Leftover plants 🪓transforming thoughts

Dolly Parton, is a force of positive energy and humour. She once said ā€œThe way I see it, if you want the rainbow you gotta put up with the rain.ā€ Last year, several posts were written about rainbows 🌈 as we sometimes are burdened by over-thinking or over-working. Some ā€œdrownā€ from all the rain 🌧 of exhaustion and negativity. However, we need to remember our umbrella ā˜”ļø of health literacy. Self-talk, self-care, social support and transformation of our surroundings. There is always a way…. to untwist your thinking šŸ¤” change your path, get the support to make it through… Even the little fun-loving grasshopper was ā€œtaken inā€ by the hardworking ants 🐜 he made fun of if you remember the one from Aesop’s fables.

One of my good friends ā€œtook inā€ a baby turtle 🐢 she almost ran over on the road. Asian cultures say turtles are good luck. He/she now lives near her plants 🪓 next to her tree 🌲 which she has also nurtured since it’s growth/birth. Caring people nurture growth in all of us. My hope is for you to be as lucky to have some good people in your life like this. People who can help you with the ā€œshelterā€ of sharing a cup of tea or a bowl of soup, take a walk with, and give you a pep talk. Like her turtle we all need a little protection once in a while. Particularly in winter months, times when real or experienced mental ā€œdarknessā€ may attempt to take over. Do something for your physical, mental, and spiritual life —don’t forget the light — one lucky turtle !

Add color to your life with good words, deeds, changes, think of transformers. More color to your life in the form of plants can increase your oxygen levels helping any home in bleak winter months be happier and healthier ….and maybe a good bowl of soup 🄣 akin to the series ā€œChicken Soup for the Soulā€!

Featured plants: Holly, spider plant, poinsettia

Many plant species have ā€œmigratedā€ from international sea travel and it turns out that the well-known Xmas plant poinsettia (in Greek called Ī‘Ī»ĪµĪ¾Ī±Ī½Ī“ĻĪ¹Ī½ĻŒ) has come from parts of South America. Certain species can grow several meters high and I’ve seen white, red, pink versions in many places. What a great idea to add to your home šŸ”.

Why not keep those leftover plants 🪓? Add some pressed flowers 🌸 in your journal pages that you can find years later to remind you and reflect fondly on those beloved memories? Many young people don’t keep hard cover journals anymore, but I say bring it back… there is proof that writing has a specific connection to your neurological system as some claim that by changing some writing you can even affect behaviors (anger and disorganization for example). Remember to share new and old books — Let them have books šŸ“š and cheesecake! šŸ“š

ā€œThese are a few of my favourite things …and then I don’t feel so bad …ā€ Sing šŸŽ¶ it Julie! She ā€œtransformedā€ the von Trapp family in the Sound of Music šŸŽ¼ movie! The real story about the Austrian family may surprise you (real Trapp family) 😲

Think of your ā€œfavourite thingsā€ to help you over a tough period and take a walk to ā€œhealingā€ nature!

Smile 😊 it’s a NEW Year!

We are turning the ā€œchaptersā€ of our life pages, renewal and moving ahead. Smile it’s a new year 2021 — 365 new days for ideas and renewed hope and life chances!

One of the best ā€œcalendarsā€ I have received and a great message ā€œSmileā€ 😊 try new things and develop gratitude …. what 3 new things will you try? I’ve outlined a few ideas šŸ’” ….

Let’s shed light on things we’ve neglected
  1. Enrol in online classes with 365 quotes by Persian poet Rumi? OR some belly dance classes to shed pounds\kilos? There are many courses like DailyOm or sites like MindValley that are certainly interesting!
  2. Clean house, clean out old habits, particularly those bad ones that affect your health (body, mind, spirit), as well as your community’s well-being. (Respect your own body and build immunity, think about your ā€˜cave’ be less selfish, respect others & refresh cities).
  3. The calendar šŸ“… of happiness ? Check out this link (actionforhappiness).
Begin 2021 with new ideas & new energy
Some guided meditations are useful instead of only passive breathing, tap into your active mind !

Home for the holidays

Hot beverages, home cooking, turning inward, online burnout, family matters. This is what many people described as key themes from this year’s holidays. Perhaps a slowing down is what that ā€œlittle buggerā€ Covid intended, for sure we still have much to learn.

Many of us want to look ahead to a brighter year, thinking of New Year’s resolutions…cook more, quality time with family and friends, reading, music, art, inner work…and yes more hot chocolate and the Eat, Pray, Love philosophy. And, a recent gifted book I’m reading by Haemin Sunim, The Things You can See Only When you Slow Down (c) 2012. One thing is for sure it’s great to make comfort food. The leftover candy canes this year went into some fabulous chewy, coconut oil based brownies ! Yummy šŸ˜‹

We have responsibility to ourselves and our communities in slowing down the transmission of all communicable disease 🦠 so we can give our health professionals and healthcare facilities a ā€œbreak.ā€ This WHO social marketing campaign makes it clear. Burnout and risk are also clear.

We are amidst a global pandemic. The latest stats show us that there is a big Pharma ā€œwarā€ for the most COVID vaccines as seen by this very interesting site called ā€œVisual Capitalistā€ (global maps vaccines ), and of course the gaming industry gains (much to the dismay of parents) , and the ā€œTop 20 visuals from 2020ā€ — missing some additional losses (actors Sean Connery [007] Kirk Douglas [Spartacus], David Prose [Darth Vader], Kelly Preston [Travolta’s spouse] & Nick Cordero [A Bronx Tale] , soccer player Diego Maradona, basketball player Kobe Bryant, rockstar Eddie Van Halen, country singer Kenny Rogers and comedian-singer Little Richard, Maestro Ennio Morricone, to name a few in tribute.šŸ˜•šŸ˜¢ some of whom had COVID related complications.

No, it’s not just ā€œanother fluā€ …it’s likely as complicated as HIV-AIDS once was. It’s also fast forwarding us to what people call ā€œfuturismā€ and there is certainly a lot of mistrust in governments, the global ā€œnetworkā€ of economic and media gurus… full conspiracy theories. My friend’s card reminder should help all of us cognitively reshift …..

When life gives you lemons šŸ‹ ….make lemonade! Indeed

….and of course some good tea!

Winter solstice

Winter Solstice, the old and the new. The morning of December 13th, one could enjoy the Swedish site of the ā€œlightā€ festivities for Santa Lucia. Jewish friends celebrate Chanukah šŸ•Ž with the lighting of seven candles and the 12 days before Christmas we can start with truly listening to the ā€œTwelve days of Christmasā€ (c. 1780) song šŸŽµ to the mindset of giving.

Pull out your Farmer’s Almanac. This year, winter solstice happens on Monday, December 21, 2020. The word solstice comes from Latin sol ā€œsunā€ and sistere ā€œto stand stillā€ implying that the sun’s path across the sky will stand still. This is the astronomical first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day of the year. Turns out our ancestors were brilliant about using special stone techniques to track the seasons including Stonehenge (England) and Macchu Picchu (Peru) to name a few, and several calendars merged from pagan to Christian to allow for some festivities in winter.

Even the crescent moon šŸŒ™ found in many Muslim countries is based on astronomical and mythical symbols pre-Islam of the moon goddess transformed later into religious symbolism. Specifically for West Asian peoples since pre-Islamic times, it was associated with the worship of the Moon Goddess, who was given the names Ishtar, Astarte, Alilat, or Mylitta, while some eve associate it with the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Venus).

Emma Shaplin


Perhaps we could be inspired about the moon and stars from Emma Shapplin’s Spente le Stelle or explore the more interconnected cultural histories. This year on Dec. 21st we expect to see a ā€œChristmas starā€ whereby the planets Jupiter and Saturn will be very close to each other. Supposedly, this bright phenomenon has not been seen since 800 years ago (story Cambridge Independent). The year some people call the ā€œworst everā€ actually has this special astronomical surprise… šŸŖšŸ’«

If you’ve been privileged to explore the magnificent Aurora Northern or Southern Lights, or partake in Shamanistic drumming to ā€œheal the soul of unhealthy spiritsā€, there is an aspect of ecological balance that many traditions continue from pagan times onward. Wise people understand these rituals highlight the importance of both self-care and community care as needed to thrive and human survival.

Each day is a gift if you seek to take care, recognising healthy and unhealthy habits, and access appropriate care — all part of building individual and community health literacy.

Feeling a bit ā€œdownā€ are you? The word ā€œmelancholiaā€ [root Greek words melanin (μελανίνη) and choli (χολή), the former if lacking makes the person feel acutely sad/ depressive, more ā€œcholericā€ or bad-tempered and moody. Many crave carbohydrates, generally more fatty foods which some are necessary for ā€œmaking it throughā€ the winter cold. These real-body experiences add up for many in the form of body fat and cellulite and some experience this annually as S.A.D.D. (Fall-winter or even Spring). More on dealing with this in a future post!

Last Spring the post on ā€œthe importance of lightā€ highlighted the need for vitamin D, increasing melatonin function for better mental and physical health, as well as the spiritual ā€œgoodā€ which holistic approaches aspire to be. If you’re working with a coach or therapist hopefully they are attune to these issues giving you the proper guidance you need.

Add more hot drinks in ā€œheatingā€ your system, healthy foods in your diet to help increase the much needed melanin-melatonin hormone levels; vitamin B complex for better functioning of muscle and cardiac system, neurological building brain food (top foods include: walnuts, chestnuts, asparagus, oatmeal, pineapple, cherries, oatmeal, brown rice to name a few. For kids, in the evening try adding a potassium rich banana with milk making for a great smoothie to help them fall asleep 😓 faster.

Need to lose some weight? Increase your protein and trick your metabolism. Why not add more mushrooms to salads or rice dishes? check out fellow blogger all about mushrooms šŸ„ — makes one realize that nature indeed provides all we need if we ā€œseek itā€ out. I

Consider buying gifts for healthier eating this holiday lockdown season and whatever you do, keep seeking the light in the darkness! Paulo Coelho author of the ā€œGoodread bookā€ Warrior of the Light would be proud.

Deliver healthy gift options to friends this year!

It’s the little things…. this holiday season

Nostalgia over melancholia (be nostalgic but fight off being melancholic šŸ˜”) you can do it! The newest trend is 21 days of daily meditation — affirmations and guided versions are great šŸ‘ — to help one change their subconscious mindset. It works.

As a kid we watched a lot of common Christmas movies, like Scrooge which taught us not to hoard wealth, the Little Donkey or Rudolph about how differences make us unique. Somehow Coca Cola red and white colors has now overtaken any idea of the ā€œgivingā€ Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nick šŸŽ…šŸ» I hear is taking precautions this year as the word spreads. Someone sent me this image, a welcome reminder of capitalism at best šŸ˜† ….

Currently, ā€œHappy Holidaysā€ is the politically correct terminology for the new world order but nevertheless it’s the little things that feed our subconscious that make this season great.
The other day my good friends surprised me with a beautiful plant 🪓 for celebrating my Saints day, how special that felt. Yes šŸ‘

Each item we choose to display may remind us of a trip, a friend, an accomplishment — like our last year’s making a wooden ā€œRudolphā€ with the help of Lions Club & Black and Decker (corporate social responsibility as all money made went to local charities).

Let’s be ā€œrebelliousā€ and stop destroying the little things that give us hope and positivity — even in our part of the world where Dec. 6th marked a tragic event — a big mistake — by one police officer who accidentally took the life of a teen boy who was with his friends bad mouthing the local cops the ā€œACABā€ mentality (not a race issue but definitely a local community gone amuck), 12 years later the trauma keeps being politicised — this community needs healing not more trouble! It is time to refuse focusing attention on the anarchy of youth who resort to burning, looting, destroying our cities — no more PR by media (where is their responsibility not to focus on this?) Can we re-shift our thinking? Yes ā€œImagineā€ with the Swoosh effect and also neurolinguistic NLP techniques !

ā€˜Tis the season then! Perhaps you can:

  • drop off a gift šŸŽ to someone not expecting it like a ā€œcare packageā€ of goodies, a plant, or send flowers šŸ’
  • make some soup or shovel the snow for your elderly neighbor without them asking (or paying for ….social security checks are low now, and people are suffering enough)
  • send cards with a note šŸ“ about your news….so much nicer than email which can be ā€œdeletedā€ and forgotten more easily. Thanks šŸ™ dear ones who still do this!
  • say ā€œhelloā€ or a nice compliment ….it’s amazing what it does!
  • revamp or redecorate a family heirloom to keep fond memories and share stories
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

We miss being able to give, and of course we should be open to receiving. Several years ago students moved to give hope to others with programs like ā€œMake-a-Wishā€ foundation. What comes around goes around, and specifically giving and volunteering also contributes strongly to our own happiness and well-being. Thus, add this to your ā€œhealth literacyā€ matrix.

Loving the ā€œwe serveā€ purpose

A recent YouTube video was circulating pre-Covid days by GENTRI that took the ā€œLittle Drummer Boyā€ to a new level giving meaning for children fighting cancer….. šŸ’•šŸ™

Living and walking the ā€œtalkā€ of the Christmas spitit

ā€˜Catching cancer’ early, a Halloween reminder …

We can take time this Hallowed eve of ā€œHalloweenā€ to reflect on the good spirits of departed loved ones. There is a grief process and taking healthy actions to increase health literacy around health and mental health topics as what we do on this blog.

Photo by VisionPic .net on Pexels.com

Beyond the fact that October was health literacy month, it was also Breast Cancer awareness month. Reminders for self-testing, getting necessary tests like annual blood tests, Pap tests (women) and mammograms for the over 35 group, colonoscopy, particularly those at high risk. This article by Medical News Today was very useful in understanding how and why we need to check our body’s ā€œnodesā€ (axillary nymph nodes in this case) for any swelling and changes and get to a doctor!

Recently losing a friend to an up-and-down battle with cancer makes me think of all the people I’ve worked with (or was friends with) that got sick, some survive, some do not. There tend to be personality characteristics of people who tend to get sicker, but a big piece has to do with how their environmental stressors and even unhealthy living areas contribute to this. This is indeed the nature-nurture link. Fall is generally the season of pomegranates and thinking of loss as we head into the long winter period of darkness. Maya Angelou’s poem ā€œWhen I think of deathā€ helps in expressing grief but also a fact of life.

What is your grief? Poems
We grieve, remember, and remind others to self-care

There are several bloggers who write about cancer and many NGOs dedicated to ā€œspreading the wordā€ on such ailments as breast cancer — in the U.S. it is the Susan G. Komen Foundation (similar org called ā€œAlma Zoisā€ Άλμα Ζωής in Greece). This was the first year in a decade we didn’t do their annual fundraiser walk/run and so the necessary funding and advertising for these agencies is reduced. This makes it impossible for people to do the necessary work.

There are also reminders for getting to a doctor and the necessary treatment especially in Covid19 lockdowns ….. thus sharing this blogger’s content here —

ā€œā€¦ knowing you are going to die makes clearing out the cupboards so much easier!ā€ The sound of choked laughter came through the phone. ā€œYou should write that,ā€ said my friend, once his calm was once more regained. The sentiment had, I think, taken him off guard, but it was a simple observation. Even in […]

First, catch your..?  #cancer — Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo

In closing a reminder for those interested in reading more about health literacy and aging, as well as the end of life issues (see post).

We never know we go when we are going — We jest and shut the Door — Fate-following-behind us bolts it — And we accost no more

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) born in Amherst, Massachusetts

Fall, nuts vs. candy ā€œcornā€

Autumn or ā€œFallā€ is that time of year when leaves change color abandoning summer as we move to darker days and nights. The colors are simply brilliant and we may think of seasonal food like pumpkin šŸŽƒ or nuts …lots of them! From the walnut, to the chestnut 🌰, as we recall a wonderful past excursion to the mountains of Arcadia in the Peloponnesus!

Beautiful Autumn

One of my favorite books that taught me about appreciation of good šŸ· wine, seasonal foods, exercising and keeping fit, all the while maintaining our chic scarves tied in multiple ways while enjoying a nice piece of dark chocolate is titled ā€œFrenchwomen for all Seasonsā€ by Mireille Giuliano (published in 2006).

As we transition to ā€œpacking onā€ those extra pounds (kilos) we need to remember that some are healthy for our winter ā€œsurvival modeā€ as evidenced from theory of evolution. Indeed the healthy omega 3s are necessary for maintaining healthy skin, hair, and body. So why do we crave all those sugars? I’d say it’s not a bad thing ….in moderation. And of course taking some good supplements like vitamin C or Lecithin vitamin E by Nutrilite a good thing for those over 45 who tend to eat high fat foods and need some extra support building immunity — remember your sunlight or artificial light for good mental health! This is the time of year when we are always craving those extra carbs like sugar. That said here is my take on ā€œnuts vs. candy cornā€. You can always ask your doctor or nutritionist and decide! Hmmm….

Good for youā€Goodā€ for sharing
Omega 3s, can eat with honey šŸÆ a bit of honey šŸÆ but mainly sugar
Squirrels 🐿 love themSquirrels cannot eat them (!)
Earth colors Bright colors
Year round Halloween šŸŽƒ
Nuts šŸ†š Candy corn 🌽

October is health literacy month

Elders, animals, compassion. These are the messages I’d like to share as we continue to be more health literate in our home šŸ” and in your community. October is health literacy month.

It’s more than ā€œknowledgeā€ it is taking the appropriate actions for your and other’s health and being advocates for local and global change. This is across the globe as it includes animals — October 4th world animal day to commemorate St. Francis of Assisi.

Global health literacy academy had a great past post shared here… along with a dedication to our elders! The 3rd age is a ā€œhot topicā€ in global health these days .

  • Be generous
  • Be diligent to watch for early symptoms
  • Be proactive about your health and get animals spade or neutered (microchips a must for house pets)
  • Just be mindful!

A big Thank You to all the animals who posed for us for health literacy month !

Let them have books šŸ“š and cheesecake!

I recently joined an online group to review books that we’ve read for leisure, as it seems counter the trend to online everything (beyond Kindle). Due to environmental concerns or fears of virus spread this has also lead to decrease in publishing in physical format …. given some of the low quality books we sometimes come across (beyond content the actual paper and print cover are a waste of a good tree) maybe this is a good thing! But I can’t help but feel we live in a Fahrenheit 451 world.

Along reading there might be overeating —emotional eating at best — but hopefully still get your daily dose of sunlight and vitamin D for a stronger immune system. Do you recall the quote ā€œlet them eat cakeā€ Marie Antoinette supposedly said to save herself from a frenzy of ā€œles miserablesā€ style mobs? This may be of interest as of late…. I’ll not convince you of the levity of ā€˜her’ statement but clearly we need to pay attention to discrepancy of power and how this may lead to violence and unfortunate tragedies across the globe. Some protests may be justified, some not, and certainly healing needs to take place.

This seemingly increase of violence is not just happening now, as historically man seems to ā€œthirst for bloodā€ as some form of evolutionary population control first encountered in the biblical story of Cain and Abel — jealousy or power driven, more real when people are struggling to survive. I hear people talking about another world war, since the recent Covid economic disasters have heated up some countries’ leaders to want ā€œmoreā€. These unpleasantries in turn are what public health then deals with in ā€œpicking up the pieces.ā€

All this excitement drove me to pick up all the leftover cookies from my shelves in an attempt to re-stack my Fall supply (more later) and make mini cheesecakes — baked American style are better, sour cherries šŸ’ and thickening the cherry sauce is even better but the secret is in the crumbly style crust. This was made by leftover ā€˜ginger people’, oatmeal and stale butter cookies! Practical recycling…and a smile 😊

Back to books …. a disturbing statement from my electrician ā€œmy kids don’t read booksā€ (daughter age 9, son age 7) lead me to ask what parents can do to help curb this trend? We need to keep building on information and fundamental literacy and of course our scientific and civic literacies all part of health literacy! Open to remarks please. Here are some recommendations to take home šŸ 

  • Demonstrate it yourself …just read anything ! Show and tell is the best behavior modeling.
  • Monthly or seasonal goals — at least one book and talk about it in a group or in person (keep your physical distancing). Even write about it.
  • Act it out ! A bit of dramatic reading out loud helps kids become better readers and increases everyone’s vocabulary. Even in different languages!

    I even bought a recycled zipper type pencil or mask-holder …not very subliminal message but it worked , the interest in books even if only for fun (cartoon style booklets), continues.

Keep on walking and keep on reading!

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Marble, Masks & Memories, Tinos Island

Put on our 😷 masks and headed for a few days in the Cyclades, a dense collection of islands occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea. Worldwide, people know about Mykonos, the ā€œparty islandā€, and some even think it’s a country šŸ™„ …we won’t judge that (Mykonos is one of the many islands in Greece, 227 inhabited but 6,000 exist). There are many ā€œmust visitā€ isles that are gathered around the windy Cyclades of the Aegean.
Last year I wrote about Naxos island 🌓 but this post is about an isle whose history of marble sculpture production made it famous, becoming an international trading post during the Middle Ages and beyond — Tinos island.
Tinos is a place that people visit for both it’s religious and touristic attraction as it is also directly across from the mythical Mykonos ! It’s also a place of artisans and those who learn how to sculpt marble. You can get there by boat/ship only and it’s worth the trip.

This year it was all different, the lines to the Evangelistria (Virgin Mary) monastery were not as long, the stores were less crowded (sure, we did some shopping with masks on!), we SAVED money because there were no nightclubs or expensive bars open ….we slowed down. TIME.

Time to enjoy the silence and count the ships coming in the port, or to do some mindful eating and enjoy an amazing lunch with artichoke cheese pie, their signature ā€œMaistrali saladā€, main course Kalamari with fava beans and salad greens ….Oh! And that lovely custard type dessert …all with the restaurant’s exquisite detail to safety. Even our utensils were wrapped and our table and chairs disinfected!

Amazing food with detail to safety

The video ā€œTimeā€ by Julius Sevilla says it best. A great REFRAME to make each day count. Don’t complain, don’t just dwell on what ā€œdidn’t happen, or didn’t work outā€ or the fact that you’re angry 😠 and holding grudges and regretting is not good use of your time.

Just think of the people who were away from that particular place at a particular time that a building came down (recent ā€œatomic bombā€ type destruction in Beirut or local floods, fires, and other disasters), those who lent a hand, those who have lost and grieve, but this why we try to PREVENT disaster by precaution and becoming more health literate as individuals as governments or societies LEARN from mistakes of communication, procedure, etc. As one of my teacher said when we had an eye-opening experience ā€œdawn breaks on marble head!ā€…. Obviously it takes a while for health messages to penetrate. Keep on enjoying your summer and be safe!