibrating at a higher energy feel lighter – physically and emotionally.

1. Essential oils

Essential oils have become very popular over the last few years, but actually they’ve been used for thousands of years. Different oils give you different benefits. Lavender is good for relaxation, and is my favorite. I almost always have Lavender in my diffuser, either alone or in combination with other oils. Patchouli, Sandalwood, Clove, Peppermint and citrus are all pleasant and high-vibration oils.

2. Candles

Low vibration emotions would be sadness, grief, anger, fear, frustration, confusion, etc.

While higher energy emotions include joy, love, openness, happiness, amusement, excitement, etc. I’m sure just reading those two lists of emotions, you can feel the difference. That’s the difference between low-energy or low vibration and high-energy or high vibration. That’s just one of the reasons why you want to raise your vibration: to feel happier and lighter.

Another reason why you’d want to raise your vibration is because we attract people, situations and experiences to us that match our vibration. (That’s the basis for the Law of Attraction.)

So if you think about what you want to attract into your life, I’m pretty sure it’s highvibrational stuff – things that bring you joy and pleasure. Raising your vibration helps you attract high-vibrational experiences into your life.

So, let’s get on with how to raise your vibration!

Candlelight gives a warm and inviting glow to any room. Fire has also been used for centuries in various spiritual rituals. Just the act of lighting a candle and having it near you raises the vibration in the room.

3. Crystals

Crystals are known for their high vibrational energy. They are beautiful to look at and can have a calming energy. Just holding a crystal can help you to feel relaxed and centered.

Keeping crystals around your home helps to raise the vibration in your home.

4. Himalayan salt lamp

7. Clear the clutter

Himalayan salt lamps emit negative ions in the air. While negative ions may sound like a bad thing, they are actually very good for us. Water has negative ions. You know how relaxed you feel after a shower? Or how great you feel when you’ve been at the beach? It’s the negative ions coming from the water that make us feel so good.

Himalayan salt lamps also have a beautiful, ambient glow that enhances any decor.

Clutter has a very heavy, low-vibrational energy. Clearing away the clutter and releasing the things in your life that no longer serve you, lightens the energy and raises the vibration in your home.

5. Nature

9. Meditation

Being around nature raises your vibration.

Whether it’s walking barefoot on the grass (which also has grounding energy); taking a walk around nature; or even sitting in your backyard, spending time appreciating the nature around you raises your vibration.

10. Visualization

6. Houseplants

If you can’t find the time to spend in nature (or even if you can!), bring nature into your home. Houseplants raise the energy around you, and as an added bonus, they clean the air, too.

8. Music

Listening to high-vibrational music raises your vibration. Some examples of highvibrational music include: new age, metaphysical, soft jazz.

Meditation helps you to relax and get centered. It reduces stress and raises your vibration. There are many different ways to meditate. Experiment and find the way that works best for you.

When you visualize, you close your eyes and imagine yourself experiencing something you’d like to have in your life. While you are imagining what you’d like your life to be like, you are feeling what it would be like to actually be having that experience. Having those positive emotions raises your vibration.

July 2021

H O

CANCER June 21-July 22

R O S C O P E S

LEO

July 23-August 22

Estas acabando this month Cancer! Starting with the new moon in your sign on the 9th. This is the perfect time to reconnect with your self care routine plus be that nourishing friend we all need right now. Then Mercury in Cancer (11th- July 27th) is here to help us express from the heart, be more empathetic and be the mom of the squad.

Entonce don’t hold back, inspire the world to vibe with your….

Be inspired by Cancer this month to manifest and express what your heart is passionate about! Starting with the Cancer new moon on the 9th, una luna phase that helps us brew up a heartful new beginning. Then on the 11th Mercury enters Cancer it's time to voice exactly what the heart desires. Connect with your inner self, ask that little voice “what do we really love and want right now?”. We do have a fiery moment when Venus enters your sign on the 13th…

CAPRICORN December 22January 19

AQUARIUS January 20February 18

PISCES February 19March 20

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

TAURUS

April 19-May 20

The goat always strives and works hard to reach their goals but remember we need a break Capricorn. And that's just what this month will teach you! The Cancer new moon on the 9th is still great to manifest goals but in an easy gentle way. You can also do a self care bath ritual after! Mercury in Cancer (11th-7/27) is going to help us connect more with what we love, want and express that freely, no holding back! No worries everyone will be open to hear you and accept…

Time to go with the flow and that’s Cancers loving softy side this month. The new moon in Cancer on the 9th will inspire new goals that are filled with mucho amor y pasion. Is there anything you’re more in love with? Use la luna to manifest just that. On the 11th till July 27th Mercury in Cancer softens our voice, we hear with our hearts and therefore have more empathy. It's also a time to be more social! Can a social butterfly encounter a new love? Totally! Cancer is a time for love…..

