Cultivate An Exceptional Life
You are meant to live an exceptional life. Sure, things like illness and trauma may seem to stand in the way. But they don’t have too!
Join me on a journey to a better life, despite it all.
Hello! I’m Leisa.
The journey through life can be difficult, but still rewarding.
2016 – My daughter and I were finally starting to recover from an automobile accident. Someone, going over 90 miles per hour was paying more attention to his phone, than the traffic signals. He slammed into our car, forever changing our world.
November 2018 – My husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer. 3 days later I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Our daughter was hospitalized that week as well. The following year our medical expenses exceeded 5 million dollars.
I get challenges! Now I am on a mission to help people cultivate an exceptional life, despite the challenges placed on their path.
Cultivating Physical Health & Wellness
Multiple Sclerosis Signs and Symptoms
There have been over 80 symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis identified. It can often go undiagnosed for years because so many of the symptoms point to other possible ailments. We estimate I had MS for at least 10 years and may be as long as 35 years before I was diagnosed....
I’m Too Young for a Cane
I am too young for a cane. I never pictured myself needing one until I was at least 85. But I ended up needing to use one often due to multiple sclerosis. But when I finally decided to get one, the cane opened up some freedom I had been missing. I have not regretted...
Is Your Stress Level Killing You? Studies Say No!
Telling yourself you thrive under stress could be healthy. It's a much better story to tell yourself, than, "This stress is killing me." You see... A 1998 study found that 54% of American's are worried about their stress level. Here's the kicker: most people are...
Lower Stress Level With These Five Simple Strategies {With Infographic}
Do you want to lower your stress level? Has your stress levels escalated? The hustle, bustle, and challenges of everyday life alone often produce a lot of stress. But then, if you are anything like me, you perhaps say yes far too often to things you really don't have...
Five Benefits of Solitude
In today's overly connected 24/7 society, it can be difficult to find quality time with your spouse, kids and friends — let alone yourself. But carving out some quiet “me” time should be on everyone’s priority list, and even a few...
Frequently Asked Questions About Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I had some many questions. Here are a few of the most important ones, with answers.What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder in which the healthy tissue in the central nervous system...
A Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
“You definitely have multiple sclerosis,” the doctor said.” It didn’t come as a surprise. We had suspected it for months. In fact, my neurologist referred me over the local multiple sclerosis specialty clinic after seeing my symptoms. But still, there is something...
Cultivating An Exceptional Lifestyle
12 Gratitude Practices to Cultivate More Health, Happiness and Joy in Life
Participation in consistent gratitude practices pays huge dividends when it comes to creating more health, happiness, and joy in one’s life. Seriously – the results from these gratitude studies are pretty amazing. In fact, science shows that gratitude is required for...
Gratitudes Impact on Health Happiness & Joy
Gratitude can make a positive and significant impact on your health, happiness, and joy. That is what study after study shows. It can help us make a transition from happiness to joy and from unhealthy to healthy. Gratitude is such a powerful emotion. It is difficult...
Canyon Villas at Coral Ridge
The town homes at Coral Canyon are one of our favorite places to stay. I have stayed here for 21 days over the past few years. The place is spacious with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a large pantry, and plenty of kitchen space. It sleeps 8 comfortably. And it well...
The Creamery in Beaver, UT. Our Southern Utah Road Trip Tradition
I have many ice cream memories growing up. Sunday night ice cream as a family. Grandpa Bruvold stocking the freezer with ice cream when ever we came to visit. A few ice cream traditions have evolved with my children. The Creamery in Beaver, Utah is one of them....
Perspective Makes All the Difference in Our Happiness
Life will bring you plenty of experiences that you can use to grow from and opportunities to change your perspective. You will grow as your experiences expand and eventually everything works out in its own perfect way. However, most often, we fail to see the benefit...
6 Strategies to Create Your Own Happiness
Many people come to believe very early in life that life is a game they can't win. They spend the rest of their lives collecting "evidence" to prove why they don't deserve to be happy or that I can't be happy because "this happened" to me. They spend time thinking...
Declare it: I Experience Joy and Create Joy for Others
Declare it: I experience joy and create joy for othersSized for Pinterest
Service is a Great Stress Reliever & Part of Your Purpose
I had been feeling super down for a few days. I hadn’t cried that much in 24 hours than I have in the past many, many years. The last time I felt that way was when I miscarried twins 15 or so years ago. It was highly unusual for me. I think all the stuff that I had...
Cultivate Mental Health & Wellness
How To Get Pain Relief From Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot. And, if you have had plantar fasciitis you want to get pain relief immediately. The planter fascia connects your heel bone to your toes (plantar fascia). Plantar...
On Orange Brunch Restaurant in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
I stopped by On Orange during for lunch one day on a trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Centrally located in downtown Lancaster. They only serve an all-day breakfast. It noticed it was listed as a favorite restaurant on several review lists so when I ended up...
Kitchen Kettle Village, Lancaster, PA
I stopped at Kitchen Kettle Village, in Intercourse, Pennsylvania on a recent short stay in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Kitchen Kettle Village is a fun collection of shops, restaurants, and even lodging. It was founded with a Pennsylvania Dutch theme in mind and...
Red Hills Desert Garden, St. George, UT
Located inside Pioneer Parkin St. George, UT, the Red Hills Deseret Garden is a desert garden, which showcases water-efficient landscapes, so of course it is a great place to get landscaping ideas if you live in the desert. Plus you can see some endangered plants and...
A Look Inside Central Market Lancaster County Pennsylvania
I wandered through Central Market on a recent trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I literally stumbled upon it as I was photographing the historical character of Lancaster. At the time I had no idea how much history there was around the market. Central Market is the...
Curb Appeal Ideas from Lancaster Pennsylvania
Downtown Lancaster Pennsylvania has many homes with some great curb appeal. Lancaster is the oldest inland city in the United States. It has a lot of old historic buildings. So many of the homes and businesses in downtown Lancaster has some great details to give...
3 Day Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Travel Guide
I have wanted to go to Lancaster Pennsylvania for many years. It started back in my early twenties when I spent my time creating and selling handcrafted items. I guess I wanted to go see what the Amish, who are expert homemakers, did. I always said I wanted to go...
Chart Your Course: Dream, Act, Plan, Believe In Your Dreams
I am a huge dreamer and a huge believer in the ability to accomplishing one’s dreams. I always have been. However, life doesn’t ever quite seem to turn out the way you dream it would. Life happens and dreams sometimes get trampled. For me, illness stuck, loss hit,...
Resilience and the Law of Least Resistance
Exhausted – that is how I felt when we returned from the ER visit that Friday evening. My youngest daughter had broken her arm in a rollerskating accident. It was extremely late, everyone was hungry, and I just wanted to crawl into bed, but those motherly instincts...
Spasticity Associated with Multiple Sclerosis
Spasticity is one of the most annoying symptoms of multiple sclerosis. And it can be especially painful. It is a fairly a common symptom of MS and can have a big impact on ones daily life. If often has a big impact on mine. My worse experiences with spasticity has...
Multiple Sclerosis Signs and Symptoms
There have been over 80 symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis identified. It can often go undiagnosed for years because so many of the symptoms point to other possible ailments. We estimate I had MS for at least 10 years and may be as long as 35 years before I was diagnosed....
I’m Too Young for a Cane
I am too young for a cane. I never pictured myself needing one until I was at least 85. But I ended up needing to use one often due to multiple sclerosis. But when I finally decided to get one, the cane opened up some freedom I had been missing. I have not regretted...
