Four Things to Feed Your Mind, Body and Soul
Because a little self care is in order.
Anyone else feeling worn out by all the extra events and transitions this time of year? Add hormones (or lack thereof), current events and cold, rainy weather to the mix and I don’t know … it just felt like some self care was in order this week.
So in an effort to help take care of YOU during this crazy time of year, here are a few things I’ve been loving lately. I genuinely hope they help feed your mind, body and soul in some small way.
Two Things to Nourish Your Soul:
Years ago, I checked out the book Heating and Cooling by author Beth Ann Fennelly from my local library. I remember being completely charmed by it when I read it, and recently decided to buy my own copy to reread and push into the hands of my friends - it’s so good.
Here is one of Fennelly’s charming “micro-memoirs” so you can get a feel for the book. And - let’s be honest - so you can laugh out loud.
MARRIED LOVE
In every book my husband’s written, a character named Colin suffers a horrible death. This is because my boyfriend before I met my husband was named Colin. In addition to being named Colin, he was Scottish, and an architect. So you understand my husband’s feelings of inadequacy. My husband cannot build a tall building with many stories. He can only build a story, and then push Colin out of it.
One more thing to nourish your soul. Because sometimes we need a reminder: joy is not made to be a crumb.
DON’T HESITATE
By Mary Oliver
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant where love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Something to Nourish Your Body:
Earlier this week, we bought this whole grain, chickpea and veg salad from Costco. And while I’m certain it would have been just fine to eat as packaged, I had ingredients on hand to doctor it up a little.
So I chopped up some leftover chicken, diced a little avocado, dumped in some feta, chopped a tart apple, squeezed the juice of a lemon and then finished it with a few pinches of salt and some fresh ground pepper. And it went from being a “just fine” prepackaged salad to a “Wow, this is really delicious meal” in under 10 minutes.
Protein: ✅
Fiber: ✅
Micronutrients: ✅
Super yummy: ✅
Very little effort or clean up: ✅
So, basically a menopausal woman’s dream come true!
Something to Nourish Your Mind:
Have you listened to Dr. Peter Attia’s podcast episode with Urologist (and menopause expert) Dr. Rachel Rubin? Oh you guys, IT IS SO GOOD. Like, so, so, soooooooo good.
I found their conversation informative, honest and refreshing. I really appreciated that they are both deep in the scientific data and so well versed on current guidelines but also take a really nuanced approach to treating menopausal women. I learned a lot, but also felt overwhelming gratitude for Dr. Rubin who is fighting the good fight on behalf of peri and postmenopausal women.
Next up on my list (now that I’ve gotten through the aforementioned podcast) is Dr. Jen Gunter’s Instagram Live with board certified sleep psychologist Dr. Shelby Harris. The conversation centers around menopause and sleep, and I’m excited to learn from both these women.
That’s it from me this week! Sending you all big hugs and a happy Memorial Day weekend for those in the US.
xo, Rebecca
P.S. “My wife is in perimenopause. Here are some tips for the blokes.” He nailed it.