Tag: Spring

Monday, April 25

 Today is Monday, April 25, 2022. Watching the buds on the trees cheerfully swaying in the wind, starting the new week.

A quote by Matshona Dhliwayo, “If you tend to a flower, it will bloom, no matter how many weeds surround it.”

Photo taken by Hossam M. Omar

April is about Springing forward.  Let’s take some time to explore strategies and activities for continued growth. Consider the ways you can contribute to others’ growth.

    • Mentor someone to achieve their potential.
    • Sponsor an individual’s skills development, next steps.
    • Introduce people who can combine forces to solve problems.
    • Teach and open minds.
    • Inspire others by being a role model.
    • Encourage someone to develop their unique gift.
    • Share loving kindness and compassion towards others.

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.
    • With every refreshing breath cycle, think about an individual that you appreciate and send out positive energy and warmth to that individual.
    • Smile.

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, April 16

Today is Friday, April 16, 2021. Another weekend to refresh. Energized by all the new greenery.

Ascending through April. Personal growth can be fun, consider learning or incorporating a new hobby:

    • Gardening
    • Photography
    • Cooking
    • Kite flying
    • Riding a bike
    • Scrapbooking
    • Writing poetry
    • Woodworking
    • Music immersion

Photo by: Agnieszka Ziomek

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Robin Sharma. “The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.”

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.
    • Breathe in and out deeply, calm your mind and say, “Calm mind.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, let tension flow out your arms and say, “Peaceful body.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, radiate kindness and say, “Kind heart.”
    • Smile and go forward.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, April 14

Today is Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Midweek pause, listening to the loud ducks, appreciating the bright spring flowers. Aah.

Ascending through April. Schedule time for self-reflection, to raise personal awareness and connect with yourself, a Refresh.

Practice Self Reflection and Refresh through journaling.  Consider the following prompts.

    • What went well today, what didn’t go well today?
    • What negative mindsets can I let go of?
    • What are my strengths for achieving my dreams?

Photo by: Fran Lee

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, ”Choose to be in touch with what is wonderful, refreshing, and healing within yourself and around you.”

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.   
    • Breathe in and out deeply, calm your mind and say, “Calm mind.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, let tension flow out your arms and say, “Peaceful body.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, radiate kindness and say, “Kind heart.”
    • Smile and go forward.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, April 12

Today is Monday, April 12, 2021. Wondering whether to drink tea or coffee. Starting the week with an open heart and open mind.

Ascending through April. Practicing Creative Visualization to move towards your dreams and aspirations and goals.

Creative Visualization

    • Choose your aspiration or goal, maybe you want to win a running race, a job promotion, a new garden.
    • Create a clear picture in your mind—see yourself winning the race, see yourself reading the job offer, see yourself feeling happy after achieving your goal.
    • Focus on it regularly—think about your aspiration often, in a loving and compassionate manner, avoiding judgement.
    • Send it positive energy.

Photo by: Fran Lee

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Buddha. “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”

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.
    • Breathe in and out deeply, calm your mind and say, “Calm mind.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, let tension flow out your arms and say, “Peaceful body.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, radiate kindness and say, “Kind heart.”
    • Smile and go forward.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, April 9

Today is Friday, April 9, 2021. The trees are filled with budding leaves waiting to bloom. Some have flowers.

Ascending through April. Practicing Meditation to raise awareness and connect with those around us and the environment.

    • Explore a Focus Meditation.
    • Select an object to focus on perhaps a flower, a vase, a candle, a crack in the sidewalk.
    • Pay attention to all the details: fine lines, sounds, scents, textures.

Photo by: Fran Lee

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Eric Butterworth, “Don’t go through life, grow through life.”

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.
    • Experience Box Breathing
        • Inhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Exhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Repeat

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, April 7

Today is Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Old and new plants combine to create beauty for others.

Ascending through April. Practicing Meditation to raise awareness and connect with those around us and the environment.

    • Allow time to listen to music without words. Pick a new artist or genre, choose a classic or something new, or a known favorite.
    • Listen to all the instruments, tones, tempo and how they affect you.
    • Make a note of what brings out the feelings you enjoy.

Photo by: Artur D.

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Denzel Washington, “Success? I don’t know what that word means. I’m happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody’s eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That’s a good day for me.”

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.
    • Experience Box Breathing
        • Inhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Exhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Repeat

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, April 5

Today is Monday, April 5, 2021. Every morning, seeing new flowers in bloom, ducks so happy and sprouts are emerging.

Ascending through April. Practicing Meditation to raise awareness and connect with those around us and the environment. 

    • Find a rhythmic activity you like, like walking, jogging, swimming, knitting, rocking, belly breathing, and do it.
    • Notice the thoughts that come up and flow through your mind during the activity.
    • See where your mind goes and allow yourself to just be an observer.
    • At the end of the activity, you may want to jot down some notes about what you learned.

Photo by: Jodie Righos

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Eckhart Tolle, “Wherever you are, be there totally.”

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.   
    • Experience Box Breathing
        • Inhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Exhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Repeat

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Friday, April 2

Today is Friday, April 2, 2021. Mornings get more beautiful with appreciation for the present and hope for the future.

Ascending through April. We keep leveling up. Transitions can move us forward. There are constant reminders in nature with seasonal transitions.

    • Knowing things change, consider who or what you want to recognize and appreciate right now.
    • What’s wonderful? Beautiful? A blessing?
    • Allow that feeling of appreciation, gratitude, love, joy, awe – all of it- flow freely.
    • You may choose to share that positive energy with someone else and expand it.

Photo by: Maarten Deckers

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Bernice Johnson Reagon, “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.”

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.
    • Now, shrug your shoulders up and down multiple times and let your arms dangle.
    • Shake out or jiggle your legs.
    • Reach your arms overhead and stretch up and out.
    • Gently bring your chin down and to each side, smile the largest smile ever, and allow yourself to be re-energized.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, March 31

Today is Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Every day, here in the neighborhood, there appears to be more blooms. Seeing more birds and animals, there is more movement.

Finding meaning this March. March marked the one-year mark for the Daily Gift of Vitality (DGoV). This month, we have been exploring and connecting with what is meaningful. Let’s finish the month with a focus on taking that meaning as we move forward.

Set up for a reminder to connect with what is meaningful to you.

    • Consider scheduling on the calendar the next time you will review or deliberately check in with what is meaningful to you.
    • Jot down the mindset or environment that will help you stay anchored to those things that are meaningful to you in the month of April. Keep it visible.
    • Keep a visual reminder or a photo of who inspires you to do the next thing.

Photo by: Monika Grabkowska

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Dalai Lama XIV: “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.”

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.
    • Now, shrug your shoulders up and down multiple times and let your arms dangle.
    • Shake out or jiggle your legs.
    • Reach your arms overhead and stretch up and out.
    • Gently bring your chin down and to each side, smile the largest smile ever, and allow yourself to be re-energized.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, March 29

Today is Monday, March 29, 2021. Here in Chicago, so many buds, so many new signs of spring and life, so much to appreciate and enjoy. The sun seems brighter.

Finding meaning this March. March marks the one-year mark for the Daily Gift of Vitality (DGoV).  This month, we have been exploring and connecting with what is meaningful. Let’s finish the month with a focus on making meaning out of it all.

Today, take a moment to review or write down what you learned from this month about what is meaningful to you. Return to this summary, add to it, reflect on it at regular intervals to anchor you. We started the month with journaling prompts and then shifted to expanding our hearts and minds through connection and new experiences.

Photos by: Susan Chubinskaya

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. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Jeffrey J. Fox: “Everybody is somebody’s somebody.”

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.
    • Now, shrug your shoulders up and down multiple times and let your arms dangle.
    • Shake out or jiggle your legs.
    • Reach your arms overhead and stretch up and out.
    • Gently bring your chin down and to each side, smile the largest smile ever, and allow yourself to be re-energized.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP