Total Mind and Body Wellness

 I have always been a massive fan of Easter, and not just because you got chocolate eggs! Although, there is something about Easter egg chocolate that makes it taste better than any other chocolate, just my opinion of course. I don't eat Easter eggs anymore, not for over 3 years, because I am refined sugar-free so I can only delight in the watching of others eating them! Most of the reason why I have always loved Easter is sadly, and much to my Mum's disappointment, nothing to do with the Christian faith either, although there was always something poignant about the Easter services I used to attend as a chorister. Especially the Maundy Thursday service, also known as Holy Thursday, the day of the last supper. The wonderful golden picture screens by the altar would be folded in, leaving a dull green backing, making the lively vivid nature of the altar bare and miserable. Which, I suppose was entirely the point. I also remember the Good Friday procession of witness, where all the...

IT'S now properly SPRING! As I drive along the roads I can see the hedgerows greening up, blossom in the trees and shrubs, it's that wonderful sign of life that we have all been looking out for all winter, that hope of long light sunny days and lots of natural vitamin D! WITH every season change comes new challenges, ones that you want and the ones you are not so keen on. SO what do I mean by Spring challenges then? I am talking about setting yourself some challenges, I'm not on about battling hayfever or getting the grass cut, it's time to set a challenge to yourself to improve your health and wellness. A season change is always a good time for a new start. MAYBE you have been thinking about stopping smoking, quitting alcohol, cutting down on processed foods and sugar? Maybe even doing a 5km run or starting up at an exercise class or gym? It is now time to start on that challenge, no excuses! THE tools you need for a new challenge are as follows...... YOU need an achie...

I work very very hard, and always have done. I started work doing a local paper round, the weekend herald, you got a free rape alarm when you took on a round, it was the 1980's, there seemed to be a lot of raping in those days! I heaved my big bag of papers around, actually, I had one of those old lady shopping baskets on wheels for this purpose, and every household in Meadvale, the village where I grew up, had one delivered, even the abandoned spooky house near to the common. There must have been a stack of them by the time the house was eventually demolished, but as a curious child, I always wanted to go down there and peer through the windows. However, I digress..... MY second ever job was at a local hair salon, 'SOMERSETS' I saw that it was opening and put a note through the door to see if I could get a job there, if you don't ask eh? Well, Maggie got in touch with me and I worked there off and on for years, even baby-sitting her son James on occasions too. Maggie w...

HOW many times have you been poorly, got better and thought nothing of it, unless of course that illness was really bad? MOST of us get a cold or a bit of a headache, get better and get on with our lives, but for some, living with a debilitating recurrent illness can really get you down, but on the plus side, you really make the most of those 'well' times. LAST week I was suffering at the hands of my gut again. I have diverticular disease, following two separate lots of salmonella poisoning. I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) because of this and it basically wrecked my colon! Two sections of it. I control my IBS with diet, mainly eating the low FODMAP diet, eliminating anything that will cause my gut irritation, but very occasionally something will get 'stuck in a pocket' in my colon and cause me great pain and discomfort, and many days stuck in the toilet! LAST week was such a time, I was really ill from Wednesday right through until Sunday, when I was actually able...

 Today has felt like Spring! It has been full on sunny all day (with the exception of those naughty cloud-spreading planes kicking about) I have dried my washing out in the fresh air, did yoga outside and soaked up some natural vitamin D whilst walking the dogs. My mood is elevated, my lungs are pure and my face feels warmed by the sun. What an amazing feeling! The season change from winter to spring is the most noticeable I think, because you can see people go from full on winter misery, to smiles when the sun is out. More people stop and say hello, the weather comments are that of joy, the mood is positive, the sight of spring flowers coming up gives us hope of lighter days and summer coming.....eventually! We are all affected by season change, some more than others, I tend to be a person who notices things, whether it be my mind and body, or nature, I'm pretty in tune. I notice energy changing, sleep patterns switching, I tend to wake up when it gets light, which means pretty ea...

IN the past, I have got myself in trouble for being honest, for sticking to my guns about my beliefs, thoughts and ideas. TODAY is no different, and although I am more patient, more guarded and restricted with my opinions, I always make sure that they are heard. YOU are important in life, everyone deserves their opinions to be heard, no matter how much we may hate those of others, they belong to them, and should not simply be pushed away, they may have a point and you may not have heard it. MY values are my own, they haven't really changed much over the years, although the immature beliefs of my twenties are finely tuned into adulthood and facts, whereas before they were based on emotions and feelings. Of course what I think still involves feelings and emotions, but it's 50% involvement and 50% fact now. MAKE sure that your feelings are heard, and respected, but make sure that they are grounded in facts, in truth, because that cannot be denied. Your feelings are just that, emot...