From personal life experience, I’ve discovered some truths that are in direct opposition to what were once long-held beliefs.

• I once believed that normal aging was the cause of physical and mental decline.  I now know that this is untrue and a worldview pushed on us by our youth focused society.  I have personally experienced growth, improvements and some increased abilities while aging.  There have also been some changes that were not improvements.  I started needing help for my vision when I passed the 50’s mark, and I am no longer as quick in movements as I once was.  Contacts and glasses have been a blessing, and I need look no further than my own family to know that vision problems are not all about aging.  My own children wore glasses from very young ages.  So, I was fortunate to need no assistance until after 50.  The slowness of pace that is my new norm is partially due to a less frantic feeling within and a greater calm as I’ve discovered yoga and live a healthier lifestyle.  No longer driven by a daily habit caffeine high or sugar rush, my natural pace is more measured and calmer.  Others may view a slower and calmer pace as an indicator of aging. To me, this feels like a positive change, not a decline of any sort.
• I once believed that to be young meant being strong, infallible and able to do anything I set my mind to doing.  Young or old, we are not infallible.  Strength does not come from being young but from being active and healthy.  Over the years, we sit more, eat and drink more and less healthy options, stress more and generally are much less physical than in our youth.  Lifestyle patterns of adults accumulate and take their toll over time.  As for doing anything I set my mind to, that’s possible at any age but also has repercussions.  When my body was at its peak in flexibility and my reflexes were sharpest, I could quite easily do more physical feats than I could after a lifetime of unhealthy habits.  7 years of a healthy lifestyle and many dietary changes has proved to me that the path of decline I was going down can be reversed.  However, I cannot expect less than 10 years of positive to undo decades of negative behaviors.  
• I once believed that being thin, signified beauty and being healthy. Yo-yo dieting of all kinds, plus starvation were my usual paths to the short lived periods of the “thin version” of me.  Being thin is NOT an indication of good health.  The diet industry, fashion magazines, Hollywood have all foisted the images of rail thin people, especially women, as the beautiful and ideal. Not only is this body image of ‘rail thin’ a false beauty, it is extremely unhealthy for our physical and mental states.  This is not an endorsement of obesity, nor being overweight.  It is a recognition that we are not and should not all be “one ideal size”, and body weight is merely one factor in assessing health.  Lifestyle, our dietary habits, our exercise habits or lack thereof, our mental stimulation, whether positive or negative (violence, anger, high amplitudes, high exposure to blue light from technology), our spiritual connection or lack thereof, the health of our relationships with others and ourself - all of these have impact on our health.  Healthy is beautiful!
• I once believed that allopathic/conventional doctors and western medicine were the best in the world.  I no longer believe this. It is true that for medical emergencies and surgery, western medicine excels. For health and healing, our medical system is broken and leaders of our public health systems have been corrupted by power and money. I now know that there are fabulous doctors and mediocre doctors, no matter their academic credentials. There are doctors who toe the line, doing whatever superiors and their usual resources like the CDC, FDA or NIH tell them to do, and there are others who challenge themselves and the current narrative, investigating themselves in order to make what they believe are informed suggestions to their patients. There are doctors who make recommendations to their patients without personal inquiry, follow up and checking the data. They trust those past resources and acknowledge it’s not their job to do the research.  It is how they’ve been trained in medical schools across the country.  Doctors in the U.S. and other countries are also urged to see as many patients as possible.  This leaves little time for each patient and less time for independent research.  The debacle of the world in the past two years and my own research has confirmed to me that the western medical system and those who are a part of it are not infallible nor anywhere near the best providers or examples of health in the world.  
• I once believed the allopathic/western medical system was the only viable medical system that existed in the modern world.  At 60 years of age, I was surprised to discover a word I’d never heard, let alone to learn it was not only viable, but the oldest medical system in the world - Ayurveda (the science of life).  My personal experiences with Ayurvedic medicine, a 5000+ years ancient system that has been adapted throughout the millennia, have been extremely positive. It is a customized system that makes sense to me.  Ayurveda's ancient medical healing techniques are recognized and used by some functional medicine doctors in the U.S.  Ayurveda is about the individual, not the masses.   Herbs, food, lifestyle choices, exercise, support of our natural immune system and a recognition of the miraculous healing power of the body with the right influences and conditions - all are keys to good health in this system.  It works. No, it is not a ‘quick fix’, take a pill system like our modern medical system. Patience, commitment and consistency are required. The western medical system has its benefits to be sure, but for healing, Ayurveda seeks to actually heal at the root cause of a problem, not just mask the problem with a pain killer or alternative drug for life.  
• I once believed that diseases such as cancer and heart conditions were an inevitable part of aging and death.  This is not true.  There are a myriad of books written by doctors who overcame their own illnesses and conditions after years of modern medicine treatments that didn’t work, once they tried changing their lifestyles and diet choices.  From cancer, diabetes, lupus, heart disease and other serious diseases, I’ve read dozens of books detailing the changes in lifestyle and diet that helped people get off their drug treatments and actually cure their diseases.  I’ve heard stories of people, diagnosed by traditional doctors and tests showing them as terminal, overcoming their cancer in their 60’s and living cancer free well into their 80’s and beyond.  
• I once believed “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.  This is also untrue.  With no prior experience and no training, just last year, I began painting.  I still don’t know how it is that I can paint, but my faith in God leads me to realize that I am merely a vessel for God’s work and that the timing was right.               I like this quote -

          “Stress makes you believe that everything needs to happen right now.                 
           Faith assures you that everything will happen at the right and perfect time.”

Today, I believe that healthy in mind, body and spirit is what yields beauty, happiness and an inner peace.  Working on being healthy will continue to be part of my journey while aging, and thus far, it has made a huge difference for me.  I am grateful for God's guidance along this path.

May you and your loved ones share happy and healthy moments each day.
Namaste,
Mary

When I was younger, my view of the world was very different.  I pretty much idolized everything new, modern and young. Typically, I thought that the elderly were sickly, weaker, out of touch and not able to keep up. I drank the Kool-aid of the posters, articles, tv shows, magazine ads that shined bright lights on the hip, youth culture.
Naturally, I worked hard to “stay young” and keep a youthful appearance. Our American culture provided a very dim picture of aging, and the medical profession seemed to promote the view of decline with never-ending advertisements of the need to take a drug, undergo surgery or have a treatment for all the supposedly inevitable conditions and diseases that would take over with normal aging.  I once thought to be young was to be modern, in the know, and that anyone over about 30 had old and outdated views.  In America, when I was in my late teens, the middle aged(30-50 years) were on their way to being elderly, who were pretty much marginalized and viewed as lesser due to their being “past their prime”.

I did witness some contrast to the American worldview of my youth, as a college exchange student traveling in Europe.  It wasn’t that Europeans didn’t also idolize ‘modern’ and the look of youth, but they seemed to respect, admire and genuinely like their elders.  I observed and experienced a different blending of ages.  It seemed odd to me at the time, to see older people mingling, mixing and even dancing with all ages in restaurants and pubs.  I hadn’t seen much of that back home.  Meeting Europeans and other foreign travelers often revealed families of multiple generations that lived together.  Grandparents quite naturally lived with their grown children and grandchildren.  Neighborhoods were multigenerational.  This too seemed odd to me.  

I found our ever-changing world exciting, and new technologies along with changes in the way I was taught to view things were all necessary and part of modernization. Back then, I was quick to adapt to change and also didn't question those who encouraged and fostered change and new ideas, as did many of my teachers.  Change seemed natural, not having experienced much of life yet. Whatever was the newest seemed to be the best.  I'd hear my parents and other "older" people saying things like ‘why fix something that isn’t broken’ or it's just ‘another new fad’ when the newest 'hot' idea or product came along.  I now realize that it isn’t because the more mature are old fashioned or not interested in the latest trend, but 'they’ve been there and done that', so to speak.  

I found it interesting to recall that while I was in the "middle aged" years, I did everything in my power to be considered part of the younger crowd.  I don't recall my parents or their friends being so enamored with being considered young, and that probably made it seem all the more appealing.  Marketers, seeing a huge opportunity to make big profits from those of us 30-50 somethings, who also just happened to have jobs and money, took advantage of this 'youth envy syndrome' that I and my generation had.  They marketed heavily to us as though we were young and 'cool' and part of the latest trends.  Overwhelmingly, we bought in.  Suddenly, middle aged was redefined as 50-60 years or so. Anyone who questioned it was given the justification that it was because the life span lengthened.  From 1975, when I was 22 years old, the life expectancy was 72 years.  Today it is 79 years.  An increase, but not that big of one.  In reality, I lived in a culture that just don't have much use for elderly, and as a group, we wanted to avoid being considered in the older age group at all costs.  So, delaying middle age was a no brainer.  As we have seen over time, there have been repercussions to this changed worldview.  I discuss some of these in my next blog post.

One of hundreds of examples I could give of the youth chase - I’ve experienced the trends of every length of skirt possible throughout my lifetime.  At first, the ups and downs of skirt hems were of utmost importance, further signs of being part of the "young, in and trendy" crowd.  Wearing last year's skirt length was a sure sign of being considered out of touch, "uncool" or worse yet, "old".  After years of following the trends, it got old and began to seem like ‘change for change's sake’. I experienced and learned that the fashion industry and clothing manufacturers direct the fashions, such as length of skirts, and whatever is their latest directive is what is “new and modern” and adopted by anyone chasing their youth or needing the affirmation of being considered "stylish".  It is the way that the industry is able to keep making profits and selling more of their products.  Over time,  I could no longer ignore that it is part of the game of “fashionable, trendy, modern” that is played.  For many years, it was fun to sport the 'current, trendy' look of the day and not pay much attention to why it was “the look” that everyone had to have. 

