Day: December 4, 2020

Friday, December 4

Today is Friday, December 4, 2020. On an island off the coast of Australia, there are Maremma sheep dogs protecting a colony of the smallest penguins from extinction from foxes.

Delights in December. This month use the Daily Gift of Vitality, to allow a moment to pause and connect with what delights you. We will provide prompts and ideas along the way.

Engage in your hobby or create a new one:

    • Sketch, paint, color in your coloring book
    • Create music, listen to music or record your practice
    • Knit, crochet, needlepoint or sew
    • Sculpt, carve or engage in woodworking
    • Invent recipes, cook favorite foods, make beer
    • Add to your journal, write a blog post or work on a book
    • Fix an engine, build that model trainset, launch the model rocket
    • Go fishing, hiking or take time for bird watching
    • Learn about the night sky using an app to help you identify what you are seeing
    • Take photos, create a photo album or scrapbook
    • Explore a museum (even online), read a book, learn a new language
    • Play solitaire with real cards, work on a puzzle, etc.

An inspirational quote by Colin Wilson, “The mind has exactly the same power as the hands: not merely to grasp the world, but to change it.”

Photo by Hudson Hintze (NOT a Maremma sheep dog)

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am human. My mind, my body, and my spirit are connected, and I am a part of a global community. I love myself and others because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people. We are all human. We can create positive energy together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Open hands and rotate palms out and shake out and shimmy your shoulders. Smile.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP