Crying.

I look in the mirror a lot. It’s kind of like I am having a conversation with myself when I do it. Not just seeing what I look like. Rather, I am looking into my eyes and asking “How are you doing? What is bothering you? What are you happy about?” I used to do this as a kid all of the time. I didn’t go cry to people when I was upset. I would lock myself in the bathroom, turn the fan on, and I would watch my eyes turn bloodshot and bright blue as the warm tears ran down my face. I always thought I was pretty when I cried. Crying was very relieving for me, it was detoxifying, and letting go. It wasn’t anxiety or feeling stuck. That didn’t happen until I was in college. I locked myself in the bathroom and I cried. And when I finished I still felt stuck, overwhelmed, and so I kept crying. I kept crying until I couldn’t breathe, and I had a headache. Then I had to make myself stop crying because nothing was getting better. The more my thoughts built up, the more these crying episodes would break through, but they wouldn’t resolve anything. I stopped liking crying as much. It wasn’t “me time”, it wasn’t reflective – it was spinning in cirlces and feeling trapped and weak.
I’ve been crying a lot more recently. Much similar to my college days. Crying, and rather than feel myself shed off pounds of frustration or confusion, I feel the heavy tears fall onto my lap and they are stuck on me. My eyes stay very wet, swollen, and heavy. My mind isn’t letting go of thoughts. It’s like the crying is just happening without value, empty.
The problem is bigger than a mere rinse off. It urges me to shift directions and change.
I’ll cry in a couple of months when I realize that I made it through the muck, and my tears will sing and laugh.
Those are my favorite tears, the one’s that celebrate. The ones that used to hurt, but now have grown brighter. As you cry these tears, you reflect on the pain and the transition and you know you are strong, you are loved, you are human.
Don’t give up on yourself, your dreams, or the people around you.
When you feel alone in the bathroom with nobody around you, know that there is a door to open and someone is waiting. When you feel like escaping away from it all, know that peace can be found. Your life is still growing, and that is something to celebrate. That is something to cry about.

Sick Days

I woke up feeling as if I had been hit by a bus.
My throat was scratchy yesterday, but I feel like fire scorched my throat and hurricane sized rain clouds shoved themselves into the 6 inch diameter of my skull. My nose is dripping, and I’m certainly not what anyone would like to see at work.

Sick days don’t exist in retail. Fortunately, our co-workers all support one another in understanding there are no delegated “sick days”, and it would be worse to the whole team for me to be present versus absent.

Calling out is hard for me. Stopping is hard for me. It is damn near impossible. With work scheduled at 11 am, for a long evening shift. I still showered, dressed, made my hair, and made a bowl of soup. It wasn’t until I called my manager to update her on my health, and she said, “No! Gross! Stay at home!” Then I accepted that I needed to rest.

So, part of this post is going to talk about my prescription for self-care and healing.
The other part of this post is a kick-butt Cold-Kicking Soup Recipe, and other tools for your Cold Curing Toolbox

Your prescription for a cold:
– Lots of water.
– Juice with Vitamin C – Orange Juice is my go to, but I also like a good berry juice like GoodBelly!
– Soup because it has veggies with vitamin C, cleansing greens, and fluids
– Tissues (Try using old boxers cut in squares instead of wasteful Kleenex)
– Essential Oils. doTERRA OnGuard (immune boosting and anti-bacterial), Oregano (anti-fungal and intense), Peppermint (breathing and relaxing, also anti-bacterial)
– Herbs. Elderberry, Ginger, Echinacea, Goldenseal Tincture (I use HerbPharm Rapid Immune Boost)

– Tea. Ginger, chamomile, lemon, echinacea, honey. Whatever, just tea! If you need caffeine, I would stick to green, because black can be less soothing.
–Rest. I know it’s hard, but grab a book, your Kindle, or your favorite blog, and sit your butt down. Let yourself fall asleep. Let yourself wake up when it wants to. Maybe journal a little bit. This is the most important part of self-care. Giving you self as much space and time as it needs for nothing.

So this was my day today:

6:30 am. “Geez! I feel like poop. Do I have to be alive today? Yes, you do! Now get up.” Drinks water. I’m pretty sure it all just drained straight out of my nose.
7 am. I have laundry that needs to get done. “I’ll make a load and then make some soup, because I can sip on that through out my day”. Take a dropperful of HerbPharm tincture.
8am. Laundry is almost done, soup is simmering. I am being productive, but literally making trips from a chair to sit down and breathe, and then getting back up to do my tasks.
8:30 am. Meditate. Sitting on my bed with eyes closed, back hunched, and head heavy I focus on the mantra, “I am healing.” Thoughts of doubt and voices say, “Actually, I feel closer to dying” are echoing softly, but I focus on this mantra of healing.
9am. I still feel like death. Now that my laundry is done I can shower with my warm towel out of the dryer. A little bit of self care. “Maybe this will make me feel better. Warm towel is a bonus.” Put drops of peppermint in the shower, and rub on the back of my neck and chest in the shower.
9:30. Call my boss. Leaves a voicemail with my voice squeaking out and rasping through mucous, that I probably should come in, but I will plan on being there on time if I don’t hear back. Just want to give a heads up.
Get dressed, do my hair. My skin looks surprisingly good for how awful I feel.
Take OnGuard and Oregano in a warm cup of water. Drink. Enjoy the burn of the Oregano.
10am Soup is done. Sit and attempt to eat the soup, but my nose keeps dripping.
My roommate says, You sound awful! You shouldn’t go to work.
My boss calls and says, “No! Gross! Stay at home!”
10:30am Pajamas, fold my laundry and make my bed with clean sheets. Take another tincture of medicinal herbs. Drink more water. Call my mom, because it’s nice to hear someone care about you feeling like crap, and my mom does that well.
11am – Diffuse OnGuard by my bedside. Reading blogs and journaling, and falling asleep.
Sleep and rest.
3pm – Wake up. Drink water. Blow my nose. Eat more soup. Stretch because my whole body is sore.
5pm – I still don’t sound good, but my head feels better. Take some more herb tincture. Eat the last of my soup. Find new people on Instagram to Follow. Update my resume.
8pm Write a blog about being sick.

Kick-butt Cold-Kicking Soup Recipe

• 1/2 Large White Onion, sliced thick
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 Bell Pepper, Yellow or Red
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp Butter, Grass-fed
• 3 Carrots, Chopped in 1/2″ to 3/4″ pieces
• 1 qt Vegetable Broth, Low Sodium
• 1 tsp Himalayan Salt
• 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup Red Lentils
• handful of chopped parsley

1. In Medium Pot, heat oil on medium heat. Add Onions, Garlic, and Peppers. Toss to coat and saute for 3-5 min until onion start to tender.
2. Add Carrots, salt, spices, and butter. Continue to stir to coat, and saute for another 5 minutes.
3. Add Vegetable Broth. Bring to a boil on medium high heat. Add lentils Let simmer at low boil for 10- 15 minutes.
4. Add Parsley. Cover and reduce heat to low-medium for at least 30 minutes.
5. Relax. Enjoy. and Heal.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. May all beings everywhere be happy and be free.
Blessing of health, wellness, and freedom from sickness.

Take care.

 

 

**Please advise that I make a small profit for some of the items promoted and mentioned in this post. However, all of these products, affiliated or unaffiliated, are items I choose to add to my personal routine of wellness, diet, and health.

How to Meditate

A simple guide to the frequently asked questions, or frequently held  thoughts about the “RIGHT” way to meditate.

Let’s start off with the foundational questions: What is meditation?

A: Meditation is witnessing your breath and thoughts. Taking the time to pause from the constant stimulus of being aware of all of the events going on, and reacting to all of the stimuli throughout your day, and just finding stillness for a period of time.

Do I have to sit?

A: No, you don’t have to. Most people do for numerous reasons. First, you are more likely to fall asleep if you are lying down. What’s wrong with falling asleep? Nothing is wrong, but being asleep makes it hard to witness the full experience of your breath because part of the brain is asleep or I guess you could think turned off. Meditation is actually turning ON the brain. Another reason we sit is because your breath flows most naturally in this posture. Actually, when I meditate the first 5 minutes is often just focusing on moving the breath into my spinal column, through my hips, and to my feet. I often revisit the movement of breath throughout my meditation when my back muscles start to feel sore, or my feet start to fall asleep.

What do I need to do to prepare for meditation?

A: Most simply, I set a timer. I make sure I am not constricted by my pants, and then I sit. I personally don’t like music or earbuds because meditation is the practice of witnessing. It is the moment to not be stimulated, but rather to rest in stillness. Music is a stimulus that alters my natural brain patterns. However, that is not to say that some people may need that aide to pause the other stimulus around them. Some people prefer to be on a yoga mat or to be outside. I just advocate that you keep it simple. Overthinking, will only hinder you more from taking the steps to just sit down and breathe.

How long, and how often should I meditate?

Start with setting a timer for 15 minutes. Close your eyes and keep your eyes rested, closed. I personally meditate 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Some individuals meditate every day. This is your practice that is your choice to take some moments for self-care. Remember that self-care is not a checklist. If it is stressing you out to need to get it done, let it wait until tomorrow, or let is just be a 15 minutes session this time instead of 30 minutes.

Can I mess up meditating?

I am going to say yes. These are mistakes that I used to make, and realized I was not meditating.
A) Turning my alarm off and lying on my back to meditate. All I did was fall back asleep.
B) While meditating, taking a picture, or journaling my thoughts.
Meditation is a practice of witnessing your thoughts. Not controlling them, holding onto them, breaking them. Just witnessing them. When you stop to write down an idea, you disrupt your body’s natural phase of relaxation and breath. Just rest. Remember these thoughts are not new. They are in YOUR mind. Meditation is helping clear the fog so these great thoughts have the space to stay and grow – and they will.

Why should I meditate? I am not religious, I am not stressed out, I don’t get what sitting down is going to do for me.

First, if you say you are not stressed out, I question what you define as stress. Are you spending hours flipping through social media, and not having time to do things productive or have motivation to take action? Do you have an array of ideas and thoughts in your heads but organizing them isn’t happening? Meditation is giving attention to your thoughts and mind’s actions. We may think that we already do this when we are out and about throughout our days, but we actually are only just being reactive. If the server says what do you want to eat, we go with our first reaction of hunger and craving, or the advertised picture. When asked “how are you doing?” our knee-jerk response is “good,” and “well,” not actually taking into account the actual events, physical pain, nightmares you had last night, person that cut you off in traffic, old-man that belittled your generation, all resulting in your mind actually feeling frustrated and confused.
Meditation takes the time to witness how your mind actually feels. Then it takes the time to accept, and move forward with your mind’s current state. Recognizing your strengths, skills, abilities, and energy to do good and make change.

What others questions, or thoughts, do you have about meditation?
If you meditate regularly, how has it impacted your daily life?

If you are looking for an aid to relax and help focus during meditation there are two essential oils I would recommend.
When I need peace, I like to diffuse or rub doTERRA Serenity on my earlobes.
When I feel down, and would like something uplifting and focusing, doTERRA Wild Orange is a great aid.

Cherish your self. Cherish today.

Sending you love, comfort, peace and encouragement to be Truly You.

 

Pineapple Breakfast Cake

Coming to Newport, RI, I had to explore a delicious recipe with PINEAPPLE!

You can check out my full post about Newport, RI. I’ve been here for Two months now, and time has flown by, but I am excited to get my blog into full swing. Highlighting recipes of great foods with fresh ingredients, all made from scratch. I am also excited to start exploring DIY beauty products. Also there will posts to highlight my travels and the different places I am visiting and learning from.

This pineapple breakfast cake is moist, easy to throw together, and not TOO sweet!
I likehow fluffy and light the cake is, so you can eat it as a brunch treat, or dessert with ice cream too!

The recipe is inspired from Almacucina from Food 52. I chose to use coconut flour instead of their suggestion for chickpea flour.

Enjoy!

Pineapple Coconut Breakfast Cake

Serves: 8

• 1cup white whole wheat flour
  
• 1/2cup coconut flour
  
• 1teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1/2teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/4teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2teaspoon cardamon
  
• 1/2cup coconut
  
• 1/2cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
  
• 3/4 cup raw cane sugar
  
• 1egg
  
• 1/2cup whole milk
  
• 2 cups fresh pineapple cut into bite sized chunks (cores removed)
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; butter and flour a 9X9 inch cake pan. In a large bowl whisk together flour, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cardamom and sugar. Cut in the cold butter pieces until the mixture is crumbly.
2. Remove 1/2 cup of the mixture and combine with coconut, set aside. Whisk together egg and milk: fold into main mixture just until totally combined. Pour batter into prepared pan. Top with pineapple and then top that with reserved coconut mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cake comes away from the sides and is a golden brown on top. Serves 8.

Welcome to Newport, RI

It’s been almost two months since I got to Newport, RI. Aside from some sporatic social media updates, I haven’t been in touch to much. Mostly because of finding my feet here. There’s a lot to do, many good people, and as always – busy.

Working in an industry that is seasonally driven, and my position moves me to High Season destinations, finding the time for “me” can be hard. On days off I do a little bit to “fill my cup”, but I still find myself seeking to do more. Lingering in thoughts of wanting to cook more, write more, etc. One voice in my head says, “The time will come,” while the other voice in my head takes me back to my bike trip saying, “Now is the the right time.”

At the end of the day, I have learned to do your best.

So….”Welcome to Newport”

What is here?
Sailing! – Sailing is a very popular activity, and culture here. Newport was the only North American stop in the 2018 Volvo Races – a sailing race that races all around the world for a series of months!
Mansions – Many old mansions still remain from the industrial revolution time, which the Vanderbilt family claimed large parts of Aquidneck Island. Newport became the place to go for anybody that was anybody. I kind of picture it like being the Great Gatsby, but with a town. Seeing a mansion in real life – well actually seeing a whole street of mansions in real life is unbelievable
Small-town history – Since the first bridge to get on and off of Aquidneck Island wasn’t finished until the 1960s, There are over a hundred years of history locally-focused on the island.
Seafood – Clams, scallops, oysters, lobsters. Some good fish too! All of the seafood. Its almost abnormal to have a meal here without having seafood in some part of your experience. The oysters are large! The clams are meaty!
No Plastic – This is more recent part of Newport, but I definitely think it is mention-able because it is actively present in the lifestyle here on the island. Since the beginning of the year NO PLASTIC BAGS are given out. All stores give out paper bags. There is current discussion of forbidding plastic straws, and the movement toward this is already being adopted by many restaurants, cafes, and bars with either using paper straws or not giving straws out at all.

Who lives here?
First moving here I had this idea of the rich and the famous living here. But the truth is, Newport is a town! PEOPLE live here. For some that might not be exciting, but I have met inventors, artists, travelers, and people in their fields that have succeeding in creating their life. Yes, there is definitely a higher average annual income here, yes many famous people and pop celebrities have homes here, yes I’ve seen Jay Leno walk the streets, but more influential to my experience was eating dinner with the once head of sales for Apple, and sharing a beer with a world traveling sailor that has 3 kids at home.

What keeps me busy here?

Biking. There is great biking here in Newport. First, the island is a circle, so you can’t get too lost! Second, the speed limit is very slow, so it’s mostly very safe to ride your bike. Biking is very popular here, so many people have good routes and suggestions for getting around.Yoga. I have mostly been practicing yoga from home. There is a large Power Yoga community here, and some other studios too. Unfortunately, my schedule doesn’t line up with many of the classes, so I have been enjoying audio yoga from my teacher in Minneapolis, Justyn O’Neill.
Cooking. I have found cooking and baking to be therapeutic for me. It is relaxing, takes times, and I enjoy creating something with a product. I have been focusing on making things with what is left in the pantry because, for me, “pantry cooking” is a fun, creative puzzle.

My most recent Pantry Cooking experiment also captured the culture of Newport with my Pineapple Breakfast cake. Click here for the recipe. Pineapples are token of hospitality in Newport. The story goes that sailors would sail away for long periods of time, and they would bring back a pineapple from the tropical areas. The seamen would place a pineapple outside their home to indicate they were home safe. Now a pineapple is given as a welcome.

With summer in full swing, I wish everyone a happy Fourth of July.

 

 

 

My Bucked Teeth

When I was a kid, I loved to smile, but I hated my teeth. My two front teeth are big. I remember Jacob, one of the schoolboys, making fun of me in school. From elementary school to high school Jacob would poke fun at my teeth. I was always conscious of my teeth – it didn’t stop me from smiling or taking pictures, but it did make me a mouth breather – because I didn’t like forcing my mouth to close, I did stand in front of the mirror for hours looking at what smile didn’t accentuate my teeth. My mind obsessed about the appearance of my mouth for years. It wasn’t until someone said to me in my early 20s, you have a wonderful smile, that I finally let go of my self-consciousness. I found acceptance because I realized that there was more to a smile than the two front teeth.

What bothers you about yourself? Is there something you compare yourself to others, and you find yourself on the short end of the stick? Is it the importance of your job? Something about your body? An uneasy relationship you have with a family member? Maybe you don’t have enough friends?
Sit with your “issue”. Feel this frustration, judgement, listen to your mind tell you how you need to be better, what isn’t good enough, why you aren’t doing it right.

Now breathe. Tell yourself, “I am okay.” Fill yourself with light and love! Lift your chest, fill your body, invigorate all of your skin, muscles, and bones! Feel everything you are!
This is more than the body. Breathe into your existence, everything you have. Taste the food you eat, feel the joy from laughter of the friends and family you have, award yourself for your skills and abilities in your job and daily tasks. You are good!

It is easy to be stuck in fix it mode. Honing in on the one thing, or couple of small details that “need to” be better. We forget the big picture. Recognizing all that you do currently have and do well. Honoring all that you are.

Instead of the perspective of needing to fix this, start to seek BALANCE. 
Every day show up with gratitude for where you are, acceptance for what is new, and the desire to be used for a greater good.
When we change our perspective from tunnel-vision to the big picture, our body can stop being in a stressed state. When you have gratitude for the current situation of your life, you are energized through the day. As new experiences and different, unfamiliar things occur, this positive energy will help your perspective fuel acceptance rather than being fatigued and worn down by having to adapt to change. You have found the strength inside of you, and now you know that you can take on whatever comes your way.
Everything is okay. It’s ALL good.

 

 

((I want to send gratitude to each of you that have supported my writing, and followed my posts over the years. I write in order to provoke thought. I would love to hear your insight. Please comment or email with your experiences and reflections.))

My 3 Favorite Smoothies

I’ve been dabbling with healthy eating for almost 8 years now. Smoothies have been something that followed me through different phases of my healthy journey, and for good reason!
They are portable, easy to prep, cost effective, and can be loaded with flavor and nutrients!

Not all things are going to go the way You want.

Acceptance.
Accept It (he, she, that, those, me). That means embrace entirely. Like walking up to someone for the first time and their essence flooding you with joy. You lose your sense of control because the presence of the person in front of you is outstanding in every way. What if we saw every person with this enamourement? Why don’t we already?
Its because our ego kicks in and asks how will this person serve me. It kicks in with self doubt of what am I going to give to this person. We lose awareness of the present state. The present, where there is no past of your own or others, there is no expectations on where this is supposed to go. You are as you are, and they are as they are.
So how are you? In what state do you need to show up, in order to have such a positive experience. Show up with positivity, kindness, no expectation, enjoyment, and that energy or experience is very likely to return on your path.Some call it karma, maybe the golden rule.
How does this work?
Think about a confrontational conversation. When the other person is crossing their arms, shouting, accusing, it is much easier to return with the same loudness and negativity.
Dont worry that equal reaction is the same for most people. You are no different than everyone else around you. If you show up with positivity, it is easier for other people to be positive, patience, and enjoyment.
But what about the doubts and frustrations from the past? Acknowledge them. Exercise living positivity while recognizing that the past happened and you are having some ideas of the future. But don’t hold attachment . Let these ideas exist outside of who you are and what you are doing. Say, “I recognize that this may fail, or it may not! I am going to choose to act as if it will not. ”
Then witness your actions and recognize how they are a reflection of your mindset.
This isn’t just to be applied to our interactions with others. This is also your interaction with yourself. How often do you have a task to do, and the negativity and judgment from past experiences lead you to dread the idea of starting a task. Instead, show up with the perspective of “this could be annoying or this could be enjoyable. I choose to align my actions with an enjoyable experience.” I’m not saying to fake it. I’m saying to set your prejudgment aside and let yourself be happy and see what that experience brings in return.
A great mantra for giving this positivity and receiving it through your day:
“Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu” ::
“May all beings everywhere be happy and be free.”

Set judgement and ridicule aside and see what acceptance delivers to you.

REFUEL.

I find myself going constantly. But it isn’t just the fact that I am going, it’s that all of my actions are in an outward direction. I teach class, consult a client, constantly text different people, invite someone to have dinner with me, fall asleep with my phone in my hand, I wake up and it all starts again. All of a sudden, even the simple tasks are frustrating, too time-consuming, or I start messing up because I am not actually focusing on my actions, just trying to get to the reward/final product/end of the day.

Then days like today happen. I don’t have an agenda, just time. And that time is space for ideas to be, to grow, to explore. Space to breathe.

Take time to refuel yourself. We often think that we refuel from the things around us – so we grab food, entertainment, a text conversation with anyone that will respond – we DO anything seeking a reboot. But just like a sugary carbohydrate – this energy burns quickly – it is more of an expense than an asset. But coming inward – whether it be meditation, journaling, prayer – being still and isolated, we find this vitality inside to start again. We have a practice, rituals, positive lifestyle choices that activate our Light regularly. Not so that we can boast our discipline or title, but so that we can more easily live from this place of grace, acceptance, ease, and love.

The more we train the mind to accept the sensations and movement of the Self instead of the ego, the more our life will impact our communities with this intention of love, Greatness, and wellness. The more we exercise living from this Place, the less our actions come from a place of fear, pain, past experience, or expectation.

Excercising presence, is listening, being, and surrendering. Knowing that each moment you are learning and teaching, you are accepting and letting go, you are active and still.

You find balance.

You find neutrality.

You find bliss.

There is a power in you. Take time to recognize, accept, and grow this power.

REFUEL from within.

Namaste.

December: Being Merry!

December is here, so on the northern hemisphere of the world, we are experiencing the COLD! (Even in Florida it’s getting cooler!) The body starts to require a little bit of extra care and so does the mind, as the words “fatigue” and “chaos” ring in many of our ears. There is A LOT going on, and we have two options: we can experience the moments, or we can try to survive them with jaw clenched and checklist in hand.

It is easy to get caught up in taking care of everyone else’s demands of holiday parties, getting gifts, preparing for family/travel, and the usual care we give throughout our day. We find the mind spinning, whirling, and obsessing with quesions of: Will this gift make them happy, or be good enough? Which relative will bring up the fact that I’m not married, or criticize my, or my partner’s, career choice? When will I have time to clean the house for the guests? Do I have enough money to buy these gifts? I want to eat healthy, but…

Listen, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We all have a family with sparkling gems and rough patches. We all hear the expectation to give gifts at the holidays. There is a lot going on between still working and everyday responsibilities plus preparing for company or travel, a lot of social gatherings that take more time from our regular schedule, and ALL of this takes away from the foundation, the key factor to success and happiness, and the essential in living a balanced life style – SELF-CARE!

