Category Archives: Habit Building

Just Five More Minutes!

Show of hands, please.

Who is starting to feel a little scattered with projects and obligations?

Me! Me! Me!

Wow! That’s a lot of hands going up. Mine included!

It’s time for a little course correction in my neck of the woods, and I am thinking that we may all need a renewed commitment for a calmer approach – especially as the holidays are upon us.

I mean – Black Friday sales started before Halloween … My social and travel calendar is filling up past January, now, and new commitments are hard to make because of life events happening. We’re all there, I’m sure.

Are you feeling like you are on a slippery slope and the details and enjoyment of the present moment may just slip by as well? Life’s too short. I want to enjoy the ride.

Who’s in control, here?

We know the answer to that question. Each of us are.

Join me in stopping this high speed merry-go-round as we reevaluate our expectations.

Breathe

Take a minute – although two minutes is proven to show a complete reset to calming down – and simply breathe. In and out. Eyes closed. Listen to your breathing sounds. Notice the rise and fall of your chest and abdomen. Breathe. Lean into the calm of your breath.

Prioritize

Take a minute to prioritize what is important to you. At the end of the day – what truly matters?

Life/death issues would be at the top. Keeping a roof over our head and food on the table would be next – so, yes, work issues must happen – but even those need to be prioritized.

If you are juggling a list of twenty must-do items like I am, a time of zooming out to look at the big picture of our lives is needed to see what can be shuffled off to other helping hands or can be delayed.

Commit

What is the least we can do to keep a certain project moving forward today? Rather than ignoring something we want to do, how about maintaining a minimal daily involvement?

No time for a workout? How about taking that needed break with a walk around the block? Maybe a minute of planks? We don’t have to leave our priorities in the dust just because there is not a big block of time to devote to them.

Think small and reward yourself with a check mark for having done something. Those little check marks provide a great sense of accomplishment and momentum.

That’s it.

In five minutes, my disjointed feelings of floundering are now erased, and I am on a smoother and truer course forward. Check marks are being made.

As they used to say on the commercials to Mikey, “Try it! You’ll like it!”

In health –

Deidre

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Word Swap – Love Thyself!

We at foodtalk4you have always promoted improved health – one meal, one breath, one movement at a time.

Yep. There it is on our beautiful banner.

Lately, we’ve been hovering around the mental concepts of boosting our health. Maybe we could say mental/emotional/spiritual concepts.

But it’s all mental, really.

I used to think that our brain controlled everything, but have come to appreciate that the brain does not control things. We control the brain.

What the brain is allowed to send out, influences the outcomes we experience.

These past weeks, we explored a change in command as we recognize that – even if it’s totally new to us – we can purposefully say goodbye to the chains of the past so we can embrace the full potential of the present moment.

One goodbye release may not be enough; but over time, the more we can fully release our past hurts, disappointments, and traumas, the more we can feel that shift in power. We no longer allow the past to hold sway over our present.

This takes practice – along with the new belief that, “I am willing to change.”

Changing the habit of self-talk can take considerable mindfulness to recognize the subtleties of how ingrained our unsupportive and judgmental inner dialogue can be.

What’s the knee-jerk conversation you throw at yourself when you splash some coffee on the floor?

“You nimrod! What an idiot!”

Such a casual phrase, maybe meant to accept responsibility, is also heaped in judgement. Mess happens to all of us, dear readers. We all splash tumblers onto the floor, drop things, and stumble by simply tripping over our own feet – judgement is not needed. Maybe we need to be more careful, sure, but a stack of negative messages can grow over the course of time.

If our first thought is to be judgmental, we need to reflect on why we need judgment. Why do we think we deserve judgment? Because someone always judged us? That’s their message – an old message that we are giving life and power over us today.

Why don’t we forgive ourselves? Wouldn’t that be the kinder thing to do? Wouldn’t you like a little forgiveness?

As I dropped a jar of dill pickle relish on the floor a few days ago and watched half of its contents spatter all over the kitchen floor, I could have judged myself. Instead, there was a reminder to screw on the lid better next time and double check my efforts along with –

“Oops!”

“Man, I’m glad that wasn’t sweet pickle relish!”

