Tanna Marshall

What the heck does it mean? Well, it means "days gone by" or "long long ago" or "times gone by"....however you translate it, it's appropriate to be the song we sing to bid farewell to the days that made up the past year. And in this case, the past decade! I can't believe we're heading into double digits of the two thousands! What a year - I'm sure we've all had a lot of change, some good, some bad. I like to focus on the good and try to learn from the not-so-good. I really enjoy reflecting back over the year on New Year's Eve. There were many years I spent it alone and it was a sacred time for me that I really enjoyed. I would look over my journal from the previous year and begin my new one for the next year, writing down all my goals for the coming year on the first page. It's such a great time to take inventory of your life, of who you are as a person, where you are now and where you want to be. What did you accomplish this ye...

...when the world falls in love..." as "The Christmas Waltz" croons... Oh I love Christmas! For years when we'd get to June I would dance around and say to my Daddy, "We're half way to Christmas!!" To which he would reply with a groan. Regardless of your religious beliefs or affiliations, this year is emotionally charged for everyone. (And for those of you not celebrating Christmas, please bear with me as I expound on my love for this holiday) Although I am partial to hot weather, I do get into the cold this time of year and bundle up with scarves, sweaters and coats. I am not ashamed to admit I have a Snuggie and it is quite warm! Hot chocolate and spiced cider are a regular part of my diet this time of year. I remember in my early twenties I lived on eggnog and Chex Mix during the holidays. Yikes. A new recent discovery is Pumpkin Spice Eggnog - OMG if you haven't tried it you must experience it - It is nothing short of heaven! I start listenin...

It's been a while since I blogged...but after an experience like a weekend with Wayne Dyer, a little time to digest all that great information and inspiration was in order. Now I am ready to blog about giving thanks. Can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving? This time of year always seems too fly. When September is over, I feel like it's Christmas already...it seems to go that fast. And I hate to admit that I am already listening to Christmas music. Halloween was fun, although the annual party my husband and I go to was on the weekend I was in Maui unfortunately, so we spent Halloween night with my mom to help her hand out candy to the kids...none of which ever showed up. Which means that I had to eat the candy myself...good thing I bought something I like ;) Now November is upon us and the weather is turning cold. (For many native Californians, mildly cold weather feels freezing...anything under 70 degrees sends some of us in search of a warm coat). Although I love the he...

What an amazing weekend with Dr. Wayne Dyer in Maui! I have so much to share from all the wisdom and inspiration I absorbed! The weekend started on Friday night with a short, welcome session with Dr. Dyer who was working through the flu...our hearts went out to him. But he kept on, seeing himself well and finishing the weekend full of love and energy. He was off to a good start. There were about 450 of us there - a crowd of mostly over-40ish, into their 50's and beyond and all eager to begin this wonderful experience together. Dr. Dyer began the evening by informing us that "life is a sexually transmitted disease"....he can be pretty damn funny! He talked about the journey from ambition to meaning and about the obstacles and excuses we use to keep us from getting where we want to be in life. He talked about the Tao - his main source of inspiration - and advised us to "let yourself be done - let the Tao live through you. You do nothing in and of yourself", giving...

OMG has it been that long since I blogged?? Oh well...life gets in the way sometimes. Mom has been in the emergency room twice in the last few weeks for shortness of breath. It is so much more pleasant in the ER when you come prepared with a book, a sweater and a snack for what is usually at least a 5 or 6 hour event. They did discover she has congestive heart failure and consequently added more meds to her already huge personal pharmacy. Now she will be cursing me further for limiting the sodium in her diet (I already monitor her sugar intake for diabetes). But the good news is, after conducting every test imaginable for her heart and lungs, she is in pretty good shape, considering all of her currently existing conditions including early stage Alzheimer's . But she's home and doing well so I am happy! It was a great week of female bonding last week. Had a Women's Empowerment meeting, Professional Women's Toastmasters meeting and girls night with some of my girlfrien...

