Tag: joy

Sunday, January 21

Today is Sunday, January 21, 2024. Traveling to new places.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Systematically adding positive into life. Notice something new and pleasant in your life that you didn’t have in your life last month. A new person you met, a new flavor you tried, a new concept you learned, a new photo you took, a new song you like. How can you continue to add “new and pleasant” into your life? What do you do to make that happen?  

A quote by A.A. Milne, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, “Jardin Botanico, Mexico.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, December 24

Today is Sunday, December 24, 2023. Think of all the love in the world that is possible with all the people in the world. It can spread and generate even more love.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: This week, look for all the ways we can send out love and joy: creating and sharing art or music, laughing together, holding hands, talking together, experiencing a new location or cuisine with another, teaching, mentoring, recognizing, and appreciating someone else. There are so many ways.

A quote by Vera Nazarian, “Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, “Farm/Garden, Garfield Conservatory.”

An extra gift from Nicole Siparsky, MD, Dahlia, Chicago Botanic Garden.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

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 

Sunday, July 16,

Shifting to Sunday, July 16, 2023. Enjoying the opportunities to find peaceful moments.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Take a moment to reflect back and make a list of 3 moments when you felt happiness and joy. Consider, what allowed that? Was it the environment? Time to yourself? Completing something? Being with a certain person or a group? After exercise? Among the trees? What made those happy and joyful moments possible?

A quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.

Thank you to Ashe Walker for sharing this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, May 5

Today is Friday, May 5, 2023. A great day to celebrate children.

Think about this: Listen to children laughing uncontrollably and it is hard not to smile. Joyful laughter is healthy, boosts others and changes the atmosphere and our internal physiology as well as those around us.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Find opportunities to laugh out loud with joy. Let it release. Notice people having fun, laughing. Help others laugh too.

A quote by Charles Dickens, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

Thank you to Kulli Kittus for sharing this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, January 13

Today is Friday, January 13. This week’s practice to expand your vitality is adapted from Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. If this option is a tool that is appealing to you, please join us.

Think about this: If you can take pleasure in the successes of others (in addition to your own), you will greatly expand the amount of joy you experience.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: This week, find ways to share this expansive joy more often.

A quote by Marianne Williamson, “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”

Thank you to Cristina Seaborn for this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, December 23

Today is Friday, December 23, 2022. The lively music inspires a more energetic workout. Feeling SO GOOD!

A quote by Arthur Clarke, “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.”

Photo by: Drepicter

December marks the end of another year. This is a time for reflection, appreciation, and grace. Do an activity log of how you spend your days.  Note if your activities bringing joy or some anxiety.  Are there some adjustments you can make to bring more joy and peace to your day?

Practice this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities.

Establishing a regular practice of pausing makes it easier to reset when you need it the most. You can start your practice at any time, even now.

  • 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. 
  • Focus your attention on your right great toe. Tap it up and down.
  • Shift your focus to your right elbow and notice where your elbow is.
  • Glide your focus to the center of your chest and breathe in peace and breathe out what you no longer need.
  • Continue to breathe in peace and breathe out what you no longer need, for as long as you like.
  • Smile when you are ready to move forward.

Recharge yourself, tap into your strength and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. This is temporary. I have successfully handled difficult challenges in the past. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and 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 

Friday, December 9

Today is Friday, December 9, 2022. Basking in the quiet before the day starts.

A quote by Alexandra Stoddard, “The world is extremely interesting to a joyful soul.”

Photo by: Iuliu Illes

December marks the end of another year. This is a time for reflection, appreciation, and grace. Remember a time when you accepted a difficult or challenging situation and you experienced growth, kindness, joy, and/or relief. Keep that memory for the times you need that reminder.

Practice this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities.

Establishing a regular practice of pausing makes it easier to reset when you need it the most. You can start your practice at any time, even now.

  • 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. 
  • Now reach up both arms, outstretched, raise your chin and breathe in fresh energy, smile and breathe out with a sigh, “ahhh…”
  • Repeat 2 more times, then lower your arms and release your shoulders.
  • Smile inside and carry your sense of calm with you.

Recharge yourself, tap into your strength and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. This is temporary. I have successfully handled difficult challenges in the past. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and 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 

Friday, July 22

Today is Friday, July 22, 2022.  Finishing the week with a smile.

A quote by Zain Hashmi, “Happiness comes from helping others, by being with others, and by sharing, even if it’s only a smile.”

Photo by: Canetti

July is for sharing.  The act of sharing offers many health benefits.  When we give to others it has a positive effect on our brain.  Sharing allows us to connect more meaningfully and strengthens social connections.  Share joy:-) Examples:

    • Tell someone your favorite joke
    • Share a smile
    • Offer someone your full attention
    • Send someone a handwritten letter

Practice this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • 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 peace and joy as your belly rises.
    • Breathe out the unwanted feelings as your stomach releases.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and 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, June 27

Today is Monday, June 27, 2022.  Making efforts to find the path forward.

A quote by Alexander Graham Bell, “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”

Photo by Nicole Siparsky, MD, Sunset of Lake Michigan 2022

Finding Joy in June. Launching the second half of the year, we focus on ways we can find and create joy.

There are times when the pleasant feelings and emotions seem overwhelmed by events, circumstances and unpleasant feelings and emotions. In those times, try these 3 steps to move forward.

    1. Create a moment of solitude- without other people’s inputs and start, reread or add to your gratitude journal. You may even begin with the Mindfulness Activity below.
    2. Consider what a more joyful future will look like. Tap into that future vision and joy and really see and feel it.
    3. Think of the one small thing you can do to move you towards that more joyful future and do it. You may center yourself with the Recharge statement below.

Repeat these steps as often as you need it.

Practice this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • 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.
    • Thinking of your physical body as your home, where you reside, think of deep breathing as like opening the windows on a bright sunny day with a nice breeze.
    • Become aware of how every breath that fills your body is like having wide open windows, filling your home with fresh, clean air and every breath out clears out and releases so that your home is a refreshed space for you to be in.
    • Experience the happy moment of being in your clean, refreshed home.
    • Smile, knowing that you can take moments to open and be present in this space, anywhere you are. Your body is your home.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and 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