labuznik

WOMEN: How to Use Our Voices

Women’s voices are silenced, dismissed, discounted, questioned, and not believed. Our contributions to history and accomplishments are erased. We are often the exception to the rule, and almost never the majority. It’s no wonder that to be heard, we feel we need to shout at the top of our lungs. If you want a great…

labuznik

August 22, 2025

Opinion

Compassion, Equality, Family, Fundamental rights, Girls, Hear, Kindness, Life, Listen, Love, Mental Health, Respect, Support, Understanding, Voice, Woman, Women, writing
The Body Keeps the Score

I originally intended to make a social media post about this, but as time passed, I realized I had much more to say, so I decided to write a blog post instead. Not long ago, I began listening to the audiobook The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma…

labuznik

July 15, 2025

Experience, Reflection

Audiobook, Book, Emotional Wellbeing, Healing, Mental Health, Personal Journey, PTSD, Self Improvement, Therapy, Trauma
Around the World, Part 3

To read Parts 1 and 2, see the previous posts. There is so much to tell, but I’ll focus on some of the most notable and meaningful experiences from our Around the World by Private Jet with National Geographic Expeditions. PERU We stayed in Cusco and our hotel there was amazing! Because Cusco is over 11,000…

labuznik

May 16, 2025

Experience, Reflection, Travel

Angkor Wat, Around The World, Compassion, Diplomacy, Expedition, Great Barrier Reef, Humanitarian, International Travel, jordan, Journey, Kindness, Machu Picchu, middle-east, morocco, National Geographic, Petra, Taj Mahal, Tiger’s Nest, Travel, World Travel
Around the World, Part 2

Tales from our Adventure To read Part 1, see the previous post. Before the trip even started, I encountered a significant hiccup. Because our first location was Cusco, Peru (11,000+ feet), we were instructed (in Washington, DC) to take the elevation medication we were told to bring. After the welcome dinner and reception in DC, Michael and…

labuznik

April 29, 2025

Experience, Travel

Adventure, Around The World, asia, bhutan, Bucket List, Epic, Expedition, global, International, Journey, National Geographic, Once in a Lifetime, See The World, Travel, travel-blog
Around the World – Part 1, Overview

How can I summarize the epic trip we recently came home from? It was a whirlwind 24 days, circumnavigating the globe with National Geographic Expeditions (Around the World by Private Jet). A few polite sentences won’t do it justice. A paragraph can’t cover it. Perhaps a lengthy monologue? But what are words without accompanying images?…

labuznik

April 8, 2025

Experience, Travel

Adventure, Bucket List, Circumnavigation, Destination, Expedition, global, International, Journey, National Geographic, Once in a Lifetime, Tour, Travel, Voyage
For The Men in Our Lives

We all have women in our lives: mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, girlfriends, wives, daughters, female friends, female co-workers, female acquaintances, etc. Showing compassion and understanding goes a long way, even for things you don’t fully understand or go through yourself. The weight of being able to bear children comes with some challenging aspects of female life…

labuznik

September 11, 2024

EMPOWERED

Compassion, EMPOWERED, for men, Menopause, Menstruation, Understanding, Women, womens health, you should know
One Hell of a Week

The weekend of March 1-3, we were in Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con. We have cat sitters for our beloved male black cat, Titian (tee-shen), who is diabetic. Saturday, we got an email from one of the sitters telling us Titian was a bit off. He’s been known to display bouts of off behavior and experience some…

labuznik

March 11, 2024

Experience

Covid, covid-19, Death, fever, flu, Grief, Health, Illness, Loss, Misery, Mourn, Sadness, Sickness
Around The World

Several years ago, I got a National Geographic Expedition catalog in the mail. Up until then, I didn’t even know the world-renowned company did travel excursions. At the back of the catalog was a trip called Around the World by Private Jet. A 24-day trip that visited places like Machu Picchu and Petra, Jordan (a…

labuznik

February 20, 2024

Experience, Travel

Around The World, Bucket List, Flights, International, National Geographic, Once in a Lifetime, Packing, See The World, Travel
31-Day Cold Plunge Challenge, Part II

Five minutes is a very short amount of time, even if you are spending it neck-deep in cold water. Cold plunging forces you to be in the present moment. It’s one of the things I love best about it.During each plunge, I use the time to focus on personal growth. I reiterate my various intentions,…

labuznik

February 6, 2024

Experience

31-day challenge, Anti-Inflammatory, Cold, Cold Plunge, Cold Water Therapy, Deliberate cold exposure, Health, Health Benefits, ice-bath, Mental Health, Mood Boost, New Year, Personal Growth, Self Improvement, Wellness
31-Day Cold Plunge Challenge

In the latter part of last year, I ordered a cold plunge tank from Renu Therapy out of California. After it arrived, my husband and I (along with a few friends) moved the 300-pound tank to its permanent location in our back courtyard. The following day, I took my first plunge in the tank. Before that, I…

labuznik

January 15, 2024

Experience, Reflection

31 day challenge, Anti-Inflammatory, Challenge, Cold Plunge, cold water, Cold Water Therapy, Deliberate cold exposure, grit, Health, Health Benefits, Personal Growth, Recovery, Wellness