Stress Reduction Techniques-VOLUME 4-THE CARE AND FEEDING OF PLANTS

This is definitely the newest and the most surprising stress technique I have ever found.  Surprising, because, in my past life, I killed every plant I touched.  I did NOT have a green thumb, or the proverbial Midas Touch when it came to taking care of plants.  Every plant I touched basically turned to brown, not gold.  I over-watered, under-watered,  put plants in shady areas where they were supposed to be in full sun, didn't deadhead dead flowers regularly, etc.

Then, the pandemic hit.  

I found myself alone, at home, with nothing to do.  Yes, I worked out.  Yes, I meditated.  Yes, I watched QVC.   But, it was so cold and dreary outside, I began to daydream about Spring and Summer with all the beautiful flowers and trees in bloom and green grass everywhere.  I looked around my house, wondering if I could somehow bring some cheeriness into it, to tide me over until the warm, sunny weather came. 

Suddenly, my sorry-looking plants started to talk to me.  Yes, talk to me.  No, I'm not nuts.  Especially the new succulent I had received as a birthday gift from my co-workers.  Poor ladies, they had no idea I was a plant-killer.  Anyways, the succulent, which I believe was the newly proclaimed leader of the plant group started up the conversation.  Looking up at me with its sad succulent eyes, it begged..."Take care of us, will ya?  Water us, will ya?  But, remember, not too much!  Google the directions...you know how to Google, don't you?  You're on your phone enough!  You're home now, for crying out loud, look at us for a change!"

"OK...OK...I get it!"  (Did I actually say that out loud?)  

So, I started to feel the soil in each of my plants.  Boy, you really are dry, aren't you?  Woops.  I loved how the soil felt on my fingers.  I could actually feel the energy.  It was soothing, calming.  I googled how to take care of succulents, christmas cacti, gerber daisies, mums.  Interestingly enough, all my plants were gifts. I realized I have never bought a plant of my own, for my own enjoyment. I guess I just never had the self-confidence to know I could care for a plant. Metaphor for my life, perhaps? Something to ponder...


After I got my plants sufficiently watered, I studied the sunlight requirements of each of my plants. I made sure I gave each plant the proper sunlight they needed specific to their needs. During the day, as the sun moved across the sky, I would take note as to where the sunniest spot would be and literally pick up my plants and move them in the sun. Much to my delight, the plants responded well, growing exponentially. So much so, that before long my husband actually had to transplant my succulent into a bigger pot. I could audibly hear the "sigh" from the succulent as it had more room to stretch out its roots.

Now, every Mother's Day my husband would buy me a hanging plant...preferably petunias.  I loved petunias, but, for some reason I could never seem to keep it alive into the fall.  It would always go to seed very quickly, even though I would deadhead it and water it, and keep it in the sun.  Well, this year's petunia was no exception.  It started out as a gorgeous, vibrant, lush red-flowered one.  But, it started to go to seed quicker than even all the past ones.  What was I doing wrong?  This time, I went back to my friend, the trusty Google, and looked up the information on how to care for petunias.  Turns out, when thunderstorms hit that contain a lot of wind and/or rain, or if it becomes too hot, you have to shelter it.  Either bring it in the house or put it under something.   Oh.  I never knew that.  Woops, again.  Next, petunias love to be fed with a plant food, along with watering and deadheading.   Oh. I don't have plant food.   So...I commissioned my husband to buy me some Miracle Gro plant food, and I began to perform surgery on my petunia.  Every day I methodically cut out the dead stems and seeds.  I made sure once a week I would feed it, then I decided to feed my indoor plants too!  Why not?  

Well...wouldn't you know...all my plants are thriving.  My petunia is making a comeback.  My indoor plants are growing so fast.  In the fall, I'm going to have my husband transplant one of my christmas cacti into a bigger pot.  I'm even thinking of filling out a job application to a beautiful greenhouse/store that is about a half a mile from my house.  I could walk there!  Hey...need some help?  I'll water your plants!  You never know, right?

What is the moral of this story?

I have realized that there is a philosophical metaphor at play here.   The care and feeding of plants is not unlike the care and feeding of people.   Each plant, like each person, is unique.  Each responds to care and nurturing in their own way.  What works for one person, or species of plant, may not work for another.  Diligence, patience, trial and error, confidence.  These are the qualities a caretaker needs to help a withering plant thrive, a sick child regain health,  a suffering, battered person heal from old emotional wounds. 

You cannot imagine the sense of satisfaction, self-confidence and joy that hits me deep in my soul meticulously nurturing and grooming my plant "babies".  It has securely made me realize that I am, indeed, a nurturer, a healer, a caretaker, a teacher.  This is my core being.  This is who I was meant to be.  This is my role in life.  Be it plants, children in a day school, or helping others achieve wellness with my blog.  Seeing a new bud on a plant, a new green leaf spring forth, making a shy child belly-laugh, or listening to and helping my own family members.   The joy, peace, and fulfillment is boundless and limitless.

This is me.

Until next week...Be a butterfly!🦋

 

Stress Reduction Techniques- VOLUME 3-HOBBIES

As much as it is extremely important to be diligent and somewhat serious in maintaining a good exercise and meditation program to combat and alleviate higher-than-normal stress levels, it is equally, if not more, important to have fun.  And, when I mean fun, I mean, belly-laughing, constant smile-on-your-face fun.  Something to turn to when the stress of the day becomes so overwhelming all you want to do is eat your way through the house, or jump off the nearest bridge.  I have found three joy-producing hobbies in my life of which I will never let go.  I would love to share these with you all, in hopes that you can find your own hobbies, or even adopt one of mine!

🍭CANDY CRUSH🍭 

I was first introduced to this beautiful Iphone app sent from Heaven about, I would say, 5 years ago.  I remember it was Christmas, and my niece had started playing it.  She showed me how to download the app, and how to play.  I was immediately hooked.  I remember thinking-"She's already at level 500?  I'll never get there!"  Well, I'm here to tell you, and happy to say, I am at level 3,164.  Thank you very much.

The rules of the game are simple.  You get 5 chances, or lives, to match like colors of candies by swiping your finger across the phone screen.  You get a certain number of moves on each life.  You swipe like candies until you clear all the jelly on the board, within the move limit.  If you clear the board, within the move limit, you then move on to the next level.  (And, you do the obligatory happy dance.)  But, if you fail to clear the board within the 5 lives you are given, you have to wait until you get another life...25 excruciating minutes.  That's the painful part.  I find, when I have to wait for another life, that's usually when I go to the bathroom.  You think I'm kidding?  

But, wait! There's oh, so much more.  You get daily boosters, like the lollipop hammer, (my favorite) which crushes any stubborn candy in your way.  There are constant contests, where you can win lives, win extra boosters or gold bars.  Gold bars help you win more boosters.  Get the idea?  It's all about the boosters, baby!  During the beginning stages of the pandemic, Candy Crush even gave each registered player a FULL WEEK OF UNLIMITED LIVES!!!!  I was in blissful ecstasy.  Of course, I didn't talk to anyone in my household for that week.  There's also a permanent indentation on my couch from where I constantly sat.  But, it's all good now.  (I think.)

🖍ADULT COLORING BOOKS🖍

When I was little, I loved to color in coloring books.  I loved to doodle and draw.  Along the way, however, when the struggles of daily existence took hold, I lost that creative interest.  In fact, I never even thought about drawing until I had children of my own.  I started to paint and doodle with them, and really enjoyed it.  I especially loved to draw with sidewalk chalk, which I still do.  In fact, nowadays when I see sidewalk chalk in the neighborhood or at work, I tend to get really excited.  (I also tend to steal pieces of chalk to draw with-don't judge.)  The other day, in fact, while on our walk, I noticed a box of HUGE sidewalk chalk the size of cucumbers in a driveway.  I pointed it out to my husband..."Look at that!"  Which reminds me, I gotta go buy me some of those.  I wonder where I could get them?  Maybe Walmart?   I'll google that.

But I digress...

Anyways...back to coloring books.  Last Christmas (is Christmas a developing theme here?) my brother-in-law and his girlfriend bought me an adult coloring book with crayons.  When I say adult, I mean, it has swear words written all over it.  I'm telling you, my heart leapt for joy.  At first, I laughed hysterically.  Then, I started to feel a little intimidated flipping through the pages because the designs were so intricate.  I remember thinking, "It'll take me forever to draw one page!  I'll get too frustrated and bored."  Well, I'm here to say, yet again, I am almost done with the book and cannot wait to get another one. (Hint-hint, Kyle and Kellee?)  My husband has invested in colored pencils for me to use for the more intricate designs.  I also make it a point to take pictures of each page I finish and text them to members of my family...including my mother-in-law.  She's my biggest fan, by the way.  I was a little nervous that she would be offended by the swear words.  NOPE.  She actually is quite pleased with my work, and encourages me to keep going.  The one I will post here, she says looks like a "doilie".  Hilarious. 

📺QVC📺

If you haven't heard about QVC, you really should look it up.  QVC is the original home shopping channel which started on cable television back in 1986.  I am really dating myself here...I was 19 years old.  Or, as I like to say, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.  (I had a pet T-Rex named Fluffy.  Again, don't judge.) 

QVC is one of those pleasures in life where you can sit back, relax with a cup of coffee, and enjoy, even if its just to shut out life momentarily.  It has four channels...QVC is the main channel.  QVC 2 has different programming, but sometimes replays shows.  QVC 3 is all prerecorded shows.  So, you can watch your favorite presenter or program three times in one day if you want!  Beauty IQ is an all-beauty channel, where it showcases hair, makeup, and accessories only.  I don't get Beauty IQ on my cable lineup, unfortunately.  When the pandemic hit,  I found myself alone in the house, no job, nothing to do but clean.  I wanted to avoid the news at all costs, because I did not want the depressing news to cause any more anxiety in me.  I found myself turning the TV on and watching QVC more and more to escape the harsh realities of the day.  Recently, we changed our cable lineup to save some money, but I made sure I was able to still have the cheapest cable package WITH QVC!  That's how much I need it in my life.   Obsessed?  Yup.

From Jane Treacy's bubbly, upbeat, over-the-top personality and her love of shoes, to Angel Smedley's beautiful and eloquent way of carrying on the torch of Jeanne Bice's Quacker Factory.  To Kim Gravel and her way of empowering women at any age and at any size with her gorgeous, boutique-inspired clothing and exquisite beauty line.  She laughs, she cries, unabashedly.  She's a genuine, caring human.  To Carolyn Gracie and Gary Goben for their wonderful Denim and Co. casual clothing line, helping women at any stage of life be comfortable, and yet on trend.  I love Gary's hashtag #instantskinny.  I wonder if you can put that hashtag on your mirror...do you think it'll help?  To Jennifer Coffey-yoga instructor, single mother, motivating women to love and empower themselves without abandon.  To Kerstin Lindquist, who is so amazingly inspiring about her struggles with infertility, putting it out there with her books.  She's a wonderful, talented writer, who helps inspire me to keep on with my writing.  She loves her God, loves her family, loves fitness!  I relate to her in a lot of ways.  And of course, to Isaac Mizrahi (or as my husband calls him Alex...he can never remember his name) and his amazing lace pull-on wide-leg pants.  I wonder if the black ones are still available?   I'll have to look on the app.

OK...well...that's just a few of my favorite things!  I challenge you to find a new hobby, or fall back in love with a hobby you used to enjoy!  The joy and satisfaction hobbies will bring you will trump any anxiety, any depressing thought, any sadness you might feel at that moment. 

Try it!  You'll Like it!

Until next week...be a butterfly!🦋 

Stress Reduction Techniques-VOLUME 2 : MEDITATION

Back in the winter, before the pandemic hit, I was working at my Children's Center with the two-year olds.  It was a cold, snowy day, and all the teachers were outside with the kids getting some needed fresh air.  I do not remember how the conversation started, but the topic of anxiety came up.  One of the newer, young teachers, started talking about how yoga has helped alleviate her anxiety tremendously, and how she was becoming certified as a yoga instructor for children.  I stated to her how I always wanted to try yoga, but I really felt too old to start learning headstands!  I could barely do the mountain pose! ( You know, standing still?)  She then added how she also found a new meditation app on her Iphone called Headspace, and she was working on an anxiety packet presently.  I asked if the app was free, she said yes, I downloaded it, and fell in love!

If you've never heard of Headspace, I urge you to give it a try.  It has done wonders for my mental health!  Once you download the app, you get a free, 10-day Basics package in which you can learn the basics of the practice of meditation.  You can change the duration of the meditations from 3, 5 or 10 minutes long.  Also, there are free videos to watch, daily motivational quotes, and some sleep techniques you can try out.  In order to gain access to the thousands of other packets they offer, however, you do need to buy a membership.  If you are a new member, however, and you have been affected by the pandemic financially, I believe you can get a year subscription for free.

Anyways, after I completed the Basics package, I was hooked, so I decided to buy a membership.  When you buy a membership, the thousands of meditations that can be accessed can go up in duration to 20 minutes long.  I have done a few packages-"Appreciation", "Letting Go of Stress", "Self-Esteem", "Basics 2", and Basics 3".   All of these meditations have helped my brain to calm down, but specifically the ones I have done have helped me appreciate and have gratitude for everything I have in my life, to not worry about the future and stay in the present moment which alleviates anxiety greatly, and to look at negative thought patterns from different perspectives.  Not necessarily changing the negative thought, but allowing the thought to bubble up, be aware of it, and gently allow it to float away.  The discomfort of the thought naturally lessens over time, and the mind eventually lets it go.  These meditations have been extremely helpful during this time of crisis, where the stress levels in my household have been highly elevated.  If you think about it, however, stress levels have been elevated to dangerous levels on a global scale, as well.  It's in every household, in one form or another.  How great would it be for each person on the planet to meditate for just three minutes a day!  What a difference this would make in the world!  I believe the next package I'm going to try is "Happiness".  This meditation helps to find the joy within yourself, while finding the joy in helping others.  Again, very helpful during this time of crisis, where global happiness is surely lacking!

During my meditation journey, I have learned some new techniques.  These are called "Noting", "Body Scan", "Reflection", "Resting Awareness" and Visualization".   I will explain each technique the best I can:

1. Noting:  If you are busy doing a task, like homework, or remote work, and you find your mind drifting off and being distracted, this technique reminds you to become aware of the distracting thought or feeling and say "Oh, yeah, thinking."or, "Oh, yeah, feeling."  Then gently, like a feather touching a crystal glass, bring your attention back to the task at hand.

2.  Body Scan:  This occurs during the beginning of each meditation exercise.  Think of it like the light on a scanner or copier machine.  Start at the top of the head and scan down.  This brings you in touch with your body, bringing you to an awareness of the physical sensations you are experiencing at that moment, and what your general mood is.  It helped me pinpoint that I always carry anxiety in my stomach area.  A very good daily monitoring tool for your mind and body.

3. Visualization:  This technique was the toughest for me.   In the "Stress" meditation, for example, I needed to visualize warm sunlight trickling down from the top of the head like from a shower head and filling up my whole body starting from the toes upwards.  Your body is supposed to feel spacious, warm, light...the qualities of sunlight.  In order for me to achieve this feeling, I had to meditate outside in the sun so I could actually feel the warmth.  Eventually, I figured it out, but it was a challenge.  For you, however, it might be easy!

4. Reflection:  This technique is when you ask a question in the second-person, and the answer bubbles up in spite of itself.  There is no judgement, however, because since the question is asked in the second-person, you don't have any idea what the answer is going to be.  So, there is no preconceived idea of what the answer SHOULD be.  It's like you are conducting an interview with someone you just met off the street.  For example, in "Appreciation", the question posed was "Who, or what, are YOU most grateful for in YOUR life right now?"  There is no judgement on what your answer should be.  There is no judgement if you don't feel ANY gratitude at that moment.   Just whatever bubbles up.  A very interesting tool to help you get in touch with your feelings in a non-judgmental way. 

5: Resting Awareness:  Now, this was my all-time favorite technique I learned.  Which is interesting, because its an advanced technique, and supposedly very difficult to master.  I found it very easy!  When you meditate, you usually focus on one anchoring thing.  Your in-flow and out-flow of breath, for instance.  For me, to focus, I usually count my breaths from one to ten, then back to one.  Inhale-one, exhale-two, etc.  You do this for a while, then, you actually let go of any focus and give yourself permission to let your mind "be free".  To allow it to do anything it wants.  If it wants to think, you let it think.  I found, after letting go of the focus of the breath, my mind just sat there, like it just zoned out.  Maybe I listened to the birds chirping, or cars driving by, but otherwise, it just rested.  My mind was actually resting!  WWWHHHAAATTT???  Not doing the constant somersaults of anxiety and worry which had always been the case!?  Very refreshing, to say the least.   

So, in conclusion, try meditation.  Try it in any form.  You don't need to get an app, by the way.  Sit on the sand at the beach and listen to the waves, or go beach combing.  Go for a walk in nature.  Sit in a hammock and sway back and forth, listening to the birds.  Sit on your back deck and thank God for this beautiful blue sky you are witnessing.  Whatever it takes to allow your mind to key down, chill out, unwind, relax.  

🙌Its all good.  Really it is.🙌

See you next week!  Stay well!

Be a butterfly...🦋

Stress Reduction Techniques...VOLUME 1-EXERCISE

In looking back over this two-year journey of striving for, and ultimately attaining, physical wellness, I have realized that achieving mental and emotional wellness is just as important for my overall health as physical wellness.  Maybe even more important.  I thought about it long and hard...what techniques did I frequently use these past two years to help me achieve my goals of diabetes remission, weight loss, and removal of physical and mental health medications?  There were quite a few, actually!  So, instead of writing one blog post brushing lightly and quickly over all the techniques I used, I thought I would go in depth into each technique and break them up into volumes.   The order in which I write about my external supports are not particular.  Just only about what I feel comfortable writing about at this present moment.

Today, the support I feel comfortable writing about is EXERCISE.

I was first introduced to Leslie Sansone and her Walk At Home program back in 1998.  I have been wracking my brain trying to remember where the hell did I buy this VHS tape?  There was no Amazon, no online shopping of any kind at that time.  There was no Walmart in my area.  I cannot, for the life of me, remember where I bought the tape.  But, anyways, I guess that doesn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things.  It was called "One-Mile Super Calorie and Fat Burner with Weights."  Basically, it was walking in place, doing some basic, easy moves, no dancing or jumping around required, and using light hand weights.  I loved the idea that anyone could tailor their workouts to their specific needs.  She kept saying throughout the whole workout (I'm paraphrasing here) "you can't get it wrong", "just go back to walking in place if you don't like any of the moves", "you can still get a great workout without the weights", "it's the beat of the music that gets you fit, not the moves".  This easy-going approach to exercise sucked me right in.  I could get a safe and effective workout in my own home, even at 300 pounds!  I didn't have to drive anywhere!  I didn't have to get all dressed up in little matching spandex outfits, do my hair, put on makeup, and feel like you're on display in a gym.  No competition, no comparison, no seeing your full body image in surrounding mirrors, no embarrassment.  I could workout all four seasons of the year, in any kind of weather!  NO EXCUSES!  It was perfect!

Over the years, I collected a bunch of Leslie's workouts.  I watched them on Exercise TV, I bought them at Walmart.  The old VHS tapes I had I converted to DVD.  I worked my way up to 2-mile, 30 minute workouts every day, which I still do religiously.  There were days I even did 3 or 4-mile workouts, if I had the time.  Sometimes I used weights, sometimes not.  Sometimes, Leslie incorporated other facets of fitness in her DVD's like kickboxing, strength training (lunges, sit-ups, leg-lifts) and jogging.  I experimented with them all and I loved them all!  

Back in April, when I started this blogging adventure, I decided to write an email to Walk At Home and give them my testimony.  I had no expectations...I didn't even expect a response!  But, it still felt good inside to write to them to thank them for the help and support I got from their exercise programs.  Surprisingly, they wrote me back!  They asked me for a before and after picture and my t-shirt size.  I was thrilled, because I thought I was going to get a t-shirt in the mail.  Little did I know, they put my testimony and my before and after pictures on their social media, and sent me a HUGE box of goodies!  DVD's, a water bottle, t-shirts, fitness bands!  They sent a hand-written note, calling me a super-walker!  I was beyond ecstatic! And so grateful!  Through the social media post Walk At Home put up, I ended up meeting a few, really nice ladies who have kept in touch with me, read my blog and kept up with my Instagram and YouTube.  Walk At Home even follows little ole' me on Instagram!  Leslie Sansone is an earth angel.  She has been a life-saver.

Now, I have incorporated Leslie's HIIT training into my repertoire...High-Intensity-Interval-Training.  She sent me two of these DVD's, and I reluctantly gave them a try.  HIIT training consists of short boosts of high-impact exercise, like jogging, jumping jacks, twists, bouncing, etc. followed by slow recovery.  There are about three boosts in a 30-minute period.  It really brings your fitness level up to new heights.  I didn't think I could even do it, but I do it!  Twice a week!  It's hard, but I still manage.  Still, I have to admit, the original 1998 VHS-converted-to-DVD workout it still my favorite one!  I love it when Leslie cracks a joke, or laughs her goofy laugh.  Without fail, she makes me smile, in spite of myself. 

I also am a firm believer in doing a variety of exercise.  Variety keeps your body guessing and adapting.  Different types of exercise helps keep your body from falling into a plateau, or getting a repetitive-motion injury.  Walking outside, using the exercise bike, and hiking are my other favorite forms of exercise.  I go outdoor walking, whether around the cul-de-sac, around the adjoining neighborhood,  through the downtown park, or hiking a trail.  My daughter has joined me in outdoor walks, as well.  Hopefully, a couple of my friends will start taking walks with me, too.  God bless the exercise bike!  It has definitely been an excellent support for me if I have an injury of some sort.  As I mentioned in a past blog post, I'm still healing from a hamstring injury, and the bike has been great therapy for that.  I've also had issues with my left ankle and foot over the years...numerous sprains, and tendontitis.  The bike has been wonderful for therapy and healing of my ankle and foot.  And, just like Walk At Home, you can use the bike all four seasons, in any kind of weather.  

Again, NO EXCUSES!  You just gotta do it!

Well...that's it for today!  The sun is coming out.  I think I'll take a walk over to the pool at my condo complex and do my next stress reduction technique that I will talk about next week...MEDITATION!

Have a wonderful week!

Be a butterfly...🦋