self care – Dawn Lupul

June 17, 2020June 16, 2020

Return to the Basics – The Daily, June 17, 2020

Just a black swan swimming around, enjoying a typical day in paradise

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
― Paulo Coelho

“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.”
― Edgar Allan Poe

Check in with yourself. Are you sleeping well, exercising regularly and eating healthy foods? When there is so much turmoil around, it can be easy to forget to pay attention to the basics that keep you healthy and give your body and mind a chance to maintain balance. If you feel anxious all of the time, that is a sign that you need to notice what is going on in your immediate surroundings. Worrying about things that are out of your control can take a very real toll on the body and on the brain. Rein it in and see what is directly under your influence. Start there and take care of yourself today.

Where Were You When…? – It was 26 years ago today that O.J. Simpson caught the attention of the world as he rode in a white Ford Bronco that led police on a slow-speed chase on I-45 in Los Angeles. Most of us can recall exactly where we were when it happened. It’s funny how events like that can freeze a moment of your life into a concrete memory. Other monumental events like the death of Princess Diana, the news of Michael Jackson’s tragic demise, and the day Ronald Reagan was shot are easy to recall, as though they happened just yesterday. The mind is a strange and wondrous thing.

Masked Misinformation – Studies are now popping up about the importance of wearing masks. A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. From the study: “Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic. This protective measure significantly reduces the number of infections. Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public.”

So wear one. It’s really not a big deal.

Thought of the Day – Considering that there is so much misinformation out there, while it is important to stay informed and to be aware of what is going on, obsessing over the news right now is not a good way to improve your outlook on life. Temper the need to know things with the need to find moments of peacefulness. Go for a walk and appreciate how nature continues on, completely oblivious to the latest problems of humanity. It’s a nice way to unwind for an hour.

Have a special day.

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein

November 2, 2019November 2, 2019

Ignoring Yourself

Yoga for the body, mind and soul. Do what you need to stay healthy

The body is such a wonderful thing. When everything is working well we don’t think about it a lot, assuming that it is doing whatever it needs to do. We don’t concern ourselves with much other than eating and how we look in our clothes.

It is a good thing that it is such an intricate creation. If we had to consciously orchestrate the myriad of processes that go on in every moment, we would be overwhelmed and would probably die. There is just that much going on at any given time.

Think about it. At the same time you are reading this, your body is digesting food, doing repairs, cells are dying and others are being born, and your defence system is on patrol, looking for anything harmful that needs to be destroyed.

September 13, 2019

Taking Care of Number One

Spend some time by yourself and appreciate the beauty that you are

Taking care of number one doesn’t mean that you don’t care about others. It means that you give yourself the best care so you are then able to be there for everyone else.

Doesn’t it make sense that this is the most important thing to focus on, that if you aren’t healthy and happy there is no way you can help others?

For some reason, somewhere along the line, self-care got a bad rap.

If you were drowning, and somebody right next to you was drowning, can you help that person before you help yourself? No – you will both drown.

August 19, 2019September 1, 2019

Discovery

Find what works for you.

I find myself writing and saying that a lot as I navigate through the world as a holistic health coach.

Because ultimately, however great the advice is, if it doesn’t work for you then it doesn’t work for you.

That is why there are so many options in life. Take food for instance. Nuts and seeds are very good for you, and ought to be included in your diet in some form every day. But if you have allergies, then you need to be careful not to go against your own body.

If you can’t eat walnuts then maybe you can eat pecans. If you can’t have tree nuts at all, then perhaps sunflower seeds are okay.

The issue I have with social media and the proliferation of website experts is their one size fits all, rather cavalier attitude towards recommending that we all follow a certain diet or lifestyle.

August 17, 2019September 1, 2019

Self-Care and Ways to Fit It In

Luxury enjoyed after three weeks in the jungle of Costa Rica living in a hostel

You don’t have to go on a seven-day spa retreat in order to give yourself some much deserved self-care. Although that would be nice of course!

There are many things you can do from the comfort of your own home that will go a long way towards ensuring that you are taking care of yourself when you need it most.

Here are five easy ways to add a little self-care into your busy life..

August 15, 2019September 1, 2019

Self-Care and Why It Isn’t Self-ish

Have you gone for a walk in nature today?

Tell a busy mother with three young kids, a full-time job, and friends and family who demand her time that she needs to add more self-care to her life.

She might throw something at you.

Or the busy executive who is putting in 70-hour work weeks, trying to get ahead, get that promotion or land the next big deal – tell him to slow down and take a moment to see how he is doing inside.

That will get a laugh for sure.

As the pace of the world continues to quicken, the last thing we have time for is ourselves. Until something goes wrong.

July 17, 2019

Your Body Needs You!

Teaching yoga in Costa Rica – breathing and checking in with the body

If you saw someone close to you being mistreated, you would step up in a heartbeat and do whatever was necessary to help them out. We are amazingly heroic in times of need, performing feats of strength and courage that we didn’t even know were in us.

So where are you when your body is crying to you for help?

I honestly see people treat their cars better than they do their bodies. We take things for granted, assuming that our bodies will just figure it out, never paying much attention to the little signs that creep up.

I implore you – start paying attention!

It’s so much simpler to deal with issues when they are small, whether it’s seeing a doctor, watching your diet, losing a little weight or getting more exercise.

Don’t wait until your body is screaming for help and you are forced to do something. Sometimes by then, it’s too late.

Five Signs Your Body Needs You

Something is different – It could be your sleep patterns, your appetite, gaining or losing weight for no reason, or a pain somewhere that lingers and had no cause that you remember. Change is not always good.
You are tired all the time – We lead busy lives. Sleep is usually the first thing we neglect when life gets crazy. But sleep is when your body heals and repairs itself. If you are tired, your body is sending a message. This is one you need to listen to.
You are angry, or sad, or depressed – If you spend most of your days experiencing these strong emotions, your body is feeling it too. Your emotions affect your physical well-being more than you realize. Reach out for help to deal with whatever you are dealing with.
You just don’t feel good – It’s nothing you can pinpoint, but you know that something isn’t right. Overall soreness, fatigue, brain fog and a lack of interest in doing anything could be a sign that something is up. Pay attention and maybe schedule that trip to the doctor sooner rather than later.
Pain – This is the body’s ultimate alarm system. Something is wrong. Do not ignore pain, as it is there for a reason and you need to find out why.

Your body is depending on you to take care of it. It is like a helpless child, having to deal with a tough environment and being neglected at the same time.

Step up and be the loving parent your body needs you to be!