Holidays & Health

Much needed MAY break

When you’ve bee working your butt off, trying to balance the pieces AND trying to recover from your own health saga, you appreciate a “May Day” break. It IS about worker’s rights, and everyone is entitled to self care. Everyone needs a little “boost” to their wings to fly… friends and family who help you with the little things or the big things. And a little help from the energy of the Holy Spirit, earth angels, and guardian angels has helped me and others through difficult challenges…

The colors of the Earth, vegetables and plants of May can help us to rebuild ourselves. And some good supplements and building up our immune system during the months of January through March (3 months make a big difference!) can have big benefits later. Refer to the recommended steps in past article on Little Prince and Covid lessons. The gifts 🎁 we receive whether a good word, a sweet Easter bread (see above ⬆️), an amazing dessert 🍨, a book or poem, a letter of support! Even your toothpaste…

My beginning to walk more normally (thanks for the cane 🦯 support “M”!), physical therapists and knowledgeable orthopedics, friends who visited and took me out for coffee ☕️ , after months of a bone break recovery ❤️‍🩹 are what I will be grateful for this May. Perhaps it was the ‘rabbit’s foot’ (some used to have these as talismans for good luck) but the Rabbit year is proving to be true… if you’ve ever had a pet rabbit 🐇 or observed them in nature there is the proverbial “bunny flop” when they feel safe and want to relax 😃perhaps we should try this when we are exhausted 😩 so others will “get the point” that we need a break ! 😝 The reality is that physical and social support prove most effective in helping people cope with stress, depression, anxiety, as we and the animal kingdom are social creatures we are not born to be alone. The site It’s all you Boo has great quotes of inspiration for healthcare workers (selected quote below) and it would be useful to translate these into all languages as we do not often say thanks to people who have helped us to stay physically and mentally healthy throughout our lives!

Go ahead and gather your thoughts of gratitude, words of wisdom, photos of your dearest, flowers 💐 and scents that bring joy, into your May wreath of celebration. Dance around the May Pole as much as you can for physical activity is necessary on a daily basis and bringing people together makes for healthier societies.

Pick available plants and flowers after your walk and make a May-Day wreath!
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Good Friday, Good Morrows

Purple, the color of royalty and spirituality, also a color of mourning for the many Eastern Orthodox Christians who consider Good Friday the day of mourning for both the Lord Jesus and those who have passed on, as the next day is the Sabbath and the celebration of LIFE, and the resurrection to the afterlife. Thus, why I chose to bring lavender as an offering from our Spring Garden.

Lavender is a medicinal herb, can be a tea ☕️ (many health benefits, but not to be drunk by pregnant women or young boys) made into delicious candies, crushed into sachets to ward off moths and mosquitoes, and used for stress reduction as its strong smell and pressed oil is often preferred by massage therapists and others. Even by the bees 🐝!

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Pexels.com

Step by step crutch by crutch I was determined to make my “march” after 2 months of being almost exclusively at home due to a broken foot. It felt like a 2nd Covid lockdown but as Dr. Ed Tick said, perhaps 🤔 it was a mere “next step” into another life phase. There were low days, days of anger at my predicament, of relying on others, of being “forgotten” but this was self-pity which can be refined to a more realistic stoic philosophy, in increasing one’s resilience. And as Saint Paul preached to the Corinthians … love is patient, love is kind — best showcased with the beautifully sung hymns of Petros Gaitanos.

Petros Gaitanos, Byzantine hymns, 1st Letter to the Corinthians, Epistle of Saint Paul.


Those in midlife who look forward to their next 50 years can offer good advice to younger generations, for all who will listen. We need to take life’s “crumbs” to make something out of them, for ourselves, our children and our future generations. This is one of the 5 life rules that well-esteemed actor Michael McConaughey gave to graduates:

5 rules for the rest of your life

Poems about new beginnings and the Resurrection, offer life perspective, Spring comes to give us for new and renewed energy.
Transcendental poet John Donne wrote “The Good-Morrow” to hail the brief dream he had of his love (read it on Poetry Foundation site). Let’s heed these lessons for Good Morrows are yet to be born my friends! 🙏🏼

Carnival to Clean Mondays

Carnival from “carne” or meat is the last “sinful” day as Christians transition to 40 days of lent. There are many customs around Greece including those well-known in Xanthi, Larisa, Naousa, Rethymnon (Crete), Zakinthos, Corfu, Patras, Nafplio. Smaller celebrations in mountain villages like Agios Andreas in Arcadia have several political messages but they all end in dancing and sharing food. Pagan to Christian traditions as we prepare for Spring. And of course if you ever make it to Venice, Italy 🇮🇹 or New Orleans in Louisiana for your beads …

  • Agios Andreas
  • Spring blossoms
  • Venice
  • Venetian masks
  • Trojan Horse. Arcadia
  • Float of native Americans in Korakovouni, Arcadia
  • Patra city hall

Larger cities have several parades over many weeks including the Patras youth parade (καρναβάλι μικρών Πάτρας) activities which this year after many lockdowns and restrictions was a year of great energy and fun! And the masquerading can include Latin dancing with great colleagues — much needed for physical and mental health!

In Greece, and many Eastern Orthodox Christians after the last Sunday of Carnival, on “Clean Monday” the cultural tradition for kids and families is to fly a kite 🪁 symbolic of the soul flying high — no meat, subdued and happy moments, with family the beginning of the 40 days of Lent. We need to manage our limbic system, in order to manage our anger in healthier ways… it’s not as easy as it looks (kite flying I mean 😏) but soaring high makes us feel as if we are free and with our maker.

“Today is the day when bold kites fly, when cumulus clouds roar across the sky. When robins return, when children cheer, when light rain beckons spring to appear.” Robert Mccracken (Irish author, former food scientist). There are many “kite quotes” as written up by Rene Turrek, a page of 122 to be exact, that will inspire all!

Ms. “Sarakosti” keeps time with her legs ! 7 weeks ….

Do not forget Ms. Sarakosti, the 7 feet symbolize each week of Lent. She humbly reminds us to turn within and add our family members names (optional) keeping us on a detoxification, continuing on our spiritual path.

Stencil color ✍️ your ownDownload here!

The hope is that we learn to soar and the “growth mindset” takes some time ….

  1. Manage yourself first ….including rethinking about what you do and say. No one is perfect.
  2. Sit with it — Extreme emotions may be warranted but not to the detriment of your relationships. Start counting ….it takes about 10 seconds to realize how you’re feeling and a quick body scan, 🛑 reflect and then act!
  3. Listen — Can you really “hear” truth or simply perceive criticism ? Good friends and family often want what’s best for us, so tease out what is valuable.
  4. Clean house — inner and outer, literally and figuratively. A bit of fasting and reflecting is healthy. Decluttering also makes you feel great and the KonMarie method is one to follow! As a matter of fact one healthcare group in Sarasota Florida has a great health literacy message and a visual from Unitedhealthcare on the benefits of decluttering for older persons too — one room at a time.

Photo above of a friend’s beautiful creation and she wishes all, a “Happy Sarakosti!”
There are many simple recipes for making “Miss Sarakosti” (translated to Miss 40 days) and she has no mouth or it’s wrapped for being modest or humble. Here is a video by Christina Kyvranoglou, you can also download /print the above to make your own cardboard form.
Simple ingredients — flour, salt, corn flower, vegetable oil, decor are usually cloves and raisins (food colouring optional), low baking temperature 160•C and let it dry for at least 25-30 mins before displaying.

Chinese new year: Year of the RABBIT 2023

Photo by Brian Forsyth on Pexels.com

This year we focus on the inspirations of this little fur ball …. who has many offspring as if to ‘give’ to the world of his own self. Chinese New Year: Year of the Rabbit site inspires us to figure out our own Zodiac and what our challenges might be forthcoming. Our protective qualities, or health issues. Think of resolutions and what the last year meant to you.

We know that journal 📓 or diary-writing ✍️ and any creative writing is a great way to get our brain’s neurological system “back together again” as many studies suggest. So here are 5 things to look back at:

  1. what you accomplished…
  2. where you are headed next…
  3. what you need to “fix” in yourself, or mend relationships (if they can be, else move on) understand that you are not perfect but neither is the person with the big ego!
  4. what are you thankful for and give thanks 🙏 to the universe – God.
  5. how has your body kept up with your age and the environmental impact.

This time 🕰️ it is customary for all of us to want to turn a new page, a new beginning, as we all want to move forward after years of pandemic madness, let’s be inspirational by the little prince and our lessons learned.

My goal is to “finish what I start” and delve more into “philosophy” and the “arts” …with a bit of book 📚 inspiration in 2 languages!

Do you enjoy good food and drink?
Will you try something new this year ?

Along with the typical family treats in Greece and other Eastern European countries such as the crushed almond butter cookies with powder sugar “kourambiedes” (some refer to them as “Greek almond snowballs”!) and the spicy honey-dipped with walnuts “melomakarona” this year instead of the typical “vasilopita” we made an Italian inspired panettone …. More good food to try were beef stew and sautéed veggies 🥦 🥕 with potato hash brown type patty that made for a great British dinner 🥘 along with a berries and cherries low alcohol cider. Fish croquettes with some pieces of duck, salad greens 🥬 with Parmesan, and a glass of red wine 🍷for those good-for-heart flavonoids. Amazing tastes and no guilt on calories! Remember Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love”? That’s a good new year’s philosophy to follow, as long as you eat in moderation!

Try new tastes and recipes…

A new year of strength and confidence in your own abilities, creative outlets, with much health, growth, and prosperity! 2023 – be the best you want to be.

Happy holidays: Dickens & Victorian London style

Gifts, merriment, kindness, remembrance of Christmas Past, Christmas Present 🎁 and Christmas Future! This is what the English literary genius of Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria would likely have us take home after a visit to a great city like London, England.

Charles Dickens (Charles John Huffam Dickens 1812-1870) writings like “A Christmas Carol” (1843), “Oliver Twist” (1837-1838), “A Tale of Two Cities” (1859, set in Paris and London), and “Great Expectations” (1861) are still powerful reminders for us today about life. He authored hundreds of short stories, 20 novellas and novels which defined Victorian literature; surely Dickens was a champion for children’s rights, education, social reform. Dickens was also said to suffer from what we consider today to be obsessive compulsive disorder, further raising awareness for many health conditions of the time, including tuberculosis, and alcoholism, thus one would say he helped the public raise their health literacy.

From London with love to all … Sharing is caring, and beautiful cities must be maintained. When one respects cities, this can add joy to any pedestrian’s and onlookers viewing and experience. Of course there are a few things to be aware of including, no lighting in parks at night, and the London Fog can make one a bit uneasy 😬 (unfortunately many crimes were committed during Covid lockdown periods); personally, the Scotland Yard stories of detective Sherlock Holmes, and still unsolved Jack the Ripper case still intrigue.

  • Take a walk and “get lost” only to find your path again.
  • Travel far, open your eyes and mind, we are all global citizens.
  • Give what you can, you will have greater returns.
  • Purchase only what you need and 1 item that makes you happy.
  • Enjoy precious time with family and friends.

There are many Dickens quotes to share, but this holiday season let’s keep this one,

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

A Christmas Carol, 1843

Solstice, embrace darkness

Tonight, while driving to (of all things) a Christmas party, I heard a wonderful tribute to darkness.

The poetry of beloved Scottish born author Kathleen Jamie referred to winter solstice. Playing against a backdrop of amazing music taking us all the way to the Arctic Circle and better understanding the Nordic cultures. It’s no wonder Jamie is currently considered one of Scotland’s greatest.

It is a realisation indeed, that we only speak of the “light in darkness” and we have been influenced by the Judeo-Christian traditions that were invented to help people come together in winter months (Christmas and Chanukah) a take-off from ancient pagan traditions.

Solstice is a special day twice each year, where the sun reaches its maximum or minimum declination. The longest day is June 21 and the shortest around 21 or 22 of December. So, I share here beloved Nordic nature with the “call” of ethereal singer

Ancient Nordic Chant — Frozen Call (Jonna Jinton, 2020)

Finishing my almost one month long psycho-educational group I decided that working during the winter months is special, since: 1) it helps everyone deal with the melancholia of less physical light (vitamin D deficiency too !) 2) people with chronic dermatological. or vein issues do better with the cold 3) it also prepares them to deal with the stress of the holidays !

We can delve a bit deeper into the Eleusinian mysteries or take a walk during this crisp winter night …. Did us a world of good ! The theme and practice of December traditions, transcends cultures.

Stay tuned for my next post about psychologist Ed Tick, PhD and his work on dream healing ❤️‍🩹 plus some special artisans to bridge the ancient archetypes with our modern ways.

Pomegranate and Autumn 🍂 comforts

Autumn is here and we are loving the rain and cooler days. For many world regions floodwater has destroyed property and land a bit apocalyptic for some; flooding is concerning due to continued climate change.

Time for the Earth to bare her last fruit/veggies as she, like us ”takes a rest”. Fall or Autumn (from the Latin autumnus) reminds us of the year passing, as we take out out warm sweaters and comfort foods.

What is your Fall Season “comfort food”? Perhaps a morning oatmeal with a bit of maple syrup reminding you of the colors and the beauty of autumn.

In times of “low energy“ it’s to your benefit to add some extra vitamins with pumpkin seeds, cranberries, some goji berries … good and extra yummy!

Wikipedia defines comfort food as something of nostalgic nature from our childhood usually that makes us feel “cared for” and indeed a hot breakfast around cold Fall and winter days makes us feel better. A reminder that “all that falls” could be your mood and a bit of seasonal depression so do something, be active, put on that warm cuddly sweater and make something good for yourself !

Breakfast, the most important part of your day so start your day with energy!

Demeter, goddess of agriculture, harvest and fertility, is a reminder of seasonal changes, human bounty, and potential loss. Gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece mirrored human nature, one may say as a mother she surely felt a great emptiness when her daughter Persephone was lured by Hades into the underworld disappearing from beloved earth grounds. Hades, a dark figure (may be something like a modern Darth Vader) convinces the kind-hearted Persephone to fall for him offering her a pomegranate.

By eating a few seeds she consummates this relationship so that even the great leader-god Zeus could not intervene, thus Persephone travels to Hades part of the year, and as she re-emerges her mother, Demeter brings flowers and the budding of Spring —  a beautiful myth!

Writers talk about the necessity of change, darkness being a necessary part of our healing (Thomas Moore “Dark Nights of the Soul”).

The continued pagan tradition of the pomegranate, a bittersweet food of seeds or squeezed into juice, rich in vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties, is added with barley / bulgar wheat, to commemorate death of loved ones as part of the memorial services of several Eastern Orthodox traditions (called “kolyva” κόλλυβα).

There’s a great list of benefits including helping weight loss indicated in a popular fitness magazine, Shape (pomegranate info).

There are the RED types

And the PINK types (regional differences and sweeter) are both equally delicious!

Fall healthy eating tips:

  • Eat more pumpkin, lotus, and any beta carotene rich vegetables and fruit
  • Pair your leftover Halloween 🎃 candy w/ some Omega rich nuts !
  • Take a walk in the woods and gather some chestnuts ? Remember 20 mins a day, walk briskly.
  • Remember increasing your help knowledge helps build health literacy.
  • Teach future generations what you have learned…be thankful for the extra knowledge!

As we close with Eric Clapton’s Autumn, I came across this great quote in thinking of winter and your relationships — “cleaning house”:

October Awareness

This October we celebrate Domestic abuse awareness, health literacy month, Breast Cancer Awareness, and it’s time for the annual mammograms for women over 50 years of age … pink ribbon 🎀 to commemorate and a beautiful Bougainvillea tree this year as a reminder!

To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month !
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

And if we can think that we are checking for lumps the size of a pea (not a nut!) for primary prevention this is most important.
Jennifer Garner, American actress recently shared the importance of mammograms check out Hello Magazine article and video.

Our friends the squirrels 🐿 look for 🌰 nuts, they are celebrating their own October month too … (Squirrels US National Awareness month) important for our globe’s ecology.

At the recent Europe in Discourse III Conference held in Athens, we presented on some very important health communication issues part of a global health literacy panel including:

  • Oral health and interrelated global health issues (Kritikos)
  • After school language program curriculum building for awareness of smoking as prevention (Dimitsanti)
  • Refugee crisis and health literacy (Ioannidi)
  • Violence against women and “femicide” (Argyriou, Kondilis)
    • 😓given the event in Iran 🇮🇷 about the death by “moral police” violence of Masha Amini, this was timely
  • Graffiti in times of recent economic and covid crisis in EU (Kondilis & Kountouris)

Happy May & workers rights !

Happy May and what great spring traditions!

A brief history of the Maypole tradition

Everyone has the opportunity to “dance” and socialize (now that masks are off in many countries) as it contributes to good health including minimizing risk for longer-term health complications due to inactivity!

The other day we discussed employee safety and preventive measures. The field itself is called “occupational health and safety” — see OSHA and EU-OSHA, I am truly a proponent of occupational safety measures as they have the biggest short and long-term impacts!

This is what health ”literacy“ involves, reading up ⬆️ to also help yourself and your workers … since May 1st has been additionally celebrated for workers rights!

Post-Covid small businesses are continuing to struggle w/ making enough money and covering costs (particularly now with high energy bills) to be “open” to eco-changes and keeping their staff (many millennials often don’t stay in longterm jobs or many employers hire on a temp basis!). However, it’s important to care for the health and safety of workers which increases confidence in the manager and the agency – company.

Protective plexiglass and face masks 😷 should be required for all manicurists!

Indeed our beautician-friend and small business owner were well aware of what to do for safety of clients as is also most importantly safety for the employees! I congratulated them on being a health literate small business, I only wish I could give them a HL certificate… something to think about in a future “association”!

My daisy-inspired design and nail outcomes are evidence of a happy duo! And do remember your May flowers and local traditions to keep up with an ever-changing world.

Happy May to all the little and big creatures!

Red, the color of passion, and vibrant life!
Photo by Monica Turlui on Pexels.com
Spring LAVENDER in Athens, Greece

Daisies for everyone!

It’s Spring! The trees are budding, wildflowers are blooming everywhere, birds are singing to entice their mates… we might be experiencing a bit of friskiness from “Spring fever” 😻😺😜and we want to be out (particularly post covid lockdowns)!! Small creatures are enjoying the flowers as much as we are, we are walking and cycling more! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎 This is exactly what nature intended, if we are mindful to notice and experience.

“Princess” and daisies
“Flower” and orchids
Fruit and flowers
Wildflowers
Spring is in the air

The more we learn about each flower, appreciating their diversity, we are in awe of the master of the universe. Daisies are the cousin of sunflowers — a very pregnant Katy Perry, chosen here as the Spring symbol of fertility w/ her appropriate song ”Daisies”. 🎼

Katy Perry ”Daisies” (c)2020

Many of us used to play “he/she loves me, loves me not” picking off the daisy petals, to allow our thoughts and cares to drift away. Maybe getting creative ideas, or simply thinking 🤔 of an upcoming May wreath? Picking those mini-daisies of chamomile will be our next blog post.

Recalling positive memories is a great way to fight off melancholia (sadness) as you recall joy is that feeling not far behind! Science proves that fighting depression must involve physical activity such as a 20 minute daily walk, getting in some sun doses of vitamin D (nature’s natural antidepressant and an antioxidant), great for our overall wellness.

Pick some wildflowers to share, as it makes everyone smile 😊 and for your workspace — a great stress reliever helping create a pleasant feeling to (hopefully) get more work done. Try the Pomodoro technique which allows for more cognitive focusing with timed breaks in between. Now that’s some great health literacy this Spring !

Write ✍️ your daily goals accomplished after your “to do” lists. Keeps you positive.
“Daisies, simple and sweet. Daisies are the way to win my heart.” ― Patrick Rothfuss (American fantasy author ✍️)