Tenderness is a quality that will take you a long way in life.
When I saw this picture of the three hands, all I could think and feel was ‘tenderness’.
The synonyms of tenderness which are also beautiful: affection, fondness, love, devotion, lovingkindness, emotion, sentiment, sentimentality,
I think my favorite synonym is the ‘lovingkindness’ one. Tenderness and loving-kindness are two beautiful gifts that we can give to both ourselves and others. If we treat all people through these two attributes, the world will be a much kinder and more peaceful world where love can shine through.
Be Kind
Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Be kind to animals. Be kind to plants. Be kind to the earth. The list of ways to practice kindness and tenderness are endless but it starts with tenderness for oneself. When one can feel the frequency of kindness toward oneself and experience its effects, one can project kindness out into the world. It’s kind of like a flashlight. When you charge your own kindness batteries you are able to project your light of kindness onto others. ๐
Our greatest strength lies in the gentleness and tenderness of our heart.
rumi
A yellow rose
A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.
It’s no surprise that pets help to boost happiness. Not only can they be cute, cuddly, and affectionate, but they love us unconditionally!
As of late, I am delighted to hear from friends and colleagues who have recently opened their mind up to the gift of having a pet. It’s a gift for both the animal and the pet owner. Truly a win-win for all when a pet is welcomed into a loving, caring, and healthy home.
A new trend is emerging where pets are even allowed in some workplaces. I work mostly from home and just this morning, while writing, I was so grateful to have my cat Bella cuddled up in my lap while I tapped away at the keyboard. In between petting her of course. ๐ So I think the workplace idea, when it is able to be both conducive to the work environment and adaptable, is a great idea!
My Bella trying to nap with that “Don’t bug me look….” lol
Animals can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction and physical activity. They are also really good companions for the elderly. They provide a loving and interactive presence for those who can no longer get out and interact with others due to age and mobility. They also don’t worry about tomorrow, which can be a very scary concept for an older person.
Pets can also have an astounding effect on symptoms of depression and feelings of loneliness. When one has someone else to care for and to love, a person’s entire world and viewpoint can shift from that of lack and loneliness to one of compassion and purpose.
Finding ways to have more compassion for people and animals is a huge catalyst to having more peace and love in life. I have recently written a blog post on Compassion over at my main blog. Here is the link if you would like to read it:
For those that already have a pet or pets, it’s no surprise that 98% of pet owners consider their pet to be a member of the family. Both pets and therapy animals can help alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, lack of purpose, and feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Interactions with animals can help people manage long-term mental health conditions, as well as boost happiness and JOY through day to day interactions with these adorable creatures.
What about you? Have you always wanted a pet? Or are you en-JOYing the ones you have? Please drop a comment in the comment area and let’s share our JOY of pets and support the idea of providing loving homes to these gifts of pure unconditional and unbridled love! If you have ever come home to a dog so happy to see you, you will know what the term ‘unbridled love’ really means. ๐
Unbridled: uncontrolled; unconstrained.”a moment of unbridled ambition”
While writing this blog post I reached out to my friends on FB for some of their best pet pics and below are a few of these adorable pics for us to En-JOY! ๐
Maggie Holbik.com is a Certified Life Coach, Board Certified Nutritionist and lover of life and anything living like plants and animals. She believes in love and love between all creatures and living things.
One of my favorite self-care modalities is going for regular Reflexology sessions. Not only do I find it so beneficial for my health and wellness, but it’s so relaxing! And I am one of those people who love having my feet touched, rubbed, and given attention :-), so this works for me.
In reflexology, pressure is placed on areas of the hands and feet in order to improve healing and reduce pain.ย The idea is that there are points in the hands and feet that correlate and are connected to other areas throughout the body.ย These points are called reflex areas.ย
You may have seen a reflexology chart before that shows these areas of connection.ย For example, the ball of the foot is connected to the heart and chest while the lower back and intestines are connected to the heel of the foot. Reflexology dates back to at least ancient Egypt.ย Illustrations on tomb walls show physicians using the foot to heal the entire body. Over
time, this practice has evolved, and today modern research backs up the premise
that these points exist. (http://reflexology-usa.net/history.htm)
Reflexology and massage often go hand in hand, but
they arenโt the same thing. Massage can
take place all over the body and focuses on the soft tissue in the body such as
muscles and fascia. Reflexology is a
specialized practice that focuses on the reflex points in the hands, feet, and
ears, whereas massage often takes place over the entire body.
Acupressure is another similar healing art, but it is
also different from reflexology.
Acupressure addresses energy lines called meridians. With this practice there are 14 long lines of
energy that run the length of the body and there are hundreds of pressure
points along these lines.
Some of these pressure points are found along the
feet, hands, and ears. However, there
are relatively few compared to pressure points found throughout the entire
body. Again, reflexology focuses only on
the feet, hands, and ears.
Reflexology may be combined with massage or
acupressure, but it can stand alone as well.
Some reflexologists choose to get certified in multiple therapies while
others work only in reflexology.
Reflexology has been known to have health benefits for
thousands of years. It can help to
improve physical and mental health by reducing the effects of stress and
anxiety. It can provide relief from
headaches and other forms of pain. It
can improve blood pressure, circulation, and can be used to combat the symptoms
from cancer and cancer treatment.
This healing art can improve your sleep, increase your energy, and assist with improving your mood.ย If you suffer from mental health issues, arthritis, diabetes or a neurological condition youโll find that reflexology is complementary therapy.
As far as side effects go, reflexology has relatively few.ย Some people report having sensitivity in their feet after a session.ย You might also experience fatigue, a runny nose, or coughing afterward.ย This is because the practice of reflexology can release toxins and your body will work to rid itself of those.ย Side effects usually last less than a day and are rarely serious.
I highly recommend this wonderful modality as part of your regular self-care. Taking care of yourself is a very high form of self-love and is so, so important. Reflexology is an excellent way to practice self-love, healing, and improving your overall well being.
Maggie Holbik.com is a Board Certified Nutritionist and Certified Life Coach who loves to both encourage and see people do more things to show their body that they indeed love it. She believes the more you love and show your body you love it, the more it will love you back! ๐
โWhen a woman becomes her own best friend life is easier.โย โย Diane Von Furstenberg
This morning I was preparing my space before I started my blog writing for the day. I have 3 current blogs so I try to write at least one or two, sometimes three posts in a day. Anyhow, while I was getting ready I thought that I would share a part of what I do for my morning health routine and things I do throughout the entire day to remind myself to add in more of the things that add to my health regime in a positive way.
In the picture above is my morning warm lemon water with honey which is in one of my favorite little glass pots from the thrift store. And behind it is a carafe of water I drink from when I need water . I like to drink it from this stainless steel wine glass (also a thrift store find) because it makes the act or art of drinking it almost sacred to me and is a great visual reminder when I walk by.
I do think of any act that I do for the betterment of my health overall as sacred. My body is my temple and I am learning that the more sacred I make it, the more by body and soul both appreciates and receives it.
This morning, as part of my health routine, I listened to positive youtube videos and this one from Robin Sharma
called “How To 100x Your Productivity In A World Of Distraction” where he talks about our addiction to distraction. It seemed fitting for me today and I also was able to tie it into my thoughts around this blog post.
Where do we get distracted around doing things for our health? Maybe we were going to go for a walk after dinner but we started checking Facebook and then it got too late. Or maybe, we had great intentions of making that new healthy recipe for dinner, but we got distracted with texting someone and ran out of time so we just threw something together healthy or not.
So to bring this in for a landing the point I am trying to make with the water carafes, glasses, and teapot, is that it sets a definite intention for me. It reminds me to focus and to bring about, and to actually implement some healthy actions and to make them ‘sacred’.
My sister told me a story once of where, at her work, when it’s lunch time, she puts on her desk a little teapot that signifies to her that it is indeed time to break for lunch and to en-JOY the time and to en-JOY her lunch break. The teapot is the sacred piece that sets the intention for her to focus on the moment.
I have never forgotten her story and have implemented that philosophy in my own life.
I hope this blog post inspires you to find ways to help add intention and focus to your healthy daily additions. ๐
Maggie Holbik.com is a Board Certified Nutritionist and Certified Life Coach who loves focusing on and finding the beauty in each day and to bring more of that into her reality and she plugs along day by day and moment by moment.
We live in a world where focus is even more important than your intelligence.
Contact me for any reason. ๐ I’d love to hear how you help yourself to focus on healthy additions to your day. Or perhaps you would like to be added to my inspirational newsletter that goes out on the 3rd of the month. Or you have questions about what supplements are good for what. Any question or comment is a good one in my books. ๐ Feel free to shoot me a message and be sure to have an AMAZING day in the meantime!
I know some of you will read this and say “Really Maggie?” But maybe there will be other people, like me, who had no idea about this hack.
This morning I was out of papers towels but I wanted to clean my bathroom mirror, so I just grabbed an old terry cloth wash cloth and used it. Wow! I used it with a little window cleaner I had and it was like magic. I was like why have I been using paper towels which A) are not enviro friendly and B) cost money and they are not necessary!
