BE WELL BLOG

“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” Winnie The Pooh

During the added stressors of the holiday season, take time to reflect. Take time to simplify. Take time…

I am sharing a few fun and light-hearted thoughts to remind you that well-being…and life… can be so simple.

In 1926 A.A. Milne published a collection of short stories about a teddy bear named ‘Winnie the Pooh’ owned by his son Christopher, and Pooh’s friends from The Hundred Acre Wood.  Hundred Acre Wood in the stories is actually a Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, England, the place where the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh took place.

As a child, I fell in love with Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Tigger and Christopher Robin. I often imagined what it would be like to be Christopher and live in these woods. The stories, the characters, and their adventures and silliness came to life for me each time I opened a book. And as I grew into adulthood, I realized that the life lessons from Winnie the Pooh offered such simple wisdom. In fact, for me, just about everything I needed to know and understand about life I learned from the Hundred-Acre Wood.

The characters from Winnie the Pooh were filled with such matter-of-fact, sometimes laughable and silly, but amazing wisdom. Shouldn’t that be life?

When was the last time you read a story from Winnie the Pooh? All the social media channels combined cannot teach us what is often found in a single line from Pooh or his friends.

While you’re looking for your own copy of Winnie the Pooh, let me share a few of my favorite wisdom nuggets for a little holiday cheer.

• “Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” This is such a good reminder for all of us: Be grateful for everything you have.
• “The things that make me different are the things that make me ME.” Piglet – A simple life lesson and reminder to love and accept yourself for who you are.
• “Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” Take time to relax. Boy do we need this. Try doing nothing for a change!
• “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” This sounds like mindfulness or meditation at its best! Take a break from thinking and just stay present.
• “A little consideration, a little Thought for others, makes all the difference.” Developing a sense of empathy is powerful. Giving thought to others can change any conversation or situation.
• “Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” This reminds me to have patience and faith and to persevere!
• “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin said to Pooh – Believe in yourself. You can do this. You can do more than you give yourself credit for!
• “‘I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,’ said Pooh. ‘There, there,’ said Piglet. ‘I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.’” We should all care this much.
• “Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” Just take the journey. Experience what each day brings.
• “When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles.” Attitude is everything.

If you are looking for something to read this holiday season, simple life lessons are waiting in Hundred Acre Wood. Find a copy of Winnie the Pooh, Make a cup of hot chocolate, and get ready for some feel-good moments to interrupt the busyness of this season.

Vicki Parsons
12/1/2022

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

Gratitude, which rhymes with the word attitude by the way, comes from the Latin word gratus. Gratus means “thankful, pleasing.” Basically, this means that when you feel appreciation or are pleased by what someone did for you. But the concept of gratitude is more than feeling appreciation or being pleased.

Gratitude is a practice that acknowledges someone else’s gesture towards us or the things, but also that things are going well in our lives. But when life is hard, when things aren’t going so well, a practice of gratitude can be the key factor for developing a mental and emotional strength and resilience. On the best of days and the worst of days, gratitude and infuse a bit of joy into our lives.

I love this quote by Melody Beattie: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity … it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

November is National Gratitude Month, but why limit the practice of gratitude to one month out of the year?

I have a daily gratitude practice that has changed my life…or at the very least…my attitude. A regular gratitude practice encourages me not only to appreciate gifts that come my way, but to also look for and listen for joy triggers all around me, and intentionally be grateful for those things. This leads to a greater sense of well-being.

But another thing I have noticed gratitude has given me, is a greater ability to be kinder, gentler, and more caring and empathetic with people in my life.

I do 3 simple things to unlock fullness in my life every day:

1. I wake up every morning and decide to be grateful. I have a little sticky note by my bed and another on my bathroom mirror that I see every morning that says, “be grateful today”. It’s a daily reminder that no matter what I face, I will practice gratitude as much as I can.
2. I look for things to be grateful for throughout the day. People, things I see on my walk, a good meal, and so on. If you look you will see! I really pay attention to the good things I see and hear during the day and I savor them.
3. I express gratitude as often as I can. Expressing gratitude is more than just saying “thank you” or having good manners. It is drawing attention to something good and showcasing that in another person or for another person. It may include speaking words of gratitude, writing a card or sending a text to someone, or showing an act of kindness.

Gratitude has been one of the best practices I have started and kept up with. It’s not hard; it just takes practice.

There is good all around me and I go after it! I pay more attention to, and give greater weight to good news, the good in people, good vibes, good food, nature, music, art, and so on. It is all around me and I just gather it closer.

What are you grateful for? With practice, you too can help your brain to give the good stuff greater weight in your life and unlock fullness in your life.

Be like Piglet: “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne

Vicki Parsons
11/1/2022

“Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose.” Maureen Killoran

When we turn the corner after Labor Day, we basically enter into holiday mode. And it’s non-stop through January 2.

But these can be some of the best months of the year, so just to confirm… we want to avoid the STRESS…not the holidays!

In theory, holidays are a time of joy; a time of celebration.

In reality, 3 months of pumpkins, Halloween candy, costumes, turkey time, pumpkin pie, candy canes, candles, chocolate Santas, seasonal Starbucks, holiday shopping, gift wrapping, tangled lights, too much food, too much family, and so on, can create wear and tear not only on the seasonal celebrations, but on our personal well-being as well.

STRESS!

According to studies, more than 80% of us find the holiday season to be ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ stressful. For some, holiday stress can build to a level that seems too difficult to handle and ruins the entire season for them, and others.

