MONDAY MORNING MALA MEDITATION - February 22, 2021

WINTER BLUES.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is relatively common for people who live in climates that get less sunlight at certain times of the year. For those of us who are affected, it is right about now when winter feels endless, and the lack of sunshine and warmth can take a toll in mind, body and spirit. As a result, it can even weaken our immune systems at a time when we need them to be the strongest.

There are a few things that can help pick us up, and one of them is a little mental imagery of reaching into ourselves to find our own little piece of the Sun. The Sun is the star at the center of our solar system and we are, after all, made of stardust, too! These affirmations will help you to remember what you're made of, and bring you back to balance.

"Leave ripples of love in your wake."

My husband was only 39 when he passed (I was 35), and thankfully he was responsible enough to have life insurance in place since we had a family, but neither one of us had any estate planning documents set up. We thought we had lots more time to figure that stuff out. When he died, I learned how important it was to have those in place, so that was one of the first things I did.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I began to think even more seriously about the what if's should something happen to me since I'm an only parent. My children are still minors, and no one has any idea how I run our household- bills, maintenance, banking, security, etc. I decided to create an Emergency Binder with all pertinent information so that my children and their appointed guardian would have plenty of guidance. It's a great idea for all adults to do this, whether partnered or not. I know it would have come in really handy for me in 2008.

As I was writing out all the information for the binder, I thought another important addition would be a personal note to my kids. I ended my message to them with, "Leave ripples of love in your wake." Something I believe we ALL should do.

MONDAY MORNING MALA MEDITATION - February 15, 2021

MINDFULNESS. 

“The goal is to develop spiritual stamina so when a problem occurs, I don’t act out of emotion, but out of wisdom.” ~Unknown.

Mindfulness is the state of being conscious of your thoughts, words and actions at the moment that they’re happening, and actively listening as someone else is speaking. Instead of sleepwalking through life, we are more active participants and contributors.

MONDAY MORNING MALA MEDITATION - February 8, 2021

There are some basic things we all can do to try to maintain good health: eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, drinking enough water, avoiding processed foods, limiting/eliminating alcohol, and getting enough exercise and sleep. Our bodies are constantly working to keep us healthy, and it’s our job to give it the right tools to help it do its job. We need to pay attention to our body when it gives us subtle cues as to when it’s hungry, tired, stressed, etc. But diet isn’t just about what we eat- it’s also what we watch, listen to, read, and the people and situations we put ourselves around; because of the Mind Body Spirit connection, it ALL has an effect on our overall health. Here are some affirmations to help reinforce the improvement of our physical health:

MONDAY MORNING MALA MEDITATION - February 1, 2021

Anxiety is something we all experience at some point in our lives. There are an unlimited amount of factors that can lead to anxiety, which is why it’s such a common issue, and with the state of our world right now, it's more common than ever. Mind, body and spirit are all connected to form one complete system- what affects one part affects the whole. When we experience an imbalance in any of these areas, we can experience anxiety. These affirmations are particularly helpful in reinforcing behavioral and mindset changes that can help make a difference for us to consciously choose peace.