Now I know there are a lot of great cleaning clothes out there now and some made specifically for this purpose and that’s great, but who knew a simple terry cloth (and rougher the better I’m thinking) would do a miraculous job like that.
I then tried using the cloth to clean my cell phone and voila same thing and I didn’t use any cleaner, just the cloth.
I have been using pieces of flannel with my makeup remover for awhile now and this will be a nice addition to my enviro movement in the house.
I have used non-toxic cleaning products many, many years now and I do have a favorite one for windows which also works well for cutting grease, cleaning ovens and more! For windows and mirrors plain old vinegar and water works great but I like the cleaner too especially when it is so versatile, and concentrated so it last a long time and I can use it for multiple things.
Many people ask me what non-toxic products I use and more and more people are making the healthy switch to these types of products and that is fantastic! I will share the link here for those interested.
The product is called Snap Heavy Duty Concentrate and see below to see all of the things it can be used for.
Snap Heavy-Duty Concentrateโs formula provides a wide variety of uses for the product.
Grills, stoves, ovens, pots and pans
Removes grease, oil and rust from carpet
Steam cleaning carpets
Steam cleaning walls and woodwork
Windows and screens
Bathroom tile, grout and Formica ยฎ
Laundry prewash
Spot and stain remover
Vinyl, leather and tires
Wax stripper
Glue remover
Outdoor plastic furniture
Removes grease, oil and grime from driveways, garage floors
Use in power washer for awning, siding and decks
Engines
Here is the link for more info. You can read all of the great testimonials there too. I love reading reviews and testimonials because they give me ideas for other ways to use the product.
I am often asked the question, what type or kind of vitamins should I be taking on a daily basis?
There are several applicable answers but some of the most important are:
A good quality one
One that targets a broad spectrum
And the most important one is one that is easy to take so that you will take it ๐
As a Natural Health Professional, I do have access to thousands of high quality supplements, but the one I am going to write about today is my favorite daily supplement of choice that answers the question of what to take on a daily basis. It’s easy to use, high quality and has the best delivery system to make the nutrients bio-available to the body! And please note, I will be offering a discount at the end of this post.
My product of choice is the Isotonix Daily Essentials Packets that come in easy to use packets. The isotonix formulation allows you to add this powder to water for a delightful daily dose of nutrients. The Isotonix delivery system is like no other!
These packets contain Isotonix OPC-3 known for its strong antioxidant properties due to the plant-based ingredients like Pycnogenolยฎ and Grape Seed Extract. The second product is Isotonix Multivitamin to give you the full nutritional supplementation as this formula contains 100% or more of most of the essential vitamins and minerals we need to consume daily. Isotonix Advanced B-Complex gives you the boost of essential B-Vitamins to help with our overall health. Lastly, it contains Isotonix Calcium Plus which provides the body with an optimal blend of calcium, vitamin D3, magnesium and vitamin C in an efficient isotonic solution that is readily absorbed by the body for building and maintaining strong bones.
Product Benefits:
Convenient, easy-to-use packets that provide the nutrition you need on-the-go
Contains the top four essential supplements in one convenient serving
Packets are ideal to promote long-term health and optimal nutrition
Contains 100 percent or more of most of the recommended daily allowances (RDA) of vitamins and minerals
Contains key phytonutrients like Grape Seed, Red Wine, Pine Bark (Pycnogenolยฎ) , Bilberry, and Citrus Extracts
Contains essential vitamins including 8 B-Vitamins, various minerals like Calcium and nutrients
Isotonix formulas are more effective than standard supplements for maximum and faster delivery of ingredients
Suitable for Vegetarians
Product is Gluten-Free and Tested NO Detectable GMO
Product Claims:
Helps to:
prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies
maintain immune function
normal growth and development
maintain healthy skin
maintain eyesight, skin, membranes and immune function
form red blood cells and helps in their proper function
maintain proper muscle function
the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
produce and repair connective tissue
Helps in:
the development and maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums
the function of the thyroid gland
wound healing
the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus
the development and maintenance of night vision
An antioxidant for the maintenance of good health
Provides support for healthy glucose metabolism
This product contains Calcium. Calcium intake, when combined with sufficient vitamin D, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, may reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Convenient On-The-Go Packets with Four ESSENTIAL Customer Favourites:
Isotonix OPC-3 The most powerful antioxidant supplement on the market today!
Isotonix Multivitamin Get TOTAL Nutrition!
Isotonix Advanced B-Complex BOOST your B Vitamins
Isotonix Calcium Plus Essential for maintaining strong bones and healthy teeth
These packets are what I recommend to my clients who are looking for that daily dose to add to their wellness protocol. The daily cost of these packets is less than the price of a specialty coffee and has benefits that are tremendous.
