Inspiration for Fruitful, Juicy Living
A grateful person usually finds the windows of spiritual opportunity open to him.
~Harold Klemp
What did the tree learn from the earth
to be able to talk with the sky?
~ Pablo Neruda
From The Little Prince
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly: what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
~Antoine de Saint Exupery
A Story of True Love
This story has been circulating on the internet
How to Dance in the Rain
It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the
doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat
breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'
True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.
Colds and Flu
Keep healthy during cold and flu season by getting plenty of rest, eating well and de-stressing. Cutting down on sugary foods or dairy will lessen the amount of thick mucus your body produces. Drink warm fluids, not cold. Here are some tried and true herbal allies for these nemeses.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a bitter herb that excels in helping your body with the bone deep aches and fever that accompany the flu. It stimulates white blood cell activity and is analgesic.
Elder (Sambucus nigra or canadensis) flower and berry help us to throw off colds and fight viruses. It is a common ingredient in herbal syrups you can find in food co-ops, herb or health food stores.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) helps break a fever, has antimicrobial properties and promotes sleep.
A good tea to try: 2 parts elder flowers, 1/2 part elder berries, 1/3 part ginger root, 1part yarrow, 1/3 part bonset, 1/4 part peppermint. Mix ingredients together and keep in a jar until needed. Use 1 tablespoon per cup of tea. Steep 20 minutes. Add honey, lemon or a pinch of cayenne. Best taken at the first sign of symptoms but it will still help later.
Winter Blues
The declining amount of daylight can cause people to feel lethargic or melancholy during this season. Some suffer from the more serious Seasonal Affective Disorder. Here are some things to consider for dealing with these winter blues and blahs.
It is normal to feel this way to some degree. Most animals and plants are sleeping (or have migrated!) and we respond to the change in season similarly, with less activity. It is a part of the natural rhythm of the year to rest and draw our attention inward. It’s a time to assess the past year and gestate plans or projects that will birth with the coming spring.
Getting outdoors more, being exposed to natural sunlight (no glasses or contacts over your eyes), fresh air and moving around does wonders for mood, appetite and quality of sleep. You can also install full spectrum light bulbs in the rooms you spend the most time in.
There is a lot happening even though it’s a quieter season. Watching the birds, looking for tracks and signs, observing how plants and trees look now, admiring the beauty of ice formations all make being outdoors in winter interesting, cost nothing and require no special equipment.
For those with disablilities that keep them from getting around or exercising easily, massage is a great option. It is comforting, increases circulation of blood and lymph fluid, stimulates and stretches the muscles, joints and tendons. There are many different types of massage so you can choose the type you need.
Keeping one’s intake of sugars and simple carbohydrates low helps maintain a more steady level of blood sugar, alleviating mood swings and feelings of tiredness. Easier said than done during the holidays! Eat protein or vegetables before the sweets so you will have less desire for them. Drink water with a little lemon added or take a drop of bitters when you get the cravings.
Let yourself sleep more. Allow your body, mind and spirit to replenish themselves as Nature intended. Much inner work gets accomplished during Dream Time. Sometimes the solution to a problem you’ve been struggling with all day will appear as you relax. It’s easier for inspirations to come in when we are not so tense.
Herbal therapy can be helpful for mild blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
St. John’s Wort usually blooms around the summer solstice. Think of it as bringing that strong light of summer into your body here at the opposite time of year, at the winter solstice. Tincture, tea, infusion or flower essence taken internally and massage with the oil are effective.
Calendula is another plant that embodies light. Use the petals in tea or soup or take tincture. Calendula also helps fight off microbes and stimulates movement of lymph.
Linden is soothing to the nerves and uplifting as is Lemon Balm or Rose. Rosehips supply vitamin C and add a tang to a tea mix.
Essential oils of the citrus family such as Grapefruit, Sweet Orange or Bergamot lift the spirits. Those of the pine family do too.
Flower essences can address many aspects of depression. Depending on how it manifests for the individual, Angelica, Borage, Mustard, St. John’s Wort, Elm, California Wild Rose, Olive, Chamomile might be helpful.
Everyone is different. You will need to experiment to find the therapies that work best for you.