“Hmmm, what’s the best way to clean this up?”

Do you groan and say you have to go to work … have to mow the grass …have to go to the store?

We need to do a word swap. Go from judgment to helpful. Go from negative to positive. Maybe just practice stating facts.

How about –

“I’m going to the store so we can have some yummy food to fix for dinner.”

“I choose to go to work so I can pay the rent.”

“I’m going to mow the grass before it rains.”

From the time we open our eyes in the morning until we close them at night, we are making choices. Practice using your power of choice as you actively guide your brain to set the tone of your day.

Be kind to yourself. Wouldn’t that feel good?

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In health –

Deidre

Change In Command

Last week, we opened the idea of releasing the shackles of the past, with the goal of freeing ourselves to live in the present moment.

As each of us does this release, there is a feeling of new-found POWER. We are lighter, freer.

Heady stuff if you are new to it.

It is not new, though. We had the power all along, we just chose to give that power to the past. But no regrets or bitterness about wasting our lives – remember, we are going forward.

What’s important to remember is that you are in control of your mind.

You choose what to think. Feelings and emotions are thoughts. You hold total control over your thoughts.

Old ways of thinking may whisper and whine that you can’t change how you think – changing is hard.

Change is different, not impossible. When the voices of self-doubt ring out, acknowledge them, and release them – they are not needed by you.

Use any adage you want – maybe, the longest journey starts with a single step – but moment by moment, day by day, with consistent effort you can change anything. Step toward the marvelous vistas that await you.

Just believe that you are open to change within yourself – even if you do not know how this will happen or what it may look like right now.

“I am willing to change.”

Write it down. Say it out loud. Whisper it in a prayer. Leave sticky notes. In a private moment sitting in the sunshine, open your arms to the skies and repeat,

“I am willing to change.”

Send positive messages to yourself every day. If your previous internal monologues have always been negative, such positivity may seem forced. It doesn’t matter. Shower yourself with love, praise, acceptance, and repeat your willingness to be open to change.

Life all around you will respond with the positivity you have sent out to the Universe.

We get what we send out.

Chose to be a victorious, positive individual – not a victim of past mistreatment.

Go within to learn of your unique strengths, talents, and desires.

You have the power and the answers to your needs right now. Your inner guidance will lead you to the right resources and the right answers – lean into the positive flow within you.

Until next time –

Release the past with a blessing.

Commit to being willing to change.

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In health –

Deidre

The First Step Forward

My healing Covid brain was as blank as the computer screen staring back at me.

New post? Meh.

After testing a rabbit hole about the veracity of the “man flu” theory – I was trying to rediscover an article from a few years back about how men may experience colds and flu differently than women – nothing jumped out at me as being particularly exciting.

The “man flu” thing was inconclusive. Apparently, women may get a stronger immune response at the onset of illness and more rapidly recover thanks to hormones. Estrogen seems to bolster immune response and testosterone dampens it. (menshealth.com, Dec. 12, 2017, Carolyn Crist)

No fireworks.

What does get me fired up is change.

We so often fight change at every turn, resisting new approaches, and relying upon the adage that personal change is impossible because, “That’s just the way I think/am/do” – “I can’t help it” – “I was brought up that way.”

What we cannot change is the past, and it’s the past that is often what’s holding us back from moving forward.

Traumatized? Abused? Lack of support?

We could all compile quite a list along with who was at fault. Perhaps we have memorized this list and revisit it every day, keeping the litany of past injuries and villains at the forefront of every thought.

Friends, we are robbing ourselves of living our present moment by holding on to the past.

Before we move forward, we must release the past.

“But he/she did me wrong!”

True enough.

How is reliving that trauma helping you now?

You can let it go. Yes, you can.

Our past has given us many lessons, required us to strengthen in ways we never imagined, and has equipped us to live in this moment – only if we allow ourselves to truly live and experience the new things.

The past must be released. Released with love and a blessing.

What?

“That stuff was bad … They were bad … There’s no love or blessing there!”

The love is for you. The blessing is for the strengthening lessons you learned along the way and for those who hurt you, that they may somehow come to know peace and move forward as well.

Do this:

Find an object you can wrap your fingers around. Cell phones and TV remotes work great; so do spoons, pens, or a marker.

Hold this object in your hand. Look at it. Get a good grip around it.

This object is symbolic of what you’re holding onto.

Hold it close to your chest because we tend to hold these things close to us, not wanting to let go.

Close your eyes and take a few slow breaths.

Thank this life lesson for what you have learned from it. It was traumatizing, yes, but you gained many life skills from this experience, and you are stronger for it.

Keep slow breathing as you consider the positive aspects gained from this trauma.

Ask yourself if you’d be willing to release this experience, letting go of the negative and those who were involved, while still retaining the positive for yourself.

If you agree to let it go – even if you don’t know exactly how you can do it – maybe you can just be willing at this point – then, as you open your eyes, bring your hand away from your chest.

Look at your grip loosen on the object. Bless once again the lessons learned and yourself, release the pain and those who caused it – blessing them as well.

Then, set the object down, releasing your hand’s connection to it.

Take another long, deep breath.

Maybe you are just going through the motions the first time you do this but keep at it each day. In time, your relationship with past traumas will shift.

My dog-eared, underlined copy of The Essential Louise Hay Collection continues to inspire. Next week, we’ll explore being willing to change.

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In health –

Deidre

A Change of Seasons

Just think – the whole world is experiencing a sense of sweet anticipation! Yes, both hemispheres are gearing up for a change of seasons.

The residents of the southern hemisphere are seeing glimpses of spring. Visions of gardens, flowers, and expected harvests are lightening their spirits and putting a spring into their steps.

Those of us on top of our beautiful globe are savoring hints of cooler morning temperatures, promises of fall leaves, and a switch in appetites to soups, stews, and all things pumpkin.

Funny, three weeks ago as August was just starting to hint of changes to come, I was clinging to the essences of summer like a child not wanting to leave an amusement park, clinging to my parents, and begging for one more ride.

This week, I’ve spent a small fortune at several garden centers, buying chrysanthemums, deep-toned coleus, and decorative gourds.

I’m all in! Color me fall!

But there’s been more change in my world than just the seasons.

The focus this week has been on stress-relief.

Until I got a handle on this emotional burden, I was getting nowhere in a hurry.

You know – unable to concentrate, focus, and on the verge of tears.

Blog posts that needed to be written, a book update to complete, and a new book launch to prepare. Nope. Not getting done.

Two friends. Gone. Same week.

We’re doing all we can do to support the families left behind and are supporting the respective local communities from which our friends have come.

But what about us?

What do we do to relieve our stress? Not just stress from grief, but any kind of stress that is building up in our lives and is causing us to be less than functional?

I learned today from positivepsychology.com, that there are two distinct approaches to stress relief.

Many of us just naturally do this – I certainly did this week – without knowing about labeling or various approaches, but it’s interesting to think about.

Sometimes, we just step away to take a breather, a break. We find ways to trade in those negative emotions for something stimulating, pleasant, and positive.

From a simple walk outdoors, a vigorous game of tennis, or baking a batch of Almond Flour Cookies using quinoa flakes instead of oatmeal. Wow!

Or we might seek an activity to restore our jangled nerves, bodies, and emotions as a deeper healing is sought.

Going to that long overdue massage might do the trick.

Perhaps we gather with others to exchange words of comfort and support.

Sometimes, we know it’s time to pause for self-care – taking time for a nourishing meal and restorative sleep.

How are you handling your stress? Think about a recent stress-filled time and reflect on your approaches.

Did you take a breather/break?

Did you seek something to restore you?

What activities worked for you? Did you use these coping strategies with others? Were you supportive of others in your shared ministrations? Did you feel supported?

As we envision our future stress-relieving needs, perhaps we can be reminded that there are various approaches to coping with stress that meet different needs.

Engaging in solo activities may not be comforting when a listening ear is what we need.

Consider your needs and honor them.

In health –

Deidre

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We at FoodTalk4You.com would like to send our sincere thoughts and prayers to the Royal Family, employees, and all those who are grieving the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

May she forever rest in peace.

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There’s a Fungus Among Us!

What’s your first memory related to anything looking like a mushroom?

For me, it would have to be my mom in a near panic saying, “Don’t touch that! It could be poison!” This was the message as my childish fingers reached for a toadstool.

Her messages did the trick – I never attempted to eat anything growing in the yard or anywhere else that looked like a mushroom – I stuck with cultivated, generic-looking mushrooms found on the grocery shelves of the local market, thank you.

News stories of so-called experts dying from eating what they foraged for in the forests have also kept me staying with what I could find in the store.

But mushrooms are entering the conversations of the health-conscious more and more.

While many enthusiasts are running to the supplement stores for mushroom powders and pills, I’m getting acquainted with a wider variety of mushrooms as food, because sauteed mushroom slices can add so much texture and flavor to any meal.

Shiitake Mushroom Cluster

After experimenting with using portobello caps as buns for hamburgers – ugh, I could never get those right…too juicy – I am learning about other options.

While recently enjoying the bounty of my daughter’s weekly CSA box, Community Supported Agriculture, we were treated to Lion’s Mane Mushrooms. Wow!

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Cool look. Cool name. Supposed to be good for brain health (Sign me up!). Exciting to prepare because it’s so different. Amazing taste.

After reading about medicinal mushrooms, “Medicinal Mushrooms: 7 Kinds and Their Unique Health Benefits,” which can be found at Real Mushrooms, I am determined to incorporate more varieties of cultivated mushrooms into my diet.

The humble button/white mushroom that most of us use can boost our Vitamin D2 intake!

Lion’s Mane Mushroom in the wild

It seems that when these little guys are grown in the sunlight, they absorb Vitamin D. If you do not know if they were grown in light or not, even after harvesting, they can absorb vitamin D when placed in the sunlight.

Who knew?

From now on, I’m going to expose my mushrooms to sunshine before using. How long, though?

Researching that question led me to fungi.com and their fascinating article: Place Mushrooms in Sunlight to Get Your Vitamin D — Fungi Perfecti.

We are aware of the critical need for Vitamin D supplementation partially due to the sunscreens we smear on and because of the ever-increasing time we spend indoors. Sources of Vitamin D are covered in THIS post (February 2021).

Next time you are getting a checkup, please ask your healthcare provider to check your Vitamin D level along with the other blood panels being ordered. Most of us need more Vitamin D and may not be aware of serious deficiencies, otherwise.

Back to the sunshine, vitamins, and mushrooms.

The fungi perfecti authors put both button mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms to the test. Using samples under natural sunlight and others under UBV lamps, the mushrooms absorbed lots of Vitamin D – and retained it up to a year after – even when completely dehydrated – when exposed to the UV light “bottom” sides up/gill side up.

Mushroom stems were poor absorbers of Vitamin D.

So how long to zap our store-bought whole or sliced mushrooms? Their experiment resulted in dried mushrooms in sunlight six hours a day for two days.

Meh.

Not going to happen here. Not looking for a dried mushroom. I’m thinking about an hour or two in the direct sunlight – if it does not significantly change the texture and if I can keep bugs off.

Since vitamin D supplements are not vegan – they are derived from oil extracted from sheep wool – UV activated mushrooms could be a game changer for vegans.

I hope your curiosity for an expanded foray into the world of mushrooms has been peaked – I mean, who wouldn’t love to slice into a Lion’s Mane mushroom, sauté it in some butter/olive oil with salt and pepper, and be amazed at the tasty results?

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In health and heading to my screened porch with a tray of mushrooms –

Deidre

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Off We Go – Into The Wild Blue Yonder!

I’ve been tuned into staying hydrated even more this summer than in the past. Why is that? Climate change? Getting older? 

True, younger bodies can withstand more abuse, and maybe younger people ignore the symptoms of dehydration.  

Whatever the case, ‘eating the rainbow’ to ensure proper electrolyte levels are maintained, has only partially mitigated foot and leg cramping issues at my house.  

If we are not properly and consistently hydrated, those attention-grabbing cramps will wake us up out of a sound sleep. 

Which leads me to this whole getting-dehydrated-and-suffering-from-jet-lag thing. After flying home on two, 5.5-hour flights heading East, this is foremost on my mind and body. 

Dehydration and jet lag share many of the same signs and symptoms: 

Fatigue and general malaise 

Being sleepy during the day 

Wacky sleep cycles 

Fuzzy/full feeling brain  

Headache 

Tummy issues: Gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea 

Decreased physical activity 

Our bodies need water for smooth functioning of the hormones involved with maintaining our internal clock/circadian rhythm.  

No wonder dehydration and jet lag go together. 

Did you know that the 12% humidity in an airplane is lower than the 25% humidity in the Sahara Desert?   

Coupled with the lower ambient air pressure of airplanes – which causes us to breathe more often to get in enough oxygen – we lose more moisture just breathing on a plane.  

A 1.5 – 2-liter loss of water is average for a 10-hour flight. This is happening even if you are drinking plenty of water.  

Dehydration is a real thing.  

Given that most people are mildly dehydrated most of the time while on the ground, and that we try to curtail drinking much fluid on planes because we don’t want to use those micro-lavatories, it’s easy to see why, even on shorter flights, we feel yucky after flying. 

Most of the food eaten onboard is devoid of water, as well: nuts, pretzels, and crispy cookies.  

What to do? 

After checking for advice from flightfud (they are selling water additives), Cleveland Clinic, John’s Hopkins, and Conde Nast Traveler, I can share these recommendations: 

Preflight: 

Make sure you start out well hydrated – at least 8 glasses of water a day or two in advance of departure – more if you are sweating. 

For Eastbound flights – go to bed earlier a few days prior 

For Westbound flights – stay up later 

In flight: 

Bring your own water bottle. Either fill an empty reusable after the TSA screening or buy a bottle. Consider adding electrolytes yourself or chose a brand with them. 

Sip, don’t guzzle, 8 ounces of water each hour on board, in addition to drinks, from inflight service.  

Limit or omit caffeinated beverages as they encourage water loss. This would mean most sodas and coffee. At the very least, limit to one serving per flight and drink an extra glass of water with it. 

Limit or omit alcoholic beverages. Again, at the very least, limit to one serving per flight and drink an extra glass of water along with it. 

Bring or choose high protein, low fat foods for the flight. Include consuming fruits and salads to increase fluid consumption. 

No apologies needed – you are drinking water and that means using the lavatories. This is good on several levels. Regular body movement decreases the risk of blood clots and stirring around every so often makes a happier passenger. 

Exercise every hour while you are seated. Knee lifts, flexing and extending feet to help stretch the calf muscles, and butt clenches all get the blood flowing to prevent clots. 

After flight: 

If you are arriving at your destination early in the morning, sleep as much as possible onboard: and then try to get through the day without napping and retire early. 

If you are arriving in the late evening, plan to go to bed shorty after arrival. 

A word about sleep aids.  

While some people could sleep on a meat hook, others of us have a much harder time sleeping on a plane. Noise canceling headphones and sleep masks could be a boon to getting in a few winks. 

Do not use prescription sleep aids without the advice of your doctor – especially if you do not know how you’ll respond to one.  

Most prescriptions are geared for 8 hours of sleep, which is probably longer than your flight. You do not want to be awakened in just a few hours and be required to negotiate getting off the plane and through the airport while impaired. 

Once you have arrived at your destination, continue to push fluids to stay hydrated and to facilitate recovery from time changes. 

Flying is a total body challenge, but there is plenty we can do to help the process. 

In health- 

Deidre 

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Life’s Just Peachy – With Rosemary!

As a respite to finalizing the details of my big move out of the old homestead of over forty years, I am putting the zoom techniques shared last week into practice.  

Being mindful of all that has been accomplished since January, and the decision to embrace the path of new horizons, my sweetheart and I zoomed out to see all of hurdles crossed so far. With one big push to the finish line to move my downsized possessions to storage, we will have only to wait for the new house to be finished.  

Looking at the final dash to the finish line in the next weeks, however, has me zooming in to cope. After establishing a timeline of tasks in my action plan, I felt the need to concentrate on a quick, enjoyable, small activity. 

What else, but bake some muffin bread to enjoy and to give away?  

As the fruit and vegetable offerings change with the season, I just wanted to share this tweak to an old favorite. 

We had picked up a small box of peaches at the farmer’s market, and I wanted to pair the peaches with the blueberries already in the muffin mix.  

A distant memory kept niggling my mind as I starred into the spice cupboard – – – what was that spice/herb that goes with peaches? Hmmm. 

Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Allspice? 

Presto! 

Rosemary

After crushing a couple pinches of rosemary into the mortar and pestle, the kitchen was fragrant.  

Yes, I was clearly onto something.  

Coupled with the scent of the two peaches I had just cut up and partially mashed, the resulting aromas were telling me good things were happening. 

The extra fluid from the cup or more of crushed peaches was absorbed by the addition of: 

3 Tbs. Honey 

3 – 4 Tbs. of freshly ground flax seeds  

1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes 

1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to my favorite gluten free blueberry muffin mix

The results are scrumptious. If anything, I might increase the rosemary.  

If you are not using the ground flax seeds, use some of the crushed peaches for part of the fluid requirement – in this case, they ask for 3/4 cup of milk. 

My mini loaf pans took 50 minutes to bake. Make sure to check for doneness by using a toothpick or bamboo skewer inserted into the center of the baked loaf. If the tester comes out with dough or crumbs that are too moist, bake a few minutes longer.  

After removing pans from the oven, let cool for two minutes and then tip bread out of the pans and finish cooling on a wire rack. 

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In health – Deidre

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Got Minerals?

Remember the old ad campaigns? 

Got milk?

Cute little chalky white milk mustaches as simple reminders to get another glass of milk?

The recent reminders given to me about certain minerals/electrolytes weren’t so cute.

Nope. 

Imagine an early morning leg and foot stretch that instantaneously morphs into a full blown muscle spasm sending toes in unnatural directions and creating balls of muscle knots in the calf – relieved only by getting out of bed to stand and tenderly walk around in the dark pre-dawn house.

Upon returning to bed my foot had sinister ideas about doing it again. Sigh. And again. Grrr.

I was taking an excellent magnesium supplement, Garden of Life, that was doing wonders for calming before bed – what was out of balance?  

I’ve touched on this topic before, but my application of knowledge was clearly faulty, or I hadn’t learned enough.

Back to the drawing board.

Muscle cramps are related to deficiencies in the following minerals/electrolytes: 

Potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium + water

Most of us know about athletes eating bananas before a big workout or prior to the BIG GAME. But there’s more to the picture than just bananas. 

Using this, Foods That May Help With Muscle Cramps, as a basis, I compiled a chart for your easy reference:      

____________________________________________________________________

Here’s a summary of what I’ve learned:

Abbreviations are Pot = potassium, Sod= Sodium, Cal= Calcium, Mag= magnesium

Bananas Pot Cal Mag

Sweet Potatoes Pot Cal-6x more than bananas Mag Water

Potatoes, pumpkins Pot Cal Mag Water

Avocado Pot- 2x more than sweet potatoes/bananas, 975 mg/whole avocado

Beans/lentils Mag + fiber

Melons Pot some Sod Cal Mag Water

Watermelons Pot Water – 92% by volume

Milk Pot Sod Cal+ protein Water

Pickle Juice Sod Water – may set off a nerve reaction that stops the cramps

Dark leafy greens Cal Mag

Orange Juice Pot, 500 mg/cup Cal Mag Water

Nuts/seeds Cal Mag- sunflower 37 mg/ounce, Almonds 2x more than sunflowers

Salmon Pot- 326 mg/3 oz. Sod- 52 mg/3 oz.

Tomatoes, tomato juice Pot Water

Coconut water Pot Sod Cal Mag Water+ NO sugar

Water Water

__________________________________________________________________________

Wouldn’t you know, the next night my evening snack was half of an avocado and there were no cramps in the wee hours.

Since then, I’ve been more diligent in adequate hydration augmented with electrolytes and in having two or three of these items from this list every day. 

We are designed for health. If there’s a problem, I’m always on the lookout for what I am doing wrong.

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In health with no more cramps-

Deidre

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Getting Grounded and Chasing May Rays

It’s always national something month or national something day. Going to nationaltoday.com can be such a hoot and might give us an excuse for an indulgence.

For instance, with next Tuesday’s posting deadline looming, and editor, Sheree, is starting to panic because this is Thursday, I have discovered that today is National May Ray Day. Who knew we would recognize the rays of sunshine lighting our lives with hopes of spring and an eye toward the summer?

Ahhh.

Or, that it’s the National Devil’s Food Cake Day as well? Many of us could really get behind that one.

Tomorrow is something I may have to honor: National Quiche Lorraine Day. Yes!

Today is also National Barber Mental Health Awareness Day – which is also recognizing that May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.

Talk about a hot topic in today’s world.

Clearly better mental health is something we should all be striving for in our lives. Any reminders and skills we can get to boost our personal approach to balancing, centering, or being grounded should be appreciated.

Case in point. Last night, I went to a presentation titled, Mental Health and Well Being, led by Sarah A. Patterson, D.Min., LCSW, from WakeMed. She pointed out that life changes – births, deaths, marriage, divorce, new job, moving, etc. – create emotional responses that are colored by our respective past experiences.

The research into resilience building I am doing for my next book in the Toolkit for Caregivers series, has taught me that emotions are just thoughts, and that we can learn to guide/direct/control our thoughts. If our emotional responses in the past have only created more anxiety for us, then it is possible to retrain ourselves to achieve better outcomes.

One difficulty we often face is our inability to calm down in stressful situations that are eliciting all kinds of anxiety. At foodtalk4you, we have explored techniques in box breathing, gratitude and blessings jars, forest bathing, naming our emotions, exercise, and journaling to help de-stress.

That tried-and-true method of slowly breathing and counting to ten may help somewhat if we are short on time, but I learned from Sarah last night that researchers have found it takes a full two minutes – or more – to really calm down and regulate our responses.

What to do in those magic 2 minutes?

Sarah showed us two new things I want to pass on to you: Guided Grounding and The Pretzel Move.

Guided Grounding is as easy as a 5-4-3-2-1 in focusing on each of our senses:

Find a quiet spot to leisurely survey what you are sensing as follows:

5 things you are seeing right now – colors, objects, textures, smiles, sunshine

4 things you are physically feeling/sensing – feet feeling the ground, pressure of chair on your back, the warmth or coolness of the environment, hair falling on your face

3 things you are hearing – voices, birds chirping, your breathing

2 things you are smelling – coffee brewing, fresh air

1 thing you are tasting – the lingering taste of your toothpaste

This survey of your senses helps to focus thinking and concentration on something other than the object of your anxiety triggers.

The Pretzel Move we did was a stationary hold of position; an active version for children can be found at healthymindstherapy.blog, “Pretzel Breathing Technique for Children,” which is complete with a child-led video. Here’s how we did The Pretzel last night:

Find a quiet spot to do the following – otherwise, you’ll have to explain why you look so funny

Sit with your ankles crossed

Hold your arms out straight in front of you, palms facing together

Turn your palms with thumbs down

Cross your dominant hand/arm over your nondominant hand/arm

Join your palms and lace your fingers

Bring your joined palms down and in toward your chest and up toward your chin

Hold for two minutes while you box breathe (count of 4 in, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4, repeat)

If you are unable to bring your crossed arms/palms into your chest and up, just keep your crossed arms extended in front of you.

You can see that both techniques are basically ruses to get your mind to concentrate on something other than its source of anxiety – but these simple methods are effective in bringing us back to center to be “grounded.”

Sarah reported that she’s seen this Pretzel technique stop an anxiety attack quickly.

If the source of your anxiety or your response to it is too overwhelming, there is still help for you. Sarah shared with us that psychologytoday.com can be used to find resources in your own community based upon the specific needs you may have such as symptoms, diagnosis, availability of health insurance or not, transportation, and more. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

Being healthy physically, spiritually, and mentally does not mean we accomplish it alone. On the contrary – when we break a bone, we don’t think twice about getting medical help – when our minds are challenged beyond our capabilities to treat, we should think nothing about seeking outside help.

We continue to gather tools to help ourselves as in these grounding techniques shared here but being proactive about our mental health also includes seeking help from others.

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In health-

Deidre

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