Tag: vitality

Friday, April 7

Today is Friday, April 7, 2023. The beauty as the seasons change, the delight of the new flowers, new colors, new beginnings highlight progress, new life and moving forward.

Think about this: Humans around the world, of all ages and cultures, naturally desire progress. We are curious animals. We are social beings. People are really pretty cool. When we see our efforts are making a difference, that we can understand something better, that we belong and are connected to other social beings, we can feel more grounded and secure, even in the midst of hardships.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Consider ways you can connect deeply: let someone see that they make a difference – that there is progress; help someone engage their curiosity and teach you something new; reach out and share time being present with each other.

A quote we often do not hear enough of, “I love you!”

Thank you to Jean-Claude Dumont for this beautiful picture.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, March 24

Today is Friday, March 24. This week marked renewal with the start of spring.

Think about this: As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, there are more people out and about. Each of us is curious about what’s going on, what’s happening with others, what’s new. This is the time for new connections.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Use this time to get outside and explore the world, connect with others. Whether it’s someone new you have just met or someone you know well, take time to share what you have read, what you have learned. Find out what others have been up to, what they are reading and learning.

A quote by Gustav Mahler, “Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.”

Thank you to Meric Tuna for this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, March 10

Today is Friday, March 10, 2023. This week’s practice to expand your vitality is to reclaim some personal thinking time. If this option is a tool that appeals to you, please join us.

Think about this: Your brain needs regular time to think. This is time to be curious, to integrate ideas, to think about things in new ways, to process experiences, to allow your brain to be creative and play.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Identify a regularly occurring time that doesn’t require much effort and use that time to let your mind run free and think about whatever is on your mind. The mindless activity times, like doing dishes, vacuuming or folding laundry, or during regular fixed routines like commuting, exercising, or bathing. Consider journaling or keeping a log of what you thought about.

A quote by Charles Kettering, “Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.”

Thank you to Sandesh Deshmukh for this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, March 3

Today is Friday, March 3. This week’s practice to expand your vitality is to try something new that has health-promoting properties, matcha. If this option is a tool that appeals to you, please join us.

Think about this: Matcha is a powder form of special Japanese green tea leaves that have been grown in the shade. It does have caffeine. Due to the high amount of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, there is evidence suggesting it has anti-inflammatory effects, may prevent cancer, reduce blood pressure and protect the blood vessels, improve brain function and prevent some brain disorders as well as improve insulin sensitivity and carbohydrate metabolism.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: Matcha as a powder, does not dissolve in water so it has to be well blended in a liquid before drinking. It does not need to be steeped because you drink the powdered tea leaves. Use a bamboo whisk or milk frother and whisk 1 tsp matcha with 1-2 Tbs hot water until smooth. Dilute with additional water or milk of your choice to taste. Use a bamboo whisk, milk frother, blender, or shake it up in a mixing jar until it is frothy for your final drink. Remember, matcha does have caffeine.  

A quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, “If we choose to drink a cup of tea in mindfulness, the pleasure of drinking tea will more than double because we are truly there and the tea is also truly there.

Thank you to Payoon Gerinto for this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, January 20

Today is Friday, January 20. This week’s practice to expand your vitality is feeling good about your journey. If this option is a tool that is appealing to you, please join us.

Think about this: It’s often the unknown parts of the journey that helps us grow and acquire new skills. Tap into courage (yours or someone else’s) to move forward on your journey and accept that with each step forward, you encounter new blessings and challenges, you see things from new perspectives, and you learn and level up in life. Each time you level up, you expand your potential and grow your courage inside of you.

DGoV (Daily Gift of Vitality) Activity: This week, notice if you are having difficulty taking a step forward: making a healthy food choice, fitting in that outdoor time, making a social connection with someone you’d like to get to know better, going for that new career challenge. Think of a “You” in the past that is so proud of the ”You” today. When in doubt, consider making choices that will allow you in the future to feel so proud of yourself now. Enjoy the journey.

A quote by Morgan Freeman, “Challenge Yourself; it’s the only path which leads to growth.”

Thank you to Jessica Gale for this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Saturday, January 7

Today is Saturday, January 7, 2023. Welcome to the next level Daily Gift of Vitality which will begin posting on Fridays. We are going to be providing weekly options that expand your vitality by connecting to the positives in the Universe. If the option is a tool that is appealing to you, please join us as we engage in different activities every week. 

A quote by Zig Ziglar, “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.”

Thank you to Matthew Lee, for this photo.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, March 28

Today is Monday, March 28, 2022. Hearing the sounds of the Spring awakening, full of anticipation and hope.

An inspirational quote by Stephen King, “Optimism is a perfectly legitimate response to failure.”

Photo from ehrlif

March is about opening up and fresh starts. This month, is about dreaming, planning, and setting up. Using gardening as analogy for living life, consider:

    • Consider who you can share your garden with?
    • What will you share? Will you share the stages of growth of the garden? The benefits/products of the garden?

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 breath, visualize a lake or body of water. Connect to its vastness, connect to the waves on top and calmness beneath or connect to your favorite characteristic of the water.

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, December 18

Today is Friday, December 18, 2020.  In December 1903, Wilbur Wright flew the first airplane for 59 seconds over is distance of 852 feet

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.

Have a solo or virtual dance party.  Explore different genres of music to dance to: Latin, Jazz, House, Disco, Rock and Roll.  Remember, “Dance like no one is watching” and have fun!

An inspirational quote by Sharon Salzberg “You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere.”

Photo by: David Clode

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am human. My mind, my body, and my spirit are connected, and I am a part of 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. As humans, we can create positive energy 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.
    • Flex and release your calf muscles, seated or standing.
    • Lift your heels off the ground and feel your feet stretch and your calves tighten.
    • Slowly release and flex your feet by bringing your toes up towards your shins. Feel the stretch in the calves. Then release and shake out each foot.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, December 16

Today is Wednesday, December 16, 2020.  Holly is one of the Flowers for the month of December.  Holly symbolizes many different things to different groups, among them: inner strength, peace and good will.

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.

Inviting joy and being captivated by an activity can bring Delight.  Explore a new game you have never played. 

    • Board games like backgammon, checkers, chess, scrabble, Go
    • Card games like solo, cribbage, hearts, bridge, solitaire
    • Paper and pencil games like dots and boxes, hangman, tic tac toe, categories, sim

You can find instructions and free online or app versions of many of these games.

An inspirational quote by Isaac Asimov: “The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.”

Photo by: Airam Dato

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am human. My mind, my body, and my spirit are connected, and I am a part of 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. As humans, we can create positive energy 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.   
    • Flex and release your calf muscles, seated or standing.
    • Lift your heels off the ground and feel your feet stretch and your calves tighten.
    • Slowly release and flex your feet by bringing your toes up towards your shins. Feel the stretch in the calves. Then release and shake out each foot.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Friday, December 11

Today is Friday, December 11, 2020. Leading into the last 20 days of the year, it is a good time to reflect to close out this year stronger and wiser than when it started.

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.

Allow quiet. Relax your eyes and close your eyes if it feels comfortable. Be present with yourself. Shift your thoughts to the word “Delight.” What images come to your mind? Think of times when you felt delight. What comes to mind? Are there people, places, things, or times of the year that are associated with delight for you? Jot down some notes that you can return to in the future when you want to reconnect with those thoughts of delight. Consider ways to add moments of delight for you or others this weekend.

An inspirational quote by George Henry Lewes, “Books have become our dearest companions, yielding exquisite delights and inspiring lofty aims.”

Photo by: Lester Salmins

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am human. My mind, my body, and my spirit are connected, and I am a part of 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 human. We can create positive energy 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.
    • Relax your jaw. Gently bring your chin down to your chest, release your jaw muscles. Your mouth may open slightly.
    • Lift your head back up, leaving your jaw muscles loose and down towards your chest. Your mouth may open further.
    • Gently, lift your jaw up to close your lips and let your jaw stay relaxed. Smile and let your calm jaw muscles rest a bit more.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP