Monday Musings – National Wellness Month

 

Here we are halfway through the month of August, and I just discovered that this is National Wellness Month. Everything is becoming clear to me now, this must be why Weight Watchers keeps sending me emails inviting me to join.

Once upon a time and two kids ago, I was a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. The program worked for me, but life changed and so did my body. If no one has told you, let me tell you, your body will change. Ladies, your metabolism may turn on you, foods that you used to eat may affect your body differently.

Aging is not all doom and gloom, just know that you may need to shift some things. The things you did for health and wellness five years ago may need to look different. Remember nutrition, fitness, and sleep all affect your health and wellness. What do you do to be sure you have a balance of all these things? Do more of the things that bring you joy.

As you focus on a healthy lifestyle be sure to include activities that stimulate laughter. There are studies that say laughter can help lessen stress, anxiety, depression, and make you feel happier.

Did you know that happiness “lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease, lowers your blood pressure, enables better sleep, and improves your diet.” At least that’s what Google told me. These are enough reasons for me to use laughter as part of my self-care. I’ve found that laughing at some of my struggles (and turning them into comedy) makes them a little more bearable.

From weight gain to wild chin hairs, and wacky kids, humor is always lurking in everyday life situations. My weight gain/weight loss efforts consistently provide material for jokes. In the last couple of years, I’ve worked with a nutritionist and a fitness trainer (at different times), yet my body refuses to cooperate.

And my chin hairs, I get rid of them, and they find their way back, longer, stronger…and grey.

Use this month to jump start or continue focusing on your health and wellness and make it fun rather than a chore. I challenge you to find something funny every day for the rest of this month.

 

Monday Musings – Discovering Humor During a Mammogram Visit

 

There is a first time for everything. You have probably heard that expression before. We experience things such as – first day of school, first kiss, first time you realize your mustache is growing. That’s just my backstory.

I recently experienced my first mammogram…in a parking lot. I drove to the clinic, rushed inside, only to be directed back outside to the long truck branded with the words, Mobile Mammography. I’m not sure how I missed that on my way in, probably because I didn’t think it was for me.

Once on board the mammography mobile, I was asked to have a seat, “please give us a few minutes to get you checked in. Our computer is not connecting.”

Waiting for their internet to connect gave me way too much time with my inner thoughts. It was really only ten minutes, but that was all I needed for ideas to jump from my head and into my humor journal. Here are some thoughts I had:

A pre-check-in questionnaire is required before the mammogram visit. Suppose I had a set of questions for the receptionist? This is what it would look like:

Have you ever been car jacked? If you answered yes, please explain.

Is there a warranty on your imaging equipment?

Have you paid the internet bill?

The more I thought about it I wondered, why did I have to leave my home at pre daylight, and arrive at the clinic at 8am? This is a mobile unit can’t they drive to my house, or at least meet me halfway? We could both save on fuel.

I was swimming in the deep end with my thoughts when the x-ray technician, Rachel announced, “we’re ready for you.”

I slipped into the semi-stylish gown and met her at the back of the truck…I mean the imaging room. I followed directions as she said, “put your right hand up here and your left hand there.” Without warning, I was playing a game of Twister.

“Lean your cheek against the glass, breathe. Hold it there for 10 seconds.”

Breathe, hold still… too many conflicting commands for me. As I let out a sigh, from the corner of my eye, I could see that GE made the imaging machine. That General Electric symbol gave me comfort that I was in good hands, well not hands, but you know what I mean. I could erase my thoughts of what if this machine malfunctions while my body parts are secured in place.

I survived the parking lot mammogram with humor. Schedule your regular doctor visits, focus your wellness, and if you become anxious about the visit, find something humorous about the situation.

Motivational Monday – Women’s Health Care Month – 3 Ways to celebrate

 

It’s time to make your health a priority. Does that statement sound like a cliché? Yes it is, but it’s a cliché worth repeating, over and over, until it sticks with us. The month of May is celebrated as Women’s Health Care Month. If you are already laser-focused on your health, encourage a friend, or loved one to do the same.

Here are 3 ways to celebrate Women’s Health Month.

1.      Focus on doing one thing to improve your health. Doing that one thing consistently, over time can make a big difference. If you already have a routine, add a new or different component.

2.      Schedule quiet time everyday. Even if you only have 5-10 minutes to spare, tune everything out and sit quietly (or listen to birds singing, watch a sun set, hum a song). If it’s the middle of the day and you need a break at lunch time…take it. A few minutes away can help you to feel rejuvenated. I’m speaking from experience.

Don’t tell anyone, but one sunny day during lunch, I sat in my car with the seat reclined,  my feet out the window, and reading a book. It was ultimate relaxation.

3.      Journal. Don’t discount the benefits of journaling. You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times that , “journaling is therapeutic.” Well, try it and see.

No matter how you choose to observe Women’s Health Care Month, the most important thing is to show yourself love and self-acceptance. Make one change today towards improving your health.

 

Motivational Monday – Embrace each chapter of your life

 

Embrace aging

I can name 56 flaws as I embrace Chapter 56 of my life. Instead, I choose to focus on chapter 56 with faith, fun, and feeling fabulous. What chapter are you on in your book of life?

When your birthday rolls around do you run and bury your head in the sand or hide  underneath your bed covers and refuse to surface? Don’t do it.

The countdown has begun for my 56^th birthday. Yes, I know the saying, a woman isn’t supposed to tell her age. Well, I just did, and I wasn’t struck down. Embrace your age.

As I encourage myself, I encourage you to embrace who you are, where you are. Our word this week is embrace. Here is a reminder of the definition of embrace:

“The act of accepting something willingly or enthusiastically.”

Now for your challenge…

Take your age or half your age and create a list of positive words or phrases about yourself. Make up words if you want, as long as you have fun in the process. Don’t think too hard about it, set a timer, and go. You don’t have to show your list to anyone, so brag on yourself. Here is a list to jump-start your thinking:

Start with and I AM statement.

I AM…

Beautiful     Caring     Fun     Good Friend     Prospering    

Fantabulous     Intelligent     Giving     Dependable     Kind

Honest     Smart     Unique

Consider this exercise as part of your path on the road to wellness and increased self-care. What route will you take? This week I’m taking Route 56. The road will be paved with 56 kind words, quotes, phrases or whatever I come up with.

Every day for the next week, remember our key word, embrace. If challenges come your way, embrace them too. Stop and ask yourself, what can I learn from this situation?

One way I embrace my uniqueness is to take my flaws and turn them into funnies (funny stories). For instance, there was a time I was starting a new nutrition program (for the millionth time). The plan included a day of cleansing.

Just to be clear, the reference wasn’t to cleanse as in washing your body with soap and water. It meant not eating. I was discussing the program with my son, I told him, “I can’t wait to go to bed, and wake up tomorrow to NOT eat all day.”

There you have it. I embraced my weight challenges and efforts with humor (sprinkled with sarcasm).

If you’re celebrating a birthday this week, this month, or in a coming month…Happy Birthday.

Keep pushing forward.

Have fun.

Embrace you!

Motivational Monday – Valentine’s Day Self-love – 4 Ideas for Celebrating You

 

The Hallmark Channel is showing RomCom's all day. Is it okay to call work and say you need the day off? Asking for a friend.

February is Loveuary…according to the Hallmark Channel. Their tag line is “love happens all month long.” Let’s take that tag line a step further and include self-love all month long. Make this an opportunity to bask in all things relaxing. Start with Valentine’s Day which is also a day for love.

Just in case you’re looking for non-traditional things to do for Valentine’s Day here’s a list of 4 ideas.

1.      Watch Rom Com’s (Romantic Comedies) – the Hallmark Channel plans to show romantic movies all day for Valentine’s Day. I don’t receive any compensation for mentioning this, I’m simply a fan of mushy movies, and mysteries.

2.      Watch a comedy show that has Valentine’s Day as the theme or has Valentine’s Day in their jokes. I came across a collection of Dry Bar Comedy clips where the comedians referred to Valentine’s Day.

YouTube Video Credit: Dry Bar Comedy

3.       Try a new recipe – Valentine related.

4.      Listen to soothing music  - it can be music with the word valentine in it, or love. It doesn’t matter the style or genre of music as long as it’s soothing to you. Check out Charlie Wilson's Forever Valentine.

Remember…February is Loveuary. Give yourself permission to love on yourself a little more.

Wellness Wednesday – National Hot Tea Day – 3 Ways to Observe

 

Did you know that tea originated in China, and has “become the second most popular beverage in the world after water (someevents.com)?” National Tea Day is observed on January 12^th each year and was established by The Tea Council of the U.S.A. in 2016.

Experts say that tea energizes, relaxes, and detoxifies. Here are 3 Ways to observe National Hot Tea Day.

1.      Visit your favorite tea place.

2.      Have a tea party – get out your good china that you rarely use and steep a cup of your favorite flavored tea. Your tea party could be virtual or with a few close friends.

3.      Make a recipe that requires tea – Better Homes & Garden has an article titled 10 Surprising Things to Do with Tea. There was one recipe I found interesting that told how to make Chocolate Bark.

Maybe you’re a tea lover or a sometimes tea drinker, National Tea Day can be an opportunity to try something new.

How will you observe National Hot Tea Day?

Fun Friday – Guided Meditation an Epic Fail

 

How do you begin your morning? I’ve mentioned here before that I’ve started practicing morning meditation…and I’m still practicing. After several months you would think I have it down to an art. Perhaps I should not have deviated from what became a routine – listening to the same guided meditation.

I was in the mood to try something different. After a quick Google search, I found a new meditation to try. My room was quiet and still, the only light on was a small bedside lamp. I got myself situated and pressed a button on my laptop to begin the session.

The slow soothing voice said, “take a comfortable seated position on the floor, legs crossed.”

The picture on my computer screen displayed a woman sitting crossed legged, with one foot resting on each thigh. She’s telling me to, “relax…and breathe.”

Meanwhile, I’m struggling to put my second foot on top of my thigh…as the woman looks peaceful. I yelled back at her, “do you know how large my thighs are? My legs won’t twist like that.”

Her response was, “deep breathe in…and exhale.”

I took a deep breath in, but blowing it out was more segmented, the way I learned in Lamaze class decades ago – he-he-hoo; he-he-hoo. This didn’t feel like relaxing to me. Then I realized I had my glasses on with my eyes closed. I took the glasses off, took my legs out of pretzel pose and found a variation of the pose the woman demonstrated in the still photo.

After getting myself worked-up for the first five minutes, I let my body relax and focus the stillness of the room and the soothing words. I needed to exercise patience and understand that over time, it will become easier.

Although my meditation session felt like an epic fail, I know that anything worth doing well requires patience and tenacity. If you’re starting something new, have patience, stick with it; the results will be worth it.

What is something new that you have done lately?

Words of Wisdom – Laughter H.E.L.P.S. – A Happier, Healthier, You

 

Did you know that laughter improves your mood, and reduces the stress response? This is one of the many reasons why I recommend a dose of laughter every day. Include laughter as part of your self-care.

Speaking of self-care…I promised to reveal the cover of my forthcoming eBook:

Laughter H.E.L.P.S. - A Happier, Healthier, You

Without further ado…here it..is…

Inspiration, Self-care, Humor

Share a comment about something that made you laugh recently.

Words of Wisdom – 5 Things to give up if you want happiness

Photo Credit: Thrive Global

Are you in pursuit of happiness? Take a look at this list of things to give up if you want happiness.

1.      Give up the need for control – let go of some things. You don’t have to do it all.

2.      Give up negative self-talk – your mind believes what you tell it. Evict negative thoughts from your mind.

3.      Give up on your fears

4.      Give up the past – don’t harbor on past mistakes, consider the learning experiences and push forward.

5.      Give up living your life to the expectations of other people – create your reality.

This list was adapted from world observation online.

What would you add to the list of things to give up if you want happiness?