Gratitude – It Does a Body Good

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

I’m incredibly grateful. Not only the part of the globe we live on—the Pacific Northwest in the United States—but for our specific town, Boise, Idaho. It’s quite possibly one of the friendliest places on earth.

Boise is quite possibly one of the friendliest places on earth

The words “gratitude” and “grace” share a common origin: the Latin word gratus, meaning “pleasing” or “thankful.” The Association for Humanistic Psychology defines gratitude as “Orientation towards noticing and appreciating the positive in the world.”

University of California Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons’ research revealed that grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that literally boosts the immune system—a clear PHYSICAL benefit.

Boise offers free smells (good ones) too

Dr. Alex Wood, a postgraduate researcher in the Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, said that “Gratitude is an integral part of well-being”—a distinct benefit to our MENTAL and EMOTIONAL faculties.

Gratitude helps to open the heart, the seat of compassion. It helps us to see the good in our experience. It enhances trust and helps us to forgive—a benefit to our SPIRITUAL aspect.

How do you weave gratitude into the tapestry of your life?

Book Fairies

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

Yesterday I took part in Hide a Book Day with Goodreads who’d teamed up with the Book Fairies (#ibelieveinbookfairies) and thousands of authors all around the globe to hide books for people to find, read, and leave for the next person.

After affixing the unique Book Fairies sticker, I bound mine with color-coordinated curling ribbon, then hid ten signed copies of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth throughout Boise, Idaho. I opted for high foot-traffic locations such as the airport, the Towne Square mall, the capitol building, and several coffee shops in historic downtown.

If you’re an author, I hope you were able to participate. If you’re an avid reader, I hope you found a book left by a book fairy.

When was the last time you were touched by a bit of magic?

On the Rise

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

We never fail to be awed by the many, beautiful hot air balloons that lift off from Ann Morrison Park over Labor Day weekend at the annual Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic. This year’s event was no exception.

As the air in the balloons gets hotter than the surrounding air, they rise. Walking between the balloons before liftoff, the sound is incredible! In fact, an article in the Idaho Statesman newspaper recommended that attendees leave their dogs at home because the sound—like a herd of fire-breathing dragons—can scare them.

Mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, what is it that lifts you up?

Path of Totality (almost)

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

Yesterday, a good portion of the United States had the rare opportunity to experience a solar eclipse. Boise, Idaho wasn’t in the “path of totality” for the moon blotting out 100 percent of the sun, but we peaked just shy of it at seeing 99.5 percent of the sun covered.

And what better place to use nature’s pinhole camera than “The City of Trees.” Len and I used protective eclipse eyewear to view the sun, but we also enjoyed seeing hundreds of tiny crescents covering the driveway. We’d read in the newspaper that:

“A pinhole camera is the most simple image-projection technology there is. You can use a thumbtack to punch a hole in card stock, hold that card under a direct light source, and a tiny, exact image of that light source will be projected on the other side of the hole.”

Photo by Laurie Buchanan © TuesdaysWithLaurie.com

“Sunlight filtering through the branches of trees will create a field of crescent-shaped light on the sidewalk below it. It’s the pinhole camera effect, multiplied naturally hundreds of time underneath each tree. Each gap in the leaves acts as its own pinhole, so you see an image of the eclipse in each of those gaps.”

Where were you during the eclipse on August 21, 2017?

Steam Heat

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

It’s the time of year in the Pacific Northwest to crank up the heat. Every time I turn the knob on our heating registers, I’m reminded of the Pointer Sisters rendition of Steam Heat. On the City of Boise website you’ll learn:

“Four independent heating districts operate geothermal systems within Boise that serve more than five million square feet of residential, business, and government space. Energy is produced locally and sustainably. Every gallon pumped out is injected back into the system.”

Geothermal Register by Laurie Buchanan at TuesdaysWithLaurie.com

One of those four independent heating districts is historic Warm Springs, a tree-lined avenue that’s home to many of the Victorian-style mansions erected by wealthy miners and businesspeople around the turn of the 20th century. The area gets its name from the natural hot springs that flow from Boise’s fault line.

We live in the carriage house of one of the oldest mansions in the surrounding area (circa 1865). We’re fortunate that our minimalist space enjoys earth-friendly, cost-efficient heat from the hot springs throughout the winter.

I don’t get “steamed” too often, but when I do—it’s not pretty. A few of the large, small, and mid-sized things that get me hot under the collar are mistreatment of people (anything less than respectful), littering, and people who don’t take loving care of their animals.

What chaps your hide, boils your blood, or makes you hot under the collar?

Official Release Day

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Today—Nov 1, 2016—is the official release day of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth. Like a hovercraft, my feet haven’t touched the ground!

