Blogging for good health!, Holiday Celebrations

Stop and Take Comfort in the Light of the Season

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So, I paused while deep in the holiday cookie baking marathon to just absorb the message of the candle flame burning on my countertop.

Gazing to look at a flame dancing and glowing will melt away so much tension.

For safety reasons, all my decorative candles are battery operated, but there is always a real wax candle ready to burn and enjoy in a safe spot, so I can calm and ground myself.

Wanting to expand on this theme of a calming flame and our natural attraction to and need for light, I have unabashedly used ChatGPT to assemble a brief list of worldwide celebrations centered upon light:

🌟 Holidays & Festivals of Light (Worldwide)

Diwali (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, global Hindu communities)Festival of Lights — triumph of light over darkness.

Hanukkah (Jewish communities worldwide)Festival of Lights — miracle of the menorah.

Christmas (Worldwide)Light symbolizing hope, guidance, and renewal.

St. Lucia Day (Sweden, Scandinavia)Celebrates light during the darkest days of winter.

Loy Krathong / Yi Peng Lantern Festival (Thailand)Floating lanterns and lights honoring renewal and gratitude.

Vesak (Buddha Day) (Asia, worldwide)Temples illuminated to honor enlightenment.

Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie) (China, East Asia)Lanterns mark the end of Lunar New Year celebrations.

Kwanzaa (African diaspora)The Kinara candle-lighting ceremony symbolizes principles of unity and purpose.

Fête des Lumières (France – Lyon)Citywide celebration using artistic light displays.

Inti Raymi (Peru, Andes region)Festival honoring the Sun god, celebrating solar light.

Nowruz (Iran, Central Asia, global Persian communities)Fire and light rituals symbolizing rebirth and renewal.

Obon Lantern Festivals (Japan) Lanterns guide ancestral spirits.

Mid-Autumn Festival (China, East Asia)Moonlight symbolizing unity and reflection.

More than any other time in my life, I am sensing a radical increase in darkness in the world, and the sense of being overwhelmed by it grows by the day.

For so many of us, may we first absorb the message of the single flame this holiday season:

How a single flame can brighten a dark space

How taking a few minutes of contemplative gazing at a candle’s flame can transform how we feel inside

How we can take that calm and gentleness in our hearts to be kinder to ourselves and others

How we can share that light to lift others

How other people are naturally pulled to the light with their own light

How a group of people with lights can light up the world!

So, in the fray, first keep a candle handy in a safe spot to get yourself centered and calm, and then take its message with you back into the world.

In light, peace, health, and calm –

Deidre

Thank you, dear readers, for all your feedback and praise for our posts this year! It is thrilling to hear how our messages have helped and inspired you!

Coming soon – more techniques, recipes, thoughts and movements as foodtalk4you.com heads into 2026!

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GREETINGS FROM SHEREE: Merry Christmas everyone! I have so much to be thankful for this year. One of the most important things is the fact I’m still here – more than many can say. Only one reason why, Jesus!

So, this Christmas, I’d like to give thanks to Him for sparing me – and allowing me to be with my family for one more memorable Christmas Season.

Heaven’s Song

Beneath the midnight sky so still, on Bethlehem’s quiet hill

A chorus rose – so pure, so strong, the angels filled the night with song

“Glory to God,” their voices rang. As heaven’s hosts in wonder sang

The King had come the world to save, to light the darkness, free the slave

Their melody swept through the air. A holy sound beyond compare

Shepherds in awe, their hearts took flight

Led by the song, they found the light

This Christmas may that song resound, in every heart where grace is found

For heaven’s joy still sings on earth, a timeless hymn of Jesus’ birth

God bless us, everyone.

Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, Holiday Celebrations, Stress Reduction

Throwing Sparkles in the Winter Snow

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A little sparkle here on that cookie.

A little sparkle there on that tree.

Holiday bling on earlobes, around necks, and attire.

We immerse ourselves in making so much feel, and look, extra special this time of year.

Is the doing of all this sparkle taking away from sitting back and enjoying it all?

So many of us say, “This year, it’s going to be different.”

But – is it ever?

Sigh.

We had a moment the other night, though, when after leisurely experiencing the sights and sounds in a local park with a large group of dear neighbor friends, we scattered in search of dinner.

