Tag: mindfulness

Sunday, November 19

Today is Sunday, November 19, 2023. Thankful every day.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: This week, notice the people you see regularly and really “see” them. Give them a great big smile and let them feel how much you genuinely appreciate them.

A quote by Mary Kay Ash, “Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, Lazy Fall Sunday in the City.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, October 22

Today is Sunday, October 22, 2023. Autumn colors brighten the days.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Try a new routine for 1 week and see what happens. Wake up. Smile to self. Drink water. Stretch muscles and fascia. Meditate. Journal. Listen to the sounds of nature or pleasant music. Think of the day ahead focusing on what is in your control and that can make your day a better day: Connecting with a friend or colleague. Exercising. Learning something new. Taking the scenic route. Pausing and reflecting in silence.

A quote by Sakyong Mipham, “The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.”  

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, Russell Pond Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine in Fall

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, October 1

Today is Sunday, October 1, 2023. The early morning is quiet at this time of year.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Start each day with a glass of water and write down your intention for the day. Remind yourself what is important to you and how you’d want to show up for the day.

A quote by Viktor Frankl, “When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, Cottonwood Groves Glacier National Park.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, September 24

Today is Sunday, September 24, 2023. Fun times. The weather is getting cooler.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: As we head into the last 3 months of the year, consider using this time to expand self-awareness. End each day with 3 kinds of questions:

  1. Celebrate: What did I do that went well?
  2. Learn: What would I do differently next time? or Who helped me grow today?
  3. Appreciate: What/Who was the best part of my day?

A quote by William Schutz, “As my awareness increases, my control over my own being increases.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, Ponderosa Pine, Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, September 10

Today is Sunday, September 10, 2023. The seasonal changes begin again. The cycle continues.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Begin the process of building yourself up and to continue to get better in ways that matter to you.

  1. Think of a new habit that you would like to add to your life, for example, a movement routine on waking or a 5 minute self-reflection at the end of each day.
  2. Know why this would benefit you and write it down, “I [start my day with a smile of gratitude to the world and sun salutations when I wake up] so that [I am in control of my mind and body as I start my day with calm].
  3. Figure out how you will track it. This is your data. It should be easy, allow you to see your progress and it should allow you to feel good about it every time you engage with the habit and see the progress. For example, mark on your calendar each time you engaged with your new habit. Rate your overall mood or motivation for the day.  Or, it might be automatically tracked on a tracking device.
  4. Identify what you could do to make that desired habit fun. What would make it appealing to do? Maybe anticipation of a reward? Connecting with an accountability partner who boosts you? Seeing the streak or number of days on the calendar you achieved? Rating your mood for the day?
  5. Experiment this week with implementing your plan. Review the data as you go along.

A quote by Mark Twain, “The secret of making progress is to get started.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD, for sharing this photo, Vermont Lake.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, September 3

Today is Sunday, September 3, 2023. The seasonal changes begin again. The cycle continues.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Get outside into a space that brings you close to nature and beauty, where you can safely walk, ride, bike, or swim. Spend some time moving around in, and being a part of, Nature. Avoid headphones or obligations for the moment. Enjoy the solitude. Let your mind wander and be free to think about whatever you want.

A quote by Marcus Aurelius, “You have power over your mind- not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD, for sharing this photo, Lotus Flower.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, August 27

Today is Sunday, August 27, 2023. Whoops! Last days of August already.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity:

  • Recall a time in your life when you felt incredibly proud and fabulous about yourself. Visualize it in detail, feel those feelings.
  • Next, give it a name- label it. “Graduation diploma,” “First date,” “Race completed,” “Proposal accepted,” “Goal achieved,” “New place.”
    • Throughout the week, say the name as you recall that moment and the feelings repeatedly until they are linked to the label. Soon, you will be able to recall those powerful feelings just by repeating the label. You can then get yourself in that state of mind when you need it.

A quote by Leonardo DaVinci, “Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD, for sharing this photo, Zion National Park.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, August 13

Today is Sunday, August 13, 2023. Loving those friends who create safe space.   

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Take a moment in the week to pause and appreciate some aspect of nature. It might be the flower in a vase, the sunlight peeking through the leaves, the birds chirping, the ripples in the water, the color of the sky as the sun sets. Take that moment and capture that appreciation. Jot a note about what you notice, write a poem, draw the image, take a photo. Now, you can return to that memory of appreciation any time you want. It’s good for your brain and body.

A quote by Vivian Greene, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD, for sharing this photo, Tidal pools of Lake Champlain.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, July 30

Today is Sunday, July 30, 2023. Appreciating when one door closes, another opens.  

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: A self reflection question, “What is one thing you can do now, that would possibly open up to new opportunities for current and/or future happiness for you?” 

A quote by Robert Redford, “Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together.”

Thank you to Nazrin Babashova for sharing this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Sunday, July 23

Today is Sunday, July 23, 2023. Waking up to the birds.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: What sounds cheer you up? What music lifts your spirits? What noise is comforting? Whose voice is associated with happy thoughts. How can you create a space that is filled with the auditory positive associations for you?

A quote by Milan Kundera, “The sound of laughter is like the vaulted dome of a temple of happiness.”

Thank you to Rohan Gupta for sharing this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP