Here we are entering the 2020 holiday season. For many, it’s felt like the most bizarre, long-ass year we can remember, and now…it’s the holidays. These holidays will likely be different, but that doesn’t have to mean BAD. Let’s explore.
Your Health & Immunity
The COVID Well-Being Event is off to a great start with about 470 registrants. Our 11/17 session on Health, Stress and Immunity Basics generated a lively and fun Q&A and was well-received:
“That was an AMAZING session. You ROCK. I feel like everything that comes out of your mouth is pure gold…couldn’t take notes fast enough! The part about nature boosting our immunity was fascinating. Thank you, thank you. I will be watching the recording, as well and so appreciate this handy PDF summary that you sent out. Looking forward to the next session, Laurie!”
Next up on December 1st (next Tuesday) is the session, Develop Stress Resilience.
Great news: you can still register for the whole Event!
You can listen to the recording of the first session, accompanied by the PDF summary document, and be ready for attending the next three sessions live , or via recording….your choice. I invite YOU to register to join us, for education, inspiration and empowerment that will serve you well during the pandemic, and for life! You can learn more and register HERE...only $47 for the entire event! I hope to see you inside.
Thanksgiving Thoughts
The annual U.S. Thanksgiving holiday is going to look and feel a bit different for many Americans this year, as we celebrate pandemic-style. Many are choosing smaller gatherings and working to remain within “pods.” Some are hosting larger groups outside. Some aren’t doing things much differently. However you’re celebrating, I invite you to honor your BodyMindSpirit self in as many ways as possible, potentially including these three:
1. Be thankful for what is good in your life.
Many of us feel at the end of our rope with pandemic fatigue, just as the numbers are beginning to skyrocket in the real first wave of COVID infections. Virus aside, we’re just exhausted from feeling in constant transition, and from missing parts of our prior ways-of-being—like gathering in big, fun groups to do things like listen to live music or attend a conference or celebrate a holiday (eh-hem, Thanksgiving).
While this all feels true and real, there are also always things to be grateful for. Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness master, has a saying that, “If you’re breathing, there’s more right with you than wrong with you.” In other words, there is so much to be grateful for, even when our lives feel extremely challenging.
And since energy follows thought, we tend to expand whatever we focus on. Expanding gratitude is healthier for us than expanding stress and anxiety. Thanksgiving can be a good time to re-commit to a daily gratitude journal, and this seems especially true during the challenging year of 2020.
2. Keep immunity front and center as you celebrate.
As we discussed in the first session of the COVID Well-Being Event, our immunity is dependent upon our whole-person health. The best defense is a good offense, and a good offense means taking care of ourselves in a way to promote sound immunity.
Maybe this means that your 2020 Thanksgiving entails less alcohol, more veggies, and one small slice of pie instead of three big ones. Maybe it involves a family walk outside after the meal. Possibly it can mean just enjoying and celebrating a day of family and food, instead of stressing about it. We can celebrate AND care for our well-being at the same time!
3. Enjoy food that is delicious AND nutritious.
Mmmm-mmm. I love food. And there are so many options for foods that are both nutritious AND totally pleasing to our taste buds. Some Thanksgiving ideas for you:
Turkey is scrumptious and, once Thursday is over, we can freeze some of the turkey and we can also make some bone broth from the turkey carcass that is oh-so-tasty and oh-so-healing for our digestive tract (where 70% of our immunity lives).
How to Make Bone Broth
To make bone broth, simply toss the whole carcass into a big stock pot and cover with water. (You may want to break up the carcass to make it fit more tightly.) Add in a few tbsp. of apple cider vinegar and let sit while you chop up 3 celery stalks, 2 carrots and an onion (you can use more to create a more robust flavor, if you like). Put the veggies in the pot, bring the whole thing to a boil, and then cover and let simmer for 24 hours.
During the first few hours of simmering, best practice is to remove the impurities that float to the surface. A frothy/foamy layer will form and it can be easily scooped off with a big spoon and thrown away. I typically check the broth every 30 minutes or so for the first 2 hours and remove any foam that has accumulated. Grass-fed and healthy animals will produce much less of this than conventional animals.
When you turn it off at the 24-hour mark, put in a giant fistful of parsley and stir in. This is also a time to add optional salt, pepper, spices and freshly diced garlic. Allow to cool, pour through a mesh strainer to extract the broth from the solids, and…
Boom. Amazingly nutritious and delicious bone broth. Great for sipping or for soups AND freezes well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enjoy the week, and turn up the volume on your self-care practices!
(p.s. Want to support your friends and family in turning up the volume on THEIR self-care, to promote their own health and joy? Wild World, Joyful Heart: Unlock Your Power to Create Health and Joy makes a fab holiday gift! Scoop copies from your local bookstore, or online, or get your signed copies by emailing me. )
Create Vibrant Health: BodyMindSpirit®
In empowered well-being,
Laurie
0 Comments