I have never been at a loss for words. Always questioning, curious, maybe a bit nosy, and willing to chip in my two cents worth.
The very best part of my work life was a career in which I got to spend the day talking to, and learning from, lots of wonderful people! And for the last so many years, talking has turned into writing my book and this blog.
But right now I find myself struck dumb. My beautiful son is gravely ill, and I find myself unable to speak about anything in the face of this.
He has had Multiple Sclerosis since he was in his early 20’s. He turned 53 last week. We had a birthday party for him at his tiny little bungalow, with barely room to move for the people who came to celebrate him, shower him with love, and to eat a piece of the most delicious and beautiful birthday cake I’ve ever seen!
Had you been outside and looking down on that bungalow, I’m sure it would have appeared engulfed in radiant light; an aurora borealis pulsating in greens, pinks and gold.
goes unpunished. I know that isn’t the first thing that should come to mind because it’s reinforcing a negative thought. I strive to align my thoughts toward the positive, but when stuff like this happens, and I’m up to my derrière in alligators, it is still my first thought. Good intentions be damned.
I don’t know which of us found them, but one morning last week when the small kitchen pantry door was opened we were greeted with an infestation of “pantry moths!” I was aghast, and chuckling, thinking “Mothra, Mothra!!” It is an old 60’s monster movie from Japan where a giant moth attacks Tokyo. My pantry is the heartbeat of my house. My Tokyo.
Turk grabbed the vacuum cleaner and vacuumed them off of the ceiling and walls in there. I went through bags of grains, beans, corn meal, etc. that had been opened and threw it all out. I did some rearranging, cleaning as I went and put some opened pastas into big ziploc bags and then we patted ourselves on the back.
That didn’t last long. A couple of days later they were back! And some of the ziplocs had new moths and larvae inside them. Now I was really flipping out! You may know them as flour moths, grain moths or food moths. They multiply rapidly and disgustingly. I found a couple of larvae on the shelf. Where had they come from? I’d thrown out everything that had been opened! This called for a deeper clean.
I got online and read-up on exactly what to do. It turns out that the boxes that were closed are no match for hungry worms – they were inside those, too.
Errybody out!! 2. Check every. single. package. and toss what’s been opened. 3) Clean shelves, walls, baseboards with a bleach & water solution. 4. Let it dry naturally and put everything back, with grains, seeds, nuts, flours in sealed packages.
So where did the little buggers come from? Someone had given my son (who cannot cook because of his disability) a couple bags of black beans and brown rice, which he loves, especially with sour cream and diced green onion on corn tortillas. A perfect vegetarian meal! He in turn gave them to me to cook, portion them out, and bring them to him.
The bad news: those packages were infested! The good news: Because of them, I have a newly organized, and bug-proof pantry.
I always admired a well put-together pantry stocked with real everyday food in all it’s oddly-shaped packages. I did my best, and I’m pleased with the results.
In other news: my Spanish lessons are going great. I can construct paragraphs to read aloud. Speaking spontaneously is still frustrating, I get so tongue-tied! That’s what we work on in my in-person class here. I notice small improvements weekly… I remember listening to a simple story and thinking, “How am I ever going to understand that?” Now, amazingly, I can. I am continuing with Duolingo, too. I owe all of my progress and vocabulary to daily practice, and it’s fun, although a bit childish, with Duolingo. It’s nice to know I’m increasing the neuroplasticity in my brain.
I also excited about the new exercise facility built just down the street, and it’s pool is beautiful. Unfortunately, it’s right out there in the sun, and who wants to lounge around a pool when it’s 107 degrees? Or go walk in the morning when it’s 82 at 7:00? Sadly we’ve only been in the pool three times, but the treadmill and elliptical have been so much fun! I learned that you get a much better result by raising the incline on the treadmill, and you can even select a “hilly” walk where it raises and lowers itself. I listen to music and look out at the sparkling pool. Soon, pool. Soon.
I also had my fourth session with a personal trainer yesterday. I have always liked lifting weights, and right now they are helping me get/feel stronger. After being ill for so long, off all of my hormones, and having lost so much weight, the machines are giving me a way to regain muscle and stay strong. I don’t want to become fragile like many elderly people do. My balance is great, thanks to years of Nia, and I’m flexible from years of yoga. Building strength through load-bearing exercise builds bone density, so yesterday my trainer and I worked with Kettlebells for the first time and it was a blast! My arms feel “alive” today, as does my butt.
Cropped view of two African-American woman exercising together in a city park on the waterfront. They are wearing long sleeved sports clothing. The woman in the dark pink shirt is a plus size model with a large build. She is in her 30s and her friend is in her 40s. They are lifting kettlebells in unison, in a squatting position.Woman working outClose up of unrecognizable athletic woman having sports training with kettle bell.
I very much like tapping into my masculine energy. It’s our take action and get-it-done energy. I noticed that I was feeling too withdrawn, unmotivated and even a little bit helpless, and this is bringing balance to that. Plus, I will be willing to go sleeveless with a bit more definition in my arms. I’m beginning to feel my inner-strength again. I want to greet my 72nd birthday in eight weeks feeling like myself again!
I’ve started playing a card game called Hand and Foot with a group of women two weeks ago. It’s a variation of Canasta, and I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying it. I remember my Mom used to play cards once in a while, and this was what she played.
Playing Canasta makes me feel connected to her.
I was fortunate to have two amazing teachers – both incredibly patient, with a gift for explaining the hows and whys. I sat at the corner of the table and watched as they played. Everyone took the time to explain moves and answer my questions as they played. Two different days and 10 games later, I played for the first time, making some mistakes (just to get them out of the way) yet my partner and I won! I’m looking forward to playing again this Friday… right after I finish my second Spanish class!
I am finally taking that Conversational Spanish course. I signed up for a Thursday morning class, because it was convenient, but I was the only student who showed up! I had the teacher all to myself and we talked (in Spanish) about everything in our lives – she is also the oldest of five girls! I struggled, of course, but we covered a lot in 90 minutes. When I left I was certain that I was in over my head, but that evening la maestra texted me to ask if I could do her Friday class instead. She thinks I am “more advanced” with my Spanish and would enjoy the Friday class more.
Now, every other Friday I will have to rush from Spanish class to the card game. Ándele!
Relaxed Young Woman Lying On Fitness Mat Doing Exercise With Yoga Belt And Two Blocks
OnTuesdays and Thursday afternoons I take a Restorative Yoga class. I wrote about this in my book, in the chapter on YinYoga. I love it. These slow, supported poses (3 -5 minutes) relax your body deeply, which enables your nervous system’s fight-or-flight response to let it’s guard down. When you feel safe, your body relaxes. We use blocks, bolsters, belts and blankets to lean against, lie on, or prop-up, in order to take the effort out of a pose/stretch. After everything we ask of our bodies, it’s a nice respite. I always feel completely chilled-out after class.
It’s a wonderful way to overcome feeling stressed and anxious about everything that is beyond our control. I didn’t realize how tense I was until I felt my body relax completely. I may have even had tears running down my face as I lay there.
These poses increase flexibility of both body and mind, and lubricate your joints, which is a good thing!
Speaking of flexibility – I read an article by the Arthritis Foundation the other day about maintaining knee health as we age. (My rheumatologist sends them to me.) If you have knee issues and are overweight the study shows that losing 1 lb. of weight resulted in 4 lbs. of pressure being removed from the knees. Losing just 10 lbs. will relieve 40lbs. of pressure on your knees, AND that same 10 lb. weight loss will relieve 60 lbs. of pressure from your hips!
Also – new studies show we don’t need to walk 10,000 steps daily to extend our lives, Just 4,000 will do the job! After that, each additional 1,000 steps will reduce your risk of dying “from any cause” by 15%. And the more you move, the better – adults older than 60 saw a 42% decline in mortality risk when they walked between 6-10K steps daily. I know lots of people don’t like to exercise, but I swear to you, making it a fun part of your life will have huge benefits when you’re older and can get around easily: climb stairs, get in-and-out of chairs, cars, airplanes, boats, etc. The hardest part is always getting started. Once you do, momentum, and how well you will feel (body and mind) will keep you going!
Stay well, and take good care of yourself. Until next time,
How are we almost to the half-way point of July? You’d think being retired that my days would drag by… but they don’t and every once in a while I take a day to lie about, recuperate, and do nothing.
Well, no I don’t, not really. On a day where there’s nothing I absolutely must do, I’ll try out a complicated new wheat-free recipe like these amazing (and I don’t say this lightly) Lemon Raspberry Bars. The woman who developed this recipe and many others, Katarina Cermelj, has revolutionized gluten-free baking! I’ve had to avoid wheat for more than 12 years now. I got used to the way GF baking was different, and limited myself to the few things that were good even though they were wheat-free.
These GF beauties have a lemon-zest shortbread base, a layer of seedless raspberry jam which keeps the cookie base crisp, and atop that are fresh raspberries with a crumb topping. They are wheat-free, egg-free, and scrumptious. You can find them here: theloopywhisk.com Even before I baked these, I knew Katarina was on to something and I immediately ordered her book. She is a food scientist and a recipe developer and all of her bakes are beautifully photographed. My bake came out just as beautiful as hers, and more delicious than I ever could have imagined! I’m gonna do it again, very soon, I’ve got another jar of raspberry jam and a pint of berries in the fridge.
Another new-to-me thing I’ve been doing is listening to podcasts. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a delightful one where she interviews women older than her – she calls it “getting schooled by women older and wiser than herself,” and it’s appropriately called “Wiser Than Me.” I have found every single one of her interviews to be informative, thoughtful and entertaining, but I especially liked her conversations with Isabel Allende and Diane von Furstenberg – talk about wise women! I really appreciated DVF’s attitude toward aging; she believes aging is living and eschews the word. “It’s a privilege, and we should change the question from “how old are you” to “how long have you lived?” I liked that, there is so much more to the question, it’s not just a dead-end. Check it out and let me know which are your favorites.
Forgive me if I am repeating myself, but during the pandemic I decided to brush-up on my Spanish using the Duolingo online app and website. I thought it would lend some structure to my day and help me meet my goal of being able to speak well again. I studied Spanish all through high school and for many years afterward I could speak and read quite well. I remember reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez in Spanish with my friend Debbie, and a Spanish dictionary, in the early 1980s. Slowly, and sadly, much of my grasp of the language has slipped away. I’ve taken conversational classes here and there, but nothing consistent until the pandemic began.
I am now on day 701. Yep. Seven hundred and one days of consistently reading, writing and learning vocabulary. Unfortunately, what I haven’t done is speak, except to myself. (There’s only so much my sweetie is willing to listen to in a language he doesn’t understand.) Fortunately, there is an International Languages Club here in Sun City. They offer Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Polish and quite a few others. The courses are offered at all levels and there are intensive grammar classes in between sessions so you can dive deeper. Imma stay up here in the shallow end of the pool for now, but I am very excited to begin when the next session starts a couple weeks from now in August!
Speaking of pools… I going to grab my towel and sunscreen and head over to the pool for a swim now that I’ve done everything on my to-do list. I’m finally getting the hang of being retired!
I hope you are stying cool and you and yours are doing well. Thank you for reading, and if you ever have questions, please feel free to comment and ask.
Have you ever read something (other than politics) that just pisses you off?
I read a post on Sunday by a fitness guy I follow who said “what do you think of when you think of the average 62-70 year old? Shuffling along, stooped over, looking down at their feet to see where they’re going so they don’t trip, right?”
I’M INSULTED! After reading further, I realized that his ultimate point was that our bodies are designed to be strong and capable well into old age, but only “IF you never stopped moving, playing, lifting, climbing, and running… from childhood on.” Our society has become too sedentary, thus, too unfit and unhealthy too early. But, not us, right?
MY FIRST WAY to stay “young” is to stay strong and flexible. If you are playing, chasing, lifting and entertaining your Grands, do it as much as you can. If they wear you out, don’t start sitting on the sidelines, get stronger – for them and for yourself.
There are so many ways to accomplish this. What is my routine? I’ve done Nia Classes taught by my dear friend Holly (http://hollynastasi.com) for more than 20 years. Now I do them on Zoom with people from all across the world! I also walk briskly 2-3 times a week, do crunches after walking, Plank daily, yoga stretches and crawling/playing on the floor regularly.
FLOORPLAY – MY HAPPY PLACE
While walking is great, it doesn’t engage your whole body; add some Yoga, Chair Yoga, Nia, Pilates, Zumba, Bicycling, Water Aerobics, Light Weights training, or Kettlebell. Just find something you love and go for it!
THE SECOND WAY to stay “forever young” is to develop intergenerational friendships. I have been very lucky to have friends both much older and much younger than myself.
The young stylists I met at work were a tough crowd, LOL. We could have easily dismissed each other because of our age, but they teased me into learning the latest technology, fashion trends, and music, while showing me a lot of respect for my life-skills . They are what I most miss about no longer working in the beauty industry. Other friendships were formed over a love of good food, photography and art, and mutual admiration. These talented young women have been willing to include me in their lives. I am honored.
My older friends guided me with nurturing, encouragement and the benefit of their life experiences. Two set great examples of being young at heart, and were certainly stand-ins for my Mom after she passed in ’98. They were always generous, engaged, and active.
Nancy became client in the mid-1980s, and we became fast-friends. She was a little-bit coastal-grandmother – her family had a large Victorian summer-home on Rhode Island – and a little bit hippy. She hiked for years, and did yoga into her 90’s. She read widely, had been a librarian. I loved her style, her thoughtful way of speaking, her comfortable cottage in South Austin. We lived near each other, and I especially enjoyed being invited to lunch at her home.
We shared a love of blue & white Asian bowls, and on one of our last visits, I photographed these on her sunlit shelf, creating this watercolor. She was always open-minded, curious, and inclusive. I miss her terribly.
NANCY’S NEW CUT (that bone-structure!)Nancy’s Bowls
I met Lee at BookPeople in Austin, when we attended a book-signing for three women we both knew. She “took me under her wing,” became my friend, and was always a steadfast cheerleader as I wrote my book and struggled to regain my health. She is the first person I acknowledged in my book, and I don’t know if I would have finished it without her checking in on me.
Lee and I shared a love of hair and fashion, and Lee loved being right in the thick of things, in the spotlight if possible. Being shy, I admired that quality a lot!
She was a successful public speaker, who left Exxon to pursue her own career, then created a school to train hundreds of others to do what she did. Lee’s 90th birthday party (below) was an amazing gathering of all the people whose lives she had touched. She pledged that night to have another for her 100th, but passed away last year, 4 years shy of her goal. I really miss our annual birthday lunches, and her bright, cheery voice!
I came across this photo the other day which I’d saved, and it’s a reminder to myself after I found myself thinking, “what does it matter if I go out looking like this?” This is the THIRD WAY to stay youthful, and this picture really is worth a thousand words.
We’ve gotta live like we’ve got lots more life ahead of us, because we may have. What we do today will affect our tomorrows.
Thanks for being in my life. I loved all of your comments! XO Donna
IF you’ve noticed I haven’t shown up in your mailbox for a while, it’s because I have had Covid.
Yes, despite being vaxxed and boosted, and wearing a mask everywhere indoors, I got it anyway, as did my sweetie. I gotta say, I never had any doubts about my need for the vaccine, and I am grateful that so many people worked so hard to make one… I can’t imagine not having the vaccine – it knocked me on my ass, not gonna sugar-coat it. Today is the first day out of the last 14 that I have felt a bit like myself again. But I could sure use a nap. LOL
Let’s magically go back to what I began to write 3 weeks ago:
I am making a quiche for my son. It’s one I made all the time when he was growing up and it is dependent on perfectly-ripe farm-fresh tomatoes. I bought a few at our farmer’s market this morning, along with some onions, and I can’t get the memory of this Tomato & Onion Pie (what it is called in this cookbook I’ve had since the mid-1970s) out of my mind. A chunk of Jarlsberg, a few eggs, some half & half, and it will be heavenly!
