Tag: october

Wednesday, October 13

Today is Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Watching the migration of birds, appreciating the natural cycle of seasons.

A quote from Wendell Berry, “The earth is what we all have in common.”

Photo by: Jorge Bermudez

This October, the focus is on the integration of life experiences, staying equally connected to optimism, as to any other belief or attitude.

Optimism can be defined as cheerfulness or hopefulness about the future. Allowing time for optimism creates balance.

Identify one thing that you can do that can comfort the mind. For example:

    • Experiment to find a guided meditation that works for you.
    • Schedule a regular time to pause for self-reflection: “How am I?”
    • Prioritize protecting 8-9+ hours every day that will be for sleep and rest.
    • Find opportunities each week to have a nature immersion, in person or with pictures and images.
    • Include times in the week when you can spend time with some being or some cause that recharges you.
    • Listen to familiar music that is either upbeat or relaxing to you.
    • Read optimistic authors or topics that are nourishing.

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.
  • Continuing the belly breathing, scan your body for tense areas that you can release on each exhalation.
  • On each breath cycle, allow that area to release tension as you allow those areas to refresh.

*Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

 “I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. As I connect to my courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to new ideas and change.  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, October 11

Today is Monday, October 11, 2021. Walking along the quieter beach, the soft sand is cool and accommodating.

A quote from Gretel Erlich, “Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.”

Photo by: Bertrand Borie

This October, the focus is on the integration of life experiences, staying equally connected to optimism, as to any other belief or attitude.

Optimism can be defined as cheerfulness or hopefulness about the future. Allowing time for optimism creates balance.

Identify one thing that you can do that can improve your physical comfort, more-so if repeated over time. For example:

    • Add a quick neck and spine stretch routine when you spend longer periods of time seated.
    • Adjust your access to workspace to promote a balanced posture.
    • Use a soothing moisturizing lotion on your dry skin.
    • Drink water to hydrate your body.
    • Move your body in a way that feels comfortable to you.
    • Experience water therapy by soaking in a tub, gliding in a pool or refreshing in a shower.

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.
  • Continuing the belly breathing, scan your body for tense areas that you can release on each exhalation.
  • On each breath cycle, allow that area to release tension as you allow those areas to refresh.

*Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

 “I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. As I connect to my courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to new ideas and change.  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, October 8

Today is Friday, October 8, 2021. Appreciating the photos taken to share a moment of beauty and awe with others.

A quote from Sylvia Plath, “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery-air, mountains, tress, people. I thought, ‘this is what it is to be happy.’”

Photo by: Philip Jahn

This October, the focus is on the integration of life experiences, staying equally connected to optimism, as to any other belief or attitude.

Optimism can be defined as cheerfulness or hopefulness about the future. Allowing time for optimism creates balance.

Recharge with 10 minutes to write down everything and everyone you appreciate. Making this a routine will prime the mind to see the positives in each day.

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.
  • Stretch out your fingers and wiggle them.
  • Reach your hands forward, curve your upper back, bringing your chin down to your chest to feel a stretch for a full breath.
  • Release your arms to dangle by your side, palms forward, lifting your chin up and complete another full breath cycle.
  • Release your shoulders and neck back to neutral and smile.

*Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

 “I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. As I connect to my courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to new ideas and change.  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 

Wednesday, October 6

Today is Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Watching young squirrels frolic and chase each other, enjoying the warm fall day.

A quote from Harriet Tubman, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Photo by: Jeb Buchman

This October, the focus is on the integration of life experiences, staying equally connected to optimism, as to any other belief or attitude.

Optimism can be defined as cheerfulness or hopefulness about the future. Allowing time for optimism creates balance. We can use optimism to achieve our dreams.

    1. Reflect on the progress you are making moving toward achieving your dreams.
    2. Journal your next steps toward reaching a dream.
    3. Visualize the positive outcomes you expect from achieving that dream.

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.
  • Stretch out your fingers and wiggle them.
  • Reach your hands forward, curve your upper back, bringing your chin down to your chest to feel a stretch for a full breath.
  • Release your arms to dangle by your side, palms forward, lifting your chin up and complete another full breath cycle.
  • Release your shoulders and neck back to neutral and smile.

*Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

 “I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. As I connect to my courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to new ideas and change.  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, October 4

Today is Monday, October 4, 2021. Seeing the plump squirrels since the crab apples have fallen. Fall decorations return.

A quote from Walt Whitman, “Do anything, but let it produce joy.”

Photo by: Natalia Wiklent

This October, the focus is on the integration of life experiences, staying equally connected to optimism, as to any other belief or attitude.

Optimism can be defined as cheerfulness or hopefulness about the future. Allowing time for optimism creates balance.

    1. Reflect on a fun memory with someone you know and enjoy spending time with. It may be someone you work with, live with or even from school.
    2. Reach out, connect, send a note or message to that person, smile & reminisce together.
    3. Create a time in the near or distant future to meet up in person or virtually or even by phone just for fun.

Looking forward to fun with others helps now and in the future.

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.
  • Stretch out your fingers and wiggle them.
  • Reach your hands forward, curve your upper back, bringing your chin down to your chest to feel a stretch for a full breath.
  • Release your arms to dangle by your side, palms forward, lifting your chin up and complete another full breath cycle.
  • Release your shoulders and neck back to neutral and smile.

*Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

 “I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. As I connect to my courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to new ideas and change.  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, October 1

Today is Friday, October 1, 2021. Embracing moments of recharge and focusing on appreciating the start of a new month.

A quote from Christine Caine, “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you have been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.”

Photo by: Vladimir Fedotov

This October, the focus is on the integration of life experiences, staying equally connected to optimism, as to any other belief or attitude.

Optimism can be defined as cheerfulness or hopefulness about the future. Allowing time for optimism creates balance.

    • Engage with individuals who see the world through lenses of optimism.
    • Imagine and focus on the potential positives in the future.
    • Make a list of everything you can look forward to in the future.
    • Spend time with a giggling child, uplifting friend or cheerful animal.
    • Contribute to a worthy cause knowing you can make a difference.
    • Plant some beautiful bulbs or flowering trees that may bloom in the spring.

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.
  • As you remain anchored to your breath, use your senses for a gratitude practice
      • Bring your mind to a sight you are grateful for.
      • Next, bring your mind to a scent you appreciate.
      • Now, think about sounds.
      • Move on to textures that soothe you.
  • Continue to stay anchored to your breath and smile with gratitude.

*Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

 “I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. As I connect to my courage, strength, and wisdom, I am open to new ideas and change.  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, October 26

Today is Monday, October 26, 2020. The sky is constantly changing. It is predictably unpredictable.

For the month of October, we have shared Mindful Mondays. Starting the week with mindfulness and creating mindful moments throughout the week, can be centering and healing. Today, is an outdoor immersion for centering and healing.

Take some time to experience being outside. Whether you are walking or standing, notice how you feel while you are outside. What are you feeling? Where does your attention go? Look around. How much of what you can see is made by humans and how much is determined by nature? Which colors do you like? What scent is in the air? Notice the temperature of the air on your skin. Is there a breeze? Is the wind blowing through your hair? Where do you feel the coolest temperature on your body? Do you hear birds? People? Cars? Trains? Planes? Notice the surface that supports your weight. Are you on a flat surface or is it uneven? Are you on a slope?

An inspirational Quote from Carol Dweck, “Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.”

Photos by Dan. Top, “Fall Rainbow” Right, “Texture.”

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself 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 out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient 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.
  • 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.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP