health – Daily Gift of Vitality

Sunday, November 26

Today is Sunday, November 26, 2023. Learning and sharing all weekend.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: This week, get to know something new about someone you work with or go to school with or that you see around. Listen, ask questions, share stories. Reach out to connect with those around you. Social connectedness is associated with longer (& healthier) lifespan.

A quote by Rachel Naomi Remen, “Perhaps the secret of living well is not in having all the answers but in pursuing unanswerable questions in good company.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, Pacific Northwest Tidal Pool (Low Tide).

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP

Friday, January 14

Today is Friday, January 14, 2022. Reflecting on the gifts a balance point can bring.

A quote by Nido Qubein: “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.”

Photo by: Deniz Altindas

With the launch of the New Year, this January, focus on clarifying and connecting with your vision for 2022.

A vision that shows you the future you want, can recharge your hope and excitement when you tap into it. It can provide you with encouragement to achieve goals, offer something to cling to when you experience fear, and provide a sense of pride when you see your vision manifest. This month, we enhance our vision for our personal life and our relationships.

Let’s spend this week reflecting on our vision of health for 2022. Consider the following journal prompts:

- The most important thing for my health right now is:
- 5 reasons I want to focus on my health:
- What activities make me feel alive?
- What can I do to integrate enjoying life and promoting my health?

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:

- 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.
  - Massage your left hand starting with your palms, then work your way to the ends of each finger.
  - Massage your right hand the same way.
  - Clasp your hands together, then release and shake out your hands and let your hands be loose.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my vision, courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to the positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP

Monday, January 10

Today is Monday, January 10, 2022. A new week to learn from others.

A quote by Andrew Weil, “Genuine happiness comes from within, and often it comes in spontaneous feelings of joy.”

Photo in Paris, by Susan Chubinskaya, PhD

With the launch of the New Year, for the month of January, we focus on clarifying and connecting with our vision for 2022.

Let’s spend this week reflecting on your vision of health for 2022. Ask yourself:

- - What does “health” and “being healthy” mean to me?
  - What are potential barriers to my best health, that I can influence?
  - What do I do that promotes my health and well-being?
  - What makes it easier for me to take care of my health and well-being?
  - Who positively influences my health and well-being?

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:

- 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.
  - Massage your left hand starting with your palms, then work your way to the ends of each finger.
  - Massage your right hand the same way.
  - Clasp your hands together, then release and shake out your hands and let your hands be loose.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP

Friday, January 1

Today is Friday, January 1, 2021. It’s a new year. Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy New Year full of love, inspiration, great meaning and joy.

An inspirational quote by Roy T. Bennett. “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”

The Joy of January. This is a symbolic month to launch a new year to lay the foundation for a brighter future.

Consider setting aspirations for the new year. Here are 20 examples to start with, “In this New Year, I aspire…

To start each day with a smile to myself.
To express love and positive energy towards others.
To spread joy in the world by sending messages of appreciation when I think of it.
To incorporate moments to walk or stretch when I sit for long periods of time.
To learn what affects my sleep by observing and keeping a journal.
To learn of additional ways to communicate with others and stay connected- ie. a new language, new method, different medium.
To listen to music that I love on most days.
To explore new recipes that are health promoting.
To make new friends or reconnect with past friends.
To write.
To learn a new language of a country I hope to visit in the future.
To explore a new hobby.
To share my art/music with others.
To read books that inspire me or add to my life.
To include activities that make me physically stronger.
To collect inspiring quotes.
To mentor someone.
To contribute to a worthy cause.
To capture recharging activities in a journal when I walk/create/draw/build/dance/explore.
To immerse myself in nature whenever I have an opportunity.”

Photo by: Clement Fusil (top) & Sean Paul Kinnear (bottom) &

Use this Mindfulness Activity to activate your vagus nerve and calm your body and mind:

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.
Breathe in Energy & Blossom.
1. Take a deep breath in, feeling your lungs expand.
2. When you breath out, smile and say out loud, “Aaaaah.” Feel the vibrations in your body.
3. Repeat 2 times and notice those vibrations are different when you are smiling.

Recharge yourself and spread love when you repeat:

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can. I am aware of myself and others, and I belong to 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 connected. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP