http://www.drangieanderson.com/

Wellness at Serenity Springs, Blue Ridge, VA (2025)

12/19/2025

Most of us were born and raised in cultures that value the head over the heart and, as a result, we place our own hearts below our heads in a sort of inner hierarchy of which we may not be conscious. What this means is that we tend to listen and respond from the neck up, often leaving the rest of our bodies with little or no say in most matters. This is a physical habit, which sometimes feels as ingrained as the way we breathe or walk. However, with effort and awareness, we can shift the energy into our hearts, listening and responding from this much deeper, more resonant place.

The brain has a masterful way of imposing structure and order on the world, creating divisions and categories, and devising plans and strategies. In many ways, we have our brains to thank for our survival on this planet. However, we also need the wisdom of our hearts if we wish to continue surviving in a viable way. When we listen from our heart, the logical grid of the brain tends to soften and melt, which enables us to perceive the interconnectedness beneath the divisions and categories we use to organize the world. We begin to understand that just as the heart underlies the brain, this interconnectedness underlies everything.

Many agree that this is the most important work we can do at this time in history, and there are many practices at our disposal. For a simple start, try sitting with a friend and asking them to tell you about their life at this moment. For 10 minutes or more, try to listen without responding verbally, offering suggestions, or brainstorming solutions. Instead, breathe into your heart and your belly, listening and feeling instead of thinking. When you do this, you may find that it’s much more difficult to offer advice and much easier to identify with the feelings your friend is sharing. You also may find that your friend opens up more, goes deeper, and feels like they have really been heard. If you also feel great warmth and compassion, almost as if you are seeing your friend for the first time, then you will know that you have begun to tap the power of listening with your heart.

12/18/2025

Waking up to stubborn puffiness, baggy under-eyes, and dull-looking skin — even after a good night’s sleep — can feel discouraging, especially when the creams and serums you’ve been counting on don’t seem to help. What’s surprising is that the cause often runs deeper than we might guess. Sometimes, what we see in the mirror is simply a reflection of the stress we’ve been carrying inside — something often referred to as “cortisol face.”

Cortisol is a natural hormone in the body, and in healthy balance, it plays an important role in regulating inflammation, metabolism, and our internal rhythm. But when life gets stressful, we skip meals, or don’t make enough time for rest and self-care, cortisol can stay elevated longer than it should. Over time, that extra strain wears down collagen and elastin — leading to premature aging, sagging skin, and a tired, swollen appearance.

While beauty products can soothe the skin barrier, the real metamorphosis begins when we care for stress at its source. Simple rituals that calm the nervous system can make a meaningful difference — things like getting good hydration and weaving in relaxing practices like meditation, gentle movement, and breathwork. Even the smallest changes can help regulate cortisol and support firmer, smoother, more glowing skin.

12/17/2025

We encounter a wide variety of people throughout our lives. Many of them touch us in some positive way. Occasionally, however, we encounter those individuals who can be difficult to deal with. Perhaps this person is a colleague or close friend that you feel is being deliberately obtuse, inviting trouble, or doing foolish things that annoy you. Sometimes, it may be possible to appease or avoid those people short term. Dealing with them in the long term, however, can be exhausting. The behavior of difficult people can even make you feel like losing your temper, but keep your cool. Staying calm is the first step, especially when you are ready to confront them.

Avoiding a difficult person can prove impossible and is not in your best interest, especially if you live or work together. Likewise, attempts to steer clear of them can become a source of stress and anxiety when they are a part of your social circle. When this is the case, it is best to kindly address the problem. Try not to let their actions or mood affect you. You also may want to try expressing your feelings directly. Tell the person how their actions make you feel, and encourage them toward a more positive course of action. Speak assertively, but respectfully, and don’t portray yourself as a victim. Another approach for dealing with a difficult individual is to gain a deeper understanding of who that person is. Ask them why they do or say certain things. If you disagree with their motives, question them further, so you can try and discover the root of their behaviors. In doing so, you may be able to gently shift their perceptions or at least help them understand your point of view.

You may want to think about what you want to say to a difficult person before you actually talk to them. If you can, avoid being judgmental or defensive, and try to approach the conversation objectively. If the person is open to the idea, try coming to an agreement. If approaching them fails, let it go and move on. There is no reason to let a difficult person or situation have power over your state of being. Remember that a lot can be accomplished when you take the time to listen and offer up alternative perspectives.

12/15/2025

The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form. And the nourishment we derive from it promotes wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of food go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating “close to the Earth.” That is — eating locally grown foods that are in season and unprocessed.

If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a difference between these foods and those that are processed for mass consumption and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force, and thus it has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the Earth — and enjoying the many benefits of doing so — by shopping at a local farmers’ markets and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.

As you savor the flavors of juicy, ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you also can take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the Earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

12/12/2025

The holidays don’t look the same for everyone, and they tend to touch us all in different ways. For some, they bring equal parts excitement and stress — especially as we prepare for long hours on the road, shared meals with loved ones around the table, and the exchange of gifts, laughter, and wonderfully nostalgic memories. For others, the season carries heavier emotions, marked by empty chairs, quiet spaces, and the grief for those no longer with us.

Yet, no matter what this time of year brings for you, it also offers a kind invitation — to take care of yourself in new or familiar ways. To pause between destinations, give your nervous system a moment of rest when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and offer yourself simple, holistic practices like gentle movement, reflective journaling, or calming breathwork to help reset your energy and well-being.

And maybe that’s one of the quieter gifts of this season: the reminder that caring for ourselves isn’t something extra — it’s something essential. When we nourish our bodies and nervous systems with warmth and intention, we’re more likely to meet life in ways that feel grounded and joyful. Not perfectly. Not performatively. But with your whole self — embodied in presence and heart.

12/11/2025

Most of us have probably come across the universal wisdom that the people who irritate us the most are expressing qualities that we ourselves have. This is why family members can be so vexing — we see ourselves in them, and vice versa. This isn’t always true, of course, but when it is, it’s a real opportunity for growth if we can acknowledge it. It is infinitely easier to change ourselves than it is to try to change another person, which is never a good idea. For example, if we have a coworker who engages in some kind of negative behavior, like complaining or trying to control everything, we can look and see if we ourselves carry those traits.

We may have to look to other situations in our lives to see it because we behave differently in different environments. Perhaps we don’t complain at work because our coworker overdoes it. But maybe we do it with our friends. Maybe we aren’t controlling at the office, but we’re used to being in control at home. This is why we feel so irritated not to be in control at work. Even if we look and find that we are not engaging in the same behavior that we see as negative in others, we can still learn from what we are seeing in this person. The truth is, human nature is universal, and we share many of the same tendencies. What we see in others can always help us to understand ourselves more deeply.

Having the ability to see something in another person and automatically bring this observation back to ourselves is like having a built-in system of checks and balances. It enables us to be continually engaged in self-exploration and behavior change. When we see behavior we don’t like, we can make a concerted effort to w**d it out of ourselves, and when we see behavior we do like, we can let it inspire us to engage in imitation. Through this process, we read our environment and let it influence us to bring out the best in ourselves.

12/10/2025

There’s a tender reason so many of us slip into people-pleasing: We want to be loved, understood, and accepted. Somewhere along the way, we learned that being easy, helpful, or agreeable made life smoother — for others, at least. And while that instinct comes from a caring place, it can slowly make us feel smaller inside, as if our own needs matter a little less each time we say “yes,” even when our heart whispers “no.”

If you’ve ever felt tired from trying to keep everyone else comfortable, please know you’re not alone. It’s a heavy kind of quiet exhaustion — the kind that doesn’t always show on the outside but builds on the inside. And the truth is, you deserve relationships where you don’t have to earn your place. Your wants, your boundaries, your voice — they all count. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is to be honest about what feels right for you and communicate your needs.

You can begin this shift with simple, honest language — small sentences that honor your truth without closing your heart. Phrases like, “I’m not able to do that,” or “That doesn’t work for me,” create space for your well-being to take priority. And as you practice, you’ll find that honoring your boundaries feels less like letting others down and more like finally cultivating inner peace and genuine happiness within yourself.

12/09/2025

When we decide the time has come to change the look or feel of our personal spaces, it is the spaces themselves that can provide us with the most useful guidance. Working with a single room allows us to unearth the innate potential of the space and also better understand how we want to relate to it. To be conscious of the possibilities of a space, we need to listen to, look at, and bond with that space in a deep and personal way. The more we know about the spaces we wish to change, the better equipped we are to make them both beautiful and functional.