Much used, well loved.
This cookbook was published in 1972, a year after my son was born, but I didn’t buy it until three years later when I began my first hairdressing job. There was an incredibly beautiful woman who owned a shop half a block from the salon where I worked. She was my boss’s client and we would always talk as I shampooed her hair.
Her shop – The Jade Garden – just around the corner from our shop, was full of airplants in stunning seashells from all around the globe, suspended everywhere in the delicate macrame hangers she made. Acrylic pedestals in varying heights featured whimsical terrariums she constructed. She was fascinating and exotic to me: she’d been to India, where she’d been given her name by her guru. She ran her own very chic business, something unimaginable to my twenty-five year old self. Her jewelry! And, she was a vegetarian.
I never really enjoyed meat, but I had no idea there were options other than what I had been raised with. There was a small health food store within walking distance of my shop – frequented by all the people coming into town from NYC to catch the ferries to Fire Island. We walked there together for lunch one day, and I was hooked. Down the veggie rabbit-hole I went!
I bought this book there. I had a Bohemian heart, and this book with it’s sweet stories of sharing good food which has been lovingly prepared struck a chord within me. Growing up, dinner was something to be “fixed” and on the table on time every night. Usually it was a very stressful event, to be endured. Not something to be enjoyed. This book presented a better way for me raise my son and enjoy our meals together.
These illustrations appealed to my Bohemian heart.
Between this book, and it’s follow-up, AnneMarie Colbin’s book, “Food and Healing, ” and James Beard’s book on bread – plus all the wonderful vegetarian friends I met when I moved to Austin a lifetime ago, I’ve always eaten well. Often on a tight-budget as a single-mom, but always well. Going back to my hippie roots always makes me happy. Food should be delicious, made with healthful ingredients, and beautiful. I am happy I made this quiche before I got sick; it made me feel better knowing that my son was enjoying it!
It is beautiful, no? if any of you are interested in the recipe, please leave a remark in the comments – I will gladly send it to you. It’s fabulous with a nice salad, a glass of buttery Chardonnay, and pears or peaches for dessert. And just as good when reheated in a toaster oven the next day! XO Donna
“Mrs. Robinson. Jesus loves you more than you will know… “ No, wait! That’s not what I meant to say, but now you’re humming it too, aren’t you?
Here’s to you, 2022, because you’re going to be a great year!
I believe this wholeheartedly, and the fact that I accomplished two major goals last year, and turned 70 to boot, gives me a foundation for my belief.
My first goal was to have what turned out to be a life-saving surgery. Now, almost seven months later, I feel so much better that I can look forward to a healthier, exciting year. My cardiologist is thrilled with my improvement – I saw her Tuesday and she reduced my meds because my blood-pressure is now too low – because my heart is working properly again!
My second goal (and I went right down to the wire accomplishing it) was taking an idea that came out of a therapy session, and turning it into a reality. I’ve opened a shop designing/selling greeting cards on ETSY. The cards are made from some of my favorite photos and professionally-printed for me on lovely card stock.
Maybe it’s my age, although I’d rather blame it on anything else, but the learning curve to get the thing up-and-running was an absolute bear! Have you noticed this, too? Does everything seem more complicated? It took me months to get all of my ducks-in-a-row, but it opened with a bang on December 31!
It is so exciting to sit here working, surrounded by packages of beautiful cards in shiny wrappers, imagining all of the loving notes that will be written and received.
Flower Power
Naming the shop was a challenge, but I set an intention one night before bed: I would know what to call it when I woke in the morning. And I did: FairviewPhotos is named for the only street where all of the O’Klock sisters lived together.
It was just me, Terry, and Lynn when we lived in Bohemia, a little town on Long Island, in the mid-50’s. Then, new baby sister, Andee, joined us in Sayville in the 60’s while a new house was being built. When the Bayport house was ready, we moved in, and Elizabeth (whom you met in my post in August) was born. All five of us on Fairview Avenue.
There are two other reasons I believe it will be a good year – and yes, they are “airy-fairy,” but, I study Tarot and Numerology a bit, and last year was a chaotic “5” year. (2+0+2+1 =5) all about personal freedom in all it’s forms – and look what that turned into!
This year will be a “6” year, (2+0+2+2 = 6) and the preponderance of twos is also good because they are about partnership, diplomacy and love. Yes, THANK YOU!
The number “6” is about taking responsibility, with an emphasis on relationships and equilibrium. This year may be more about “What’s good for ALL of us?” and less about “Me, my rights, and what I want.” With this mindset there is room for an emphasis on growth and healing, cooperation, and service to others.
I read that 2022 is also a magnetic year; meaning that you can attract things more easily, both good and bad. Focus on your goals, and think BIG. Stay positive, drop judgements toward yourself and others. And drop guilt. Who needs more of that?
My Vitex Card
The icing on the cake for me, is the Pantone Color of the Year 2022, is VERY PERI. It’s not quite blue and not quite violet, but it is the color of the Sixth chakra, our Third Eye. It’s the color of the Vitex flower, above.
Last year’s color was Ultimate Gray… if that tells you anything. Don’t get me wrong, I love grey. This chakra, and it’s corresponding color, relate to self-responsibility and the ability to see things from a higher viewpoint, rather than satisfying your own ego. It also gives us the experience of being part of the whole.
The gift of this chakra is seeing AND understanding.
Let’s have faith that things are improving, let’s focus on what’s good. It’s a magnetic year, after all.
Let’s decorate our home with indigo-colored flowers, or better yet, plant some iris, lavender, and periwinkles in your garden. We planned to plant a Vitex tree and lavender bed this spring – I knew there was a reason I was focused exclusively on purple plants for my garden!
Frankincense, Lavender, Neroli and Juniper are all supposed to be beneficial for the Third Eye Chakra – they are available as incenses and oils, which I love and my sweetie hates. Relationships and equilibrium, huh? I’ll get back to you on the incense.
Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. XO Donna
“To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub.” Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Now that I am finally sleeping blissfully again, I can look back at how elusive sleep was for more than two years. I tried everything in order to get a good night’s sleep, and while nothing worked then, all of those new habits are now paying off splendidly! Experts call this process Sleep Hygiene; revamping your habits and developing practices to improve sleep.
A good night’s sleep benefits everyone, in every way, from infants to centenarians.
My long-time favorite evening beverage.
This past year I saw lots and lots of people on social media complaining about sleep deprivation. Yes, there was a whole lot to be anxious about, so you can blame some of our collective sleeplessness on that. But a lot of our new behaviors are causing this sleep disruption: being glued to electronic devices at all hours, a lack of fresh air and daily exercise, working in a new environment (at home, in our pajamas, and often from our bed). Any one of these can contribute to sleeplessness, but compounded?
There are many consequences of poor sleep, especially when it occurs repeatedly.
Weakened immunity
Mood changes
Trouble thinking, concentrating, and both short and long-term memory loss
Weight gain
Low sex drive
Risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Have you ever dealt with a cranky, frustrated, and over-tire toddler? Lack of sleep creates all of those emotions in us, too. Fortunately, we don’t usually throw a screaming tantrum. Although…
Developing a good night-time routine will help reinforce “Bedtime” in your mind, making it easier for you to sleep..
Limit naps and caffeine in the afternoon.
Build in a one hour buffer before bedtime to unplug from electronic devices. They cause mental stimulation and produce blue-light which can disrupt sleep. If you like to read at night, read a book, or use the black-screen on your e-reader.
Lower your lights to signal your brain that it’s time to relax.
If you’ve been working in pajamas all day, change to a different pair for bedtime.
Make your evening facial cleansing/moisturizing/tooth brushing routine into a relaxing ritual.
Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool enough, and if you need it, add some white noise. I used a small old-fashioned fan that whirred softly, but there are also white noise machines that you can purchase.
Experts say you should make this your Golden Rule: only use your bed for sex and sleeping, but I’m not about to hang-out on the couch when I don’t feel well, so I would include recuperation too.
I used to become anxious each night at bedtime because “I knew” I wasn’t going to fall asleep. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy until I developed a Daytime/Bedtime distinction in my mind. I also learned that if I went to bed and wasn’t asleep in 20 minutes, to get up. Stretch, read a book, sit quietly, or do something else calming, in low light, before trying to fall asleep again.
Do you have any tricks or practices that work for you that you would share? Let me know in the comments below.
Alice looks a bit unhappy… perhaps too much cake and not enough tea?
I’ve been doing a lot of online research lately. Trouble-shooting I guess, since I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression. Wham! out of the blue I began having panic attacks two years ago, then last year I started having bouts of depression. I didn’t talk to anyone about it for a long time, then began therapy and finally admitted it to my sweetie. In August I found out these are very common symptoms of BII (breast implant illness) and usually go away after explant. Since I am not scheduled for surgery until July, I’ve been looking for a way to feel better sooner!
Everyone’s brains need feel-good nutrients now – what with the pandemic and the unfolding political situation here in the US.
While we can’t control either of those situations, we can take good care of ourselves, and our mental health, by eating right. Without a doubt, cocktails and comfort foods are comforting, but in the long-run they can leave us feeling worse. I have had to find a couple of alternatives to comfort myself that really do reduce stress and anxiety – picture Julie Andrews singing, “These are a few of my favorite things.”
A five or ten-minute guided meditation (found on Google) An online exercise class (I do Nia with Holly Nastasi on FB) A 20-minute walk outdoors, or if you live in snow-country, just a few deep breaths outside in the fresh air A phone conversation with a friend Hand-writing letters or notecards just to say, “Hi!” Curling up with a really good book (I couldn’t put down “The Beauty in Breaking” by Michele Harper) Taking a break for a “cuppa.” (see how testy Alice is getting…)
In my searching, I’ve found many articles written on the field of nutritional psychiatry: foods that help beat depression by giving the brain more of the nutrients it needs to thrive. I read that in a 12-week study, the people that improved their diets the most improved their mood the most. A long time ago one of my spiritual teachers said that “it’s not what’s eating you, it’s what you’re eating.” Turns out, there’s now the science to back him up.
So, what should we eat to feed our head? A Mediterranean-style diet full of fruits, fresh vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, plain yogurt and natural cheeses, beans, nuts, seafood, smaller portions of lean poultry and meat, and whole grains (except I have to skip the grains, unfortunately.) Please, enjoy that fresh whole wheat bread for me!
I’m also focusing on specific nutrients that are especially helpful: Probiotics which replenish the good bacteria in our guts. There is a strong link between our gut health and our brain health. To benefit both, add plain yogurt, sauerkraut, Kefir, Kosher dill pickles and fermented vegetables like kimchi… which I really need to learn to make, and that can be a whole blog if I can get a friend to come teach us! Vitamin B6 regulates our sleep and our mood, and too little is associated with depression. It’s a daily need and easily found in pistachios, garlic, salmon and tuna, bananas, spinach, sweet potatoes, avocados and whole grains. And last, DHA the main omega-3 fat in our brains. It promotes new brain cells, and Heaven knows I need all of them I can get! Seafood is probably the source we are all familiar with: wild salmon, oysters, mussels, and anchovies. But raw nuts; almonds, macadamia, cashew, and pecans are all good sources, too. There is one caveat – skip the can of dry-roasted, salted nuts – the processing and salt override their healthy benefits. ***I want to add a side-note here, I was taught long ago that if you eat well 80% of the time, you can “cheat” the other 20% and still be well. We all need an occasional indulgence!
So, that’s all the news for now. I’m going to make myself a cuppa and queue up “White Rabbit” on Pandora.
I learned a long time ago that if you look, you can always find something to be grateful for. These days, we don’t have to look far at all. A roof over our head and food in our pantry. Health, both our own and that of our loved ones – be they near or far this year. And a couple of extra dollars to donate to the local food bank.
And gratitude for friendships.
Thank you all for being here – or out there in the Ethernet. Thank you for your comments, for your advice, support, for sharing this blog, and for reading; giving me some of your time. Wishing you a delicious Thanksgiving!
SexyPast60 