As I've said before, I love Fridays!! A week of accomplishments and service behind us, we can take some well-deserved and very necessary time to relax. Whether your weekend actually falls on a Saturday and Sunday or if your days off are sporadic and scattered throughout the week, it is most important to take some time to recharge your batteries - whatever that means for you. Whatever activity (or inactivity), people, places or things feed your soul and fulfill you on a deep, core level is what your body and mind are craving. I love to sleep in on the weekends and then meditate and read some inspirational material. Right now I am re-reading Excuses Begone! by Dr. Wayne Dyer. Once I have my mind in a positive state, expecting everything I am affirming and visualizing for my life to manifest for me, that it is unquestionably on its way...then I lose myself in a good story just for the enjoyment of it. I love to read...lounging in my hammock in the backyard or reclining on the balco...

Summer is over...:( But it's still HOT thank goodness! I LOVE the heat! But I will get into the cozy, bundling-up of cold weather when it comes around. I went to see Wayne Dyer at the Santa Monica Civic yesterday - what an inspiration! Such an amazing man with so much incredible wisdom to share...and in a humorous way! I've never heard him swear before so that was pretty funny! His daughter, Skye was there and sang a couple of songs, one of which was "The Leader of the Band" to her father. Oh my, I was fighting back tears...I get teary just thinking about it. Wayne was crying too. She has a really beautiful voice. Wayne talked about coming from Love (your Higher Self, God, Divine Spirit, etc) instead of your ego, ( E dging G od O ut ) at all times in every area of our lives and how we can create anything when we do this. It's not always easy but worth the continual effort. I think we all left there feeling like we could create whatever we want in our lives. I...

What a week! It's been a good one...love those three day weekends that result in a four day work week! OK I have to say that the miracle remedy of all time is the apple cider vinegar, raw honey and cayenne pepper with hot water drink....three times a day every day over the weekend and down to once a day now but WOW - that just loosens everything up and really gets your system going! I think I'll keep it on as a regular part of my daily routine. Mom is better this week and has been in a surprisingly good mood lately - yay ! We had a busy day yesterday of doctor's appointments, filling out paperwork and prescriptions but it got her out and about! My best friend Marlene is in between jobs right now (an intentional break to travel the world and explore her options, all positive with nothing but great expectations for a fabulous new job in the near future!) so we decided to have a beach day like we did back in high school. I have not done this for at least ten years...I can'...

Happy Labor Day weekend! OK I rarely get sick anymore these days, but when I do I really study it to find out how and why I got sick so I can use that information for myself and for clients as future preventative tools. So let's look at my journey this week into horrible chest congestion... Monday I had a great time doing an interview on Hi-Frequency Living with Eddie and Friends (which is available for replay at www.latalkradio.com/Hifreq.php - scroll down to the August 31st show and enjoy!). When I got home I had a slight sore throat - no big deal, I took a few droppersful of Sovereign Silver which usually gets rid of any illness quickly. Tuesday sore throat still noticeable but not as bad. More droppers of Silver. My mom and I continue to battle over the thermostat - she likes it subzero freezing and I LOVE the heat and warmth. So I end up freezing most of the day while I work. Sore throat worsens by the end of the day. Wednesday sore throat is worse, but I have a busy day and ...

Happy Monday! I am so excited about my interview tonight on Hi- Frequency Living with Eddie and Friends on LATalkRadio .com at 8:00pm PST! My friend Eddie is one of the most amazing people I have ever met and he has helped me develop as a person, an author and a healer since I met him some eight years ago. In the meantime, so much to do today before then! Mom is feeling better but has no energy and is "unsteady" as she is every day....I have got to get her out doing some kind of volunteer work or social interaction. She doesn't want to do much and is not into meeting new people so it can be a challenge because then she looks to me as her main source of companionship, conversation, entertainment....it's a challenge to develop a new career when you have those expectations on you every day. But I love her and I do what I can while still making sure she maintains some level of independence. If anyone has any suggestions for her, I would greatly appreciate the input! So t...

Although this week has had it's challenges, I still look back and feel really good about it! It started off with an Alzheimer's evaluation for my mom on Monday - 4 1/2 hours - with really wonderful, compassionate people. It was very pleasant considering how long it was. Thank goodness we had nuts for mom to munch on (she's diabetic). She held up really well. After receiving a prescription for Alzheimer's medication, we made the long trek to another building (it's long when Mom walks very slowly) to the pharmacy, waited in line to put in the prescription, waited a half hour until her name was called, waited again in the line to pick up the prescriptions, only to be told when we got to the window that the medication was not available and had to be ordered - we would have to come back tomorrow to pick it up. OK no big deal...so onward... Back to the other building where the physical therapy department is to pick up the cane they have prescribed for Mom since her gait i...

Today we gave our 100 year old piano that has been in our family for over 50 years to a good friend who wanted a piano for his young kids. It's been bittersweet....my dear, sweet mother is a depression-era packrat who does not like to throw anything away...I mean anything. I recently cleaned out her kitchen and back porch while she was out of town for a few days with friends. Batteries that expired in 1992...cake mixes from the 70's...drink mixes from the 60's...Tylenol that expired in 1998...you get the idea. Nothing that we needed or that would ever be used. Clutter is so detrimental to any environment - it literally clutters your thinking and since my mother has some significant memory loss, I need her space to be as uncluttered as it can possibly be, which doesn't allow me to eliminate very much, considering she is very attached to her clutter. I just try to make it as functional and comfortable for her as possible, while still keeping some sense of order with th...

As I just Twittered...I love Fridays! There is an excitement about the day...the feeling of completion at the end of a week of working hard, the anticipation of what the weekend will bring, a chance to relax your mind and body from all the weekday demands...love it! It's been a great week with all kinds of new marketing and promotional things coming up for my book Living Peacefully in a Big City. I am so proud of this book and I actually really like it myself - hope that doesn't sound arrogant - but sometimes when I am having one of my issues during the day and I am working on my book for whatever reason, I will find advice that I had forgotten about and it helps. I guess that is the ultimate in "self-help"! I want to take a moment to say "thank you" to my first comment ever from Anna! Anna, you made my day - you never know if anyone sees your blog or if it makes a difference in someones day and you answered that question for me - thank you! Now I must go ...

Happy Monday! OK I really don't want to be on the computer today...my body is getting that stressed out feeling it does when I've been sitting in front of this screen for too long. But so much to do...online! And then I realized I hadn't written in here in a week....so I felt I should be blogging, even though I don't have any deep thoughts or issues to discuss today, other than the fact I want to be outside in this beautiful weather, not indoors on a computer. But I should be productive and doing promotional, career-oriented things...on the computer... I should be blogging and Twittering... Then I realized, NO - I want to be outside enjoying the summer that will turn into fall way too soon! I want to soak up the sun and get my Vitamin D for the day! I want to lie in my hammock and read my most recent novel-just-for-fun, Something Blue . And I want to spend some quality time with good friends - which I will be doing this evening. I feel much better now...going to...

OK I don't know what was going on yesterday with electronic gadgets...I thought it was just me but apparently others were having technological difficulties too. My internet connection wasn't working, my printer was jamming, the earphone on my cell phone suddenly wasn't working....I thought maybe Mercury was in retrograde, but that wasn't the case. Are there other planets out of whack right now? Is there a surge in too much information at the moment so the Universe is shutting things down so we have no choice but to turn within and spend some time in reality? I stopped to think, "what does this mean?" It's all about connections, being connected...and I realized, "I need to take some quiet time to get reconnected with Source Energy right now" - my most important connection. Which I kept putting off because of various things that kept me busy during the day which made me more and more fatigued...but I finally sat down to meditate late in the afterno...

Oh I love Nashville, specifically the town my friend AnaLee lives in, Goodlettsville . (Apparently pronounced Gullavulle by the locals) She has the most beautiful property with her two horses, two dogs and two cats. There are trees everywhere and the most amazing birds I've ever seen - so many colors! We had some good, girly time to talk about everything from food to boys (OK men, but it's really the same in girl talk, regardless of your age). It was a wonderful trip overall - A great time was had by all at AnaLee's 50 th birthday celebration! And I got my grits and Cracker Barrel ! And to the dismay of my digestive system, I also had biscuits with gravy... It's interesting that in another city, so different from Los Angeles, that there are many of the same issues we deal with, although to a lesser degree, like traffic, irate drivers (in a LOT less traffic!), money, health, relationships...there was even interest in my book for some tips on stress relief and dealin...

I am so excited to be going to see my close friend, AnaLee in Nashville for her birthday this weekend! We used to work together at Capitol Records but a few years ago she left the craziness of LA and moved to a little town called Goodletsville near Nashville - so appropriate for the peaceful, open country area where she is now living. I haven't seen her in five years but whenever I go to visit, it is such a relaxing, fun experience. Sometimes all we do is hang around her house and watch HGTV , or walk her seven acres with her horses, dogs and cats, or go through her mini-forest up to her own private park at the top of her property. But mostly we just laugh. We have the best time together and it is always a rejuvenating experience for my body, mind and spirit to be with AnaLee . I love to visit there - life is a little slower paced, the air is clean, people are kind....and they have Cracker Barrel !! I can't wait to have some grits! There goes my healthy eating this weekend......

Happy Monday! Today is the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon! What an amazing accomplishment - it should serve to remind us that NOTHING is impossible!! I am going to be posting excerpts from my book, Living Peacefully in a Big City: A Guide to Maintaining Your Sanity, Health and Happiness here in my blog once in a while, beginning with the table of contents to give you an idea of the topics addressed. The book is now available for purchase from Amazon.com! Here you go: Introduction.................................................................ix Stress.............................................................................1 Anger.............................................................................6 Fear..............................................................................10 Anxiety.........................................................................13 Driving and Traffic.....................................................16 Electronic Gadge...

Wow - what a day yesterday! I was inundated with emails and Facebook messages and posts about the release of my book - what a great feeling! My greatest desire is for this book to help as many people as possible. Thank you to everyone who purchased yesterday and for the word-of-mouth promotion! I did take a break to go see the new Harry Potter movie with my beautiful niece, Laurel, who will be leaving for England next week for the rest of the summer and then straight back up to college at UC Davis. She's going to be doing medieval studies in England...very apropos right after a Harry Potter movie. I won't see her again until Thanksgiving - I will miss her so much! My amazing nieces are like my kids - they are the only kids I'll ever "have" and I've always been very close to both of them. I had a small hand in helping raise them so I couldn't love them more if they were my own. I am so proud of both of them - they are so very different and so gifted and ...

I am so happy and proud to announce that my book, Living Peacefully in a Big City: A Guide to Maintaining Your Sanity, Health and Happiness is finally published and available to the public! I have been working on this book for a very long time. E ssentially a guide of tips and advice that I have utilized over the years designed to deal with the daily stressors we all encounter each day living in a larger city, or anywhere, really. I took a holistic approach, addressing mind, body and spirit, from common issues such as stress, fear, anxiety, traffic, and difficult people, to taking care of your body and finally a few ethereal suggestions based in spirituality. The book is available online at Amazon.com if you are interested in purchasing a copy. I am unable to post a link here, unfortunately. I also have a favor to ask of anyone who is inclined to purchase a copy (let me first say Thank You so very much!) it would help me tremendously if, after reading or at least perusing the book,...

Happy Monday, almost Tuesday! So herein lies the dilemma.... The book I wrote, Living Peacefully in a Big City, is designed to assist you with advice to relieve your daily stress during these crazy times, however, one of my biggest issues is the overuse and our addiction to technology these days. How can I not use technology to get my message to you and others? It must be done, but honestly, I prefer to meet people and deal with them in person. I am not the most cyber savvy person. Oy ! How about this - as soon as you read this, turn off your computer, put down your cell phone, iPod , iPhone or iWhatever and do something REAL. Go outside and reconnect with nature for a few minutes. If outside is not an option for whatever reason, go have a conversation with someone IN PERSON...NOT on the phone, or via texting . One on one, face-to-face. Or play with your pet or your children. Or someone else's pets or children. Read a book or magazine - something you can hold in your hands, no...

I shouldn't say that - I actually love every day for it's unique happenings, but there's just an excitement about Friday, don't you think??!! Today has been full of marketing and publicity work for the upcoming release of my book, Living Peacefully in a Big City: A Guide to Maintaining Your Sanity, Health and Happiness. Fun and exciting, but still, work!! I took a break to have lunch with my beautiful friend Andromeda whose Pilates studio is oh so conveniently located in my neighborhood - check it out - www.pilatessportscenter.com . Great place to get in shape and run by amazing women! Doing more work before heading off to get a much needed (and deserved, if I do say so myself) massage at Spirit Dance Day Spa www.spiritdancedayspa.com with the amazing Teena. She has created such a tranquil oasis and her energy is so relaxing and comforting. I highly recommend her! Then off for a wonderful weekend with my husband - our golden time, the best time of the week! Have a gre...

Wow - what a couple of weeks. I was so thrown by Michael Jackson's death - I think, like a lot of people, I never realized how much his music and presence influenced my life until this news came. I cried for two days. OK, I've actually been crying for two weeks. Whatever accusations have been made of him over the years, I always maintained that he is a good soul and had nothing but love and the best of intentions. We will never know what his life was like, what went on in his head and heart, or what did or didn't happen, but that doesn't matter anymore - it is now between him and God. He is finally at peace. I think we all gained new insight into this man from stories told at his memorial service and the outpouring of love that has erupted around the world. I believe that some good has come from his death - an awareness of the magic, the love, the inspiration and the great gifts that Michael left us - and that those who are mourning his death are more aware of these thi...

Oh such a lovely day outside today! It's been another sunny day and I've been out enjoying it, running around for work, doing a healing session and having lunch with my dear friend Marcia whom I haven't seen in almost a year!! Where does the time go? Marcia works in the office where I used to work in for many years before I was laid off a year ago tomorrow. I was very happy there most of the time but I am so sad to hear that it is not such a happy place anymore. There used to be wonderful people running the company who actually cared about the well-being of their employees and had their priorities straight, but that was long ago. My remaining friends are hanging in, making the best of it, waiting to see what the future will bring. I send good thoughts to all of them knowing that great things are in store for them - the worker bees who give their all and are not always compensated for their time, effort or dedication. These days they are grateful to have a job, but they woul...

As preparation for the upcoming release of my book, Living Peacefully in a Big City: A Guide to Maintaining Your Sanity, Health and Happiness , I am here to help you deal with the daily stressors of living in a big city. Even if you don’t live in a big city. Stress is stress wherever you go. So today I had a pretty stress-free day. I just had a morning consisting of activity that I advise everyone else to make an effort to limit: too much techno-connection. I was on the computer and cell phone all morning doing business. But I did get out to run errands all afternoon and it was a beautiful day! I dragged my 81-year-old mom with me to get her out of the house too. I had wonderful interactions with everyone everywhere I went. Ann at Massage Central to stock up on supplies. Len and Smiley, the greeters at our local Ralph’s supermarket. And the drivers were pretty pleasant on the 405 and all the side streets today! Oh believe me, there will be days when I am frustrated beyond belief with ...

The way to Happiness: Keep your heart free from hate. Keep your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised. - from Have A Great Day by Norman Vincent Peale

When you're getting out of your good frame of mind for whatever reason, remember the words of Abraham Lincoln: "A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be." Make up your mind to be happy!