“If health is the new wealth, then mental wellness sits at the core of our personal health portfolio.” — The Global Wellness Institute
Happy 2021! The new year brings hope for better days, a chance for a fresh start and some social distancing from the disaster that was 2020. For many of us, the stress, anxiety, loss, loneliness and economic uncertainty experienced in 2020 won’t vanish overnight. 2020, the year history will remember and we want to forget, has humbled us and revealed an uncomfortable truth about mental wellness— You don’t have to be mentally ill to be mentally unwell. I learned this at the Global Wellness Summit, where I attended as a member of the press. The international gathering of thought leaders and visionaries explored the conundrum of mental health and an escalating mental health crisis.
“Not having a diagnosis doesn’t mean you are mentally well,” notes Katherine Johnston, Senior Research Fellow, Global Wellness Institute, US. “People are desperate for strategies to improve their mental health.”
Johnston is the co-author of the Global Wellness Report, “Defining the Mental Wellness Economy.” The report notes that “In 2020, COVID-19 has accelerated the deterioration of our collective mental health and well-being. The pandemic has exposed the wide gap between mental health needs and mental health resources, as well as our vulnerability to mental distress even when we do not have a diagnosed mental illness.”
Happy New Year 2021. Woman’s hand writing 2021 Goals in notebook decorated christmas decorations
As we make our New Year’s resolutions, I pledge to prioritize my mental wellness and learn how to better care for my emotional wellbeing. Like many of you, I too am struggling to recover from the fallout of 2020 personally and professionally. I’ve been feeling stuck, hopeless, and restless. I’ve watched otherwise resilient friends and family members struggle with depression and anxiety. I’ve watched relationships crumble under the stress of too much togetherness because of self quarantines, working from home and economic stress. So, how do we push forward in 2021 with mental fortitude?
Understand The Concept of Mental Wellness:
First, understand the concept of mental wellness to assess your own state of well-being. Ophelia Yeung, Senior Research Fellow, Global Wellness Institute, US explains mental wellness as an internal resource that helps us think, feel, connect, function, build resilience grow and flourish. “Mental wellness emphasizes our capacity to build resilience to reduce suffering to find inner peace, and fulfillment to seek purpose, meaning and happiness to connect with others,” Yeung says.
According to the GWS report, mental wellness encompasses four dimensions of human life: mental (how we process, understand, and use information); emotional (how we manage and express our feelings); social (how we connect with others); and psychological (how we function or “put the pieces together” to make decisions or do things).
Pathways to Mental Wellness:
As part of my New Year’s resolution to nurture my mental wellness, I’m learning new practices to embrace in daily life. I’ve realized that mental wellness is not about chasing happiness. It’s an on-going process that seeks a more meaningful richer and deeper human experience. I discovered the work of Anna Bjurstam, a wellness consultant and guest speaker at the Global Wellness Summit. During the event, she shared seven daily actions that foster mental wellness.
7 Mental Wellness Boosters:
- Connect with nature
- Move for 30 minutes
- Mediate
- Eat foods that heal and nurture
- Get a good nights sleep
- Hydrate more
- Listen to your heart more than your brain
The path to mental wellness is personal and subjective because each of us has different needs and interests when it comes to supporting our mental wellness. To help us figure out what works best to foster our wellbeing, GWS outlines four broad pathways to mental wellness: activity and creativity; growth and nourishment; rest and rejuvenation; and connection and meaning.
It’s hard to say when life will return to normal or even what the definition of “normal” will be in the coming months. There is so much we cannot control at the moment, but we can feel empowered by taking control of our mental wellness. We can build resilience to everyday mental and emotional challenges including stress, burnout, loneliness, or sadness by developing healthy habits for the mind and body.
New year, 2021 good things coming
Let’s start off the new year with a new mindset and practices to keep us positive and help us survive AND thrive in 2021.
As a decorator, I appreciate that the floor lamp is part of an extensive collection, so you can find other fixtures to keep the look consistent in different rooms. Next, I plan to purchase the coordinating
Lions comprise 15-20% of the population are known as “early birds.” These people are early morning optimists with a medium sleep drive. They tend to be company CEOs who make a plan and stick to it daily and go to bed early. 
Bears account for 55% of the population and known as solar sleepers with a healthy sleep drive. They are extroverted, get stuff done with a great disposition and fun personality. “Most of society is built around the bear’s schedule,” says Dr. Breus.
Wolves amount to 15-20% of the population and are the night owls. They create novelty seekers, high-risk takers, creative thinkers, and tend to be more introverted. 
Dolphins comprise 10% of the population and have erratic sleep schedules. They have a short sleep drive, are highly intelligent and tend to be OCD with higher levels of anxiety. They never quite finish a project. 
A map is something you need to have by your side at all times.
Another super-important thing that you have to keep in mind when traveling is the cultural difference.
Final Thoughts
Important influences on De Vries’ work include Andy Warhol and Roy Liechtenstein, along with figures like Arman and James Rosenquist. In his early career, artists like these inspired him to make his own sunglasses into a piece of art, which set him on the path he continues on today. He started off with a collection of design objects, and from there learned various sculptural techniques allowing him to manufacture these objects himself.
Pieces like 
He continues to take his inspiration from the world around him, drawing from current events, pop culture, alongside his own experiences and views of modern society, as pointed criticism comes together with nostalgia. 
PULSE Art Fair, one of the first satellite fairs to join Art Basel Miami, celebrated its 15
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The Casspir Project is a multidisciplinary fine art exhibition that encompasses a variety of media including installation, photography, oral history, and documentary film in response to Apartheid’s effects on South Africa’s culture and community.
PULSE Art Fair is my antidote to fair fatigue during the art-saturated week of shows and fairs because of its original programming, cutting-edge installations and sensory-rich experiences. I highly recommend this annual art fair during Miami Art Week.
ZAZ Corner will feature different artists and motifs on a monthly basis. ZAZ10TS kicks off the program in February with new media digital work based on a stylistic “nature” theme curated by Lightbox. The February program brings artistic greenery into the neighborhood and is designed to juxtapose the calming nature images with the surrounding concrete structures and hustle-bustle of Times Square.
The gallery’s mission is to help shape the discussion between art and design and to further increase the presence of cutting-edge design within the larger art world. 
Functional Art Gallery works with artists and designers who push the line between aesthetics and purpose, form and function, perception and intent.
The art installation Roots called attention to “alarming changes in nature and our environment” including disappearing forests and wildlife, polluted air and oceans, rising sea levels are rising, and an increase in extreme weather phenomena. Delta Air Lines and the Sacred Space Miami presented Roots by Atelier Marko Brajovic, curated by Ximena Caminos and produced by Alberto Latorre. The idea behind the art is to stimulate cultural and artistic responses to environmental change. 
The Roots pavilion is a self-supporting aluminum branching system wrapped with fine custom-made ropes and was designed by a parametric software mimicking the natural growth of a mangrove rooting system. In the middle of the pavilion, a large deck is used as a collective space for ceremonies and for three traditional Amazonian hammocks from which visitors can experience the immersive documentary SACRED COCA.
Learn more about the artists and art objects featured at Design/Miami in new episodes of The Design Tourist filmed at Miami Art Week.
The overarching theme at both shows was about creating awareness and connecting with humanity. At Spectrum Miami, I ran into two strange-looking characters clad in rags roaming the show as social sculptures. They were wearing Ghillie Suits, camouflage garb traditionally worn by snipers outdoors to blend in with their surroundings.
Companies such as The 
The faux-leather finish on the ear cups is made from fungus, and the mesh over the speakers is derived from biosynthetic spider silk produced by microbes
To understand the evolution of an artist, I like to explore the backstory—where the seeds of creativity first sprouted. Brad Joffrion drew inspiration from his childhood growing up in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, along the bayou and neighboring sugar cane fields. “In high school, I was the go-to person to draw banners for different events at school. At that time, swamp scenes were sort of my specialty. I grew up fishing in the Atchafalaya Basin and was fascinated with the scenery,” says Brad, whose extended family claims several artists. 
Bard’s signature style infuses colorful epoxy into his woodworks— an aesthetic he developed by experimenting with the materials. “I started experimenting with epoxy which appealed to my left brain due to the precise nature of epoxy. There are a lot of variables that can affect the curing of epoxy such as environmental conditions, the accuracy of the two-part mixture, mixing speed, etc. There were many occasions where I stayed at the woodshop for 12 hours straight and alone. No music, just me and my creation speaking telepathically to each other.”
“My wish is to design objects for people with them in mind. For example, the recent black walnut with black epoxy dining table I designed and created. The base of the table tells a story of the couple who purchased it. The husband is a retired airline pilot and the wife was a boat captain for a large pleasure boat. Hence, the base resembles the vertical tail wing of a large passenger jet and there is a compass made of stainless steel accenting the center of the base.” 
In this northeastern region of France, you’ll find one of the biggest artificial lakes in Europe, Lac de Charmes, which is surrounded by beautiful trees boasting vibrant foliage. Although it’s not too far from Paris, Haute-Marne is still off the beaten track and truly breathtaking, full of forests, fields, rivers, and ancient towns that feature some of the quaintest autumnal aesthetics.
Located in Southern France, Limoux is covered in vineyards, which make for a splendid sight of varying shades of gold and burnt orange. You may have heard of the area for its invention of sparkling wine, and fall is the best time to come and drink it. Various small wine shops and bars allow for a lovely day of exploration and relaxation while you take in the fall air.
Capital of the Grand Est region in northeastern France, Strasbourg is full of tree-lined streets—so a midday stroll will provide you with beautiful views and wonderful memories. Head to the city’s two largest public parks, Parc Palais du Rhin and Parc de l’Orangerie, for blissful views
You may have doubts about this urban locale, but Paris is actually a marvelous haven for autumn-lovers. Strolling the streets is an option, but there are also plenty of opportunities for leaf-peeping in the city’s many beautiful parks. Some of our favorites are as follows: Jardin des Tuileries (or the Tuileries Garden), Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Bois de Boulogne, or—if you’re feeling spooky—Cimetière de Montmarte.
The charming region of Aveyron is a place full of magical villages located on high ridges, where you can get lost in the fall feel. It’s a wonderful destination for people who love painting or photography, but it also makes for a soothing vacation of long and beautiful walks where the scenery constantly changes. You’ve never seen a wider spectrum of colors than on the trees in Aveyron.
France’s Provence region is a beautiful place to behold. Hundreds of vineyards showcase their dazzling fall colors, and the various quaint towns offer some of the most quintessential French village vibes. We love the Luberon, a mountainous area in the region, for that reason as well—consider staying in a 
When you head to Playa Herradura and the beautiful Los Sueños Resort & Marina, you’ll be smack-dab in the middle of a ton of adventurous pursuits. Their 
Big Sur used to be one of California’s most remote areas, and people have long taken advantage of the Santa Lucia mountains and their famed drop into the ocean. When you plan a trip there today, you’ll find ample opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and more. Hike to Pfeiffer Falls or Sykes Hot Springs—there are so many beautiful things for you to explore.
Whether you go to Argentinian or Chilean Patagonia, you’re in for a vacation full of adventure and exploration. Go off-roading through the mountains, horse riding, cycling, or climbing. If you want to see the views of a lifetime, take the W Trek, which takes you through the Torres del Paine peaks, glistening lakes, and dense forests.
The United States has so many national parks we could have listed, and they’re all wonderful options. We chose to put Acadia on this list for a few different reasons: it’s the only national park in New England, the fall foliage is some of the best in the world, and it has stunning ocean and mountains views. You can bike, you can hike, or you can just take a drive and enjoy the views. A relaxing adventure isn’t hard to find here.
Bigger than Germany and Belgium combined, the Yukon offers adventurous travelers some of the most pristine wilderness for exploration. Set up camp at Whitehorse, then head out for a trip full of exhilarating experiences. Glacial white water rafting has never been more exciting. Alpine climbing has never gotten you so close to wildlife. If you don’t mind heights, take a helicopter to the top of a glacier and then go for a hike—it’s an unbelievable experience.
Download the 
On Sundays, eat dinner early. The kitchens at most restaurants close early so finding a place for a late-night dinner can be challenging. My advice is to dine before 9 pm. 
As the holiday season approaches, attention turns to planning parties, events and decorations. The overarching theme for holiday decorating is authenticity and craftsmanship with a generous dose of Mother Nature. One of my favorite sources for holiday décor trends is the 
Sweet Traditions is a theme emerging from Christmasworld, a massive trade show of holiday decorations held in Germany. Christmasworld describes it as joyful and personalized with decorations of handwritten messages and hand-drawn images in fresh colors such as peach, red and berry tones. Imagine Christmas stars in various sizes, made from paper and folded, cut, glued and painted all by hand.
The color scheme includes reds, blues and gold, accented with black, pinks and purples. 
A tiny house resort in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania offers 
One of the more fascinating installations is a virtual reality book that you can “read” by downloading 
Several years ago, I was introduced to Silver Oak Cabernet as the guest of a friend at a wine tasting dinner. I instantly fell in love with its bold, black fruit character with notes of spice and vanilla and the wine’s oaky finish that comes from American White Oak barrels that the wine ages in. 
For many wine lovers, the art of enjoyment comes from the ability to decipher and appreciate a wine’s bouquet and taste. Silver Oak achieves its subtle perfection by blending the wines prior to barreling.
Jordan sells primarily to restaurants— about 70 percent of their cabs with the remaining 30 percent available in wine stores. Rob Davis, the winemaker, has handcrafted every vintage of Jordan since the inaugural 1976 and is the second-longest tenured winemaker in the US. He is known for a European style of winemaking that isn’t done much in California.
American oak is known for bringing more aggressive aromas of dill and coconut to red wines. French oak is considered more subtle, imparting spice aromas and a silky texture in part because its tannins have a strong attraction to the grape tannins. 
The original dining room was decorated in an 18th-century French style. De Sousa and his staff reimagined the aesthetic, retaining its best architectural features while introducing new design elements to reflect the chef’s culinary philosophy of bringing flavors of the surrounding countryside to the plate. “The Jordan dining room is now not only an homage to old-world France, it’s also a portrait of the surrounding estate and the chef’s philosophy,” notes Geoffrey De Sousa, proprietor of Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design and De Sousa Hughes. 
Lunch starts with an amuse-bouche paired with NV Brut Jordan Cuvee by Champagne AR Lenoble. 
Next, I taste a 2017 Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The grapes are hand-picked at night when the fruit is cold to lock in that acidity and flavor. The fruit is then pressed immediately and fermented in French oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks for 6 months.
Chef Knoll pairs the 2017 Chardonnay with Bisque of First Peas and Favas chilled with Maine Lobster. Next, I’m served Roasted Knights Valley Lamb.
The dish is paired with Jordan’s 2015 Cab, that first release aging in only French oak barrels. “2015 was a cooler year yielding more of a French style of wine,” says Mattson. 
Chef Knoll makes sea salts and the estate grows olive trees to produce Jordan Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, both of which are on the table to enhance the tasting experience. 
While dining, I can’t help but admire the visual metaphors that connect with the estate’s topography. Deep gray walls are painted with Benjamin Moore French Beret and accented with a forest-like patterned wallpaper called Midsummer Night from Wall & Deco, created by graphic designer Lorenzo De Grandis of Milan, Italy. 
The dining room’s original high-back chairs were restored and reupholstered with intricate chair embroidery by a renowned, haute-couture artist based in London. Each embroidery pattern is distinct and inspired by the vibrant, moss-carpeted rocks and lichen found across Jordan Estate. 
French Beaux Arts-inspired lighting illuminates the room selected by San-Francisco based designer Jonathan Browning Studios. Floor-to-ceiling drapes in gold leaf, frame large windows that take in panoramas of the golden hills visible across Jordan’s estate. Dining tables congregate around a bronze fireplace hearth by Sonoma County metalsmith Randell Tuell of Tuell + Reynolds. 
I also learn more about Jordan’s sustainable and holistic practices. The vineyard uses a plant substance called Dust Off on its roads to reduce dust and a clay-based sunscreen on the grapes to prevent sunburn. 
“We take into account the impact every viticultural and winemaking decision has on the native ecosystems under our care. Jordan’s electrical use is carbon neutral, with roughly 90 percent of our electricity coming from hillside solar arrays behind the winery and the rest from renewable resources through the Sonoma Clean Power program,” says Mattson.
Lunch culminates with a Tupelo Honey Baked Alaska featuring spring bee pollen from the Jordan estate apiary and several locally-made artisan cheeses plated with a 2013 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley.
The meal crystalizes a certain synergy that exists in Sonoma County between its many different artists and winemakers who share a common passion for high-quality food made to complement local wines. Jordan, like many local wineries, promotes locally made foods and products with guests. 
Guests at Jordan’s Estate Tour and Tastings can appreciate custom-made serving plates by a ceramic-making husband-wife team, 
My tour ends with a visit to one of the guest suites located in the chateau available
Once a consumer spends $500 with Jordan, she/he becomes a Silver member and gains access to booking Private Tables in the dining room and at the Gold and Platinum levels, overnight stays in the guest suites. For more on booking tastings and tours, go to 
Quivira’s winegrowing program is a collaboration between winemaker Hugh Chappelle and viticulturist Ned Horton, the vineyard manager who aligns the property’s farming practices for fine winemaking. 
For this writer and bibliophile, I had planned the ideal morning. The 
Writers toil alone and words aren’t particularly selfie material. I wondered how the founders managed to fill an entire museum with something others want to see and experience sans the social media lure of competing attractions? The museum supersedes the visual limits of words by capturing the behind-the-scenes struggle— a writer’s daily summoning of the personal muse in hopes of entering that ethereal dimension of creative flow where all sense of time is lost as the words pour forth.
On the Road became a defining work of the Beat Generation, a loose collaborative of artists and writers who rejected the mainstream in favor of the experimental and spiritual. 
My other favorite exhibit was Mind of a Writer. This walls of this inspirational gallery are filled with quotes from famous writers about their creative process and craft. 
The gallery offers insights into how a writer thinks as well as the daily discipline and habits necessary to get the work done. 
I was intrigued by the raw honesty in many of the quotes that capture a writer’s self-doubt and fear that they will never be published— that lurking dread that they have gambled away their time on a manuscript that no one reads. 
Another highlight of my visit was the First Lines exhibit, a wall of handwritten first sentences of novels written by accomplished authors. 
Many of these authors crafted their first lines for stories that have yet to be written.
Whether you consider yourself an author, a journalist, a creative writer or diarist, we all have a shared experience that is made tangible among the museum’s galleries and personified through the literary greats featured. I highly recommend a visit to the American Writers Museum to experience Chicago’s literary treasure. 
