We're Better Together!

Straight Talk from our Community Compass

June 2025

​MYRNA: ​I’ve been working on getting more consistent, high-quality sleep. It’s still a work in progress, but there are some things that have really helped me. I’m practicing relaxation techniques an hour before bedtime (stretching/breathwork). I’ve been drinking ginger and turmeric tea about two hours before bedtime, while avoiding caffeine after 2:00 p.m. I’m slowing down liquids before bedtime because getting up to use the bathroom two or three times often leaves me staring at the ceiling. I wear my Garmin watch to track sleep scores, so I can distinguish patterns.

​CAROL: Summer's comin', so I want to share one of the easiest, tastiest, most inexpensive recipes you can make for picnics, barbecues, potlucks, or just to have on hand to accompany dinner: cucumber salad. You'll need two large, firm cucumbers, 2 teaspoons of salt, 6 tablespoons of sugar, and 2/3 cup of white vinegar. Wash and dry the cucumbers. If you want to get fancy, you can score them lengthwise with a fork. Cut into thin slices and put in a large bowl. Add the other ingredients, stir to mix, cover and refrigerate for about 12 hours for the flavors to blend. That's it. Finished. Done. Delicious. Hope you enjoy.

​SANDRA: Born and raised in California, I have always considered another West Coast native, New Journalism’s pioneer Joan Didion to be an irascible muse over my left shoulder. Rereading her 1960s and 70s works, Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album, as well as her later brilliantly incisive novel Democracy, she provides essential perspective for passionate times. Another riveting suggestion: The 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning James. Author Percival Everett turns the tables on Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, movingly told from the perspective of Jim, Huck’s enslaved companion. Take a trip out of your comfort zone. It’s worth the ride.

​JENIPHER: I get asked the difference between a mentor, a coach, and a consultant, and why it matters to know the difference. A mentor shares personal experience to guide long-term growth, often informally. A coach helps individuals unlock potential by asking powerful questions and focusing on performance improvement. A consultant offers expert advice and solutions to specific problems, typically in a professional, project-based setting. Choosing the right support — mentor for guidance, coach for development, or consultant for expertise — ensures you get the most effective help for your specific goals.

​LAURA: For the last six months, I’ve been making lasting dietary changes that have become new habits. As a registered dietitian, I’m proof that it’s not just about knowing what to eat — it’s about being ready to make lasting changes. Signs you’re ready include actively setting specific health goals, making small changes like planning meals, and reflecting on your habits. Start by setting SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Take small steps (e.g., adding one vegetable serving per day), track progress, and seek support. Dietary change is a journey, and every meal is an opportunity to make a healthy choice. Focus on progress, not perfection! 

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​JILLIAN: I am calling this my 'Strong Summer!' It has been a few months since I started taking floor Pilates classes, and I am feeling great! Whether it be a mental reset after work or just an intentional way to start a weekend, I have found these classes to be so rewarding for both my body and my mind. I'm officially reframing what a healthy body looks like to me: Not necessarily skinny, but strong.

​SHERRY: How do we promote greater emotional intelligence in children? In my book, Your Tiger Inside, emotions can be understood in a way that both neuro-divergent and neuro-typical children can use. Emotions are actually serving as important protective mechanisms, like alerts or “alarm bells” telling us what we may need, what we must do, or what we may fear. By helping children listen to their own ‘Tiger Inside,’ they can begin to think of the ‘what’ the emotions are alerting them to, or the story they are trying to tell.

​CARLA: It’s easy to get wrapped up in anxious thoughts and worries. When you notice this happening, pause to channel your energy in a positive direction. For example, if you’re anxious about your child’s future, you can shift your focus into imagining your child’s future being filled with love, blessings and peace. In fact, it takes less energy to lean into the positive than to stay stuck in the negative. Simple shifts into the realm of positivity are a powerful way to create — and sustain — joy and wellbeing.

​KAREN: ​I've had a lot of fun at community spring festivals. A friend and I poked around at the Mayfest Farmers and Makers Market. Rain aside, we chatted with vendors selling candles, jewelry, food, ceramics, toys and clothes. The next weekend I headed out to the Woodstock-New Paltz Arts & Crafts Fair. The weather was warm as were the food and goods vendors and other visitors. There were so many beautiful handmade clothes, ceramics, baskets, jewelry and furniture, plus paintings and photos. A neighborhood church's springtime bazaar was a lively event with music, food and raffle give-a-ways — another lovely afternoon! Today, I'm heading out to a local town-wide tag sale and the Walkway Over the Hudson.