Before you contemplate colors and layouts, spend some time in the rooms you plan to modify. Observe the way light moves through each space at different times of day. In the course of a week or so, note those times when you feel drawn to a particular space. You may naturally gravitate toward one room when you want to relax and toward another when you want to socialize. Also, remember that not all rooms have to be used as originally planned — for example, a dining room may make a wonderful sitting area. As you make these observations, think about whether the spaces under consideration remind you of anything or bring certain thoughts to mind. Writing your thoughts down can make the process of examination simpler. The discoveries you make regarding the rooms in your home can help guide you as you choose color schemes, furniture layouts, and decorative styles so that you bring out the natural qualities of each area using your creativity and eye for detail. Using the cues you pick up, you can design a beautiful room that is bright and exciting, or one that calms the soul and invites meditation.

By treating the layout and decor of your personal spaces in this mindful way, you can honor their natural rhythms while creating a cohesive and comfortable home that energy can flow through unencumbered. The design elements you subsequently choose will work together like the diverse instruments that come together to form a symphony orchestra. Each will resonate harmoniously with the next, ensuring that your home resounds with a lasting message of beauty, serenity, reassurance, and comfort.

12/08/2025

Can being more flexible help people live longer? Science says yes. But maybe the more meaningful part is how it can help you enhance the quality of your years. When your body feels good, everyday movements feel easier — getting out of bed, reaching for something on a shelf, going for a walk, or spending time with your children or grandchildren. It’s the little things that bring a sense of lightness, the kind that makes you feel more like yourself again.

What’s remarkable is how small choices add up. A few minutes of stretching in the morning, a soft twist while waiting for your tea to steep, or a slower, more mindful walk can gradually create more space inside you. Over time, these simple habits help your posture, soothe stiff joints, and protect you from injuries that can keep you from the things you love. Flexibility becomes less of a “goal” and more of a companion — something that quietly supports you in the background of daily life.

And the lovely thing is, you don’t have to touch your toes or do anything big to benefit. With slow, steady practice, you’ll find your body responding — reaching farther, bending easier, and building strength. It’s a tender way of caring for yourself, a gentle promise that says, “The way you feel matters, and you deserve to feel comfortable as you move through the world.”

12/05/2025

What we eat does so much more than fill our stomachs — it gently shapes the way we move through the world. Every bite sends a message to the nervous system, the part of us that helps us handle stress, rest deeply, digest our meals, and feel at home inside ourselves. When our days get busy and we lean on quick fixes like caffeine, sugar, or whatever we can grab on the run, it often leaves us feeling wired, depleted, or more reactive than we’d like.

But something beautiful happens when we offer ourselves food that feels grounding and nourishing. Whole grains, steady proteins, leafy greens like spinach and kale, or even a handful of walnuts or pumpkin seeds — they all act like a soft hand on the shoulder, reminding the body it’s safe to settle. Blood sugar stabilizes, inflammation eases, and the brain gets the steady fuel it needs.

With conscious loving attention and time, food stops being just “fuel” and starts becoming a daily act of care. Nourishing our nervous system balances the mind, so thoughts feel less overwhelming and more spacious. It calms the body, so sleep comes more easily, digestion feels smoother, and those sudden waves of stress don’t knock us off our center quite as easily. Simple changes in our diet can make all the difference.

12/05/2025

Almost there… final touches happening 🙏

12/04/2025

Note: this one may not be for all… if you know me, you know I like my woo woo lol so my only rule for all things is” take what you like and leave the rest” 🙏🕉️

Most of us are familiar with the idea that we are not human beings having spiritual experiences; instead, we are spiritual beings having human experiences. We hear this, and even though we may experience a resounding yes in our bodies, we may not take the time to really acknowledge the truth of these statements. Integrating this idea into how we view ourselves can broaden our sense of who we are and help us appreciate ourselves as brave spirits on an important mission to learn and grow here on Earth.

As spiritual beings, we are visitors in this physical realm. The fact that we came here and lost all memory of what happened to us before we were born is one of the many reasons that it takes so much courage for a soul to incarnate on Earth. This is why spiritual inquiry so often feels like a remembering — because it is. Remembering that we are spiritual beings is part of the work that we are here on Earth to do. When we operate from a place of remembering, we tap into the wisdom that our spirit accumulated even before we stepped into this lifetime. Remembering who we are can give us the patience to persevere when we become overwhelmed or frustrated. It can give us the courage to work through the most daunting challenges and help us trust the ancient wisdom we carry through our intuition.

We have chosen to be on Earth because there is something we want to learn that can only happen by inhabiting a body. Some of us are here to repay a debt, learn about love, or teach forgiveness. Most of us are here for a combination of reasons. We carry this information in our souls — all we have to do is remember. As you go through your journey, try not to forget how brave you are, being here now. Honor yourself.

Wellness at Serenity Springs

12/19/2025

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