Tuesday, March 24

Today, is Tuesday, March 24, 2020. The snow has melted and it is warming up outside.    

While there is uncertainty and fear around us right now, there is also love and kindness around us, always.   

During times of uncertainty, it helps to have some structured routines. We offer a daily anchoring message for those of you who may find it helpful for you, your coworkers, your loved ones, and/or your community.   

Here’s what you can do today, right now, during transitions, after listening to the news or when going to sleep:   

  • Roll your shoulders back, 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.  
  • Try some Mental Math to redirect your mind: 
    1. Count backwards from 100 by 7’s 
    2. Choose a number, think of 5 ways you can make this number 
    3. Do a “times table” 

Anchor yourself with this daily statement:  

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can to be helpful. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. I am part of the global community and we are all working together to get through this. This is temporary. We can do this. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people.”

Today’s Inspiration From Gina Kring, MD 

“My crocuses yesterday. Spring reminders of the beauty that will happen after we take time to retreat and rest and gather our energy even during the most cold and isolating conditions.   Persistence and patience pays off.  

A few parents in our neighborhood are taking their kid(s) and dog out for a morning walk each day.  We live across from the middle school playground which has been eerily quiet all week. Instead of the usual roar of buses and drop offs and a full playground of screaming kiddos our mornings now are quiet with tweeting birds.   

Every 10-20 minutes a small family unit taking a fresh air break stops in front of our house to check on the crocuses and daffodil shoots.  I can hear them from our front room as they delight in finding new blooms -like an Easter egg hunt.  I especially enjoy the excited discussions about how much taller the daffodils are today compared to yesterday or predictions about what color a specific tulip will be when it blooms next month while I do my yoga or check daily updates in email before heading in to work.   

Sweet little moments that bring a smile.  Maybe this time at home with a little more mom or dad time will help some of our little neighbors grow into future gardeners.  Happy first days of spring🌱” 

———————  

 With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,   

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Monday, March 23

Today, is Monday, March 23, 2020. It is quiet and snow covers the grass and trees in neighborhoods.  

While there is uncertainty and fear around us right now, there is also love and kindness around us, always.  

During times of uncertainty, it helps to have some structured routines. We’d like to offer a daily anchoring message for those of you who may find it helpful for you, your coworkers, your loved ones, and/or your community/patients.  

Here’s what you can do today, right now:  

  • Roll your shoulders back, 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. 
  • Advance the healing power of deep breathing with Box Breathing (Sama Vritti Pranayama). This technique is used by the Navy Seals for focus. 
    1. Breathe in through your nose for a count of 4. Try to feel the breath in your nose.  
    2. Hold your breath for a count of 4.  
    3. Exhale for a count of 4.  
    4. Hold for a count of 4.  

You can change the duration of breathing, holding and exhaling to your comfort zone.  

Anchor yourself with this daily statement:  

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can to be helpful. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. I am part of the global community and we are all working together to get through this. This is temporary. We can do this. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people.”

Today’s Quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“If I cannot do GREAT things, I can do small things in a GREAT way.” 

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,  

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Sunday, March 22

Today, is Sunday, March 22, 2020. It is chilly and bright outside.    

While there is uncertainty and fear around us right now, there is also love and kindness around us, always.    

During times of uncertainty, it helps to have some structured routines. We’d like to offer a daily anchoring message for those of you who may find it helpful for you, your staff, your loved ones, and/or your community/patients.    

Here’s what you can do today, right now:    

  • Roll your shoulders back, 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. 
  • Organize your mind.  
    1. Imagine a box with a lid. It can be colorful or plain. It can be large or small or any size you want. Put that box on the side.   
    2. Take those feelings that don’t serve you right now and place them in the box.    
    3. Now, place all the thoughts about things you don’t have control over, and place them in the box also.     Close the box.  
    4. You can come back to the box any time to add or examine what you have in there, but you don’t need to carry it with you. You can leave it for a bit. It will be safe there.    

Anchor yourself with this daily statement: 

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can to be helpful. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. I am part of the global community and we are all working together to get through this. This is temporary. We can do this. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people.”  

Today’s Quote from Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood 

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” People see you helping. Thank you.  

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,  

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP   

Saturday, March 21

Today, is Saturday, March 21. It is chilly and cloudy outside.

It’s been an emotionally draining time. There is uncertainty and fear around us right now. There is also love and kindness around us, always.

 During times of uncertainty, it helps to have some structured routines. I’d like to offer a daily anchoring message for those of you who may find it helpful for you, your staff, your loved ones, and/or your community/patients. And if you have something uplifting or inspiring or empowering that you’d like to share, a story, a quote, thought, please send and I can include it at the end of each day’s Daily Anchoring Message.

 Here’s what you can do today, right now:

 Roll your shoulders back, 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.
  • Experience the 54321 Activity.
    • Notice:
    • 5 things you can see.
    • 4 things you can feel.
    • 3 things you can hear.
    • 2 things you can smell.
    • 1 thing you can taste.

 Anchor yourself with this daily statement:

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can to be helpful. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. I am part of the global community and we are all working together to get through this. This is temporary.  We can do this.  As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people.”   

 

Today’s Quote shared by Fran Lee

 “And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

 “And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

 “And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”

 ~Kitty O’Meara”

——————–

 With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP