IndigoBlue Magazine November 2022

So many of us are experiencing or witnessing chaos and turmoil—either in our lives or in the world around us. In this issue, our authors share ways to slow down, nurture our wellbeing, and tune in to ourselves and others. And if we need to vent, we offer tips on complaining in a healthy way while remaining connected to others. Together, we can weather any storm. We remain committed to helping our readers achieve their goals, maintain their health and wellness, and establish lasting, healthy relationships.…

So many of us are experiencing or witnessing chaos and turmoil—either in our lives or in the world around us. In this issue, our authors share ways to slow down, nurture our wellbeing, and tune in to ourselves and others. And if we need to vent, we offer tips on complaining in a healthy way while remaining connected to others. Together, we can weather any storm. We remain committed to helping our readers achieve their goals, maintain their health and wellness, and establish lasting, healthy relationships.…

what is your favorite way to spend a lazy day? When reading this prompt in my writing journal, I was puzzled. Lazy? I prefer the word “relaxing” or even “carefree.” But, “lazy”? With all its negative connotations? I did a quick Google search, and it was confirmed that “lazy” meant “unwilling to work or use energy.” As you might have guessed, it’s been a long time since I’ve been “lazy.” In fact, I’m scanning through the last four decades of my life, and most of the time I’ve been “lazy” was due to illness, grief, pain, or depression: seasons during which I was barely functioning and at the point of physical or mental exhaustion. In short, “lazy” is not an option for me. “Lazy” is a worst-case scenario, even as…

With so many distractions, being a good listener is a rare gift. ‘Active listening’ is when you make a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying, but the complete message being communicated. This involves understanding the emotional and non-verbal elements within the message. To explain what active listening is, it is crucial to understand what the opposite, that is passive listening, looks like. A passive listener ‘hears’ a speaker without really retaining their true message. Think about regular conversations that you have with others around you. You may notice that if somebody makes a statement, people are ready with their replies or retorts even before the person has finished speaking. This shows that not everyone is actually hearing what is said. They are too…

what is your favorite way to spend a lazy day? When reading this prompt in my writing journal, I was puzzled. Lazy? I prefer the word “relaxing” or even “carefree.” But, “lazy”? With all its negative connotations? I did a quick Google search, and it was confirmed that “lazy” meant “unwilling to work or use energy.” As you might have guessed, it’s been a long time since I’ve been “lazy.” In fact, I’m scanning through the last four decades of my life, and most of the time I’ve been “lazy” was due to illness, grief, pain, or depression: seasons during which I was barely functioning and at the point of physical or mental exhaustion. In short, “lazy” is not an option for me. “Lazy” is a worst-case scenario, even as an…

From necessities to extravagant lifestyles, and everything in between, as the old saying goes: “money makes the world go round.” Money is arguably one of the most delicate topics to discuss in many households. However, fostering a good relationship with money can—and should—start long before the responsibilities of adulthood. I Learned How Money Works the Hard Way One day during my freshman year of college, my friends and I went to a shopping center near our campus. I think, I had somewhere around $350 to spend. However, during my swiping spree, I spent more than that because I did not fully understand the difference between debit and credit. I quickly found out days later when all those charges settled in my account, I owed the bank a couple hundred dollars…