An Exclusive Interview with Author Patricia Leavy about Low-Fat Love Stories

Patricia Leavy, Ph.D. is an independent sociologist and best-selling author. She has published twenty-one books, earning critical and commercial success in both nonfiction and fiction. She is also the creator and editor for seven book series with Oxford University Press and Sense Publishers and a blogger for The Huffington Post and The Creativity Post. Patricia […]

Finding the Artist within: Art Therapy and Eating Disorders

Art Therapy has been a powerful and effective coping skill that the eating disorder community has embraced for decades. Art therapy helps and challenges a person to create and to reflect on the process of the art making experience and the art work they create. This process is powerful especially for someone who is suffering […]

Low-Fat Love 101: Always Bet on Yourself

I have loved writing since I was a child so I feel very fortunate to make my living as an author. This doesn’t mean that there haven’t been, and won’t continue to be, many rejections along the way. I have learned some things from those experiences that may be of value to others pursuing a […]

Low-Fat Love 101: Cultivating Your Identity

Last month my blog offered advice on how parents can help their daughters develop a positive sense of self. My first piece of advice centered in the importance of cultivating independent interests and skills, such as activities in the arts. This advice came from a personal place as my daughter Madeline (12 years old) has […]

Meditation and Stress-Management Through Ancient Painting Techniques

I recently learned of a style of painting called suiboku-ga or Sumi-e that originated with Zen monks — the artform itself is a meditative practice.  What better stress-management tool could there be?  It employs art, yogic teachings, meditation and mindfulness. With gratitude to a yogi that I have followed for about 8 years named Leza […]

How Movies, Music and Books Help Us Be Happy

This Guest Post graciously submitted by Allison Moody Though depression is a serious medical condition and is difficult to fight, there are things that people with this diagnosis, or people who just feel depressed from time to time, can do to alleviate their pain. Art is Not Just Some Pretty Pointless Pastime Many people consider […]

The ABC’s of Happiness

I met Rob Gonzalez in high school and he is one of the most talented musicians and brilliant writers I have ever known.  This is his first blog post as Contributor on the Real Deal.  Robyn Hussa, WATRD. This is my first post, so I guess I better make it good. My friend Robyn, who […]