Mom jeans is one idea…not a good one, though. Ha! Most of us fall back to the old favorites…flowers, a card, a framed piece of art, a candle. Our busy lives often create a last minute search for the right gift. If you haven't considered what you might do for your mom this year, consider these ideas.
Think about what your mom loves…maybe it's fancy organic tea, maybe she's into fitness or is a book worm. She may love gardening or biking or she never misses her morning gourmet coffee on the way to the office. She may be a foodie and love to try new things. When you think about what she is all about, it may be easier to choose a gift that she will love this year.
If she loves to journal, a nice fancy pen might make her smile.
If she loves to read, a bookstore gift card or a hardcover novel she's been wanting to read will light up her day.
If she loves new food items, go to the local health food store and purchase something natural for her to try. Her health will thank you.
If she loves fitness, a new pair of walking shoes (or a gift card to purchase them herself) would be a great gift idea.
If she loves tea, find something new and different online or at the local coffee shop. Choose organic if she drinks a lot of tea…reduce the toxins in her body.
If she's into relaxation, consider a gift certificate to The Salt Room or for a massage or facial. These are things that many moms will not spend money on for themselves but she will adore the self-care!
If she's an organizer, some fancy non-slip hangers would be something she might love.
If she's a gardener or has a lot of house plants, a fancy new watering can would be a treat.
The bottom line is that when we take the time to think about the gifts we give, they hold so much more meaning and are appreciated more than we know. The best gift for your mom…your time. No gift is better than being present. It is the best present. Carve out some time in your busy schedule to sit and visit with your mom. Or take her for a walk. Or take her for lunch. Or if she's a young, sleep-deprived new mom, give her a FULL day with no responsibilities. Or…just be with her. That's what she wants the most.
Transforming Discipline to Blisscipline
Call it what you want…discipline, resolve, commitment or courage. When we are facing a lifestyle change, it's not easy…at first. The beginning of most things can be messy, uncomfortable, awkward or just plain scary! What happens with time and repetition can be beautiful. When we repeat a behavior, whether it's good or not so good for our health, we develop a habit. Habit drives almost all behavior. I recall Dr. Dean Sherzai saying that he feels that about 97% of what we do is from habit. He's a Behavioral Neurologist and has done research that backs up what he says. What we do repeatedly becomes what we do…our go-to, our fall-back on, our routine. Again, whatever you call it, it can drive us toward better health or away from it.
The best part is that when we are striving for better health and we are truly disciplined regarding our behaviors in the beginning, this transforms into what I heard a speaker on the recent Food Revolution Summit call, “blisscipline”. I love that! It is so true!! When we change our eating habits to those that serve us from a health standpoint, we learn to LOVE what we are eating. I have often said on my videos and at meetings that I absolutely love the food I eat. I do not miss a thing. I love eating a really great salad…I am mildly saddened when i take the last bite because it tastes so good to me!
Call me crazy…if someone had said I would be saying this ten years ago, I would have said they were crazy. I remember reading in one of Dr. Joel Furhman's books that this would happen and I thought…nah, it may happen to other people but it won't happen to me. I will forever miss my beloved (at the time) Filet Mignon or my Boston cream donuts. Now when I think of those food items, I cannot believe I ever loved them so much. But, it was what I was eating at the time…so they were my bliss. Our bliss point can shift. The food industry feverishly tries to determine the bliss point of processed foods…so we keep craving and eating them. That puts money in their pockets. Unfortunately, most of those foods are not health promoting and quite the opposite…they can be deadly. Not a great bliss point overall.
How can you transform discipline to blisscipline? Just do it (as the commercial says). Do it over and over and over and over. Before too long (and that's different for everyone), you will notice that you will begin to choose healthier foods without even thinking about it…it's just what you do. It is not hard…in fact, it's easy because you have created the habit of healthy eating and now it's the new normal. We can shift our ‘normal’ with discipline, determination, commitment and all the other words that drive us to become something new. Old dogs can be taught new tricks…and they can love their new tricks as much as their old ones…if not more!
Key is to just start…keeping starting. Every single day. Over and over.
Habits are the ultimate energy saver
Can you remember when you learned to tie your shoelaces? How your parents showed you each step, how the strings kept slipping through your fingers and the loop would never be tight enough? Imagine you would have to figure out shoelaces each morning anew.
Each. And. Every. Day.
In a life without habits you would never be fully dressed before noon.
Habits work like autopilots. While they let you pretty automatically brush your teeth, drive your car or empty the dishwasher, your mind is free to do other things. You can make plans in your head, think something through or engage in daydreams.
Recipe of the Week
Epic Caesar Salad Dressing
I saw this recipe on a post on Facebook and it looked good so I tried it…it is EPIC!
Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashews - soaked
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons miso
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon vegan worcestershire
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
¾ - 1 cup filtered water
Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. Try not to drink it (lol)…it's so good. Use for salads or veggies. You can reduce the water and use as a dip, too.
The Plant-Based Solution
America's Healthy Heart Doc's Plan to Power Your Health. Dr. Joel Kahn (our own Michigan Cardiologist) has authored and co-authored several books. This one, from 2018 provides insight to true health and the solution to achieving it.
Catch my Health Tip Tuesday video on Facebook on Tuesdays to hear my book review!
My Favorite Quotes
Important Disclaimer
The content in this newsletter is intended for educational/informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of your health care professional.