STRESS! When we allow events, circumstances and people to trigger stress in our lives, the stress leaves us exposed to illness and injury, affecting our mood, and preventing us from fully enjoying people, special times together, and the meaning of the holidays!

STRESS! It wreaks havoc on the mind and body.

The good news about holiday-induced stress (if there is good news) is its predictability. We know when the holidays are coming. We know when holiday stress triggers will begin and end. Therefore we can be prepared; prepared to do less of what triggers stress and more of what brings joy and a calm spirit.

Doing something every day, just for the sake of self-care and enjoyment, is one of the best ways to minimize stress.

Try it this year. Look for ways to take time for you. Prevent or relieve stress every, and every holiday.

Here are some of my favorite tips for a healthier, stress-free holiday season. I think they work. But you have to give them a try to find out.

1. Add Sunshine to your day: Sunshine stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and helps relieve seasonal sadness which impacts millions of Americans every year. Be sure to spend some time outdoors or near a window on sunny days. Austin weather makes that easier!
2. Take More Walks: I’m a believer that walking can cure or prevent just about anything, but for sure stress levels. Not only are you outside, but the rhythm and repetition of walking has a tranquilizing effect on your brain, and it decreases anxiety. Walking improves sleep and sleep helps bring down stress levels! Take a 10 to 30-minute stroll through the neighborhood or park and experience how quickly it puts you into a state of peace.
3. Take the dog for a walk: In addition to enjoying the tension-busting advantages of walking, spending time with a pet can also help ease anxiety and calm the mind. They’re just so happy and appreciative of your time! My dog keeps me walking. If you have a dog, walk more during the holiday season.
4. Drink plenty of water: If you want an easy way to de-stress, drink water! If you think that sounds too simple, check studies that link drinking water with stress reduction. Our organs, including the brain, need water to function properly. If you’re dehydrated, your body isn’t functioning as it should and that can lead to stress. Studies have shown dehydration can increase cortisol levels, and cortisol is one of those stress-producing hormones.
5. Go tech-free to de-stress: Did you know that non-stop cell phone and email alerts keep us in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode? There are plenty of studies linking constant cell phone alerts with the adrenaline alarm. This can exhaust you and contribute to mounting stress levels. Turn off your phone and enjoy some moments of un-plugged silence.
6. Turn up the tunes: Anxious? Listen to your favorite music, whether it’s Jingle Bell Rock or the latest from your favorite pop artist. Research shows that hearing music you love can help you relax, reduce stress levels and even help you heal. So whether at home or in your car, tune up the tunes!
7. Visit a pumpkin patch: Spending time outside searching for the favorite pumpkin can be a fun and stress-relieving activity. It’s pretty clear that participating in favorite holiday traditions and positive connection with family and friends is part of self-care.
8. Carve that pumpkin. Re-visit simpler times when we created Jack-o-lanterns. Be creative and have fun for an afternoon of stress relief.
9. Cut down your own tree: Another stress-relieving holiday tradition. If you celebrate Christmas, skip the trip to home depot or the artificial tree aisle at target and head to the great outdoors. Being outside reduces stress, improves mood, and boosts happiness. It will also give you something fun to do that creates memories. There are several tree farms just outside of Austin.
10. Attend The Nutcracker: Another holiday tradition that brings joy and allows you to step into another world. Research shows that people who regularly attend cultural events feel healthier and more vital than those who don’t participate. This year is Ballet Austin’s 60^th Anniversary of The Nutcracker. Take time for some holiday stress relief this December.
11. The power of flowers: Research shows that being around flowers can help bring down stress levels. Flowers on your desk, dining table, in the garden can instantly put you at ease and inject a dose of “feel good”.
12. Look up at the stars: On a clear night go out and look up at the stars. Anything in your day will be put into perspective fairly quickly. Drive up to Mount Bonnell or head to the hill country. Get out of town and look up. Breathe. Relax.
13. Practice the pause: Plan a recharge day. Take a day off…or two! Make it an errand-free day; a day for your self-care. Fill your day with what you love; what revives you. Or do nothing! So slow down and enjoy some rejuvenation time.
14. Sit by a crackling fire: Don’t have a fireplace? Next best thing is lighting several candles and putting on holiday music.
15. Surround yourself with Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a classic holiday fragrance can go a long way to bring you a sense of warmth. New studies also show that cinnamon may actually prevent the spread and growth of cancer cells, lower LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides, and is rich in manganese, iron, calcium, and fiber. I love to add cinnamon to everything! Even putting it in a pan of boiling water can fill your home with calm.
16. The mighty little clementine: This is the season for the clementine. It adds vitamin C, calcium, and potassium to keep you healthy, and researchers studying depression have found that citrus fragrances boost feelings of well-being and alleviate stress by upping levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood. Peel a clementine, breathe deep, and eat!
17. Sleep enough and sleep well! Sleep is probably one of the most important and underrated ways to stay healthy. Don’t ever get too busy to not get enough sleep. Sleep is the time your brain and body need to recover and repair. Sleep deprivation can cause higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a bad hormone that weakens your immune system so plan for good sleep!
18. Make gratitude your attitude: Think about moments, events, people that you are grateful to have experienced in the past week. For each grateful experience, allow yourself a moment remember and then feel your gratitude for this experience in your life.
19. Remember the meaning of the holiday or holiday event: Don’t lose sight of why a holiday is a special day or season in your life and determine to reflect on that and bring that meaning and joy to others.

If you don’t have 20 to 30 minutes a day to add some of the above tips to your life…to do something for you…then you have a bigger problem and you need to re-think your life.

“How we perceive a situation and how we react to it is the basis of our stress. If you focus on the negative in any situation, you can expect high stress levels. However, if you try and see the good in the situation, your stress levels will greatly diminish.” Catherine Pulsifer

Vicki Parsons
10/1/2022

“Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. When people can’t do something themselves, they’re gonna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.” Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happiness)

Do you ever think so hard about something that you think yourself right out of doing it?

You think, and you think, and you think…but then…nothing. A series of “I can’t” moments that drown out the power of “I can”.

Two small words. “I can’t.” They’re defeating. Two small words said to you by someone else. “You can’t.” They’re crushing.

“That won’t work”.

“It’s too hard”.

“I won’t be able to”.

“It’s too risky”.

“I’ve never done it that way before.”

And soon we are responding to life through our mindset of doubt and discouragement. “I can’t”

Really? At the beginning of every great invention there was someone who had never done it that way before. But they powered up despite the nay-sayers. They succeeded with the mindset of “I can”.

Here are few “I can’t” moments in history to make my point:

• “Everything that can be invented has already been invented.” Director of the U.S Patent Office, 1899.
• “I think there is a market for maybe five computers in the world.” IBM Chairman 1943
• “Who the heck wants to hear actors talk?” H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927
• “Taking the best left-handed pitcher in baseball and converting him into a right fielder is one of the dumbest things I ever heard.” Tris Speaker, baseball hall of famer, talking about Babe Ruth, 1919.
• “A rocket will never be able to leave the Earth’s atmosphere.” New York Times, 1936.
• “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), arguing against the PC in 1977.

Why am I writing about this? Because research shows that our mindset plays a significant role in determining life’s outcomes. We need a mindset shift. Shifting mindset can improve health, decrease stress, and help us through challenging times. And the good news is that mindsets are absolutely changeable!

Our well-being depends on a shift from “I can’t” thinking; tapping into the power of “I can”. Our families, our workplace, our communities, our country, they all depend on the power of “I can!” Two incredibly strong words.

Your belief that you can do something is the first step to accomplishing it. You will either talk yourself into it or talk yourself out of it. Like Henry Ford said, “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

Every decision starts with a belief. Whether something can be done or can’t be done starts with a decision to try; to explore ways to make it happen. To find a solution or resolution.

Robert Fritz said, “If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise. The way to activate the seeds of your creation is by making choices about the results you want to create.”

My challenge is this: listen to what you are listening to! What are those voices saying? Your belief in yourself, and what you can and want to accomplish, is a blueprint that directs and affects your entire life; impacting your overall health and well-being.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Wake up every day and determine to shake things up a bit; to believe in yourself! Say this out loud at the start of your day, “Today I not only can, but I will!”
2. Approach every idea, meeting, conversation, etc. with a refreshed enthusiasm; a positive attitude. Repeat to yourself “Today I not only can, but I will!”
3. Ban the phrase word “can’t”. Trap it, dispose of it, and replace it with “Today I not only can, but I will!”
4. Practice on others. Look for opportunities to say “You can” to friends, family and co-workers.
5. Create a mindset of solutions and resolutions. “How can I?” Asking yourself how you can is one step towards the power of “I Can” and moves you past “I can’t” thinking.

Your greatest idea, your greatest self, is just around the corner. You can do this! Power Up!

“If you are not where you want to be, do not quit, instead reinvent yourself and change your habits.” Eric Thomas

Vicki Parsons
9/1/2022

“Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.” Susan Lieberman

As your children or grandchildren head back to school, look for ways to create a fun, relaxing, or unique experience for you and the kids! Simplify, but make memories and create lasting habits. Ballet Austin team members and customers share some of their ideas below.

• Submitted by Paul and Anne Bloodgood, retired Ballet Austin dancers and currently on the Ballet Austin Creative Services Team

Michael is six and a half years old and will be starting 1^st Grade in August, clearly a veteran after conquering Kindergarten last year. Last year during the week prior to school starting we “practiced” the things he would do to get ready in the morning: Waking up to his alarm, brushing his teeth, getting dressed, and heading downstairs for breakfast. After a pandemic year of not waking up at any particular time, the alarm was a bit of an adjustment and I had to creep it earlier and earlier until we found our optimal time. “No, NO way I am getting up this early!” Sorry, kid.

On the first day of school we do the traditional “First Day of ____” picture in front of our house, complete with a chalk sign I found on Etsy that has spots we can fill in each year.  We also took a family selfie as we headed out on our walk to school. After the long, exhausting first day, there was some ice cream to celebrate the milestone of starting Michael’s school adventure. I think we will keep all of those traditions this year.

• Submitted by Christi Lotz, Ballet Austin Development Director

Spend the day before school starts NOT getting ready! Go to a water park, the beach, or anywhere fun for one last hurrah… You’ll wear out the kiddos (and probably yourself, but you’ll make it) and guarantee a good night’s sleep…. Catch up on sleep the rest of the week!!

• Submitted by Ashley Piper, retired Ballet Austin dancer and currently teaching ballet and Pilates at Ballet Austin

By the end of summer we will have an almost 5 year old and an 18 month old! For my oldest, this is the last year before Kindergarten! Since they are still in daycare we don’t really have any back-to-school traditions yet, but I thought I’d share something I’m working on. I have been reading about the harmful effects of plastics in our environment, and this year I am trying to get rid of as much plastic in our lives as possible-starting with plastic-free lunches! I’ve purchased all new silicone and stainless steel containers for packing drinks, snacks and lunches that I’m hoping will last through their school years. It’s a great way to teach children about environmental responsibility. Here are some of my favorite links:

• • • Reusable silicone Ziploc style bags
    • Stainless food containers
    • Reusable silicone straws
    • Stainless leak-proof water bottles (I swapped out the plastic straws in these for the silicone straws listed above)
      • and https://a.co/d/feUZNIZ
    • Reusable silicone food pouches (great for smoothies, applesauce, yogurt, etc.)

• Submitted by Lisa Annon, Student, Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness

Since I love dance, we spend the night before the first day of school creating a back-to-school dance. Clear the living room, choose some fun music, and dance. (This will also wear them out) Don’t forget to take a video!

• Submitted by Vicki Parsons, Director of Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness

My 3 children are all grown and spread out across the US. But every year I think about one of my favorite traditions that infused a bit of mystery and magic into the back-to-school season when they were in elementary school. In kindergarten through 2nd grade, as a way to fight the back-to-school jitters that made bedtime hard, we told them that the First Day of School Elf would make a visit…just like the tooth fairy…once they had fallen asleep. In the morning there would be a small gift like a new box or crayons, a special headband for my daughter’s hair, stickers, etc. Come up with your own Elf gifts and enjoy the magic!

• Submitted by Janice Q, Butler Center for Dance & Fitness Sustomer

Pizza Night! Not original by any means, but kids of all ages love pizza. We made it a tradition to order pizza the night before school every year. We sat on the floor in the living room and watched a fun movie – depending on the kids ages. Last year when my oldest son went off to college we ordered a pizza to be delivered to his dorm room the night before classes began. Traditions are meant to last!

• Submitted by Taylor Williams, Ballet instructor with Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness

So, our back to school traditions have shrunk a bit over the years as the kids have gotten older.  In years past there have been balloons, posters, and/or sidewalk chalk written on the driveway or on the garage door welcoming them home from their first day of school.  Some of those things have faded, but the two traditions that still stand are a homemade back to school cake and the first day of school photo where I take a pic of all three of them as they leave or as soon as they get home.  They actually told me today I better remember their cake!    My daughter will be a senior, my son a freshman, and my youngest is going into the seventh grade.  This school year will be my first last first day of school as I have a senior for the first time.  Maybe I’ll get a cake sent to wherever she goes next year….

• Submitted by Maria Murphy-Mayberry, Ballet Austin Senior Development Manager

Even though it takes more time than ordering online, I like to take my elementary-age kids shopping for their back to school supply lists all together – this gets them excited about starting the school year and helps them to mentally transition from summer to getting ready to be back in the classroom.

The transition back to getting up early for school can be tough! I try to make sure backpacks and outfits are ready to go before the night before the first day and have an easy breakfast my kids enjoy, like muffins, ready to grab and eat in the morning. This helps ease stress when everyone is tired and trying to get a new morning routine started.

• Submitted by Maria Gonzaga, Student, Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness

My children love school supplies. That started me thinking about a fun way to use this love and start a tradition. I order my children a set of personalized pencils. There are tons of places to order pencils and have them personalized, even Amazon. It’s a fun way to begin the year with fresh new pencils with their names on them!

Be Well Blog
8/1/2022

“We take better care of our smartphone than ourselves. We know when the battery is depleted and recharge it.” Arianna Huffington

Faster is better.

Life should be lived in high gear.

The fast lane is where the living is.

A life well-lived means checking off as any boxes as possible every day.

Slow sucks.

NO!

The truth is, when you live life in high gear, especially for any length of time, you are compromising your well-being, relationships, and quality of life. STOP long enough to read this and think about your own speed. It’s time to set some speed limits in life. It’s time to find your OFF button.

Operating too long in high gear will eventually lead to exhaustion. When you’re exhausted you neglect self-care. When you neglect self-care you are neglecting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs in our life. Taking care of these areas of life is critical to your overall well-being — and when one falls, the others are soon to follow.

There was a time in my life when I couldn’t fathom the idea of slowing down, doing less, taking the long way to get anywhere…taking time for ME.

I was chronically in a hurry. I walked fast, talked fast, ate fast. I did everything as fast as possible….so I could do more!

Who takes the long way? Who goes slow on purpose? Who doesn’t want to get it all done and make sure they have all the boxes checked?  Who wants to WAIT?

But here’s the deal friends, when you live this way, life becomes a blur. The mind swings between fog and chaos. Every day you are playing catch-up. Body aches, muscle tension, and low energy become the norm.  There are missed connections, missed opportunities, and you miss the wonders around you.

You need to find your OFF button! To turn off the fast pace of life; get off the treadmill. You need to turn off and then plug in to what recharges you. Food, friends, quiet time, a good book, a walk, and so on. It also might require a reboot. You reboot your phone or computer when installing updates, for troubleshooting reasons, to improve how they function. Ask yourself, “is my self-care in such disrepair that I need a reboot?”

Unfortunately, when it comes to disconnecting, recharging, unplugging, rebooting, turning OFF….most people jump to this response, “I CAN’T!  It’s impossible to squeeze in any time for myself!”

But when you are the last item on your priority list, you are missing out on the benefits of rest and relaxation; time for your mind and body to repair itself. You can’t afford not to take the time.

If you’re waiting for your schedule to open up so you have time to recharge, reboot, or turn completely OFF, you might be waiting for a while.

Prioritize yourself. Self-care is about replenishing your resources, restoring your energy, and plugging into what promotes healthy physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Schedule time to recharge, reboot, or hit the OFF button like you would for anything else in your life that is important.

Let’s put an end to the madness! Slow down. Stop. Simplify. Be Well.

“The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquility to make meaningful connections–with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds” Carl Honoré

Vicki Parsons
7/1/2022

“Deep human connection is…the purpose and the result of a meaningful life – and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.” Melinda Gates

Now that we’re back out in public, have you noticed all the cell-phone zombies? People staring at their phones while walking down the street, riding in an elevator, eating at a restaurant, even during workouts!

We can blame it on technology, but technology happens to exist because we humans created it. Sure, cell phones have been a great to stay connected with people, and speed up communication, but if the reason we created this technology was to improve communication and stay connected to others, could it now be backfiring?

Have we lost the art of human connection? A smile, a wave, a simple hello? Let’s be honest, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort.
I am not talking about long conversations, unless you have that opportunity, but rather, looking up, lifting up your hand to wave-position, and speaking a word. It’s such a simple gesture, not hard, and taking a second or two of your time, but that wave, that “hello” just might make someone’s day. A short greeting and smile could be just the acknowledgment, encouragement or positivity they need.

I look at and say hello to pretty much everyone I walk by. Whether I am out for a run, a walk, or getting into an elevator. Not everyone responds, but many do! In that brief moment, we acknowledge our shared humanity. Whether we speak the same language or not, regardless of skin color, age, gender, or any other differences or similarities, we connect — if just for a moment. And in that moment, we are creating fundamental ways we are the same.

It is imperative for our well-being to have a true connection with other humans. What if a smile, a wave, and “hello” could improve your health and well-being? This just might be the simplest way to make our world a better place.

My challenge to you is this: Join me in building human connections one person at a time in the communities where you live and work. Put away your phone. Look up and notice people. Smile, wave, throw out a quick “hi”. Continue on your way until you see another person.

“We need to remind ourselves of the beauty of human connection and of nature and pull ourselves out of devices for a moment and appreciate what it is just to be human beings.” Olivia Wilde

Vicki Parsons
6/1/2022

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw

May is Older American’s Month.

Have you ever asked someone how they feel about aging? More often than not they immediately respond with a flippant, “Well, it’s better than the alternative!” And then everyone laughs.

But in truth, if you look up the word aging it is defined as “The process of becoming older”. Therefore, contrary to what many people think, aging does not directly associate with a number greater than 50, or 60. It’s a process. A process that actually begins the day we’re born; the day we begin aging.

We also know aging is universal. Everyone ages. We have it in common with all life forms. Everything ages.

What then, is old age?

Well, I guess it depends on if you’re a Mayfly or a Bowhead Whale! And if we’re counting years, we should be happy we’re not a mayfly. They have the shortest lifespan on earth; only 24 hours. And then there’s the Bowhead Whale with an average life span of over 200 Years. Wouldn’t you like to see his wrinkles? One hundred may be old for humans, but it’s nothing for that giant ocean mammal.

So really, old age is relative, and whether we keep a healthy frame of mind during the process is key to how we experience aging, and how we make this journey.

We will get older. The number of candles on the cake will grow! But we are all get older, no matter our age.

So here’s the bigger question. How will you respond to more years in your life? Because how you respond to more years in your life could be the key to whether you grow old.

Research has shown that our attitudes toward aging affect our physical and mental health, even our resilience in the face of adversity, and in some cases, our very survival.

Try asking people how old they feel. It could tell you a lot about their attitude, their approach to living, and their overall well-being.

If they answer with a series of comments about their limitations, their gray hair, achy knees, or the classic “well, it’s better than the alternative.” It is very likely those people have succumbed to a more negative view of aging and are headed to the bottom of the hill. Growing old.

Even Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “All diseases run into one, old age.”

NO! Here’s what I have discovered as I am more than half way through my 7^th decade of life. When I am doing things I love, when I can still find joy, wonder and gratitude in each day, I don’t think about how old I am or the state of my knees. I think about my passion and my purpose.

Yes, illness and disease can have an impact, but isn’t that true whether we’re 22 or 82? But aging does not mean growing old. Betty Friedan got it right when she said, “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

I am not going to write any more. Instead, I leave you with this 30-second video from Growing Bolder. It says it all. I hope you will be inspired. I hope this short video will ignite a continued hope for each new day…no matter your age. I hope you will remember that aging does not mean growing old.

“There has never been a better time to stop growing older and start Growing Bolder.”

Vicki Parsons
5/1/2022

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Viktor E. Frankl

Who hasn’t experienced days when your mood hits rock bottom? You’re feeling blue, down in the dumps, in a funk. Whatever you call it, it’s the feeling of being out of sorts.

We blame it on mornings, Mondays, the weather, work, people, lack of sleep, being hungry, and the state of our nation. It’s true, many of these things and more can have a direct effect on our mood. But Mondays, bad weather, and people don’t always go away. Who wants to live in a funk forever? We need to learn how to regulate our mood to respond in a healthier way.

Side note here. Everyone has bad days; the normal ups and downs of life when you feel a bit low one day and better the next, but some people experience chronic and serious mood swings or depression. If you suspect you suffer from ongoing depression, seek professional help. It’s too overwhelming to just “snap out of it”. You can keep reading, but I encourage you to talk to someone.

For the rest of you, when you’re ‘in a funk’, it will affect your well-being. Fact. Your “bad” mood may even be a habit you aren’t aware of it. Your friends, colleagues and family members are probably aware because your mood is affecting them as well.

When I have a low day it leaves me feeling cranky and drained. I am more negative, critical, and irritable; basically living out a cup-half-empty kind of day. By the end of the day I am deep in a funk, often leaving me stressed as well.

Good news! I discovered that overcoming my bad mood isn’t too difficult. I learned some strategies to shake it off when my mood is headed downward.

You too can flip the switch and bust your bad mood. Try a few of the practices below, and move the needle to a more positive sense of well-being. In turn, improve your health and live each day to the fullest:

My favorite ‘Funk-busters’.

• Don’t underestimate the power of a smile. Smile at yourself in the mirror in the morning, smile at those who live with you, and smile at your pet! The very act can turn your frown upside down. Smile at a stranger on the sidewalk, smile at the store clerk. A smile is free to give, but can lift someone else’s day and will leave you feeling warm inside.
• Get your NICE on. Do something nice for somebody else and feel better immediately. Small things like letting a merging car pull in front of you, holding a door for someone, or mowing your neighbor’s lawn when mowing yours! Small acts of kindness are proven mood-lifters.
• Choose healthy foods: Food restores nutrients. If you’re in a bad mood because you haven’t eaten and your blood sugar is low, eat! Don’t skip meals, and when you do eat, eat foods that are known to affect mood in a positive way. Visit our Eat Well pages for some great tips and recipes, or click here for 7 foods to boost your mood.
• Add Sunshine to your day: Sunshine stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and helps relieve seasonal sadness which impacts millions of Americans every year. Be sure to spend some time outdoors or near a window when the sun shines!
• Take a Wonder Walk: In addition to the sunshine, the outdoors and the rhythm of walking has a tranquilizing effect on your brain, decreasing anxiety and creating calm. Recent studies have revealed how the science of ‘awe’ can improve your mental and physical health. Read my March 2022 BLOG below for more about the power of awe.
• Move your body: I am going to stay away from the word exercise because Garfield the Cat once said, “I may as well exercise. I’m in a bad mood anyway.” The word exercise gets a bad rap, but I won’t use it for mood’s sake. Physical activity, moving my body, can flip my mood from bad to good in literally a few minutes. The toughest part is starting, but since I know from experience that I feel better when I move more, I just do it. And when I do, it’s not long before the endorphins kick in and naturally boost my mood.
• Turn on some tunes: Evidence shows that music boosts mood and reduces stress. It triggers a release of dopamine into your brain. Listen and sing along for an instant mood-lifter. You will find yourself tapping your feet, humming, smiling, and dancing before you know it.
• Turn off the news and disconnect from social media. As mesmerizing as it can be, and even harder to turn off, for your sense of peace and a better mood, minimize the attention you give to these platforms. Your choice. Turn it off.
• Play with a pet. Hang with a pet and feel better. Get a ball or ball of string and let the play take over. After a few pounces and wagging tails you will feel better.
• Flower Power: People feel better when they see and smell fresh flowers according to Harvard researchers. So buy flowers, or pick them if you can, and keep them where you can see them.
• Count your blessings. Practice an attitude of gratitude. It takes less than 5 minutes a day to count a few blessings. In fact, research shows that doing this simple practice improves mood and overall outlook on life. Reflect on the good things in your day. No matter how insignificant they seem, count them; the walk in the park, a smile from a friend, a kind word, your health, and so on. We have a tendency to camp out in the negative. Flip it to the positive.
• Change negative thoughts. Notice when your thoughts or words become negative, critical, or ‘glass half empty’. Stop the thought. Change the thought! Reframe the words in a positive way. It takes practice, but when you practice anything it becomes a habit.

Your mood is worth boosting. Make a decision to cultivate a better mood. You win and so does everyone around you. What’s your favorite funk-buster?

Vicki Parsons
4/1/2022

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” Roald Dahl

With spring upon us, do you see the magic in the things around you?

I love springtime. I only have to walk outside, look around, take a deep breath and I am filled with the wonder of spring. There are never-ending moments of awe…goosebump triggers…when I realize that the best things in life are not things.

By the way, did you know that goosebumps are a common reaction most of us have when we’re cold, or scared, but that the second leading cause of goosebumps is when we’re moved by something awe-inspiring?

AWE. The feeling we get in the presence of something greater than ourselves. A moment that seriously challenges our understanding of the world; beyond words. Moments that trigger those goosebumps.

I experience awe when I see a glorious sunset, or when looking over the rim of the Grand Canyon. I experience awe when I hold a new baby, when I hear the National Anthem, and when looking up at the West Texas night sky.

When was the last time you experienced wonder and awe? When you were filled with inexplicable wonderment. Goosebump-producing awe. Joy. When you encountered something that transcended your understanding, maybe even made you feel small…in a good way.

Psychologists now say the emotion of awe plays a big role in our health, happiness and well-being. Those awe moments affect us on a physical level, actually changing the brain and body; affecting us deeply. But we don’t need to witness a shooting star or sunset, or walk to the edge of the Grand Canyon to experience it. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”

Wonder is all around us. It’s in the ordinary; the simple and the common. Bees buzzing. Flowers blooming. Birds singing. Tell-tale signs that spring is now upon us. It is there whether we experience it or not, but if we do look for it, we will see, hear, and feel it. And when we do, those awe moments will trigger a greater well-being in our lives.

As I reflect on the simple and ordinary times that are awe-inspiring in my life, springtime is at the top of the list. Spring is full of wonder; wonder I will miss if I don’t pay attention, if I don’t look for it. Let’s begin today to become awe-seekers. There is no better time of year to tap into the benefits of the wonder than now.

Springtime. Don’t miss it! Be an intentional seeker this year. Slow down. Discover this gift to yourself.

Here are some ways you can start the process of cultivating awe in your life.

1. Put your phone away and look up and look around. If all you do is this, it’s huge. When you go outside, or go for a walk, leave your phone at home. At the very least, put it in your pocket. With our heads down, always looking at our phones, we are distracted and we miss the power of awe.
2. Schedule time outdoors. Whether you go for a walk in your neighborhood, or along the greenbelt, go outside!
3. Discover the power of lingering. I call this taking a Wonder Walk. And yes, this means you have to slow down, even stop. Look around, listen, and breathe deep. Don’t miss it! Look for the buds of new growth, new grass and new leaves. The bird’s nests in trees, the birds singing as they look for a mate, the fragrance of flowers or fresh cut grass.
4. Learn from a child. If you have a child in your life, spend time with them. If not, go to a park and watch them and learn. I am captivated by the fact that children are awestruck by the things we take for granted. Every sound, insect, bird, and even the dump truck or garbage truck is met with wonder.

Here is your assignment as you practice the four simple things above:

• What colors do you see?
• How many sounds can you hear and can you identify them? Insects? Wind in the trees, birds singing, running water?
• How many different bird songs can you identify?
• Can you name the variety of trees and flowers you walk by?
• What animals do you see? Stop and watch them for a moment.
• Look up into the clouds. Do you see the silver lining? A variety of shapes?
• Take a deep breath. What do you smell?
• Close your eyes and experience a moment of lingering.
• Now take a new route. Whether you walk, run, bike, or drive, find new streets and new neighborhoods and continue to practice looking for the wonder and the magic around you.
• Be curious. We thoughtful. Be appreciative. Be an awe-seeker. Be well.

Read this incredible article – ‘Intentionally seeking the feeling of awe can improve memory, boost creativity and relieve anxious rumination.’

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

Vicki Parsons
3/1/2022

Also us…high levels of stress during the week, sitting too long hunched over a computer screen, not enough sleep, and all the other habits that are not so heart-healthy. Maybe we’re not living as heart-smart as we think we are. Does that make us heart-unhealthy?

Well here’s the bad news. About half of all adults in the U.S. have some type of cardiovascular disease. Reports from the American Heart Association put that number at 121.5 million adults; up from 92.1 million reported in their last report. Yikes!

The CDC reports that 73% of adults are overweight or obese, and that obesity in children and teens has reached epidemic levels.

I’m not going to list all the stats associated with heart disease, but wow. If this doesn’t motivate us to make changes, I am not sure what will. There is some good news: research shows that as much as 80% of all heart disease can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle and managing any existing risk factors.

That’s on us. That means choosing healthy foods, maintaining healthy weight, watching blood pressure and cholesterol, not using tobacco products, keeping stress levels low, and staying active. That also means getting rid of bad habits and negative behaviors and adding good habits and positive behaviors. Easier said than done, right?

We know what needs to change. Commercials, billboards, social media, what our doctor tells us, and so on. We know what a healthy lifestyle should look like, and we also know the risk factors for heart disease.

We can’t un-know these things. The problem isn’t that we don’t know. The problem is turning what we know into doing.

Best-selling author and speaker John Maxwell wrote, “The greatest gap in the world is the gap between knowing and doing.”

Let’s talk about that gap. I call it the action gap. The great divide between knowing and doing. The gap where bad habits live and keep us on the knowing side. The gap where healthier habits could affect change and move us to the doing side.

Why is that so hard? Excuses for starters. Most of us are master excuse-makers.

It’s too expensive. I don’t have enough time. I can do it next month. I don’t really need it. Nobody will do it with me. I like junk food (or whatever) and don’t want to give it up. The excuses never end.

The gap, however, has nothing to do with money, time, procrastination, or most of the other excuses we come up with.

The gap is there because action is missing; action to create good habits that replace the bad habits that keep us from moving. We continue to live life on the knowing side of the canyon, not taking the action needed to get to the doing side where a healthier life is to be found.

We haven’t mastered the action part. Action turns knowing into doing. It starts with knowing, moves to resolve, then determination, pushing out the bad habits one day at a time, and creating healthy habits to fill the void we create once the bad habits are out. Then it’s more resolve and determination as we focus on our new habits. Eventually the doing side of the gap feels familiar, we have new and healthy habit habits, and we feel and often look better.

I hope you watched the video at the top of this page. Really good stuff. You have the power to change your brain!

The brain loves patterns; loves habits. Unfortunately whether good or bad, anything we do over and over the brain will latch onto, so the key is to set up healthy patterns; healthy systems, and keep doing them again and again.

As soon as the brain catches on, we then have momentum on your side. That’s the force that drives us towards hourly successes, then daily successes.

Aristotle said it well. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Let’s change what we repeatedly do. Let’s reach for excellence. Action is key! Let’s determine that new habits will win and take up residence in our lives.

Decide where to start. What is the most important thing you know needs to change? Think about why you want to change that one thing. Write down the one thing and the why. Decide on the action. Commit to action. Create habits and routine; actions you repeat so often they become automatic (like brushing your teeth). Practice daily determination and solution seeking. Micro steps. What needs to change today?

Here’s the part I love. Instead of standing on the knowledge side of the gap looking over at what we should be doing, we will soon be standing on the doing side of the gap totally pumped because we did it! We put action behind what we know!

And the really cool thing here is that now we become the inspiration for someone else. We are standing on the doing side with our new and proven habits, reaching across to others who might still be struggling to cross the gap.

If we each resolve to move to the doing side of the gap where healthy habits live, we just might be able to change the current trends of heart disease. Let’s do it!

Vicki Parsons
2/1/2022

How To Get Rid Of Rodents!

“What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and every day was exactly the same…and nothing that you did mattered?”

Does that about sum it up? Sound familiar? YES! We are stuck in one place. We are experiencing our own Groundhog Day. It’s the virus that won’t go away!

Here we are again. We can’t shake it; to move on. It’s hard. We’re tired.

If you’re not familiar with the Bill Murray 1993 movie Groundhog Day, it’s worth watching. The short video clip above from the movie relates to how we feel right now. “What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and every day was exactly the same…and nothing that you did mattered?

Groundhog Day is the story of Pittsburgh weatherman Phil Connors who was sent to the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover their Groundhog Day ceremony (the Groundhog is also named Phil, by the way; rodent Punxsutawney Phil).

Phil, the weatherman, is an unhappy and selfish person to start with, and he detests this assignment to cover the story of a rodent and it’s shadow. He just wants to return to the big city and get back to his normal life; the way life used to be.

The theme of the movie is repetition and sameness. The day that never ends. It happens over and over and over. Any hope that it would end was crushed when Phil woke up the next morning to find out it was back in full force. For Phil, February 2 kept coming back. No matter how hard he tried, there was no moving on to February 3. With every repetition of February 2 Phil became more frustrated, anxious, depressed. He couldn’t get rid of the rodent!

And so, we make the jump to present day; COVID-19. Our own repetition and sameness. Our own rodent. As of today we are 2 years into this virus…and it keeps coming back.

Is there something that can be learned from Phil and the movie Groundhog Day?

I think so.

In the movie, as time went on, Phil became more selfish, frustrated, irritated…and a little crazy, to say the least. His inability to handle the repetition of February 2 led to his decline. He went downhill physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. There’s a scene in the local diner where he is smoking nonstop, eating a table load of junk food and downing gallons of coffee. He stole sacks of money from the armored car. He punched the insurance guy in the face. And he reached such a point of desperation that he tried to do away with himself and the groundhog!

Phil was a wreck. Phil was stressed out. Phil was unwell.

With the lingering of COVID, many of us experience some of the same thoughts, behaviors, and decline in our well-being as Phil did. But seriously, how can we face one more day of this virus rearing its ugly head…repeating itself…never going away? It disrupts our days, our families, our workplace, our schools, our community, our fun, our hopes and dreams, and so much more.

How do we get rid of the rodent?

Well maybe we don’t…or maybe we don’t right away. Like Phil, are there life lessons to learn during this time? Maybe we can come out of this thing better people.

Groundhog Day is a story of self-awareness, self-improvement and ultimately self-transformation. Phil was not able to change his location or what day it was, so he had to change himself. From the beginning of the movie to the end, we witness the transformation of Phil.

He simplified his life to what was most significant, beneficial, healthy and well. He became more aware of people and started caring for himself and others. Phil, learned how to be resourceful as he turned a miserable day into a wonderful day through choice, until he mastered the art of living his one day, February 2, to the full. In fact, the absolute worst day of Phil’s life took place under the exact same conditions as the absolute best day of Phil’s life.

The movie is less about getting rid of a rodent and more about how Phil discovered that what he thought was utter hell turned out to be heaven. He learned to love the town of Punxsutawney, the people who lived there, and the repetitious activities that irritated him. He became a better person.

How did that happen? Well, not much actually changed except his attitude. If you want to get rid of the overwhelming weight of your current circumstances, that might not change, try changing yourself, your attitude.

By the end of the movie, it was still February 2. The only difference was Phil himself; how he saw the world around him, the people, the town, and what he chose to do with his day.

What if we approach our COVID Groundhog Day in a similar way? We can make choices today and every day to be either sad or happy, discouraged or encouraged. We can look at life as meaningless or meaningful, hopeless or hopeful. We can choose to be grateful or ungrateful. We can make these choices regardless of the external circumstances that are out of our control; this virus, or anything else.

I learned in the past two years that I can bring whatever mindset I choose to the next 24 hours. I learned to take care of self so that self will be stronger to approach each day; so that I can look outward and encourage others.

I learned to wake up each day and ask myself, “What can I think, say and do today that will be healthy for me, bring light and meaning to my day and to someone else’s day?” I look for the wonder around me. I learned to be grateful. I surround myself with hopeful people and new and fun activities that are safe to do. I look for moments of laughter to lift me. I enjoy calmer and simpler times.

Yes, this virus still rages, and it is hard, but summing it it, I choose to make decisions and changes daily that are best for me and those around me. I am intentional about my self-care and well-being. I prioritize physical activity, healthy food, good sleep, me-time, protecting my health, and spending time (even virtually) with people who will infuse life through uplifting connections.

While the rodent remains for a time, let’s be strong. Let’s build hope and resilience and look for ways to improve ourselves and the world around us. What will that look like in your life?

Don’t lose heart. Stay safe and well!

Vicki Parsons – 1/8/2022