Nine of us scored a large round table at a nearby eatery; and as I looked around, I was overwhelmed with a profound sense of gratitude for all the history, love, and special connections we had shared since our moving into this brand new community four years ago.

Now – those were some moments that went beyond sparkle and morphed into a deep soul-satisfying GLOW!

So, today’s short message is to enjoy the sparkle, and go for the GLOW!

In health –
Deidre

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Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, Stress Reduction

Come In, Sit Down, and Let’s Have a Cuppa!

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My first experience with coffee happened when I was three or four years old.

Toddling around the house, I would happen upon a long forgotten cup of stone-cold coffee dregs my parents had left behind.

Just a sip or two was left.

Thinking I was doing something tantalizingly decadent, I would rescue those last sips! Tee-hee!

Eventually, I became a ‘legal’ drinker of coffee.

Fast forward to our post on 6 Sept 2022, where I shared about reading a comprehensive article concerning medicinal mushrooms – I’ve been on the lookout for ways to incorporate more varieties of cultivated mushrooms into my diet.

Wait! Weren’t we just talking about coffee?

Yes!

For years, I have been seeing all kinds of ads and articles about mushroom coffees that promises nerve calming benefits – coupled with mental clarity and no coffee jitters.

Earlier this year, I followed an article about mushroom coffee comparisons and roamed on the internet in search of the perfect purchase.

I went to the sites of several brands and was immediately turned off by “starter packages” linked to initial purchases that would automatically renew.

I just wanted to try their stuff. If I didn’t like it, I would have had to cancel a subscription. No thank you.

Finally, I found a brand that seemed to check all the boxes and wasn’t asking me to make a life commitment.

I tried it. I liked it. It was not hard to find them to reorder. Take that purveyors of subscriptions!

So, I am using Cuppa brand mushroom coffee. I am not saying this will be good for you and, I am not affiliated with Cuppa. We just use it to replace that second cup of coffee when we want more to drink.

Many people use Cuppa for all their coffee drinking.

Cuppa contains:

Coffee and Matcha for flavor, energy, and antioxidants.
Ashwagandha for anxiety and stress relief, and concentration.
Lion’s Mane for focus, mood, immune support, and brain health. Cordyceps for immune support, stamina, and anti-inflammatory support.
MCT/Fiber for energy, gut health, and to reduce jitters.
L-Theanine for stopping jitters, sleep support, and better focus.

Of late, I have needed something extra to warm me up as our temperatures drop outside, and my mug of Cuppa has filled the bill.
I can attest to no caffeine jitters.

Mental clarity and focus? Perhaps.

Improved immunity … I can’t say since I am already doing a lot of other things. Hey, I’m not sick.

There is some Arabica coffee in this mix; so for us, the flavor is not strange. It is different – but satisfying.

I have chosen to add a splash of creamer and just a pinch of Sugar in the Raw to the Cuppa powder, which I froth before adding the rest of the hot water.

Now, maybe Santa can get those Christmas cards created and mailed out soon!

In health – Deidre

Looking for that special present for a caregiver? A copy of Toolkit for Caregivers and Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions would be just the thing!

Our subscribers can count on not being bugged with pop-ups or endless sales emails. When we send you something, it’s the link to our weekly blog – or occasionally – a thank you containing additional useful information.

Reach out to me in the comments below or email me at Deidre@deidreedwards.com – your questions and comments are always appreciated!

Don’t miss the next post! Subscribing is easy and hassle-free. Just one email every Tuesday morning with the link to the latest post. Scroll down from the top of this page on the left side of your device to fill out the subscribe form.

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Blogging for good health!, Holiday Celebrations, This -n- That

So … Did You Spatchcock Your Thanksgiving?

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The results are in!

What could go wrong?

We enjoyed the largest turkey I’ve ever bought.

Harboring serious doubts about having a pan and rack large enough to accommodate the bird all splayed out; but comforted by the adequate instructions I shared last week – bolstered by the insider tips my daughter gave over the phone.

After securing the great find of a Wilton Mega Baking Sheet and Cooling Grid at Walmart, I felt pretty confident going into the spatchcocking arena.

Plus, I had a partner in crime to share duties.

The day before Thanksgiving, I removed the mostly thawed bird from the fridge, freed it from the package, and placed it on the cutting boards set up on the counter. In retrospect, I should have covered the countertop with an opened up garbage bag, and used just one large cutting board on top.

Things will get juicy. Have paper towels close at hand.

After removing the apparatus, keeping the drumsticks together and setting the neck and giblets aside for gravy duty, we were ready!

The newly purchased poultry shears worked flawlessly. This process does take some strength – especially when navigating around the bird’s hip juncture. Thanks to my daughter’s tip, we manipulated the leg every which-a-way and avoided plowing through the bones themselves.

I often used a two handed grip on the shears to avoid hand strain.

My sweetheart and I took turns and we assisted each other when doing the cut around the turkey’s hip. Once the spine was removed, we repositioned the turkey with the inside surface facing the cutting board.

Some describe flattening the breast like CPR. I followed my daughter’s excellent tip of getting up on a step stool to put myself above the bird while doing ‘compressions.’

But, unlike CPR, the goal IS to hear and feel the crunch as the breast cage gives way and flattens out.

Still with me?

Somewhere in here, we were either ready to never eat turkey again or to become vegan!

But there was a high-five moment as we celebrated our accomplishments, and we were very grateful for this turkey feeding us and our friends the next night – and providing us with meat for countless meals in the future.

After salting both sides, and separating the skin over the breast, thighs, and any where we could reach to deposit the savory butter compound (unsalted butter, garlic, herbs combined by the food processor), it was time to let the salt do its job overnight as the uncovered turkey in its huge pan somehow found a way into our refrigerator to rest.

Whew!

The baking process was just as I shared with you last week in the link to Crispy Edges. Pull the turnkey from the fridge two hours before oven time to bring the meat closer to room temperature.

When it’s time to roast the turkey, preheat the oven to 425F. Roast the spatchcocked turkey for 45-60 minutes. When the breast hits 150-155F, pull it and let it rest for at least 30-60 minutes.

Resting results in juicy meat! I covered mine with foil to retain heat; but after resting, the turkey can return to the oven set at 400F for 10-12 minutes to bring back up to temp.

Then, be prepared for the juiciest breast meat ever as you slice it to serve.

Thank you, Mr. Turkey! We honored your life by making your meat the best we have ever eaten!

In health –
Deidre

Blogging for good health!

Spatchcock For the Holidays? Hmmmm

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If you have never heard of it before, ‘spatchcock’ just sounds intimidating. Is it a person, place, or thing? Some terrorizing Halloween thing?

Buahahahaha!

No. It’s just something I have never attempted to do before: splitting open poultry to lie flat for grilling or baking.

And now … I’m going to do it for the first time on this year’s Thanksgiving turkey!

Thanks to the inspiration from Chef Josh Gale and his Crispy Edges emails to me, I have been emboldened to do turkey like a pro this year!

Chef Josh convinced me that baking a whole turkey dooms the breast meat to be dried out – that by opening the bird to lie flat allows all areas to cook more evenly by being equidistant from the heat source. To top it off, spatchcocking dramatically shortens cooking time!

But could I spatchcock a turkey? After watching this video, I ordered my heavy duty kitchen shears to do the job.

It’s going to be fun following a new way of handling turkey baking this year. While I have not had horrible problems with dry breast meat using the old method, I wanted to take out the cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for the-best approach during the big reveal … I mean, you never know …

Next week, I will share the results.

In the meantime, I highly recommend a (paid) subscription to Chef Josh’s Crispy Edges. He is full of easy prep ideas and recipes that ramp down the stress factors and ramp up flavor, making for a relaxed cook and host!

Always happy to share something good!

What will you be sharing with others in this season of Thanksgiving? I especially enjoy the tradition of going around the table sharing with others what each person is thankful for.

Gratitude creates happier hearts and minds, rebalancing the hormones that circulate in our bodies.

Do you practice gratitude? Regular entries into a simple gratitude journal or slips of paper in a blessings jar can make a big difference in how we feel about and react to the circumstances of our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all – whenever you celebrate it – and please know Sheree and I are grateful for all of you!

In health –
Deidre


Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Habit Building, Stress Reduction

Humming Eases Your Vagus Nerve

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A couple weeks ago, we were humming for hummus, when I shared a recipe and a technique that would yield the softest, fluffiest hummus ever.

Today, we are going to hum to de-stress!

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

But first, we will return to the classroom to review a very important nerve.

Behold, cranial nerve number ten, the vagus nerve. It’s also known as the “great wandering nerve” because it leaves the cranium and connects to organs throughout the body. The vagus nerve helps regulate essential functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

By controlling those processes, the vagus nerve contributes to the body’s “rest and digest” response – helping to calm the body after stress, lower heart rate, improve digestion, and keep the body in balance.

But, what’s your point about that vagus nerve, you ask? Good question!

What if you could stimulate the vagus nerve to increase its calming effects?

We know yoga and mindfulness meditation help to calm the body as does breath work such as box breathing.

Today, we are adding humming to breath work because it increases the calming, de-stressing effects on the vagus nerve.

When we breathe through our noses, we produce nitric oxide in our nasal cavities. Nitric oxide (NO) is a colorless gas that relaxes the inner muscles of the blood vessels. This relaxation causes the blood vessels to widen and increases circulation.

This humming breath work I describe causes an increase in the release of nitric oxide, which in turn, increases the calming effects it has on the total body.

Nitric oxide also helps your body keep inflammation in balance. Under normal conditions, it supports healthy circulation and can calm inflammation; but when you’re fighting an infection, your immune cells make extra nitric oxide to help kill off bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

TECHNIQUE

A simple explanation for this humming technique is found HERE and simply involves inhaling through the nose and slowly exhaling by making a humming sound with closed lips.

You will notice a mild vibration happening in the nasal cavity. Interestingly, you can modulate the pitch of your humming to move the vibration more to the nasal cavity.

That’s it. Inhale through the nose and exhale as a hum – nice and easy, using all your breath.

It’s an excellent opportunity to practice “belly breathing” by feeling your belly fill and push out as you inhale, and gradually “deflate” as you expel your breath in a hum.

Gargling warm water is another technique that can contribute to the nasal vibrations that enhance nitric oxide release.

Check it out HERE.

In the world of yoga, this technique is called Bhramari pranayama or “humming bee breath” and is beautifully demonstrated in the following video.


People have shared that regular vagus nerve stimulation through humming has been very successful in their ability to control chronic anxiety. Whatever your need, try some regular humming to get your day started off on a calmer note.

You know, there are no extra hours in the day to add a few minutes – even if it’s something good for me – but as a student of “habit stacking,” I now have a calming activity to do while I brew coffee each morning!

I have it on good authority that humming along with your toddlers as they play cars/trucks/tractors with their motor sounds going, can count for your regular daily humming sessions!

Humming along in health – Deidre


Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, Recipes

Rescued by Chia Seeds

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Well, I didn’t intend to ignore my obligations, but that’s what I almost did.

Our trusty editor, Sheree, just sent a subtle message, “Hey … got a post for me?”

In other words, “Hey, the Tuesday post is going out, uh … tomorrow … we don’t have anything for our readers!”

Gulp!

After completing the Caregiver Summit last week I had been preparing for since early spring, we celebrated the positive reception of my message, packed our bags, and headed out the next day for a long-awaited trip to Disney World!

The cold snap that is affecting the mid-Atlantic on up north, is also affecting the southern Atlantic states. The low in Kissimmee, Florida, where we are staying is 36 F tonight – and the high tomorrow is slated to be 59 F.

We abandoned the idea of seeing the fireworks-light show-water fountain display at Epcot again tonight because we didn’t bring parkas. To top that off, Sheree is making snow men in West Virginia!

Since our accommodations have a full kitchen, I knew we would be taking many of our meals in whenever we were not at Disney World.

How do you approach vacation cooking and meal prep?

Our first stop coming into Kissimmee was to go to the grocery store.

To compliment the assorted nuts, peanut butter, crackers, chia seeds, fresh berries (blueberry, black berry, and raspberry), and apples, we picked up almond milk, two bottles of protein-boosted smoothies, coffee, gluten free cereals, eggs, Greek yogurt, gouda, sliced ham, sour dough bread, mustard, butter, hummus, and guacamole.

Travel and eating out can create havoc for the “smooth functioning of the intestines.”

To ward against getting “backed up” we regularly consume chia seed pudding. Recipes vary, but this is what I am currently doing:

Chia Seed Pudding – per individual serving

In a small bowl or a small glass (that will hold about 10 ounces) stir together:

2-3 tablespoons chia seeds

1/3 – 1/2 cup flavored smoothie (these can contain added sugar, so I don’t use a lot)

1/3 – 1/2 cup almond milk

2 – 3 Tablespoons of Greek yogurt (can be fruit flavored to blend in with the flavor of smoothie you use)

A handful of fresh fruit that compliments the other flavors.

