April 2018 - The Brick Magazine

Can I Sell You Something Green?

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-02T13:06:22-04:00April 1st, 2018|Health, Parenting|

by Randi Rubenstein “Kids learn from our example, not our advice.” Years ago, when I was a student of the program Conscious Discipline, the central theme as I understood it was: “Adults must walk the walk first before we have any business talking the talk to our kids.” In other words, practice what you preach, because kids learn by the behavior their parents model rather than the words we use to lecture them. This is also relevant in terms of living a healthy life involving green habits. Green habits are exactly what you are probably thinking — replacement habits involving something greener. Healthier. [...]

Spring Cleaning: The Closet Cleanse

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-02T12:00:43-04:00April 1st, 2018|Fashion|

by Angela Harrison With warmer weather on the horizon, it’s time to pack away our heavy-duty winter gear and transition to lighter layers. The seasonal wardrobe change is always a great opportunity to examine our closets. We accumulate so much stuff over the years and our closets suffer because of it. Our quality of life suffers because of it. And yeah, that’s a completely dramatic statement to make, but wouldn’t life be a little better if your closets were organized and only contained things you use? The spring purge is a daunting task, yet necessary for keeping a balanced home. We use our [...]

Hitting All the Right Notes: Janelle Reichman

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-02T13:05:32-04:00April 1st, 2018|Ann Arbor Interest|

by Kristen Domingue Meet Janelle Reichman, a world-famous clarinetist -- and web designer. We caught up with Janelle to learn how she’s bridging the gap between what she loves and what she’s good at, and allowing these to be one and the same in both of her careers. ___ When I left New York City, I was so burned out on music, I thought I’d just stop altogether. I got back to Ann Arbor after playing in the circus, at weddings, funerals, Broadway shows, synagogues, churches and didn’t touch my instruments for two entire months. Not once. I thought I had gone from “living the dream” [...]

Spring-Clean Your Body

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-02T13:16:26-04:00April 1st, 2018|Health|

by Lisa Profera, MD Imagine what your home would look like if it was never cleaned. Over the course of a lifetime, our bodies accumulate toxins just like dust builds up on your furniture. Got brain fog? Entangled proteins and cellular waste products can accumulate around your neurons like “cobwebs” gathering in your brain. Without proper attention, the consequences can be debilitating. Detoxing is not only “trendy,” it is critical to our long-term health. Unfortunately, toxins are ubiquitous. No matter how clean your lifestyle and diet are, there are some exposures that are unavoidable. I was recently on an international flight from Hawaii [...]

Find Your Inner Compass

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-02T13:06:52-04:00April 1st, 2018|Inspirational|

by Sharon Marie My journey is ever-unfolding. I am a deep feeler, and I cherish meaning. At my core, I seek deep dives to explore the mysteries of the universe, the power of the mind-body connection, and the connections between all living things. Growing up I was quiet, very internal, reflective. Building relationships with nature really spoke to me. I played in my sandbox connecting with maple seeds and started maple tree seedlings. I went door-to-door with my red wagon gifting these seedlings for any donation. My uncle tucked me into bed one evening and treated me to a guided meditation in nature, [...]

On Being a Mentor

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-02T13:08:20-04:00April 1st, 2018|Ann Arbor Interest, Inspirational|

by Erin Burke Last weekend, some friends and I had a bowling fundraiser for a close friend of ours: a young woman battling an aggressive form of breast cancer for the second time. I happened to mention it in passing to my junior and senior Rochester High School students, but I do understand how busy and overloaded their schedules are, and I didn’t expect them to drive out to Ferndale on a snowy Saturday to bowl with their English teacher. To my utter surprise, several of them came to support my friend. I begin with this anecdote because I so often hear people [...]