The Velveteen Principles Community

When Housewives (and others) Are Desperate, by Toni Raiten-D�Antonio

The main theme of the year�s biggest TV hit -- Desperate Housewives -- is that despite their beautiful clothes, perfect bodies, and high-end lifestyles, the women who live on Wisteria Lane are miserable. They struggle to find happiness by achieving a set of impossible social standards for women. And they invariably fail because they are looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places � in wealth, in power, in beauty, and in other people.

Ten Tips for a Real Holiday

With the holidays just weeks away, there's no better time to consider how to make the season less stressful and more meaningful. For those of us who would like to remember this time with gratitude and joy, follow these ten tips for keeping the season �Real.�

Ten Tips for a Real New Year

Holidays and the start of a new year inevitably make us think about how we can improve ourselves, and have the life we want in the future. We make resolutions - I must lose weight, I will save more money - and then lose our way. That's because we aren't matching our resolutions with who we are inside. We're more likely to succeed if we work on discovering our inner, Real selves, appreciate who we already are, and then take a chance on custom-made changes, not one-size-fit all resolutions. Here are ten tips for making the new year better in a Real way.