Meditation is really just spending time with yourself. During meditation, maybe you’ll try and focus, or breathe deeply. But did you know there is also meditation in dancing, gardening, being fully present with your child or being still in prayer?
I created a little slide show presentation in the hopes of dispelling some of the scariness of meditation.
Here is my quick and easy, yummy, flavorful and nourishing Easy Roasted Vegetable Soup for you!
ps. I am not a famous cook, or food photographer- just a gal who likes to share yummy-ness with my friends (YOU!).
Here’s how to make this soup (and you can print the recipe if you scroll all the way through- but leave a comment)!
Hope. Hope never denies us our emotions of anger, grief, anxiety, fear or sadness, instead, hope allows us to direct our feelings, thoughts and actions to more focused possibilities. This blog shares an awareness practice called, ‘what am I hoping for?’. You can try it, by listening along with the video, or print the script to share it with someone else. You can find hope, when you listen to the reply from the question, ‘what am I hoping for?’
Two people I love and adore were recently diagnosed (finally) with blood clots. Neither of them presented with textbook symptoms. Both were young, physically fit and active, and in excellent health. Both sought medical intervention and both were turned away, with, a ‘nothing is wrong with you’ diagnosis.
Yet, both had progressive blood clots that worsened because they were not seen as individuals by the healthcare system- instead they were treated as ‘text books’.
These two important people, and examples of real life DVTs, are my 41-year-old amazing husband, Patrick and my 45-year-old dear friend, Courtney.
We can’t wait until we are broken to heal ourselves; we need healing daily, and minute to minute. We must seek reminders about why we strive so hard to make our lives purposeful. We must connect with others to share the suffering, sadness, and grief we may feel from day to day. And we must also seek a non-judgmental space to share our success, joy, laughter, and the beauty of what we witness.
Bill Bowerman, co-founder of Nike and Olympic Coach once said, “If you have a body you are an athlete”.
Consider his words… he is saying that every body is an athlete. You need not be on the field in front of millions hitting a ball or skating the ice. You don’t need to look a certain way, or perform to a certain standard, and you definitely don’t have have to lift tons of weight or look top notch in a bikini to be an athlete, or to be the Champion of your Health.
Instead, shift your mindset to treat your body, mind and spirit like the athlete (and awesome human being)you are, and you will focus on what is important to you and your health vitality.
Phyto means ‘plant’. Phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) include all plant foods, like vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, teas, spices and whole grains. If it grows in nature it has phytonutrients. The goodies that make up plants are essential for health and living well, and plants are the FOUNDATION for disease prevention and treatment.
Here are some tips how to get more Plant Power!
Healing Rituals are self-imposed decisions to take action and tend to feelings of fear, apprehension, discontent, anger or sorrow, instead of squashing them deep into your soul. They are a mechanism to release feelings and to honor your body, mind and spirit with gentle attentiveness and care.
You can create your own Healing Ritual, and perhaps you already have one or two to use to ease the dis-ease of less than perfect situations. Or perhaps you need some inspiration to create an action to purposefully care for yourself.
I asked some dear friends for examples of Healing Rituals, and here’s what they shared.
In our ever-changing world filled with social media, texting, computers, devices, on demand, television, news, fake news, alerts, Information pushes, and constant stimulation it is difficult to re-connect with ourselves and others, even though we are in contact with others throughout our day. And when we link the potential negative impact loneliness and isolation can have on our health, we must take proactive steps to ensure we acknowledge our potential risk and mitigate it.
How can we consciously remember our need to be connected and support that need? How do we move from surface connection and extend to deep connection to uproot loneliness and isolation?
Here are 5 tips to consider to begin to re-connect to self and to others and will help mitigate and perhaps prevent diseases of the brain and body.
Happy Nurses Week 2019!
A reflection I wrote in 2013 for my fellow Nurse colleagues, and it still rings true today.
Trust that those you touch can sense the power and the beauty of your authentic desire to give them the truth of caring. Care that is expressed through pure passion. A selfless gift full of love, kindness, compassion and joy. A gift given with skilled and gentle hands, a kind smile, soothing words and peaceful silence. Your purpose is the power of your love, giving energy, tranquility and genuine light to others.
This is the story of a Registered Nurse (me) who stood up for herself and her patients, and what happened in the process. Nurses are one of the most dedicated professionals on the earth. Nurses vow to protect their patients from harm. Here is Nightingale’s Pledge from 1935, and it (or an updated version) continues to be said at nurse graduation ceremonies around the world.
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and as a 'missioner of health' I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare.
We can all use some quick tips to clean up our health, and spring time is the perfect opportunity for renewal and growth.
Check out some topics and tips to consider for your spring cleaning for health and wholeness for Your Thoughts, Your Stress, Your Sleep, Your Food, Your Work Space, and Your Habits.
While it’s great to use the big, white label to see how many carbohydrates, fats, protein etc. are in the foods you eat, all that information (while helpful) can be overwhelming! The deal is, when a thing seems overwhelming, we tend to ignore it; no matter how valuable it is.
So let’s make reading labels simple!
The lifestyle strategy of sleep- or rather- not getting enough sleep is often discussed in exasperation. Many of us fantasize about getting enough zzz’s to keep us thriving in our lives, but we struggle to do it in real life. Let's discuss some tools to improve this important function, so we feel more vibrant and focused, while staying free from diseases of the brain and body.
I have a new pet. His name is Moozie (it was also once, Tom, Chili, and Moo-Moo). My awesome husband Patrick aka Yubbies picked him. He was the tiny kitty, sitting lifeless in his litter box at the local pound. As soon as he was in our arms, he snuggled in and knew he was ‘ours’. Best decision. Everrrr.
This is the story of the Day (and Night) I almost lost my Moozie.
I had the honor of being interviewed by Elizabeth Scala for her podcast, Your Next Shift: A Nursing Career Podcast for Nurses and Nursing Students
I shared some serious transparency and things I’ve learned in my Nursing career- the good, the bad and the ugly- and parts of what makes me human.
A special thank you to Elizabeth and her tireless work to support the Nursing profession through her visionary work. She da bomb!
Registered Nurses are highly skilled, educated, professional, trustworthy and adaptable. They can work in ANY environment effectively and efficiently- not just traditional roles like a hospital. Check out this blog from Amelia Roberts RN from Solutions by Amelia as she interviews Nurse Coach Nicole Vienneau RN, MSN, NC-BC on the Business of Nursing.