In recent years, I’ve stepped back, slowed down and made a point of observing life. My yoga training paved the way for developing this interest.  At the core of life, there is a foundation of truths that do not change. Living beings are curious, resilient, social creatures that learn how to live, work, play, adapt and get along in their environment.  Living beings seek out mates, have children and in the simplest terms, want to live safe and happy lives. Whether you believe in God, as I do, or not, no one can deny that our world and its life forms are still beyond the complete comprehension of humans.  In this advanced and modern world, there are truly still many unanswered questions.  

For me, it is part of the wonder and beauty of life.  I am grateful for the sun rising and the air being available for us to breathe.  I marvel at the miracle of life and the innate knowledge of our bodies to thrive and heal.  I acknowledge and appreciate the God given wonders of life.  I am blessed and happy to be a person of faith.

My worldview has changed from a focus on what I haven’t done, don’t have, don’t look like or measure up to.  For many years, I believed the societal ideology of young is ideal; faster is better; we need to have more, be more, do more, buy more, eat more - the “Biggie Size”, extremism, way of life that Americans and western cultures have indulged in.  Our planet is blessed with an abundance of resources.  America is the land of plentiful, and I am grateful for our affluence.  It allows us to enjoy our beautiful world, give to and help others.  Many others who have less, aspire to be like us and adopt our ways of life.  However, somewhere along the line, affluence became overindulgence.  The “modern”, fast, fake and processed foods, sugar and caffeine energy drinks, rampant prescription drug and illicit drug use, cell phone addictions, ‘more is better’ patterns of life have come at the expense of our health.  The indulgences of "fringe behaviors", such as human trafficking, sex changes for children, promotion of pedophilia, beastiality, late term abortions to name a few, also have spawned and will continue to yield negative consequences.

Aging gracefully, healthfully and beautifully is not possible with today’s lifestyle of excess.  Aging the way that most Americans and western cultures live is an automatic path to decline, disease and pain.  It is what we are headed for if we don’t change our view of a good life.

I feel grateful that nearly 7 years ago, I happened on a new path that led to a completely new lifestyle and worldview.  My view of life and the world has expanded in many ways.  Sometimes shedding and exposing the views that no longer ring true can open up the eyes, heart and spirit to so much more.  Thank you for reading these thoughts.  I hope that at least some of what I've written resonates with you and is helpful.

My next blog will reveal some of the truths I’ve discovered that upended my entire worldview!

YIELDS   8 Servings
PREP TIME  15 mins
COOK TIME  10 mins
TOTAL TIME  25 mins

Ingredients
1 cup organic short grain brown rice (cooked ahead)
1 cup walnuts (raw)
1 tbsp vegetable broth
1 medium yellow onion (diced)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder 
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp salt (optional)
1 ½ cups home-cooked black beans (or BPA-free 15-ounce canned black beans, drained) 
⅓ cup flax meal (or almond meal)

​Directions

1. Cook brown rice as instructed on the package and set aside.
2. Heat a nontoxic, non-stick skillet over medium heat.
3. Once hot, add raw walnuts and toast for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning. Lightly toasted, then set aside to cool.
4. While cooling, bring the same skillet to medium heat. Once hot, add ½ Tbsp veggie broth and onion. Sauté for 3–4 minutes, or until onion is soft and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
5. Once walnuts are cooled, add to a blender or food processor with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, salt if using and pepper and blend to a fine meal. Set aside.
6. Add black beans to a large mixing bowl and mash well with a fork or potato masher, leaving only a few whole beans.
7. Next, to the mashed beans, add cooked rice, spiced walnut mixture, sautéed onion, and flax or almond meal and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon for 1–2 minutes, or until a moldable dough forms. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
8. Form 8–10 burger patties (depending on size you prefer) and set on a baking sheet or plate for grilling. If grilling, heat the grill and brush with oil to avoid sticking. Otherwise, heat the same skillet you used earlier to medium heat.
9. Add burgers to the skillet, about ½ inch apart. If there is not enough space for all of them to cook evenly then cook them in two or more batches. Cook for 3–4 minutes or until browned on one side, then flip (gently). Cook for 3–4 minutes on the other side.

Tips
Prep Ahead
Make brown rice ahead of time and store in the refrigerator so it’s ready-to-go.
Layer 
This meal offers a great opportunity for layering to make a nutrient-dense delicious meal! Add toppings like sliced tomato, avocado, sprouts, herbs, kimchi, kraut, greens and onion.
Serve burgers by themselves, on toasted whole grain buns or as a lettuce wrap with the added toppings.
Freeze for later
You don’t have to cook all the patties at once! Consider placing them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 5–7 days or separate with parchment paper and store in the freezer for up to three months. Cook them as desired.
Substitutions
Don’t have almond flour? Oat flour works well too and you can easily make it by grinding oats in a food processor or grinder.
If using flax meal in place of almond or oat flour, you might need to add a small amount of water if the mixture feels too dry to form patties. Add 1–2 tablespoons at a time until you reach the desired consistency to form patties.
Other whole grains such as millet and farro may be substituted in place of rice.
ENJOY!!!
May you and your loved ones be healthy and happy.
Namaste,
​Mary

I’ve listened to a couple interviews with Douglas Murray, a British author and deep thinker. In one interview, he said that he’d spent much time contemplating the following question:

What is your vision of a life well lived?

I find it to be an interesting question. 

After much thought, for me, learning has been the foundation that led to my full and well-lived life.  Whether discovering a path to the simplest movements as an infant, to learning over time, the nuances of speaking and communication; learning was the necessary key ingredient to new experiences.  I've come to realize that learning is much more encompassing than school or book learning and is active, not passive.  It includes experiencing success, failure, and learning how to recover. It includes in-person travel, cultural  experiences, and living life  - not just reading about it or seeing it on a computer screen, or being lectured to about it.

I have lived my life as a child, a daughter, a sister, a student, a friend, an adult,
a teacher, a wife, a mother, a leader, a team member, a grandparent, a yogi, a writer, and much more.  I have played many more roles than those listed here, and likely you have too, depending on your age.  I’ve led a full and rich life, filled with many and varied experiences.  I’ve learned much and will continue to learn each and every day of my life. 

So, what made my life a well-lived one? 
After 68 years of living it, what follows are my observations:

• My parents taught us from birth - right from wrong and how to get along with others - I learned to share the importance of virtues such as honesty, kindness, compassion, responsibility, gratitude and generosity.
• My nature was a God given blessing, in that I viewed pretty much everything through a positive lens.  I've lived life all-in and with passion!  The failures I had were very difficult lessons, but I viewed them as lessons nonetheless.  The sooner I could turn my focus to something positive again, the sooner I could begin to see the lesson in the failure.
• Our household was disciplined and my parents had high expectations for me and my brothers. I think the discipline and high expectations led to my success in school, activities, and at work.  My father often worked 3 jobs and my parents made sacrifices so that we could live in neighborhoods with good schools.  By doing so, they were modeling that doing what was right for our family often came with sacrifice of what is pleasant.  My brothers and I viewed our life's work, or job at that time, to be going to school.  We were expected to do well in school, listen to our elders, do what was right, and refrain (as much as possible) from doing what was wrong.  We were also expected to tell the truth, and there were consequences for misbehavior.  Schoolwork came before playtime. Naturally, as children, this felt like a sacrifice, and it was a lifelong lesson that paved the way for many successes.
• Another God given blessing -  Curiosity and being open to new people, new cultures and enjoying new experiences! I've lived with an innate curiosity to learn about life, with a simple confidence and knowing that life is good. Being curious to know and experience, life presented itself to me as adventures.  Fear has seldom been my partner in life.
• I've consistently had a sense of purpose and enjoyed being part of groups and the greater community. I enjoyed feeling that I added value and made a positive contribution in our family, in our community, and at work.
• In many ways, we live what we’ve inherited and add more.  

To my way of thinking, we start as a book of blank pages and we get to write the pages over time.  After the initial foundation of youth experiences, it is up to us what is written on the pages of our life.

• What I've learned along the way led to the twists and turns that my life took.  With more learning, either the more twists and turns I've taken, or the deeper down one path I've been able to go. Twists, turns, deep paths - all have been interesting.

• Two of my favorite mottos since childhood - "anything worth doing is worth doing well" and "always leave a place better than you first found it". I've sincerely lived these truths as best I could and I am glad that I did.
• Infusing gratitude into each day assures that every day of life calls to mind my blessings - a true gift

One final thought - whatever stage of life, it is important that we live with faith, love, hope and dreams!  Even in a worldwide pandemic, keep dreaming!

May you and and your loved ones live life with faith, hope, and dreams.
Namaste,
Mary

In a prior blog, I mentioned the film The Need To Grow as being an interesting and inspiring look at the food system of today and what is possible for the future. 
Rob Herring is the Director of the film, and he often provides some interesting articles like the one below.  I hope you find it useful, as I did.

Getting enough vitamins in your life?
Even if you take a vitamin complex daily, there’s a pretty good chance you could still be low on the vitamin B12 end of things.
We need all B vitamins for the body to function well. But vitamin B12 deserves its own spotlight for more than a few reasons.

