In honor of Thanksgiving this week, I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have read, shared, liked, tweeted and retweeted my blog. This blog has allowed me to pursue my passions by pushing me to regularly read and write about the applications of psychology for holistic wellbeing. But without you, dear readers, it would not seem nearly as worthwhile an endeavor.
I am particularly grateful for those who regularly comment on the blog, because they bring different perspectives, expand my wisdom, and create a sense of community. That sense of community, driven by the engagement and connections from people who have interests similar to mine, is the true bounty of this project.
To introduce others to this special community, I decided this week to feature a few of my most loyal readers. These are just a few of the people who read my blog regularly and often engage in discussion in the comments on each article. Each one of them is a gem in their own right, so I encourage you to get to know them, read their blogs or websites, and/or follow them on twitter.
Marie-Josée Salvas Shaar
Marie-Josée is a wellness consultant who founded Smarts and Stamina (SaS) to help organizations implement healthy living as a business strategy. She studies how sleep, food, mood and exercise interact, and how these interactions can help you be healthier, happier and more productive. Marie-Josee is a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant from the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. She has a fantastic newsletter that comes out twice a month with research based tips you can apply immediately to improve your sleep, food, mood and/or exercise habits. You can sign up directly at www.SmartsAndStamina.com.
Jessica Durivage
Jessica Durivage is a wonderful and fascinating girl whose career crosses boundaries into spa, yoga, wellness, service, social media and (of all things) improv comedy. She has a passion for yoga and traveling but she also enjoys writing which means we can all benefit from her wisdom by reading everything she has to say. You can read her blogs at “Where is my Guru Now?” Or on “Beauty at any Age is Beauty” from Skin2Skincare, the spa product line that Jessica works for. You can find Jessica on twitter @skin2skincare and @whereismyguru.
Lisa Sansom
Lisa Sansom is the owner of LVS Consulting, an independent consulting firm that helps to build positive organizations. Lisa is a former high school teacher, but now works with individuals, leaders and teams providing coaching, team facilitation, effective communications training, Appreciative Inquiry and change management consulting. Clients include a variety of organizations, such as crown corporations, private industry, and educational institutions.
She is the past editor and a current contributor for Your Workplace magazine, Canada’s authority on work/life issues, but she also has her own blog at www.lvsconsulting.com where like me, she writes about the things she is studying in positive psychology. Check out her blog and website and follow her on twitter @lvsconsulting.
Mark “the Spa Man” McKenney
Mark McKenney is a Spa & Wellness consultant based in Dallas, Texas. Mark is probably best known by his twitter moniker @MarktheSpaman from which he tweets a wealth of information about spas and wellness. In the low-tech/high touch world of spas, Mark is one of the few who is tapping into social media and e-marketing/commerce technologies to the fullest. Mark is a true friend to the spa industry, always promoting the spas in Texas and beyond simply because he has a genuine passion for the business.
Dan Bowling
Dan Bowling is one of the world’s foremost experts on the science of well-being and lawyers. He is a practicing labor lawyer, Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law School, instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a research fellow at Penn’s Positive Psychology Center. The popular media calls him a “Happiness Guru” (much to his chagrin.) He also leads a consulting firm that works with some of the largest law firms and corporations in the country showing that well-being enhances not just life satisfaction for lawyers but productivity and professionalism. Dan writes and speaks extensively on these topics and has already agreed to write an article for The Psychology of Wellbeing, so expect a guest article from him in the near future.
I have to stop here although there are many others that deserve recognition. If you have read my blog, commented, shared it with others, or even just bookmarked it with the intention of coming back to read it when you have more time, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Some enhancements to the blog are coming soon: a new homepage with added features, a facebook fan page, more “guest blogger” articles, and a link to a charity that I hope you will all help me support. Stay tuned, and let’s continue to grow this community together.
With eternal gratitude,
Jeremy
What a guy! It takes a real human being to acknowledge your community in this way. I
was moved by your words and proud of your inclination. Of course, I always look forward
to reading whatever you write!
Jeremy, this was well deserved for the others, way too kind about me. By the way, it is easy to be “one of the world’s foremost experts on the science of lawyers and well-being” when there are only about 10 of us who study it, including our friends Dave Shearon, Leslie Russo, Paula Laack Davis, John Sean Doyle, and Candice Reed. It is a small world. But thanks and happy Thanksgiving to you, your family, and your readers.
Jeremy – what a beautiful entry that is! I am often amazed at how generous you are – it’s the Maui spirit in you! 😉
We are happy to be here and wouldn’t have been reading so consistently for all these weeks if you didn’t provide great info, questions and discussions, on top of beautiful writing! So let me send the warm vibes back at you for creating this forum, and making us a part of it. It is truly of value for me.
Sincerely,
MarieJ
Jeremy,
As I sit amongst boxes and boxes – getting ready to pack up 16 years of my life here in sunny South Carolina and head to the Mile High City – Denver, CO – I am touched and deeply grateful for your words – and humbled to be in a community of so many amazing people. Thank you, Jeremy McCarthy for sending your energy into the world in an extremely positive and authentic way.
I love being one of your readers (I know I have missed a few posts… looking forward to being sane again in about a week once I get settled in CO) – and plan to continue to support you and the work you are doing in our amazing industry – and most importantly, in this world!
Peace and Potato Stuffing,
Jessica
Thank you for taking the time to include me in your list. Much appreciated!
Now it’s time to thank YOU for not being caught up in the “glamour” and “beauty” side of the spa industry. Perhaps you learned long ago that it doesn’t matter; it’s the glamour and beauty inside that makes us wonderful human beings. With the ponderings and insights that you write about in your blog, we are all on the road to true North as a complete and full package: body, mind and soul. We will just have to stop every so often at the nearest spa to regenerate, refresh and recuperate. Keep moving forward….
Best wishes for the Holidays.
@MarktheSpaman
Dallas, Texas
@Markthespaman
LOVE IT! Beautiful comment!
Thank you so much for the inclusion! And now I want to meet everyone else who reads your blog! I think we should have a “fans of Jeremy” reunion. It would be so fun!!! Happy Thanksgiving to all – not just tomorrow, not just this week, but thanksgiving for all for always. Cheers,
Lisa
Jeremy,
I enjoy your blog so very much and I am grateful to you for the discipline it takes to follow through on this kind of endeavor. Grateful is as grateful does and I am always inspired by your thought provoking comments and insights.
I don’t often comment, but it touches me just the same.
Blessings to you and your family.
Colleen