Seems as though our bright, hopeful, shiny new year has
been put on pause. If it were a computer, we’d unplug it for ten seconds and try
again.
Just press the reset button, please!
Friends around the world have already been caught up
in this novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and have been touched by the suffering.
Whether physical, mental, emotional, or financial – the burden, inconvenience, and
sorrow are all going to be felt for a protracted period of time worldwide.
In my town, we were just getting back on our feet from
a devastating hurricane two years ago. In other areas around the globe, wounds
are still fresh from fierce fires, floods, or devastating tornadoes.
As the virus creeps across America and starts to
threaten us close to home, we are seeing the value of laying low and sheltering
in place.
Work from home. Learn online. No more events that draw
crowds. Just this weekend, at least five of my activities were cancelled until
further notice.
We are a mobile society. We go and do all the time.
If possible, we are being asked to avoid crowds and to
stay home. I totally applaud this approach as it is the only way we can be proactive
– to get ahead of the eight ball – rather than waiting to react after
it is too late.
How this laying low is going to further disrupt
families with children and parents who still must work away from home is
mind-boggling.
If we must press this RESET button then, let’s embrace
it.
Are there neighbors who need help with childcare? Is
your elderly neighbor lonely, isolated, and in need of food?
If we each take care of our own little spot, then we
can all move forward in a better, healthier, and unified way.
Personally, how are you resetting yourself?
I’m feeling such a calmness, as even enjoyable obligations are being released. This
is a time of just being … and it can be refreshing.
Meditate, read, talk to others at home more, call
friends and relatives, or putter in the garden.
This is my chance to declutter my environment – this
is the “round tuit” I’ve been looking for. I’m “getting around to (doing) it” now.
Pull out clothes I no longer wear; organize some drawers; get rid of outdated
magazines, and anything else that might lighten my visual load at home.
As it is a holy season for two faith communities, I am
reminded of the image of the first Passover when the faithful were hunkered
down at home waiting for the plague of death to pass over their homes during
the night.
Our season of staying home, being watchful and careful
and praying for this virus to pass by us, will last longer than one night.
Being smart in our activities – mindfully following
guidelines, helping those around us, and keeping calm are tasks we all can
master – together.
We can press this RESET button in unison-
Deidre
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“Gotta start exercising.” “Gotta get the garage organized.” “Gotta begin
looking for a better job.”
You know the answer to all such predicaments and
procrastinations? Begin by starting.
Stop talking/thinking/ruminating. Instead,
use that energy to start – now. Even a small start is … a start and way ahead
of where you were when you were simply ruminating.
Things keep popping up that need doing or need our
attention. You finally get that garage cleaned out and then the bushes need
trimming. Time to organize a garden. Closet contents are spilling onto the
floor.
Then there are the things we’ve let go by the wayside
that should have received our due diligence on a regular basis. My beloved
plank exercises … where have they gone? That mushy mid-section needs to get
ready for something more stylish than a tent top. What kind of healthy
life-style promoter am I?
I know the answer. It involves one minute. Who does
not have one minute to give? That’s how I did it before. One minute. My
commitment would be one minute until I wanted to do any more. Oh, and my first
cup of coffee in the morning is held hostage until my “one-minute routine” is
completed!
That’s when I got a friend to be a plank buddy. We text
each other a thumbs up every morning when we have done – at least – one minute
of planks.
Funny thing is, we’re texting two thumbs up symbols.
What happened? Well, when you conquer a little, are showing consistent effort, feel
good about yourself, and are encouraging a buddy, then you just want to do
more! One minute painlessly morphed into two. (Secretly…my goal is even more!
Shhh!)
First, half-planks had to be reintroduced. After all,
it had been over a year since I had done one, and my buddy had not done them at
all. We started with 15 seconds and worked up to a full minute of half-plank.
Those are done with feet/knees, and elbow/lower arms resting on the ground.
When you do a full minute, text your buddy with a simple thumbs up.
Once half-planks were conquered, we started our
“minute commitment” with 15 seconds of a full plank followed by a full minute
of a – now easy – half planks. Gradually, the full plank time increases to a
minute; still followed by a full minute half-plank. That’s when you can proudly
text two thumbs up!
Since I am doing two minutes of each, I am now
starting my little routine with 15 seconds of straight arm plank. You know the
drill … I’m shooting for three thumbs up!
I find that planks are the most effective way for me
to reconnect with my belly. When doing the half-planks, I feel my lower belly
working. Full planks from elbows addresses the full core. Full planks from straight
arms adds arm and shoulder involvement.
You know what a straight arm plank looks like? You got
it. The starting position for a push up. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll find another minute …
and if that’s too hard … there are bent knee push-ups.
Point being – sometimes we must start from scratch –
again. I don’t mind. This is fun with a buddy. Certainly, a minute (or five) of
morning exercise does not supplant going to my aerobics class, but it is a
little something I am doing EVERY day … sometimes twice a day. As I told my
plank buddy, “This is war!”
Yes! You see, not only are my pretty spring dresses going
to need to be worn soon, but there’s a wedding coming up in September that I
want to look good for! I get to see my daughter walk down the garden isle in
Hawaii! Woohoo!
Okay – I’m off to do another round of planks. Can’t
wait to send my buddy – two more thumbs up!
In health –
Deidre
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If the “t “in front of the “z” bothers your tongue, go for “zaaahhht.”
Say “zaht” a few times. Easy.
Then practice the “zeeekeee.”
Put the two parts together and repeat several times.
As you practice putting the first part – which ends
with that troublesome “t” – with the second part, you’ll get the hang of the
“tz” combination.
Add the opening “t” and you’ll be walking through the house proclaiming: “Tzatziki!”
Your kids may question your sanity, but they won’t
question how delicious and versatile this sauce is. With three main ingredients
– cucumber, garlic, and Greek yogurt – it’s a cinch to make.
The basic recipe can easily be halved or doubled, can
be tweaked for, more or less, garlic taste, and can be made with mint or dill
to add a wonderful top note of flavor interest.
But where do you use Tzatziki Sauce?
As a dip with pita, chips, or veggies. As a mouth
coolant to spicy dishes – add a dollop on top of the food or at the side of the
dish to dip forkfuls into. As a flavor companion to salmon, lamb, pork, beef,
chicken. That’s just about everything.
I especially appreciate the adaptability of recipe
size. When buying an English cucumber, I’m often not dutiful enough to eat it
every night and some gets wasted after a while.
Cooking for one has its drawbacks.
But, using half the cucumber for a few salads, and the
other half to make just over a cupful of Tzatziki sauce, and I’m happy.
You will find you can adapt this to your personal and
family palate preferences by tweaking quantities and flavor additions.
Without further delay, I present Tzatziki Sauce 101.
TZATZIKI SAUCE
Basic ingredients
1 English cucumber – at least partially peeled and
grated or very finely chopped – put grated/chopped cucumber in a sieve to drain
and squeeze with towel or paper towels to remove excess fluids
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups Greek yogurt – if you desire an even thicker
sauce, let the yogurt strain through a sieve or cheese cloth over a bowl
overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Finishing touch ingredients that may vary
Dill weed to taste – fresh or dried
Fresh mint, chopped
Pepper to taste – white pepper would be optimal
1 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice
A note on ingredients: When I’ve been around those who
made this at home, myself included, no olive oil or lemon juice have been used
– just vinegar. I’ve only used a liberal amount of dried dill – but after
looking at many recipes, the mint leaves may be an interesting addition – depending
upon the purpose.
Method
Nothing much to do except stir together the squeezed
out grated/very finely chopped cucumber, minced garlic, and yogurt. Add the
vinegar, pepper and dill weed; stir to combine.
Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before using
to allow flavors to meld.
Some recipes call for using a food processor; that
would eliminate the fine texture of the sauce, but may make it more dippable.
Whatever you do, you will end up settling on a texture
level, garlicky level, and dill level that suits your tastes and needs.
Three main ingredients with countless uses. What could
be better?
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I enjoy passing along worthwhile things to you and this one
is a gem! This has been going around since the late 1990s, but a good thought
is a good thought, and there’s no time limit on good thoughts.
So, here it is, my gift to you – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each
morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening
the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.
What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning,
it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever
of this you have failed to invest to good purposes. It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it
burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits – the loss
is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow.”
You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it to get from it the
utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running. Make the most
of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a
grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave
birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly
newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are
waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed
the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask the person who just
avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILISECOND, ask the person who
won a silver medal in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more
because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery that may never
arrive. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the PRESENT!
In health and love-
Deidre
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To fill the “one bite at a time promise” for this post, I
was going share a recipe or a cooking tip, but on the way…
Grief struck. Abject sadness. Tears. Quiet sobs.
It will be two years this May since I bid my husband goodbye,
until we would meet again.
Grief never ends, and it rears its sad, sometimes choking,
presence at unexpected times.
It was a beautiful day. I happily cooked breakfast for my grandkids
whom I watched that week. I had slept well enough – although there was a
dream about my husband’s last moments – but I’ve had those before with no
discernable aftereffects.
Surely, this episode of overt grief will pass; it usually
always does – but there was a different quality to this – something … sadder … deeper.
Thoughts of sharing recipes are replaced with the need to
breathe and not break into tears with full-blown sobbing in front of
grandchildren before they leave for school.
Get out.
Pull myself together.
Walk the dog.
Get into the car and drive somewhere in this unfamiliar town
I’m visiting.
Be pro-active.
Help myself.
“Yes, Ma’am!”
So, I dutifully checked off all the things that had helped
in the past, and by the time I got home, I was much the same …
This was new grief territory for me. Have you experienced
something like this? Just when you think you have that “grief thing” pretty
well-experienced, some new reaction pops up to blind-side you?
I moved on to reach out to a friend who provided the phone
support I needed, but still …
Taking the smallest measurable amount of a prescription
nerve pill helped get me across the line from lingering deep sadness to genuinely
okay. Taking any medication is a last resort for me and many of my readers.
Knowing how to self-reboot is important. Notice that
rebooting went through several stages. Did I feel like leaving
the house – walking the dog – driving to a store?
Absolutely not.
I felt like diving under my weighted blanket for the rest of
the day.
But take the necessary steps I did. Don’t wait until you feel
like helping yourself. That might not happen.
“Oh, you’re sad! Take an anti-depressant … take a nerve
pill.”
We must be careful. Being sad is a normal part of life – the
ebb and flow of normal human experience. Knowing when some extra help is needed
is crucial for the balance we all hope to find.
Self-awareness will guide us to know when extra help is needed. For the grief process, a national group called Grief Share holds meetings across America. Our local chapter is even expanding its group sharing opportunities to meet the needs of the growing number of people dealing with grief.
Perhaps you may be having too many of those days with a
black hole of grief that cripples your participation in the world. Just one
day was more than I ever want to have.
Join me into looking for a Grief Share meeting nearby and
making the time in what may be a jam-packed schedule to put your needs first.
We’ll share recipes next time. I’ve got a meeting to go to.
In health-
Deidre
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At my home, I answer only to myself. Sneezes are caused by
the pollen of spring or the dust bunnies born of my own housekeeping neglect. Leaving
home is never a bother – pack and go – no concerns except providing for withering
houseplants.
At my daughter’s, I am blessed with grand-cats. Feline
independence can be charming. Watching this sister-pair explore and tame their world
is both, a relaxing and amusing pastime. One quick to purr, and one who is a
great gecko chaser. These two send my daughter off to work from the driveway
and manage to frequently greet her from the doorstep at day’s end.
At my son’s, I am blessed with a grand-dog, and her,
frequently-visiting, litter-mate from across the street. Blurs of fur streaking
through the house in total glee of brother and sister antics fill our eyes. Two
shades of Golden Doodle delight. All gentleness and ever-present love.
Sneezing is high on the list today as my grandkids and I had
to wage war on fur balls and the resulting dust gathering in them. So much
sneezing! Ahhh-choo! Amazing how these hypo-allergenic dogs still shed enough
to alter air quality.
But all’s good now.
Who would mind a little extra effort if it afforded a daily
gaze into eyes filled with love and adoration – to that wagging tail signaling delight
at seeing you – to that softness of fur as you stroke and pat a creature that
accepts you just as you are? Or to that purring we interpret as total contentment
in our arms?
While it’s nice to not have to worry about what to do with a
beloved pet when I exit the house or leave for a trip, there is something I’m
missing by being animal-free. But there’s one lesson I’m definitely taking home
with me as I leave my furry grand-dog.
Our four-legged friends are the perfect example of how to
live in the present.
Granted, their realms of responsibilities are not the same
as ours. While we may stress about earning enough money to afford their kibble,
they’re only anxiety is getting their bowl filled if we neglect their exact mealtime.
Overall, our precious, furry friends seem to be models of
living in the present.
Wisely, this is the only thing anyone or anything can affect.
Make this moment the best and enjoy it!
Be your best self – right now.
In health-
Deidre
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It’s going to be great to see reminders of 2020 blessings
when I sit down for the New Year’s Eve Blessings Review less than twelve months
from now.
Are you dropping slips of paper into your Blessings Jar for 2020 yet? See the post about that HERE.
Lacking a Blessings Jar to review 2019 activities, I
decided to scroll through Fooktalk4you posts from this previous year.
As a result, I can share this past Year in Review:
The Purely Positive
We hit an all-time high last year! Twenty-six posts!
That makes an average of one post every other week! The results of major
life-changing events smoothed out to allow for a more consistent effort on my
part.
Readership for Foodtalk4you is up. We started a
welcome package for all new subscribers, and a thank you gift to all, including
our first, original followers.
My business site, DeidreEdwards.com, was launched as a central location for information about Foodtalk4you, my books, and seminars.
Two additional books were published – under one cover –
as Toolkit for Caregivers. Readers are finding the tips, skills,
and ideas to be just what they need as they traverse the often-troubled waters
of being a caregiver to a loved one.
Agencies and resources were contacted that could help
spread the word about Caregiver Workshops to those who need it. Very soon, a presentation was given to a group
of Stephen Ministers to help give them insight into caregiver’s emotional
concerns and how they might help them address those needs.
My first live TV interview was a success! You can see that HERE.
The 2019 Holiday Gift Show booth proved to be a hit,
and I was so pleased at least half of my book sales were as gifts to friends,
neighbors, or family. I’m so happy to share my experiences and knowledge with caregivers,
and those who seek a healthier lifestyle, and all I had to do is look around me.
Several Caregiver Workshops have been booked for the
first quarter of the new year. Sheree, my editor, worked on making an awesome
PowerPoint to go along with my presentation.
What Needs Tending and Tweaking
This is where I start to use my Word of the Year – POLISH.
Always wanting to improve for my Foodtalk4you readers, I will strive for weekly posts of a more consistent length.
That polishing elbow grease will be liberally applied
to book marketing, which has been my weakness. Writing books is not a problem
for me, but mastering the marketing they need in order get into reader’s hands
has been lacking. I may even seek an agent and a publishing house.
One of the priorities for my Caregiver Workshops is to
get into area community colleges, which is already in the works! That could
mean continuing education points for students and attendees. My first
out-of-state goal will be to hold workshops where I often travel.
Saturating my local market with information about
Caregiver Workshops will require consistent outreach, public appearances, and
expanding media formats. I’m going to attend a local workshop about marketing
and media to learn how to do it.
Onward and upward!
Personal Insights from 2019
I accomplished a fair amount of reaching others by
sharing ideas with them, but I have just scratched the surface. Clearly the
next steps of “Polishing” will help fulfill the destiny that last year’s projects
deserve.
Stepping up to the plate with my best effort daily is
what is needed.
I feel ready for the job.
______
To register for a Caregiver Workshop to be held at Craven Community College in New Bern, North Carolina, go to this LINK.
There are three workshop dates currently on the books with different selections to meet the needs of caregivers’ schedules. College students can even earn .25 CEUs for attending.
Not relating to the country, but the verb and the
resulting noun.
Polish something to make it gleaming. Note the fine
polish.
The 2020 Word of the Year just floated into my mind
sometime during the scurry and flurry of activities in December.
I put several irons to the fire in 2019 to “REACH others by sharing ideas with them.”
My focus this year is to POLISH each activity with
care to reveal its deserved luster and outreach.
There is focused and intense work in polishing
something. Consistent effort, pressure, polishing cloth and compound – all
judiciously applied to make an object gleam – or make a project fulfill its
destiny.
This is easily guiding my actions from timely home
renovations; using my talents in the best way to maximize benefits for others;
business marketing and even tidying up.
Just getting something done or out there is not
enough. Am I polishing my efforts to get the best results? There may be changes
– oh, dear! That dreaded word.
It’s okay if the change makes things better … more polished
… the best version of itself.
Has your new personal Word of the Year come
floating into your consciousness?
Write it down.
A post-it note will do – or something more elaborate
to put in a prominent location as a beautiful reminder of your year’s intent.
A Word of the Year approach has far surpassed
the fruitless exercise of New Year’s resolutions for me.
Try it.
Let one thought pervade all your activities this year –
you’ll note great results because it’s a mindful approach to tweaking some
aspects of your life.
No deadline – just a gentle leaning in and a refocus
each day.
That’s the first idea.
The second one is going to become a new tradition for
me that I hope sparks your imagination, as well.
We’ve all heard of gratitude journals. Do you write
down something each night that brought gratitude to your heart that day? It’s
been cited as being a practice that promotes a more positive frame of mind.
It’s just that I have so many journals around, I did
not want another – and my bedside table does not need one more book on it.
If you can relate, perhaps the approach a
dear friend just shared with me may inspire you as well!
As a cancer survivor, my friend participates in a Live
Strong support group of fellow survivors. One of them shared the idea of a “good
things” or “blessings” jar with her. As with any good idea, I am passing it on
to you, my readers.
A new year lays out before us. Good and bad will
happen. How about noting the good things each week – or more often – collect
them in a jar, and review the blessings each New Year’s Eve?
Now residing in my kitchen is a jar equipped with a
pen and baggy of blank blocks of paper ready to have the good things noted and
deposited inside. See how I’ve set up my new habit in a way that will ensure
success? No searching for a pen or a piece of paper. All set.
There are already several entries! The first was
reconnecting with my dear friend on the phone to start the new year!
Take a picture of your jar, or Word of the Year
picture/post-it note, and send it to me at foodtalk4you@gmail.com.
I’ll share it on FoodTalk4You!
Wishing each of my readers much peace, love, natural health, and renewed focus on the positive in all you do in 2020!
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A little extra tired, maybe, from over-obligating
myself, I was awakened around 4 am for the usual trip to the bathroom.
No big deal.
But something was off. Once in the bathroom, my hands
started to tingle as if I had been hyperventilating. Hmmm. Better breathe into
my cupped hands. But I was not hyperventilating.
The tingling spreads all over my body, and – was that
sweat on my brow?