Scientifically called cobalamin, methylcobalamin, or cyanocobalamin (not a great form), vitamin B12 is pretty plentiful in animal products (liver, beef, sardines, tuna, etc)— but scarce in most plant-based products, unless you know where to look.

*Cyanocobalamin is not accessible in the body immediately, and may deplete your potassium levels in the blood. It is the cheapest form and used in almost all B12 supplements, so watch out for it. For some people, this may be doing more harm than good. 

For those who opt for a mostly plant based diet, it’s important to take extra special care to make sure B12 levels are healthy!

That said, even people who are animal product consumers could still be low on it.
Some research suggests nearly 40% of US residents are deficient. 
Vitamin supplement complexes too, even if they contain many B vitamins, can also skimp on B12. In most cases, it’s best to get an entirely individual supplement of only B12 for yourself to make sure you get enough.

But why worry so much about B12? Well, if you don’t get enough, lots of things could start happening.

• Mental and nervous system function could decline.
• Brain fog and fatigue could set in.
• You may start having digestive issues.
• Depression and anxiety could increase.
• You get more headaches and migraines.
• Skin could turn more pale or yellow.
• You start getting anemia and other nutrient deficiencies, too.

If vitamin B12 deficiency gets REAL bad, you could develop whole other conditions: such as pernicious anemia, or beri beri! (Thankfully, some of these are rare or genetic only).
That said, even a simple deficiency can be super unpleasant.
So, if you are mostly eating plants, how do you make sure to get enough?

Here are some top plant-based (or fungus-based!) sources of vitamin B12, which include a few favorites.

• Fortified nutritional yeast.

This is by far the most accessible, convenient, and effective way to get plenty B12 in a plant-based diet. It can give you a 'cheesy' flavor that can be added to almost anything. 

• Fermented foods.

Research shows that B12 is generated principally by active beneficial bacteria! So if you get a live active ferment of some sort— like kimchi or sauerkraut— you’ll find traces of B12 in there.

• Sea vegetables.

Some types of seaweed or edible algae are excellent sources of vitamin B12. The most notable one is nori seaweed, which you can find in many Japanese sushi rolls.

• Culinary, medicinal, and wild mushrooms.

A little known fact is that many types of edible (and medicinal) mushrooms contain higher amounts of B12 than most plants. These mushrooms include lion’s mane, morels, boletes, shiitakes, reishi mushroom, and many others.

• Supplement sources

There’s no shame going the supplement route. In fact, if you want optimal health but don’t have the time (or ability) to source or prepare all these above foods, it’s not too hard to find them in supplement form— for example: there are natural B12 supplements and extracts that may contain seaweed, algae, even reishi, lion’s mane, probiotics, and more.

To a healing future, 
Rob Herring
Director, The Need To GROW / Earth Conscious Life

P.S. In my opinion, the best kind of B12 is absorbed through a liposomal delivery system. It may be one of your best chances to protect your hearth health and nervous system, boost your mood, and increase your energy. 

May you and your loved ones be happy, healthy and joyful!
​Mary

We found this on the Good News Network and wanted to share...
​
Alexander McLeish has won a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s ‘Cashword’ instant ticket game—and the word that won him the scratch-off jackpot was a ‘heartfelt’ coincidence, to say the least.

The Attleborough man who had just gone through open heart surgery earlier this month, received a get well card from a friend with three instant tickets enclosed.
The friend went out of his way to buy the scratch-off at the same store where he purchased another lottery ticket as a birthday gift for Alexander years earlier that won him $1,000. This time, the prize was one thousand times bigger, and the details of the win were a thousand times spookier.

As Alexander began to scratch the “Your Letters” area of the ticket, the first three letters revealed were A, W and M—his exact initials.

As if that weren’t enough of a positive omen, the word that appeared on the bottom row of his winning puzzle, which clinched him the jackpot, was “HEART.”

With his son by his side, he tried to stay calm so as not to over-excite his overjoyed heart.

McLeish claimed his prize at Mass Lottery headquarters in Dorchester on Friday, November 26, 2021.

McLeish told reporters he intends to give his longtime friend of over 50 years who bought the ticket, a little bit of the prize money—in addition to sharing with his two adult sons.

“He offered to buy his wife a new car, but she declined,” reports the Washington Post. “Other than paying off some bills, McLeish said he hasn’t made many other plans with his new riches.”

It was fitting that he scratched off the “HEART” on Thanksgiving, with a new lease on life, and family around to share the excitement.

This article from Banyan Botanicals by Barbara Sinclair contains good advice for all of us during the holiday season. No matter what your dosha is, this is the time of year to pacify vata. So if you're feeling your shoulders creeping up towards your ears, and your heart beating a little bit faster, take a time-out and read this.

Oh, boy. Did someone just say the H-word?