In an article featured on BuzzFeed today, Note to Self is listed as one of the 5 Self-Help Books To Keep You Centered During Election Week. Here’s what they wrote:

“Lugging around emotional baggage is something that we’ve all experienced and something that no one enjoys because it can hinder our journey through life. But, in this seven-step guide Laurie Buchanan explores the significance of unpacking that baggage in order to begin a healthier stage of living. This honest and open guide gives readers the knowledge, techniques and real world examples they need to discover a happier version of themselves.” —BuzzFeed

Hosted by The Present Moment, my book launch party is scheduled for Nov 12 at the Civic Center in Libertyville, IL—just north of Chicago. Click HERE for details. I hope to see you there.

I’m delighted to share that Note to Self was selected as a 2016 Idaho Author Award winner in the category of inspiration.

Tonight we attend the awards reception and ceremony, so let’s just say my feet won’t touch the ground for the next week or seven!

Note to Self is additionally in the running for the Nautilus Award. This distinction is for books with exceptional literary contributions to spiritual growth, conscious living and green values, high-level wellness, responsible leadership, and positive social change.

For those who can’t attend the book launch, you can still get a signed copy of Note to Self. Simply call my local bookstore—Rediscovered Books—at 208.376.4229 and let them know you’d like to purchase a signed copy of Laurie Buchanan’s Note to Self. They’ll ship it to you within 24 hours.

If you live in the Boise area, Rediscovered Books is hosting me at a market style event from 11:00 am to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7. I’d be happy to sign and copy for you there.

If you live outside the United States, you can order Note to Self through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Ways you can help me launch Note to Self:

Please buy a copy of the book.
Leave an honest review on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / Riffler. Readers want to know if Note to Self is relevant, compelling, actionable, vibrant. Simply cut-and-paste the same review wherever you post it.
Tell others about Note to Self—word of mouth is the best advertisement.
Please ask your local library to order a copy.

What is the title of the book you are currently reading?

It’s All About Attitude

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

I took this photograph from the passenger window of a Cessna 172. What you see in the cleft between the mountains is not clouds. Rather, it’s smoke from the ongoing Pioneer Fire that’s responsible for burning more than 150,000 acres in southwest Idaho.

Outbound flight from Boise to McCall

When I was in the corporate world I designed and delivered a workshop titled “It’s All About Attitude.” So imagine my surprise on a return flight from breakfast in McCall when we hit turbulence—like a zealous toddler with a balsa-wood airplane—and Len said:

“It’s okay Laurie. I’m going to make a change in attitude, not altitude.”

Len didn’t mean his emotional attitude. When hit by choppy air, if the pilot tries to maintain altitude (the higher/lower aspect), the plane can suffer damage.

If, however, the pilot keeps the attitude of the plane straight and level, you’ll keep flying, get through it, and the plane will remain in tact.

From my perspective, that’s a great analogy for life. Sometimes we encounter turbulence on the journey. When that happens—and it will—it’s important to keep a straight and level attitude. If we do, we’ll keep going, get through it, and remain in tact.

When was your last patch of turbulence?

Full of Hot Air

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Typically the term, full of hot air is used in a derogatory fashion. For example, “Don’t pay attention to her, she’s full of hot air.” Not so at the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic that takes place annually on Labor Day weekend. In fact, it’s a requirement!

The sound of hundreds of dragons breathing fills the air as spectators get an up close and personal look during inflation and liftoff. And while these ginormous bags of hot air look a bit unwieldy on the ground, they exude delicate dignity as they float gracefully against the backlit morning sky.

No strings attached, the pilot and passengers aren’t tied down to anything; they’re quite literally untethered.

Do you have any strings attached?

Smiling in Boise

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

I love the gift Len gave me to celebrate authorhood:

I’ve been thinking about getting him personalized aviation license plates that feature a small airplane and say “Fly Idaho” as opposed to “Famous Potatoes.” However, rather than 7 characters, they’re limited to 5.

An extremely thoughtful pilot, Len always hands out a “personal access bag” to each passenger prior to flight in the event of air sickness. With that in mind, I think BRFBG would be hysterical!

If you have personalized license plates, what do they say? If you don’t, but had hypothetical ones, what would they say?

Eye of the Beholder

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Typically when the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” is used it’s because someone’s perspective doesn’t quite line up with someone else’s. For instance, one person might say, “Look at my new haircut, don’t you love it?” While the other person is thinking, “Oh my goodness, have you looked in a mirror?”

Then there are times when our perspective matches up beautifully with another person’s. Last week we enjoyed a visit from out-of-state friends. It was their first time in Boise so we gave them a tour—areal and ground level— to show them first-hand what we’ve been bragging about.

We enjoyed every one of their ooh’s and aah’s as they snapped photo after photo and drank in the luscious Boise-area landscape.

What’s your most recent “eye of the beholder” experience?

By the way, if you haven’t dropped by my Instagram page, please take a moment to check it out. I think it’s pretty cool. Once you visit, if your “eye of the beholder” experience aligns with mine, I hope you’ll click the “like” button.

Tuesdays with Laurie

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." —Laurie Buchanan

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