Tag: reset

Sunday, December 31

Today is Sunday, December 31, 2023. The last day of the year. A time to pause and reflect.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: This week, you get to start fresh. Reflect on what you have learned in the past year. Writing it down is helpful. Then turn the page to start your new year.

Set your aspirations, for the year. Remember to include the real reason this aspiration is important to you. This is about setting the course in the direction you’d like to go, big picture and remembering your why. Write everything down so you can return to it when you find yourself distracted or off track.

While the path forward may need to change throughout the year, you can continue to make progress by returning the focus to your aspirations for the year. Aspirations stay constant even when the goals and the path towards those goals may change due to changing circumstances.

Pull out a fresh calendar and every day that you state your intentions out loud, or take action towards your aspirations, give yourself a win and mark it on the calendar.  

A quote by Susan Sontag, “Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”

Thank you to Nicole Siparsky, MD for sharing this photo, “Sunset Lake Michigan in Winter.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, April 14

Today is Friday, April 14, 2023. There comes a time when a fresh start, a reset is necessary. Maybe that is today.

Think about this: It’s easier to imagine the fresh start or reset when there is a clear end and a clear marker to starting. For example, the beginning of the new year, the day after graduation, the new season, a celebration, a new haircut, “after” the trip.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Consider shortening the time in between new starts and the end. Rather than waiting a whole year for the year to end and for New Year’s Day to start something new, consider a new start on Saturday morning. Friday night, close out your previous “cycle” in some meaningful way and reset for a fresh beginning tomorrow morning.

A quote by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, “The beginning is always today.”

Thank you to Zeke Tucker for sharing this lovely photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, April 4

Today is Monday, April 4,2022. Smiling at the animals coming back to play after a long winter.

A quote by: Morris Pratt.  “Smiling is a wonderful way to get a boost of happiness.  Then next time life presents you with a challenging situation, take a deep breath and smile.”

 Photo from Arnaud_Martinez

April is about Springing forward.  Let’s take some time to explore strategies and activities for continued growth.  Awaken and move or begin a walking routine.  You can use this time to connect with nature, clear your mind, dream new dreams.

    • Schedule a time to walk
    • Plan your routes
    • Hydrate
    • Smile while you walk

Use 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.
    • As you continue to belly breathe, smile. Connect to the sensations on your face. Notice how it feels to bring a gentle smile to your face.

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 Love 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 30

Today is Friday, July 30, 2021.  Starting the weekend with a reset; taking time to create moments to pause and appreciate my surroundings.

July marks the start of the second half of the year and a time to remember you can add sparkle to your days. This week, we focus on opportunities to add sparkle to our self-care routine.  Add sparkle from the inside by being mindful with the food and drink choices to nourish and honor your body.

    • Start the day with a glass of water to begin rehydrating after sleep.
    • Aim to include greens such as lettuces, spinach, kale, chard, etc. at one or more meals in a day to provide your body with useful nutrients that also feeds your gut microbiome.
    • Eat adequate protein to support your body’s ability to recover and recharge every day.
    • Connect with someone over a meal or tea/coffee break to share stories.

Photo by: Susanna Chubinskaya, PhD

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by John Lennon, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

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.
  • While sitting outside choose an object to focus on: what colors do you see, what sounds do you hear, what do you smell. Smile with appreciation for all the splendors.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, January 4

Today is Monday, January 4, 2021. Gearing up for the first full week of the year. Wrapped in warmth on early morning walk. Peace and quiet inside and out.

An inspirational quote by Albert Einstein. “All I have a is a sense of duty toward all people and an attachment to those with whom I have become intimate.”

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

Consider your stated aspiration(s) for the year. Allow yourself to make choices this week that align with your aspiration(s). Write down your goal(s) for the week to move you in the direction you want to go. Find opportunities to be true to yourself and your aspiration(s).

Photo by Aaron Burden

Use this Mindfulness Activity to 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 & Generate vibrations.
      1. Take a deep breath in, feeling your lungs expand.
      2. When you breath out, smile and hum loudly. Feel the vibrations in your neck.
      3. Repeat 2 times and notice those vibrations rippling outward. Smile to yourself.

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 

Wednesday, December 23

Today is Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Taking a walk, noticing every little thing. Seasonal decorations vary at this time of year.

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.

Spark delight by taking a pause.  As the year winds down and we find ourselves busy, taking a pause during the day can help reset our nervous system so we can see the joy and beauty all around us.  You can take a pause by taking a few belly breaths, reading a book, watching a puppy video, sharing a funny story. Stretching your body works wonders too.

An inspirational quote by Mark Twain: “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as a rightly timed pause”

Photo by: Fransiskus Filbert Mangundap

Recharge yourself 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.”

Return to 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.
    • To restore the body, experience Ocean Breathing as taught by Jeff Warren
      • While belly breathing, imagine yourself floating on the surface of the ocean
      • Your breath is like the tide, as you inhale the tide rises and it lifts your body up, as you exhale the body relaxes. Feel your body being carried by the tide.
      • Smile and enjoy floating and gliding.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP