Learn to Love Change
Hello from Florida! I may have had an "enforced" stay in the Pacific Northwest for most of this year, but ever since I got my wheels back I've been on the move! Since I left S Oregon on October 21 I've driven cross country to Virginia, with a few sweet stops along the way. I've been back and forth between NY and Boston twice, flew out to LA for a weekend retreat, and drove down to Florida a few days ago for a family gathering. Part of me still loves this gypsy part of me -- I sometimes call her Esmerelda. (BTW, it's fun to name different aspects of our personalities!). However, another part of me is speaking up more loudly than ever about getting a nest or at least a home base. Her name is Lana. I'll let you know how things go.
Essentially, my life and all our lives are filled with change. Anicca is a Pali word (language of Buddha) meaning impermanent. It's basically a universal law that nothing stays the same and everything is always changing. Yet, many of us will declare that we don't like change and prefer to hang onto what is "comfortable" and familiar with the implication that nothing is shifting. This, in itself, creates disharmony within us. From the moment we are born, we begin to grow and we start the process of going from infant to child to adolescent to adult. We are different from day to day.
There are many other signs of change in our daily lives: the weather, what we do (even though it may feel like the same "routine"), how and with whom we interact, the air we breathe, etc. To say that everything is the same is to deny the essence of life. Approximately 330 billion cells in our bodies are replaced daily. These are mostly in our blood and in the lining of our gut. The implication is that we want to do whatever we can to balance the good and bad bacteria found in our digestive system and our cells give us the perfect opportunity.
Why is this so important? Because a healthy gut means a strong immune system as well as effective and comfortable digestion, a healthy brain and heart, and an overall improved mood. Research is showing that changing the state of one's gut goes a long way toward combating metabolic syndrome or a group of conditions, like diabetes 2, hypertension, mental decline, and heart disease.
How do we get started? Here are some suggestions:
Eat foods with fiber like fruits and vegetables. Include some fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut. Look for diversity in your diet. Of course, cut back on sugar and processed food.
Get moving. Exercise contributes to gut bacteria diversity.
Red wine polyphenols can help beneficial gut bacteria grow, however, in general, it's a good idea to not drink excessively, especially hard liquor.
Find ways to reduce your stress. Mindfulness and meditation are a good place to start.
Be vigilant about getting good quality sleep.
Change is always happening all around and in us. Let's acknowledge it and look for the positive aspect of it. As always, remember to be care-full.
Does change scare the pants off you? I get it. Let's get you decent -- contact me for a complementary Discovery Session.
Happy Healthy Habit Hump Day,