Long before I knew anything about Ayurveda and vata dosha, I sensed the palpable anxiety that would arise in me towards the end of October/early November, knowing that the holidays were fast approaching. I remember commenting to my friend that, although fall was my favorite season, I always felt a bit out of sorts. Edgy. I used to also say that I wished I could be more organized, but I didn’t have the tools. Talk of Thanksgiving, travel plans, and Christmas music playing in the background everywhere I went, chipped away at my already-frayed nerves. And the days seemed to fly by.

It only got worse when I had a young family and needed to orchestrate all that the holidays entailed. Baking cookies, Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping presents, decorating, parties, school events, etc. etc. There were many meltdowns and hiding-in-the-bedroom moments. I was an adult with a husband and two kids, but all I wanted was a time-out or a nap.

I have a lot of vata dosha in my constitution, and planning ahead and organization are not typical vata traits. It’s the dosha that embodies movement, change, creativity, and often a propensity to fly by the seat of our pants. It also rules the nervous system. Honestly, just typing this blog post and thinking about the holidays is making my heart race a little faster. Not in a good way. I have to remind myself— “Just breathe.” It’s kind of a cruel joke that so many major holidays happen smack dab in the middle of vata season (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere where I live). But knowledge is power.

It wasn’t until my body got my attention around age 48, with a little something called fibromyalgia, that I serendipitously learned about Ayurveda. My life and perspective changed forever. Ayurveda was key to healing the chronic pain and gifted me with a deeper understanding of the mind/body connection. Now that I realize the cause of my heightened anxiety (fear and anxiety are manifestations of unbalanced vata dosha), I can make a plan to get through these months relatively unscathed. Because, it’s not a pretty thing to have a nervous breakdown during the holidays.

At age 62, I’m now in the vata time of my life (50+). So, for me, it’s the perfect trifecta. Vata dosha, vata season, vata time of life. But over the years I have learned more and more about Ayurveda, and I have discovered ways to keep balanced during these times of stress. Looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Seek Support
This is definitely a time to reach out and receive. The holidays are the perfect time to ask for help from organized pitta-type friends. They thrive on planning and executing and love to be in charge. I treasure my pitta friends!

Yes, I felt guilty the Christmas that my about-to-deliver-any-second pitta friend (with two young children) had a big feast and invited me. But she totally had it all together (she loves to entertain), and didn’t deliver for another whole week! I did bake an apple pie from scratch, crust and all. That counts for something, right?

And where would I be without my kapha friends during the holidays? Kapha-types usually love anything to do with family, and they give the best hugs. Perfect for anxious vata folks. They also tend to be the most grounded (earth/water), and airy vata-types can always use a dose of grounding. And touch. We love (and need) to be touched.

Create Consistency
It’s also a time to try really hard to stick to a daily routine. This is not an easy thing for those of us who change like the wind. Routine. Routine. Routine. It’s become my daily mantra, especially during vata season, and can be the difference between a calm day and one that’s frazzled and disorganized.

Many days I feel like I’m swimming upstream trying to discipline myself to follow a routine—going against the flow of my constant movement kind of nature. But I never stop trying. I figure the least I can do is wake up and go to bed at (roughly) the same time. I eat my biggest meal around noon (gently cooked and warm is most vata-pacifying), and make sure to take time out for an abhyanga oil massage. And I meditate and breathe. I cannot emphasize enough how a meditation and breath practice changed everything for me. Everything.

I lived a life of such high anxiety that it’s a wonder my nervous system didn’t short circuit. Well, actually, I guess it did, when I developed fibromyalgia. In my pre-meditation days, I was afraid of so many things—flying, speed, confined spaces, water, you name it—I was afraid of it. And then I began (twice daily) to sit in blessed silence, relax my breath, and let go. One by one, my fears and anxieties began to drop away. When the day came that I could walk onto an airplane and actually look forward to a long flight (well, kind of), I knew I had made huge progress. So, meditation and breathwork during the holidays? Most definitely! If I start to feel the H-word anxiety arising, I sit down, close my eyes, and let go. It’s medicine for the soul.

Be Gentle
Vata is also the dosha of depletion. This is another important thing to remember when the holiday season comes around and life gets busier. Back in my pre-Ayurveda days, I was aware of my propensity to crash and burn. I had mountains of energy only to be followed by a rapid decline, feeling as though someone had stuck a pin in me and let it all drain out. Looking back, it was always during the afternoon vata hours (2–6 p.m.) that the meltdowns would occur. While all of my pitta-type friends would use their kids’ naptimes to work on a project or clean the house, I would slap a note over the doorbell, daring anyone to ring it, while I napped along with my two little ones. If I had only known about Ayurveda back then, I would have been so much easier on myself. Now, when the H-word starts showing up, I’m armed and ready with all of my Ayurvedic tools.

If you have a lot of vata dosha in your constitution, please be gentle with yourself during these stressful months. Let go of all the unnecessary trapping of the holiday season (good advice for everyone) and focus instead on what’s really important.