Okay. This is not going down well. I was starting not
feel good. No. I was beginning to feel very bad.
Was this going to turn into diarrhea, or did I need to
throw up? Any self-care plan would require movement on my part, and that
somehow did not seem an option. My body had become weighed down by some
invisible, mighty source of gravitational pull.
Was I going to pass out? I leaned my body away from the cast iron tub, just in case.
Summoning an energy I wasn’t aware I had at the moment,
I pulled my long hair back into a ponytail away from my sopping wet scalp. My
trembling body was, within a few moments, drenched in sweat.
Shake hands with the flu.
I am so thankful I had gotten my annual flu shot in
September. Because of that protection, I did not become a statistic. The third
death from the flu in North Carolina was reported that very week.
Fortunately for me, I was able to exit the bathroom
without anything else happening, and I safely tucked my ailing carcass back
into bed as I listened to strange gurgles rise from my tummy. Next morning, I
felt a little beat up and just took things easy.
Flu is not an inconvenience. Flu knocks you down
suddenly – and it can kill!
It’s not too late to get protected from the flu.
‘Nuff said.
On to the holidays.!
Being an avoider of intense sweets and gluten is
problematic this time of year. During a recent group trip to Williamsburg with my
church, I threw caution to the wind during the catered dinners.
I know, I know. I literally wrote the book on this – Toolkit for Wellness – but since I was gluten-free by choice and not by condition, I thought I could ‘cheat’ a bit if I did not get a bad belly.
No bad belly. Yay.
Oh, wait. A few days later, my joints were talking to
me like I was suddenly a very old lady. What?
Well. The resulting inflammation, for me, came through
the musculoskeletal system.
So, it was time to get right with my body, and it did
not take long for the aches and pains to go away. Lesson learned … again. Everything
is a choice.
But those of us not wanting sticky-sweet and gluten-y
desserts do not have to be relegated to the veggie tray for celebration food. There
are options.
How about a crustless apple pie with streusel topping?
Satisfies without going over the top. Check this recipe out that I created
on-the-fly last week:
CRUST-LESS APPLE PIE WITH STREUSEL TOPPING
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Into a large bowl place:
4 large apples, peeled, quartered, cored, and sliced
horizontally. My apples were not baking ones, per se: Honey Crisp, Gala, and
maybe another new flavor also just labeled Crisp.
4 Tbs. arrowroot powder
Brown sugar- sorry about lack of measurements, I just shook
some over the apples; probably ¾ cup or less
Apple pie spice to taste
Stir and toss the apples around to evenly coat with
dry ingredients.
Add some leftover cranberry sauce – maybe 1/2 to 2/3
cup – (Recipe for cranberry sauce to follow)
Mix apples and the cranberry sauce well and pour into
a greased baking dish – mine was 12 x 8 inches.
In a medium sauté pan on medium heat place:
About one cup chopped nuts – I used walnuts and pecans
½ stick butter
About one cup gluten-free oatmeal, and
¼ – ½ cup brown sugar.
Stir to combine and to brown slowly. When warm and
brown, distribute over the top of the apple mixture. Bake at 350 degree about
40 minutes or until evenly browned. I put foil over the top for the last ten
minutes so the edges would not burn.
Serve warm or cold with a dollop of Plain Greek Yogurt.
It’s great reheated.
In case you have missed previous postings of my
cranberry sauce, here’s what I do that is well received every time I prepare
it.
CRANBERRY SAUCE PLUS
Instructions
Into a soup pot place:
2 small bags of cranberries
One navel orange, rind at each end discarded. Quarter
orange and thinly slice
2 fresh pears – peeled, quartered, cored, and diced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Start cooking on medium heat. Then in a small saucepan place:
One container of fresh raspberries, rinsed
1-2 Tbs. water
1 Tbs. sugar
Gently cook berries on medium heat while stirring.
This does not take but a few minutes. When berries start breaking down, place a
large mesh strainer over the cooking cranberries, and pour raspberries and
juices into strainer, draining into cooking cranberries.