This is the best time to express yourself as exactly the person that you are!

So here is your Holiday Self-Care survival kit!

1. Breathe – Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold
   Every day, take the time to breathe. 5 minutes to sit in stillness, without your phone, without music (unless you really need some instrumental music), with nothing but yourself. Set a times on your phone for 5-15 minutes, close your eyes, and breathe. Accepting whatever happens, letting the thoughts pass, instead of trying to solve problems in that moment. Just sit and focus on breathing. Inhaling and sitting tall. Exhaling and letting go. There is not accomplishment, or “you know you’re doing it right when…”, it is simply being still.

This is so important for this month because winter already gives extra stress on the body – lower intake of Vitamin D, and more energy expelled for body heat. So, resting is a crucial practice to maintain energy levels.

2. Accept – “Everything is perfect, as it is”
First off, what is acceptance? It is surrendering to the idea that you don’t have to be in control. You don’t have to have the last word.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to be silent (and, we’ll get to the in a sec).
Make the choice to surrender control of others as well as yourself. What do I mean? Stop saying “I have to…” Recognize the various tasks and ideas you have in your mind, and write them down if you need. But instead of saying, “I have to clean the house, I have to call the dog groomer, I have to find time to workout so I can eat that pie…” All of these expectations are clogging your brain from its power. YOU ARE POWERFUL, YOU ARE ORGANIZED, YOU ARE HAPPY. So don’t let the little tasks hide the light that is inside of you. Instead prioritize. Prioritize being your self, and not sacrificing your joy and your Light for the small things that will be gone in small moments of time.

The mindset you contribute to the situation will play  a role in the outcome! If you bring a positive, joyful, loving spirit to your activities, this will drastically effect the quality, memories, and interactions you have. Holiday shopping, the food that you eat, the family you catch up with, the coworkers and neighbors at holiday parties, the partner that you come home to – will all be much more enjoyed when you choose to bring joy rather than criticism, judgment, and expectation.

3. Be Yourself – “The person I am is great”
Let’s make a promise…the only person wearing a costume this year is Santa Claus! You don’t need to be richer, more like-minded to your family, funnier, more social, more religious, or less disciplined in your food choices. You need to be you.
This is so important, because you will have more patience, more energy, and more happiness when you stop trying to wear all of the hats. Focus on what your ideas, and what’s inside of you. And bring that to the table. Do your best in what you have to offer, and know that everything else will happen at its will.
You don’t have to say “Yes” to stuffing when you aren’t eating gluten – there are plenty of other delicious meals on the table that you can compliment the chef on!
You don’t have to break your budget to get everyone a gift, or get that right gift for the special person – instead really think about what you can give (it doesn’t have to be a material, it just needs to be you) and offer that from a place of love.
You don’t have to smile and nod, or hold your tongue about your passions “don’t agree” with distant family members in your life. Instead choose your actions from a place of accepting and loving the diversity of yourself and others. (Nobody ever learned from always agreeing)

Make the choice to be You. Say this outloud:
“I accept myself because I am happy and filled with joy by my life. And I choose to keep my happiness and joy in every situation of my day. If that means that one of my tasks doesn’t get completed, or I don’t find the exact gift that I had in mind…that is okay. Because most importantly, I am giving love and joy to myself, so that I can also share this with everyone in my life.”

What you need this holiday season is no different than what you need every day. You need to hydrate, sleep, and bring love and joy to everything you do.

Remember, you are not alone. And when you choose to practice self-care of breathing, accepting, and being yourself, you will enjoy and connect with the moments of your day and people that come through your life. When you give this care to yourself, you can begin to give care to others.

Take time this holiday season to recognize YOU, instead of being weighed down by the hustle and bustle of everyone else’s agenda.

Blessings and Joy to you and & your family. Thank you for your support and following!

If you are new to Jenn Journey’s, there are two posts a month, one that highlight the mind-body, and a second that highlights easy, healthy recipes. Be sure to subscribe to stay in the loop!