Download your copy of Chia Seed Pudding below:


Chia Seeds Pudding RecipeDownload

Depending upon the amount of chia seeds and fluid used – and if you refrigerate this overnight – this “pudding” can thicken enough to need a spoon or can be thin enough to drink.

Along with proper daily hydration, and eating whole food with lots of fiber, chia pudding can be our best friend – especially when traveling.

In health –

Deidre and Remi

I sure hope we get to see Remi’s Ratatouille Show in Disney this week! They were having technical difficulties today.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, Recipes, This -n- That

Hunting For Hummus? We Can Help!

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We have always liked hummus. We buy it frequently, and I have made it on several occasions. But, during our Tucson adventure recently, we ate A LOT of it!

A restaurant soon became our favorite in Tucson because of its hummus. The Pita Jungle offers an appetizer plate with three kinds of the delicious spread, along with enough pita bread to dip into – until your heart’s content.

And we did!

Especially our two-and-a-half year old grandson. We couldn’t figure out which of the three flavors was our favorite – tried as we might.

So, upon returning home, we longed for some delicious hummus – homemade, please! Why? Because, there is a difference!

Good hummus is, generally, thick and smooth; and gives you the impression of heaven – floating on a pillow-soft, airy-like fluffy cloud! Ahhhh!

After perusing old messenger entries – I use messenger like a filing cabinet for things I want to remember. Do you do that? I found a video of some fellow who seemed to know his way around a chickpea, so I followed his lead.

While the ultimate recipe for hummus may start with dried chickpeas/garbanzo beans, I used the tried-and-true canned variety, using two cans – equal to 3 cups – of chickpeas.

Before throwing those chickpeas into the food processor, however, there’s a secret first step!

After draining and rinsing the canned chickpeas, put them into a saucepan, cover with water, and add 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Bring it up to boil and lower it to a simmer for 5 minutes. The hull of each chickpea will be released.

When the time is up and the hulls are starting to release, remove the pan from the stove, pour off the water and the hulls, adding cold water to stop the cooking and aid in eliminating the hulls.

In practice, the hulls were released but did not easily pour off. I ended up skimming and manually removing most of the hulls as I placed the hull-less chickpeas into the food processor. I look forward to improving my pouring-off technique. If most of the hulls are removed, that will be fine.

To the food processor with the chickpeas, add the juice of one lemon, ½ teaspoon of Kosher salt, and 2 cloves of garlic.

Process this mixture for 7-8 minutes. The mixture will get warm so don’t be alarmed.

Add 1/3 cup of tahini to the mixture, about 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and process for 3 more minutes. The tahini is added late because its proteins would otherwise cause a coagulation of the hummus, which cannot be reversed.

Taste test for any desired seasoning adjustments. We felt it needed more salt and garlic, but I couldn’t add more raw garlic at this point, so we settled on a couple additions of garlic salt with a tasting in between additions to guide us. A few pulses from the food processor did the trick.

Transfer this very warm cloud of hummus to a bowl and place it in the refrigerator for three hours to cool.

Please feel free to download the recipe below!

HOMEMADE HUMMUSDownload

At home, we used tortilla chips to scoop up this delightful dish. It can be stored for a week in the fridge.

We served it at a party we held; and are now enjoying lunches consisting of a few chips and our hummus and some leftover homemade guacamole – you couldn’t ask for a healthier snack.

I hope you will try making your own cloud of hummus soon!

In health – (and hummus!)

Deidre

November is National Family Caregiver month! Show your love and concern for caregivers you know by sharing my caregiver series with them:

Toolkit for Caregivers

Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions

Thanks!


Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, Stress Reduction, This -n- That

Camino

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Traditionally, a Camino journey refers to the Camino de Santiago, The Way of St. James, which is a Christian pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where the remains of the Apostle James are said to rest.

Pilgrams walked this route as an act of faith, repentance, and devotion as they sought forgiveness, spiritual renewal, or a closeness to God.

Today, the spiritual roots of taking this Camino have evolved into a profound, personal experience that draws people from all faiths, perspectives, and walks of life.

The actual Camino in Spain is a walk of hundreds of miles, testing physical strength, determination, and fortitude. Yet, the steady rhythm of walking becomes meditative, allowing travelers a chance to listen to their inner voice.

Also, the Camino is a shared experience as fellow pilgrims from around the world connect with conversation, kindness, and the shared effort – creating a sense of community amid simplicity, generosity, and mutual care.

Little did I know that our family’s week-long visit to Tucson, Arizona, and specifically, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, would become our Camino experience.

From the moment we arrived at the hotel campus, we had started our journey. Every day, we absorbed this new terrain, climate, flora, and fauna.

We learned how to correctly pronounce “Saguaro” – the remarkable sentinels of the desert landscape. Hint: replace the “gu” with a “w” to make: “sa – war- o.”

This incredible cactus reminded us of nature’s time frame – so different from our frantic, connected world. You can appreciate this landscape more deeply by viewing this growth chart for the Saguaro:

Then, we capped off our week with a visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Just driving through the mountains on narrow winding roads, sharing the way with cyclists and motorcyclists, provided a much slower pace deserving of our awe and wonder.

The whole outdoors seemed to span space and time, reminding us of the broader truths we each were seeking.

Getting out of the car at the museum, we experienced the rhythm of our steps trough vistas of dessert beauty.

Our communal experience as a family appreciating the desert animals – a Puma napping; two very large, speckled squirrels; black bear; prairie dogs, and others – along with a landscape that cannot be contained by words or pictures – was so personally moving.

On the path through the winding roads, we experienced yet another view of the mountains on our return trip back to our hotel.

Each new curve around the mountains seemed to take our breath away.

Then it happened.

As we approached one particular mountain view, we were all silent. Tears started to form in my eyes. One of us started to sniff.

Still now, I can cry just recalling the experience.

We were on our own Camino.

The intimate messages of this journey are still being absorbed. So much had transpired that week for our family – so much to savor, ponder, and cherish.

I will be forever changed.

Have you had a Camino experience?

In health – Deidre


Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Habit Building, Stress Reduction

A Season Of Rest

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I was putting the finishing touches on a presentation I will be delivering at the Caregiver Summit on November 6th when I took to heart my own words: we are living in a season of our lives – it’s not forever – it’s a season.

Seasons come and go – we do not become the season – we go through the seasons.

Going full speed ahead; facing delays; healing; giving; receiving … are some of the seasons we experience.

I feel at my best when I am doing and creating, but the energy for those activities comes from cycles of rest and renewal.

Sure, we are hopefully getting rest each night, but sometimes … sometimes we need more than a few hours.

Sometimes, we need to embrace a season of rest.

While my mind has been saying, “but I want to …” – my body and spirit are saying, “Whoa! Slow down!”

I’ve just felt a little ‘off’ lately.

There have been half-day holidays from productivity. There have been whole days of very limited accomplishments when only major ‘fires’ are being put out.

You know what? That’s okay.

While my get-up-and-go has not vanished by any means, it hasn’t been lasting as long.

Today, I just woke up to the truth. Rather than feeling ‘less-than,’ I am feeling ‘enough.’

That fragrant cup of tea needs to be savored – the Asian persimmon from the corner fruit stand is slowly enjoyed and appreciated for its subtle flavor.

The warmth of the sun on my back is enjoyed longer as I read yet another chapter of a good book.

Who am I to turn away from the natural ebb and flow?

It may be your season to rest for a spell, also.

Let the ordinary become a source of building up your inner strength:

As you hydrate with water, feel its life-giving energy filling you.

As you linger over a cup of herbal tea, imagine its steam taking your concerns away.

Gently stretch each morning to open pathways that allow the natural flow of inner cleansing and nourishment.

Pause to embrace a sense of gratitude throughout the day. Open you eyes to the blessings that surround you, even on challenging days.

Reward your body with simple, nourishing, and colorful whole foods. Let go of the processed food with labels.

Am I sounding Zen? Perhaps … why not?

As the seasons surround us in a purposeful change, so too can we embrace our seasons with acceptance – so its purpose may be fulfilled.

Writing this is one of just a few accomplishments for me today – and that is enough!

Time to catch the sunset!


In health –

Deidre

Reclaim your health one meal at a time