Vata is often referred to as the spiritual dosha. This can become even more pronounced during vata season, as well as during the vata time of life. Take advantage of it and set aside plenty of alone time for reflection, meditation, and time in Nature, as this can help to bring about a wonderful sense of peace and calm—not to mention give more meaning to our life. It’s no coincidence that the vata times of day (2–6 a.m. and 2–6 p.m.) are considered the best times for meditation. My afternoon meditation has become a favorite part of my day.

So, here I am, in the more reflective time of my life, suggesting that you let go of the things that stress you out about the holidays. Focus on what’s really important to you. Each year my holiday to-do list grows shorter and shorter. Gone is the baking and holiday cards and gift giving to everyone under the sun. I still love to decorate my nine-foot cactus with twinkle lights and all of the ornaments I’ve collected over the years. I’m a sucker for twinkle lights! And I have friends and family who LOVE the holidays and all that they entail. For them, the more the merrier.
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Wishing you all a stress-free, vata-pacifying holiday season! Did I mention how much I love the month of January?

May you and your loved ones be healthy, happy and joyful!
Mary

87 years young, Jane Goodall is a legendary animal activist, best known for her work that began in the 1960’s with chimpanzees. Her work, including 30 published books and at the non-profit Jane Goodall Institute has had a very powerful and positive influence on the welfare of all animals and habitat preservation.  Jane can be seen on the cover of Time magazine, announcing her new book, which she co-authored, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

Below is a letter penned by Jane to a group that I belong to.  It is a letter of hope and inspiration, which we all truly need right now.

Dear Member,

Thank you for being part of the movement to heal our lives and our planet. Both are critically important, and the work you do is at its very foundation.
I'm writing today because we are going through dark times. Violence, hatred, discrimination, the pandemic, environmental destruction, and climate change all threaten our future.

Ever since I began traveling around the world in 1986 to raise awareness about the harms we humans have created, socially and environmentally, I have met so many people who have lost hope for the future. Probably the question I am asked more often than any other is: Do you honestly believe there is hope for our world? For the future of our children and grandchildren?

And I am able to answer truthfully yes.

What is this "hope" that I still believe in, that keeps me motivated to carry on, fighting the good fight? What do I really mean by "hope"?

Hope is often misunderstood.  People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I'm not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement.
I have four main reasons for hope for the future of our world: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and the Indomitable Human Spirit.  

Hope is nothing less than a crucial survival trait that has sustained our species since the time of our Stone Age ancestors. Certainly, my own improbable journey would have been impossible had I lacked hope.

Hope is contagious.  Your actions will inspire others. Thank you and thanks to all your community members for all that you are doing to make a difference. The cumulative effect of thousands of ethical actions can help to save and improve our world for future generations.

It is my sincere desire that you will find solace in a time of anguish, direction in a time of uncertainty, and courage in a time of fear. I want to invite you to join me in a journey toward hope and to working toward finding solutions to the problems that threaten our world.

Together, we can do so much. And I believe we have barely begun to discover what humans are truly capable of, when we become engaged, when we work together, and when we take constructive action to build a world that is worthy of the dreams of our children.
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With love, and with hope,
Jane Goodall

May you and your loved ones be healthy, happy and joyful!
Mary

What a great resource for all of us - Epsom salts are inexpensive and accessible!  
Thank you for much of this information taken from a post on –The Alternative Daily.  

It was fascinating to me to learn the amazing benefits of this super-mineral…
Epsom salt, which is not really a salt at all but a mineral compound comprised of magnesium and sulfate, gets its named from a saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England.

Epsom salt has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a number of ailments, and also has many beauty, gardening and household uses.
Both magnesium and sulfate are readily absorbed into the skin, which makes their health benefits readily accessible. Over 325 enzymes in the body are regulated by magnesium, which also helps reduce inflammation, alleviates hardening of the arteries and improves muscle and nerve function. Sulfates improve the rate at which nutrients are absorbed and help to flush out toxins.
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Here are 17 suggested uses for this versatile compound!

1. Soothe sore muscles
An Epsom salt bath is a great way to soothe sore muscles, cramps, bruises and joint pain. Because of this, it is a great after-workout soak. In addition, soaking in an Epsom salt bath is a wonderful way to relax and relieve stress. Add 2 cups of salts to a warm bath. Mix the salt in so it dissolves in the water. Soak for 10-15 minutes for best results.
2. Exfoliate skin
As we shed our skin naturally, the buildup of dead skin cells clogs pores and can cause blemishes. Exfoliation is necessary to keep skin healthy, glowing and vibrant. The best way to exfoliate with Epsom salts is to massage handfuls all over the body in the shower or bath. Your skin will feel soft and fresh with this homemade spa treatment.
3. Homemade hand wash
Mix ½ cup of baby oil with ½ cup of water, and add ¼ cup of Epsom salts and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Set this homemade mixture next to your sink for a nice bathroom hand wash.
4. Treat insect bites and poison ivy
A compress made with Epsom salts is a great way to treat mosquito bites, bee stings and poison ivy. Mix 2 tablespoons of salts with 1 cup of warm water. Soak a clean cloth in the mixture and hold on affected area to remove pain, burning and itching.
5. Clean your face
Your face need to be cleaned and exfoliated just like the rest of your body. Put a teaspoon of Epsom salts in your hand and mix with a little warm water. Scrub your face with the mixture then rinse clean. This facial cleaner not only exfoliates and rejuvenates but also helps remove blackheads and prevent acne.
6. Remove splinters
Splinters can be tricky and painful to remove. Skip the needles and soak your splintered skin in an Epsom salt bath. The salts will draw the splinter out and leave the area clean.
7. Lip balm
Dry, flaky, cracking lips are not only unsightly but also painful. Heal this uncomfortable condition with a homemade Epsom salt lip balm. Mix equal parts organic coconut oil and Epsom salts. Apply to lips generously to exfoliate and moisturize.
8. Tile cleaner
Bathroom and kitchen tile grime can be difficult to clean. Powerful tile cleaners are not only expensive, but also often contain harmful chemicals. Make your own hard-working natural Epsom salt tile scrub. Mix equal parts liquid dish soap with epsom salts. Scrub onto tiles with a sponge and rinse clean with water.
9. Insect killer
Mix ¼ cup of Epsom salts with 2 cups of water and place in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture around your home and garden to safely deter insects without the use of chemical insecticides.
10. Relieve constipation
Epsom salts are a great way to relieve constipation. Mix 2 teaspoons of Epsom salts in a glass of water. Drink entire cup for best results. If the taste is not appealing to you, try mixing with fresh juice instead.
11. Fertilize your lawn and plants
Epsom salts make a wonderful fertilizer for your lawn and potted plants. For greener grass, mix 1 cup of the salts for every gallon of water and spray over lawn area. To fertilize potted plants, simply sprinkle Epsom salts around the base of the plants once every week. This method of fertilizing also works great for tomatoes and other veggies.
12. Draw out toxins and reduce swelling
An Epsom salt bath is a wonderful way to draw toxins out of your body. Soaking in a bath for 10-15 minutes is also a great way to reduce swelling. Mix 1-2 cups of Epsom salts in a warm bath and mix to dissolve in water.
13. Boost your laundry
Epsom salts combined with a little essential oil makes a perfect fabric softener for your laundry. In addition, the salts will help remove detergent buildup from your washer. Mix 4 cups epsom salts with 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Add ¼ cup to each load of laundry.
14. Kill foot fungus and remove odor
Soaking your feet in Epsom salts not only reduces swelling and draws out toxins, but also zaps odors and foot fungus. Add ¼ cup to a large container of warm water. Soak feet for 10-15 minutes.
15. Sunburn treatment
Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is a great way to soothe skin irritated by sunburn. Mix 1 cup of salts in warm bath water. Mix to combine and soak in the bath for 10-15 minutes.
16. Hair conditioner
Epsom salts make a great deep conditioner to add volume and remove grease from your hair. Combine equal parts of organic hair conditioner and Epsom salts and apply liberally to hair. Let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse clean.
17. Soften your hands
You know that soaking your feet in Epsom salts is healthy, but what about your hands? Soaking your hands is a great way to soothe rough skin, calm aching finger joints, remove nail polish and remove any dirt from under your nails. Add 1/4 cup of Epsom salts to a large bowl of warm water. Soak hands in mixture for 5-10 minutes.

May you and your loved ones be healthy, happy and joyful!
Mary

Ghee (clarified butter) is well-known as a high temperature and delicious cooking ingredient.  This golden gem with its milk fats removed also nourishes the body and intellect, penetrating deep into your being? Here are a few of the amazing benefits of ghee, known for its rejuvenating powers.
It brings forth a shiny glow. The Sanskrit word for ghee is ghrta, stems from ghr, meaning, “to shine.”
It builds and cultivates Ojas. Ojas is our body's reserve of energy, vitality and immunity.
It hydrates and lubricates dry skin. It can be used directly on the skin as a moisturizer on your face, hands, feet, lips, and nails.
It is an excellent carrier for herbs. Ghee allows the herbs to penetrate deep into the tissue layers.

It is an excellent healing aid. I've personally used this to heal broken blood vessels in the eye, and the healing process took half the time of letting the vessels heal on their own.  A tiny amount placed directly in the lid of the eye before bed will relieve this condition.  Ghee can also help styes.

May you and your family be happy, healthy and filled with joy!
Namaste
​Mary