Emotions will be more loving, happy and social this month because of course Cancer is taking over this summer! Starting with the Cancer new moon on the 9th, reconnect with what you love and use la luna to manifest your dreams. Speak it out loud to the universe some more with the Mercury in Cancer transit starting on the 11th till July 27th. The vibra is to speak with love and when we speak from a loving space we are more likely to manifest exactly what we want. Venus in Leo on the 13th...

Aries this month we have plenty of soft energy helping us take it easy, which is much needed. Cancer’s new moon on the 9th gives us fire signs vibras mas suave. It’s a time to focus on what our heart truly wants and feels so manifest that!

Then on the 11th Mercury in Cancer helps us communicate and hear with compassion. Very empathetic feels for us! Not everything is soft and gentle...Chiron the healer comet goes retrograde in for us rams. Therefore things will…

The first water sign vibras are hitting us hard this month but hey we need some TLC! The Cancer new moon on the 9th is a fabulous time to do some home spell work. So if you’re looking for a new home, want to redecorate or just create your future family with your spouse then this is la luna for you! Communication will flow with love starting the 11th thanks to Mercury in Cancer. Be easy with your words and hold space for others to open up. Of course mid way through the month we have a fiery day for love! June 13th venus meets up with leo delivering a spicy reboot…..

GEMINI May 21-June 20

VIRGO

August 23September 22

LIBRA September 23October 22

SCORPIO October 23November 21

SAGITTARIUS November 22December 21

It’s a new month, airy friend so a new start from all the chaos MayJune astrology had for us. We have our first major astro event on the 9th which is the new moon in cancer. A delicate phase pero viene con mucho mucho amor! Still looking for the one? Entonces this lunas vibras will be your bff this summer! Then June 13th brings a fireball of love due to a Venus in Leo meet up. Manifest that other half Gemini….

Earthy friend I am sure you are over all the retrogrades and are ready for a summer full of perreo.

Cancers social vibras will deliver just that this month! The new moon in cancer on the 9th is a great phase to start. Use this luna to reconnect with yourself and your heart by doing a lovely self care spell. Next use the Mercury in Cancer to communicate with folks you haven't seen in a while.

Especially your close bffs who know you best. Then Venus in Leo spices things up in the love sector…

Rebalance your vibras with Cancers delicate energy that shines on us this month. We first have the Cancer new moon on the 9th. New moons are great to manifest new goals and since it’s in Cancer ask yourself “what does my heart really want at this time?”. Tip the scales some more with the Mercury in Cancer transit (11th- 7/27). Mercury affects the way we communicate, again since it's in Cancer we will be more gentle, open minded and loving. This is important for you with relationships this month….

It’ll be easy for you to learn to express your true feelings and follow that energy this month Scorpio. The new moon in Cancer is the perfect luna phase to do a self love ritual. We gotta love ourselves first mi amor before we can open up to others. With that said, Mercury in Cancer (11th-7/27th) is the transit that will do just that! We will be more accepting, open to giving more of our nourishing vibras and communicating our honest emotions….

Fiery friend things will be much more calm, loving and gentle thanks to our watery sibling Cancer. The new moon in cancer inspires us to connect with what you're passionate about, so manifest that sh*t! What then follows is a time to communicate from el corazon. Mercury in Cancer (11th-7/27) invokes sweetness from our inner voice, a soft side that’s ready to be the mom of the group and tell the universe what our heart is craving too! Communication is also how we speak to the universe so use this transit to manifest some more!

TNAW

?

AIVARP

O T

H E R

O C

T WITH S C IS E N T N

labrujadel305.com

TikTok: Labrujadel305

IG: thetarotqueen

Pinterest: Labrujadel305

FB: labrujadel305

Clubhouse: thetarotqueen

WORKPLACE

WELLNESS

WORKPLACE

WELLNESS

WORKPLACE

WELLNESS

WORKPLACE

WELLNESS

8 WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE IF YOU SIT AT YOUR DESK ALL DAY

WRITTEN BY JUST BEGIN MAGAZINE

Most of us have a routine when it comes to our jobs: We go to meetings, check emails, and have around five cups of coffee in the span of seven to eight hours to get our work done. (Trust me; it’s worth it.) but in addition to your everyday responsibilities, I recommend adding one more task to your neverending to-do list.

Sitting at a desk all day sounds like the norm.

Because of technology, you never have to leave your chair for anything (unless, you know, you have to go to the bathroom). Want lunch? Order online.

Need to hold a meeting? Use Skype. The possibilities are endless. And while the idea of hanging at your desk until 5 p.m. may sound like a dream, it’s pretty detrimental to your health. Aside from neck and back pain, it can increase your risk for heart disease, obesity, and even death from cardiovascular disease and cancer (yikes!). So, to be more health-conscious, here are eight small changes you can make at work to increase your activity and improve your overall health.

Take hourly breaks.

Sitting at your desk for hours and hours can damage your health: Too much sitting is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and even dementia. And because sitting is the new smoking, it’s a good idea to break the habit. Try getting up from your desk once an hour and moving around for about five minutes. This will activate muscles and promote blood flow. And if you’re someone who is entirely consumed by your workload, set a timer for once an hour, so you’re reminded to take breaks, even when you’re super busy.

Go out for lunch.

Exercise for 10 minutes.

While ordering GrubHub directly to your office may sound fantastic, eating and working at the same time doesn’t do wonders for your physical health. Take advantage of your hour break and walk to grab lunch instead of ordering in. You’ll move your muscles, get fresh air, and even have some time to chat with coworkers (rather than staring at your computer screen for hours on end).

Sometimes it’s hard to take a break when you have a lot on your plate, but getting out of the office will refresh your body and your brain—even if it’s a 15-minute date with a park bench and your brownbag lunch.

Some companies offer flexible work hours, and if you’re one of their lucky employees, use that extra time to exercise before, during, or after work.

Physical activity can relieve stress by giving you a mental break, and as a consequence, you’ll feel happier and healthier. If you don’t have time for a class or a multi-mile run, a quick 10 minutes of movement can make a significant impact—even if it’s jogging in place, some jumping jacks, or a few simple yoga poses.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Stand instead of sit.

Just because you have a desk doesn’t mean you need to sit. As an alternative, elevate your computer with a riser so you can stand, or if that’s not an option, move to another spot in the office where there’s a taller platform for your computer. You can also invest in an ergonomic workstation or, if you’re fancy, purchase a treadmill desk, so you’re able to walk and work simultaneously because multitasking is such a #GIRLBOSS move.

Like a drool-worthy cheeseburger, it’s hard to say “no” to taking the elevator.

But honestly, there’s no easier way to get cardio in during your work week than by taking a few flights of stairs. As you can probably guess, opting for the stairs is good for your body: It increases your heart rate, improves your energy, and can increase the functionality of your immune system. Before you know it, you’ll be running up five flights and beating the elevator to the top.

Sit on an exercise ball.

If, for whatever reason, you’re required to sit at your desk all day, switch out your chair for an exercise ball. Sitting in a chair requires no muscle activity (which does more harm than good), but using an exercise ball forces you to sit up straight, strengthen your core, and tone your muscles.

While it’s not recommended you sit on the ball all day, it offers many more benefits than a regular old chair when appropriately inflated.

Offer to walk company pets in a petfriendly office.

Working in a pet-friendly office has its perks, like boosting creativity, reducing stress levels, and improving employees’ overall health. But, unfortunately, company pets also force employees to take much-needed breaks. So, whether it’s your dog or a co-worker’s, taking a furry friend out every few hours gives you a valid excuse to get out of the office and move.

Switch up your commute.

If you can’t pull yourself away from your desk during the day, consider changing up your commute. Depending on how far you live from the office, biking or running to work can be great alternatives—and as a result, you won’t feel guilty for sitting at your desk all day. (But please be sure to move every few hours as we outlined in tip No.1!)

If biking or running isn’t an option, try getting off the train a stop early, walking instead of the bus, or simply parking farther away from the entrance.

Every step counts, so switch things up!

Live the

Story

You

Want to

Tell

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

Travel

Destinations:

The Wilburton

Destination

Resort

Written by Eddie Ortiz Imagine waking up after a deep sleep in a spectacular private mansion and feeling like you stepped out of the pages of the Great Gatsby. Imagine spending a weekend or week with your closest friends and feeling that this historic chateau was your mansion in the mountains of Manchester Vermont. The Wilburton is ideal for family reunions and get-togethers with friends that are so long overdue. The majestic Wilburton mansion has eleven bedrooms and sleeps 25 guests. Larger groups can rent the 6 additional vacation homes on the 30-acre hilltop estate. All together The Wilburton resort can accommodate lodging for 100 guests and cater destination weddings and celebrations for 200 guests.

Feel like you’re on Top Chef as you cook together in the commercial kitchen, or let the staff prepare meals for you as you dine with friends in the solarium or al fresco beneath the awning terrace. Toast to the good life in the clubby Billiard Room bar or relax beneath the coffered ceiling beside a roaring fire in the living room. Wake up in a high four-poster bed that seems to stretch in all directions. The sweet embrace of sleep softly leaves the bed. The soft morning light calls you over to the window and as you throw back the curtains you bask in the gorgeous view that this hilltop mansion so generously provides you. Knowing that your closest friends and family members can share this Vermont vacation with you, fill you with warmth and beg the question; what could be better than this? Meeting the family that runs it.

MEET THE LEVIS FAMILY The Levis family has owned and operated The Wilburton for over 30 years. You may have heard the adage, “the family that prays together stays together,” well what about the family that runs an inn together? To get a good idea of the cohesive and dynamic Levis hoteliers, all one has to do is book a stay at The Wilburton. My first point of contact was Brown University graduate, songwriter, and singer, Melissa.

Melissa, her son, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jetson, decided to exchange the hustle and bustle of New York City for the breath of fresh air that is Manchester, Vermont. The move was inspired by her son’s own desire to spend more time in Vermont. Which, as we continue through this article you’ll find many examples of this family’s core values. Melissa’s role at The Wilburton is multifaceted as she handles the duties of innkeeper, group sales, public relations, and marketing.

Before returning to The Wilburton she had known as a child Melissa had a successful career as a singer and songwriter. She created Moey’s Music Party, a children’s band which entertained over 10,000 children a year in world-renowned venues such as Central Park, The Tribeca Film Festival, and the New York Public Library. Her client base was by no means limited to children though as she often wrote and performed custom songs to honor Prime Ministers, movie stars, and even Presidential hopefuls. Most recently she has released her song “When We Can Gather” https://youtu.be/fCa1VWCX42g on The Wilburton Destination Resort VT Youtube Channel. I’d delve into how she’s been profiled and written for larger publications but I’m sure Just Begin Magazine has been her favorite one to work with.

Max, the youngest brother of the Levis family, grew up with the inn and has an absolute understanding of its inner workings (pun intended). He also holds a Ph.D. in psychology, having studied at Columbia University, Harvard Divinity School School, and Boston University, which must come in handy when it comes to dealing with the complex mix of personalities that come through the doors of The Wilburton.

Oliver is an organic farmer and baker who created Earth Sky Time Community Farm from the Levis family childhood home. The community farm is home to a bakery, concert venue, and artistic community. The farm frequently provides organic farm-to-table catering for destination weddings at The Wilburton. They also provide vegetarian and vegan drop-off catering for the many yoga and wellness retreats at the Battenkill Valley Mansion that is part of The Wilburton resort.

Tajlei is The Wilburton’s resident off-Broadway dramatist, a graduate of Columbia College and NYU Law School. This summer she is producing a Bridgerton Wilburton weekend in the country July 16-18. This very special event includes a garden party and Regency dance with prizes for best costume. Tsjlei is also producing ‘Tuesday’s in the Tent’ a weekly summer Vermont variety show cabaret in The Wilburton’s spectacular marble pavilion tent. Tajlei has been published for a number of her musicals, the most recent of which is Glimpses of the Moon. Tajlei is the mastermind behind annual murder mysteries which she produces every November hosted at The Wilburton. As an added incentive to venture into the dark and exciting world of Tajlei’s murder mysteries, they have been known to feature TV and film stars, could they be the murderer? Or would that be too easy of a conclusion?

Speaking of dealing with complex personalities, Albert, the pater familias, is a psychiatrist and scholar from Athens Greece who specializes in conflict resolution. He holds retreats on Creativity for Self Discovery and the integration of art, science, creativity, and morality. He loves to share insights with guests and it comes as no surprise that this refined soul is also the curator of the inn’s sculpture gardens throughout the grounds.

He founded the Museum of the Creative Process on the grounds of The Wilburton which focuses on creativity as a tool for conflict resolution. It features pieces examining not only conflict resolution but also religious paradigms, and Levis’ psychological research into common and universal conflict resolution structures. Perhaps I initially understated Albert Levis MD author of Conflict Analysis: The Formal Theory of Behavior’s level of expertise on the subject of conflict resolution. These two paragraphs could hardly summarize the eventful life of Albert Levis but I invite you to personally ask him about his storied experiences, I’m sure he’ll happily oblige.

THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO STAY There are six smaller homes including 2-bedroom cottages, three 6-bedroom homes, and two turn-ofthe-century mansions. The Wilburton is a place where family reunions of all sizes can feel welcome to make the hilltop their country house. In addition to family reunions, the resort also offers yoga retreats and destination weddings. One of the most popular vacation homes for these events is the Battenkill Valley Mansion. People can also rent these homes for the ski season as they are just a few short miles away from Bromley Mountain and Stratton Mountain.

THE HISTORY OF THE WILBURTON If the cast of the inn hasn’t already enticed you to book a stay then feel free to stick around for its history. The Manchester Village area was popular for its fresh air and picturesque scenery amongst socialites, old money, and new money as early as the 1890s. The very land the inn resides upon was initially selected for Albert M. Gilbert by Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln in 1895. Gilbert began construction on his Frank Lloyd Wright and English Tudor-influenced mansion immediately and seven years later “Strawberry Hill” was complete.

Unfortunately for Gilbert two years later he found his health and finances in dire straits. He was forced to sell his land and after his passing, his family was forced to sell the inn to cover his debts. Before he passed his daughter, Louise Gilbert had been courted by and married Day McBirney who purchased a plot of land from Albert Gilbert. McBirney built a 25-room mansion for his bride who shortly thereafter absconded.

Following Gilbert’s death, the inn was purchased by James Wilbur, a self-made millionaire, and banker, who changed the inn’s name to “Wilburton Hall”. Wilbur had a true love for Vermont which he expressed by paying for the first paved road in Vermont and leaving behind $1.5 million for the University of Vermont scholarship which would appreciate to over $18 million today. After Wilbur died in 1928 his heirs were struggling due to the Wall Street crash and were forced to sell off their father’s properties. Though, many antiques from Wilbur’s reign still survive within the Wilburton inn today, such as oriental rugs and original furnishings.

In the 1940s Wilburton hall was leased as a co-ed boarding school for children refugees of the Nazi occupation in Europe. This bit of history is rather interesting in my opinion as Dr. Albert Levis grew up and survived Nazioccupied Greece.

Then in 1945, the Wilburton Hall resumed its initial occupation as the Wilburton Inn, a premier summer resort reserved for elites run by Jack Ortlieb. Ortlieb had a unique rise to prominence as he went from a speakeasy employee to a maître ’d in a New York City nightclub. From there he made connections with celebrities, politicians, and gangsters who would eventually fill the logs of his guest books at the Wilburton. He even modified Wilbur’s Billiard Room and turned it into a restaurant which became a regular haunt for the victors of the Saratoga Race Course. Souvenirs from this bygone era can still be found in the form of vintage racehorse prints and bronzes.

By the late 1970s, the inn was owned by RKO Pictures - General Tire and became ever more exclusive as it hosted private meetings and the dalliances of famed movie stars.

While perhaps the Wilburton is no longer known for its salacious affairs between stars it is interesting to note that it’s still home to stars like Melissa and Tajlei.

Then finally, one magical day in 1987, a couple stopped by the inn for a birthday dinner. They became so enchanted by the Wilburton’s beauty and rich history that they decided to purchase it. Georgette and Dr. Albert Levis then proceeded to fill the Wilburton Inn with their family and their love.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN EXPERIENCING THE MAGIC FIRST HAND, BOOK YOUR DREAM GETAWAY AT WWW.WILBURTON.COM OR BY CALLING (802) 362-2500.

MANTHA

I D

Z A

B Y

IN IM

SA

V A L YEL

IU G

O NAP T A E D

Napa Valley is quintessential California laid-back luxury. From lush rolling hills covered in fruitcovered vines, countless wineries immaculately designed for luxe experiences, perfectly manicured floral gardens, overflowing culinary gardens, boutique shopping, and a drinking and dining scene to rival any, it’s a place that continues to be unbeatable for a quick getaway from the city.

Whether a staycation or a full-blown vacation, time spent in Napa Valley is pretty much guaranteed to be relaxing and memorable, it’s an ideal place to pamper yourself with indulgent culinary experiences paired with world-class wines in a setting that exudes tranquility.

I love Napa Valley, and to be honest, I’m in no way, shape, or form a wine snob! I don’t have the most discerning palate, and despite having tasted wine in some of the best regions in the world, I like what I like, and often, that’s not the most expensive or renowned wine. That’s one reason I love wine tasting; everyone’s taste preferences are different, and at the end of the day, you get to enjoy tasting new wines (and revisit old favs) in beautiful settings with people who equally want to have a good time!

Given the pandemic and California fires, it’s understandable that you may be wary of visiting this destination right now. Still, if you have a few days, it’s certainly worth making an effort now that the smokiness has subsided. Currently, wineries are allowed to host indoor tastings at 25% occupancy, restaurants have increased indoor occupancy to 50%, and breweries are open for outdoor service.

Moreover, many of the area’s best restaurants have opened up pretty outdoor dining sections and new menus for patio experiences. Complete with strict safety protocol and socially distanced seating, of course!

Explore Oxbow Market

Oxbow Market is a 40,000 square foot food hall and marketplace filled with local food vendors, artisan cafes, produce, eateries, and specialty merchants. It’s a foodies’ dream, thanks to the sheer size and variety of offerings. It recently expanded its presence to feature a spacious outdoor seating area to satisfy social distancing protocol.

The outdoor picnic tables are perfect for enjoying a cold brew, glass of wine, or frose from one of their merchants, including Cru Tasting Lounge, Fieldwork Brewing Company, Bar Lucia, and Napa Valley Distillery. From Hog Island Oyster, Gott’s Roadside, and El Porteno Empanadas to Kara’s Cupcakes, Three Twins Ice Cream, and Anette’s Chocolates—you won’t be leaving hungry.

Head over to Downtown Napa

The picturesque Riverfront of Downtown Napa Valley looks like something out of a storybook and is such a delight to spend an afternoon exploring. The river itself is peaceful and calming, making it an ideal stroll for any time of day, especially in the early morning or at sunset.

Visit Castello di Amorosa:

This gem among Napa Valley wineries is a castle. Yes, a castle! I have seen pictures of it for years and was determined to get there on my next trip. I will be honest. I was not familiar with the wines and only wished to walk inside a castle. But, the wines were surprisingly good!

Castello di Amorosa is located in the Northern part of Napa Valley, about 2 miles south of Calistoga. It was built to resemble a 13th-century castle in Tuscany. They offer a wide variety of tours and tastings and have year-round events at the castle. For $25 general admission, you can walk around the castle and sample 5 of their wines. Pay $35 for tastings of the reserved wines. There are many wines to choose from, and I walked away with eight bottles! I enjoyed the Simpatica Riesling and the Gewurztraminer, which are both sweet white wines.

Castello di Amorosa also offers guided wine tours, a wine tasting paired with chocolate, a “royal food, and wine pairing,” and cheese and wine pairings. Castello di Amorosa is one of the five best Napa Valley wineries to visit based on its unique setting and delicious dessert wines

Visit Caymus Vineyards

Caymus is another favorite, but we may be biased because it genuinely just one of our favorite special occasion wines. The Cab is everything! This tasting is a more upscale, seated tasting but amazing!! They make you feel real fancy upon arrival and, they do a great job at explaining each wine, and the tasting is done in the garden. Make sure you book a reservation first!

Eat at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch

We Love, Love, Love Farmstead!! Great for Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner, and it the perfect spot for everyone! Seriously, such a cute spot and the food is fantastic! They have the cutest little general store, too, where you can purchase little knick-knacks and do a wine tasting as well! The Long Meadow Pinot Grigios is to die for, and I highly recommend getting a spot in their covered patio if possible! Make sure you book a reservation first!

MY BIGGEST ADVICE: LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A WHILE.

By Melissa Cancio

Moving to a different state has its perks.

You meet a world of new people, you learn about yourself in so many different ways, and continue to build on your network. I’ve been loving my experience away from home thus far. I finally graduated from my master’s program, met the love of my life, and have been thriving in the world of opportunities I created for myself- with a little help of course.

Let me give you some insight1. Meeting new people. When you get to know people, you start off at square one- the beginning. Every question makes up the idea of how you can become friends with them. Do you see them as a long time friend? Do you see them as someone that can make an impact alongside you? I’ve met my core group after a few years of living in the state through something called Bumble BFF. To give you some insight, Bumble has three categoriesdating, friends, and network. The friends part really works! I’ve met so many great girls from it and have had amazing memories to share.

Meeting new people has been made easy this way!

2. Learning about yourself. I went through a tough adjustment period, but I survived! I learned about myself, my values, and what I want out of life while in grad school. So in a way, I’ve had a lot of growth. Moving to a different area from home helped me get out of my comfort zone in every way. It’s been a wild ride!

3. Build your network. By connecting with people, you build on your relationships and communication skills. There’s so much to look forward to when you learn about what kind of jobs there are, how people survive in our very competitive society, and the idea that we can support one another with each goal we set. This even helps if you need networks in other places. I bet someone is always willing to help in some sort of way!

So my biggest advice? Live somewhere else for a while! Go explore and discover yourself. I’m grateful I was able to get away from the bubble back home because otherwise, I would’ve stayed knowing the same network all my life.

Relationships would’ve probably thrived but I kept in touch where I could. I feel I’ll definitely come home one day, but for now, I’m loving life in a different state.

Join me?

Xo, Mel

BE INSPIRED

BE INSPIRED

BE INSPIRED

BE INSPIRED

BE INSPIRED

BE INSPIRED

LLA

H E A NEV

A K S

GO T S O E T

by Anjuli Sharpley 2021

just begin magazine

For Lindsey Koggan, the founder of All Skates Go to Heaven, a Miami-based skate meet group, roller-skating is more than a recently popularized sport, it is an act of “removing oneself from reality, putting on loud music, and transporting into a childlike dreamland.”

The Miami-native began skating in 2010 when her parents gifted her a pair of K2 incline skates. “Skating recreationally, I never processed you could go backwards on skates or anything like that,” said Koggan. Upon connecting with other local skaters and skating in different locations around the country, she began to embrace the free element of skating. “You transcend into a state of empowerment, true merriment, and elation,” said Koggan.

Photo by Brittany Castillo

Koggan initiated All Skates’ meets to get out of the house during the pandemic, and “meet more skaters who knew more about skating and connect.” All Skates’ first meetup occurred during January, behind the American Airlines Arena and drew in seven of Koggan’s close friends. Since, the meets have attracted a much larger and diverse crowd, with the second one bringing in “twenty-seven community members, and continuously doubling from there,” said Koggan.

“I enjoy skating down the trafficked streets of Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne with my hair down while holding a beach towel in one hand and a pub sub in the other,”

When asked about her favorite memory at her skate meets, Koggan recounted one of All Skates’ first events, which was also held behind the arena. When rain started pouring down in the middle of a meet, Koggan expected all the skaters to leave. Much to her surprise, the meet’s attendees gathered beneath a nearby bridge as she connected her speaker to a generator with a drenched extension cord. ”Everyone did a breakdance, taking turns going in the middle of a circle, and as the rain poured around us, no one left, these people are family,” said Kogan.

For new skaters, Koggan recommends focusing on shifting your body weight while on skates and learning to control its movements. Koggan added, “Bend your knees, suck in your core, and use your arms as stabilization.” This prevents falls, which are inevitable according to Koggan, who said, “the more you fall as a beginner, the

“I enjoy skating down the trafficked streets of Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne with my hair down while holding a beach towel in one hand and a pub sub in the other,” said Koggan, who also works at an audio-visual company as a production coordinator and account representative, selling broadcast and conference technology. ”I'm constantly inspired and impressed daily by the talent in the Miami community that continues to grow vertically,” she added. Koggan hopes to get all of Miami on skates in the near future, and as All Skates continues its rapid growth, she feels “elated” at the potential of the “skate family.”

SHARE YOUR BRAND STORY ON JUST BEGIN MAGAZINE. WANT TO LEARN MORE? CONTACT US TODAY AT INFO@JUSTBEGINMAG.COM