Using a flexible bowl scraper, mash the berries
through the strainer. Scrape the berry essence off the back of the strainer and
put into the cranberries. This takes a bit of mashing, scraping, mashing,
scraping. You will have a mass of seeds and just a little bit of berries left
in the strainer which you will discard.
The effort to create the raspberry essence is worth
it. The essence adds that certain something to the sauce … all without pesky
raspberry seeds.
Stir the cranberry sauce mixture occasionally, helping
to pop cranberries on the side of the pot. Gradually reduce heat as the sauce
thickens and bubbles more intently. When berries are all popped and things look
‘just right,’ your work is done.
Transfer to serving bowls and/or storage containers to
cool. This sauce keeps quite well and can serve as a not-so-sweet spread on
toast or in a turkey sandwich.
The edgy tartness of the cranberries is countered by
the gentle blunting of the pear and raspberry flavors. The orange slices with
rind seem to candy in the juices. Folks who are not partial to cranberry sauce
really like this one.
So, you better watch out – get those flu shots, and enjoy some excellent Cranberry Sauce and Crust-less Apple Pie!
Book sales for Toolkit for Caregivers is trending as gifts for family, friends, and neighbors who are facing caregiving or are in a time of caregiving. There could be no more thoughtful gift to give such a person. They don’t need a plate of cookies – they need help.
A recent customer had tears in her eyes as she described her gratitude for her Toolkit for Caregivers gift. Her husband’s Alzheimer’s Disease is worsening and reading her book and implementing the suggestions – especially for the business side and for self-care – has meant the world to her.
Have you noticed? Christmas pretty much officially starts at Halloween. In so many directions, my holiday season always starts early. Singing in three choirs means, all holiday music practice starts in October. Working with the flower committee at church, means we’re gearing up for Advent decorating even before Thanksgiving arrives – especially this year with Advent starting the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was buying a Christmas tree a couple weeks ago to decorate my booth at a Holiday Home and Gift Show.
Point being – it’s almost 2020 and it will be time to soul-search for another Word of the Year.
How are you doing with yours? Have you made it happen? Has your word guided you?
While my overall goals are not changing, my Word of the Year: REACH has spurred me on to keep striving to, “Reach others by sharing ideas with them.”
To that end, a variety of blog posts have been written – a double book published – book signings have happened – my first-ever booth at a show set up and used to spread the word about Toolkit for Caregivers and Toolkit for Wellness – Caregiver Workshops have been booked at the local community college – and today I had my first live interview on TV.
Just being inside WCTI-12 ABC and Fox Eastern Carolina studios, was a thrill. Lauren Arnott and all the staff were so kind and helpful. While, there’s much to learn about being on TV – looking into the camera more being one of them – I’m pleased with the results.
Check it out here:
Whatever your goal, taking consistent tiny steps toward it will add up. The same way we read a book – one word and one page at a time – we can reach our goals.
Speaking of tiny steps. Walking is the best exercise – ever!
After just returning from a tour of Williamsburg and the surrounding historical areas, I have a new body! Really. Nothing I do in aerobics classes has ever left me feeling so trim and tight. We simply walked all over the place – lots and lots! My Fit Bit wearing co-travelers had no trouble racking up their 10K steps.
What this means is, I’m putting on my winter jacket and going for a walk!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone. Did you know, the first original English Thanksgiving ever was not by the Pilgrims. One year prior to Plymouth Rock activities, settlers landed at what became the Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, and they carried out the commandment of the King by dropping to their knees to say a prayer of thanksgiving for their safe passage to the New World.
Winner of last weekend’s caregiver package!
If you are looking for a gift of “hope and help,” a copy of Toolkit for Wellness could help someone start the New Year off right, and a copy of Toolkit for Caregivers could give a friend, family member, or yourself with a lifeline of solid information.
