MIND-BODY-FOOD Nourish your head to heart to the soles of your feet |
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MIND-BODY-FOOD Special Edition WE ALL ARE CARRYING A LOT: It feels like the world has gone crazy, and that is not a dramatic statement. It’s been nine months since the war between Ukraine and Russia began, and now, it’s been two months since the war between Israel and Hamas has been waging. We are all carrying this emotionally charged load together. We see evidence of it everywhere, and we feel it in our family relationships, friendships, communities, on the job, and when we lay our heads down to sleep. We’ve gotten to a point where on some level, we don’t want to think about it. We don’t want to see it. |
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SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: After October 7th, for weeks, my husband and I would go to bed at night watching the latest news updates, and that was after a full day of countless social media alerts. I finally told my husband, “I need a break. I’m so anxious. I’m crying too much. I can’t think clearly. I don’t mind falling asleep with the TV on, but it has to be something pleasant and relaxing.” No more war news when we go to bed. I decided not to check my phone every time it signaled a new message. I decided not to check every What’sApp group and news outlets as often as I was. I decided not to respond to every post that triggered me. I needed to protect myself, guard my mind, body and energy. The more I practiced this, the better I started to feel. It was a beginning… |
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I ASKED MYSELF: What can I do to make this better, for myself and for others? Just how do we deal with the sheer volume of news, the horrifying images, the ongoing stories of heart-breaking pain and loss? THE ANSWER: Kindness and Giving Kindness and Giving is a universal language, and no matter where we are, no matter where we live, no matter our social situation or economic circumstances, kindness and giving is always available. Everyone has a purpose, unique talents, and we can give them to others. Some people write beautiful messages to friends, some offer words of words of encouragement to their family, some pray, some cook, some listen, some volunteer their time – whatever it is, as we lose ourselves more in the giving and service of others, we discover our lives, our healing, and our happiness. “Do what you can to show you care about others, and you will make the world a better place.” - Rosalynn Carter |
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WHAT IS THE REAL GIFT? Especially at this time where so many families and communities are so broken, Martin Luther King Jr’s words says it all: “What are you doing for others?” We fight back with kindness; any size any shape, any form. We invite our family, friends and co-workers to join our efforts. Raising a generation of children who learn that there is always a kindness that can be done is healing that generation. We encourage the ripple effect to come to life, and we live with the mission that kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have. Some simple acts of kindness--reach out in ways that seem easy but can go far--- Hold open the door for somebody; Help someone at the grocery store – find items, help bag or carry; Call a family member or friend and tell them you are thinking about them; Donate clothing, shoes, supplies, money. See what your community is doing to assist victims of wars, natural disasters, local calamities; Tell people how much you appreciate them; Bake something for a neighbor, your kid’s class or a friend’s family; Bring flowers to somebody who you know is having a hard time; Volunteer as a family; Spend extra time listening to a friend who is struggling; Post words of encouragement on your social media pages Send a hand-written note or card to someone. “Do small things with great love. It's not the size of the gift that matters, it’s the heart that goes in to the giving” – Eileen Elias Freeman
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THE HIGHER PURPOSE: One small act at a time is where your greatness is. Something we share at these challenging times, with so much unknown and anxiety, is that we need to heal. Please remember not to judge what you’re doing, not to go overboard, and to keep it simple. The gift is in the giving.The healing is in the giving. “Small acts, when multiplied by millions can transform the world.” - Howard Zinn |
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My hope is that you feel well fed, and there’s no dishes left in your sink or mine. |
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