jstarbuck

Letting Go: A Hard, But Sometimes Necessary Process

The Nurturing Well: By Jill StarbuckLife is full of difficult decisions and moments. Learning to let go often tops the list. For most of us, we fight change. Even those who adapt well to change or look forward to it still have to go through a process to accept that change. We get wrapped up…

Rumor Has It…

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck Rumors have been around for as long as humans have existed. If we aren’t talking about ourselves, we are often talking about other people. It’s what we do. For the most part, this is just human nature. However, it can get out of hand when too much speculation takes…

Antwerp Landmark Gone, But Lasting Memories Remain

Nearly three years ago I wrote a tribute to Kammeyer’s IGA, lamenting the closing of a beloved business. It was a tough time for the owners, long-time employees, former employees, and town residents. Fortunately, the store reopened shortly after under a new name and new ownership. So for a short while, Antwerp continued to enjoy…

Living the Moment

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck While on vacation, a friend of mine captured a picture of a woman enjoying the sights. What was so unusual about this particular woman is that she was walking around with a jar of peanut butter and dipping her finger in it. The picture is a truly beautiful and…

Mirror Mirror

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck In one of my college courses, the professor asked the students to write down three things that they liked about themselves. The entire class wrote about nonphysical aspects. As such, characteristics of the students were caring, reliable, lovable, trustworthy, humble, hardworking, etc. You get the idea. None of us…

Swear Jars

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck My eight-year-old daughter created a swear jar for anyone who swears around her. She charges one dollar for every swear word used. Thankfully, after several months, the jar contains only one dollar, which is unfortunate for her hopes in making a buck or two. However, the swear jar is…

A Holiday Challenge

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck When we think of the holidays this time of the year, we envision warm homes filled with laughter, good food, and loved ones. However, for some people the holidays just exacerbate their problems. They fail to see the joy when they are suffering on a daily basis. While it…

Optimism Leads to More Fulfilling Life

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck One of my best friends is nearly 30 years older than I am. When we get together, we laugh, talk about life, and just have a grand time. When I was in my early 20s, I remember thinking that my friend was one of the most beautiful and sophisticated…

Reduce Sodium Intake to Combat Health Risks

By: Jill Starbuck When we talk about addictions, we generally think of smoking, sugar, drugs, alcohol, and others. Sodium is typically not foremost on our minds when it comes to addiction. However, it is very much so. It is the reason some of us cannot stop at just one or two Doritos or McDonald’s french…

Break Away From Routine

The Nurturing Well By: Jill Starbuck We require many basic daily needs in order to live healthy and comfortable lives. These include such things as food, water, exercise, companionship, communication, and more. But one thing that often gets put on the back burner for many of us is a break. While fitness junkies and workaholics…

Schedule Fitness Competitions for Accountability

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck Did you know that thousands of fitness events exist around the world each year? It doesn’t matter what type of fitness routine you prefer, some sort of special event focuses on your particular fitness preference. Whether you are into Zumba, running, biking, weight lifting, CrossFit, or obstacle courses to…

Consistency Is Key to Fitness Results

The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck Have you ever tried an exercise program only to be discouraged by the results? You gave it everything you had, but you either didn’t lose weight or you didn’t build muscle or tone to the extent that you had hoped. Chances are that you may not have given it…