By Radley West When you think of being healthy, what’s the first image that pops into your head? For many of us, it’s a person sweating it out at the gym, chiseled and determined. While fitness is an excellent piece of the puzzle, a truly healthy life is a muchContinue Reading
By Jennifer Tardy Whenever we eat sugar by itself — especially processed sweets — the body responds in a predictable chemical chain reaction: Blood sugar spikes quickly Insulin surges to bring it down The body often overcorrects You crash Your brain panics: “Quick, more sugar!” Your nervous system interprets this asContinue Reading
Photo: Collards — A field of memories, good eating, and more. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Being the chap I was, collard greens’ smell and similarity to the stringy dark-green algae in fish ponds repulsed me. Mom would cook up a mess and sit it before me. I’d dragContinue Reading
By Radley West Every morning, I leave the house like a responsible adult, keys in hand, water bottle, whispering sweet nothings to my dog like, “Be a good girl,” and “Don’t destroy anything I love.” She gives me the look. You know the one. The Oscar-worthy performance that says, IContinue Reading
By Radley West It took me a long time to learn that “no” is a complete sentence. Let’s face it: boundaries get a bad rap. To some, they sound cold or selfish, like you’re suddenly too good to answer a 10 pm “Hey, can you help me move this couch?”Continue Reading
Photo: My grandmother and mother’s cornbread mold with an ear of Bradford heirloom corn. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Born of fire, master of fire, and survivor of fire, my vintage cast iron cornbread mold fed many a soul. Best I figure it came to be in the 1930s.Continue Reading
By Radley West Starting the day by writing down a few things you’re grateful for may seem simple, but it can lead to profound benefits. What often begins as a small daily habit, like jotting down three things you’re thankful for, has been shown to improve mental well-being, reduce stress,Continue Reading
Something about a rainy winter day fires up the imagination. For some. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net I have long admired the work of a fighter pilot turned writer. He wrote under the pen name James Salter. James Arnold Horowitz volunteered for combat duty in Korea and flew moreContinue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard November is a season we are reminded to count our blessings and express gratitude. There are so many people who enrich our community through their efforts in education. Behind every student’s success stands a network of educators: teachers, aides, school secretaries, counselors, custodians, librarians, coaches, nurses, cafeteriaContinue Reading
By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Photo: The ash door to the smokehouse in Historic Brattonsville. To some, the smokehouse remains a symbol of the impoverished, rural South. Not me. I see it as a rustic savior, and I thank the late Harry Crews for my column’s title. I recalledContinue Reading
By Eileen Renders Many people struggle with sleep and occasional anxiety, and some look to natural remedies for support. While certain herbs and supplements have been traditionally used to promote relaxation and sleep, they may not work the same for everyone. Always consult a healthcare provider before beginning any supplement,Continue Reading