If you have any questions about these packets or other supplements, please reach out to me. Also, if you would like a discount coupon code, let me know and it would be my pleasure to send one to you. Below is a link to get more detailed information on these science based nutrients.
There are many factors that affect brain health. How a person manages stress, how well they socialize, how well they sleep, how much they exercise, and what they drink and eat all are crucial to brain health.
So how does one achieve brain health? Here are seven pillars that can help you achieve optimal brain health, even into old age.
Exercise. Exercise can improve both your memory and your blood flow. It also causes chemical changes in the brain that can boost your mood. Exercise is very beneficial for brain health. Exercise can prolong your life, reduce the risk of heart disease, maximize sleep, help you lose weight, and improve your mood. The mind is closely linked to the body so the more exercise you get, the better your mind functions. Try regular exercise to develop a strong memory and improved brain vitality.
Reducing Stress We cannot always avoid mental stress but there are things we can do to offset stress and to reduce our stress levels in general. High stress levels can also lead to depression and anxiety so it is very important to diminish stress in our lives. Find ways to have more peace in your life. Yoga, meditation, spending time in nature, listening to peaceful and relaxing music, and power napping, are all great ways to help lower stress. Find ways that bring you JOY and do those.
Food and nutrition There is a lot truth in the old adage โyou are what you eat.โ By making good food choices every day, you can improve the health of your brain. As we age our brains are affected by many factors and nutrition plays a huge role in brain health. Brains are affected by “oxidation” which results from free radical damage. Foods and supplements that are antioxidants can be very beneficial in reversing the effects of oxidation. Choosing foods that are natural and not processed help to provide the body with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and natural antioxidants. Choose foods that do not come in a package and/or are processed. Learn to question the foods that you put into your body. For example, ask yourself: Is this food helping my body and brain or is it a detriment?
Lower Your Risk Factors Things like smoking, high cholesterol, head trauma, depression, obesity, and diabetes all increase a personโs chances of developing dementia. The good news is that we have a lot of control over many of these risks factors. Again question your habits and ask yourself is the habit or behavior you are participating in beneficial to your health and longevity or is it having a negative impact?
Sleep and relaxation Your brain functions better when you are well rested. Sleep is energizing, improves your immune system, enhances your mood, and restarts the brain. It may also decrease the development of beta-amyloid plaque, which is linked to Alzheimerโs dementia. Anyone who has had to stay awake for an extended period of time, or has gotten a bad nightโs sleep knows how much of an impact this has on mental functioning, focus and concentration. If you have trouble with sleeping well, try meditation to manage your stress levels, which may also help to decrease the age-related decline of brain health. There are few things that help a person feel better than getting enough sleep. It sharpens the brain and helps maximize the brain.
Mental fitness Brain health depends on using your mind to its maximum ability. Those who spend much of the their time in front of a television are not really stimulating the brain and exercising it in a way that promotes its growth and power, something that is similar to muscle atrophy from lack of movement. Getting enough mental exercise is just as critical as physical exercise is to brain health. Mental exercise can maximize a personโs ability promote brain cell growth and improve the functioning of their brain. It can decrease the chances of developing Alzheimerโs dementia as well. Just as a person exercises their muscles, they need to exercise their brain. People who persist in developing new interests and skills, engage in things that are interesting, partake in new activities, and continue to learn new things, will maximize their brain functioning.
Social Interaction. People who maintain social interaction and remain connected with others have better brain health. Try to engage in conversation with others, spend time with others, and stay in touch with loved ones. Those people who have the most social interaction enjoy better brain health. The wonderful benefit of technology in today’s modern world allows easier connection with others right from your own home. There are many Facebook groups, for example, and you can find people with a kindred mindset for gardening, cooking, art, health topics, etc. There are so many to choose from.
Maggie Holbik.com is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Registered Nutritional Therapist, Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner and Certified Life Coach who loves to share information that make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Just about everybody has stress these days and chronic stress is an epidemic! Studies have shown that chronic stress is associated with a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and even brain aging concerns.
Stress is also closely associated with hormone imbalance and weight gain.
Whether stress comes from outside sources or internal banter, all stressors place stress on the body and mind and is something that should be a top priority when it comes to wellness management.
A few ways to help with stress are:
Spend time in nature. Nature is a great way to de-stress naturally. Let the earth soak up some of your stressful vibes and clear the way for more peace of mind and stillness.
Breathe. Just breathe. Take time to slow down your breathing and connect with your breath. Just the act of doing this, helps to interrupt stress patterns.
Listen to calming music. Gentle piano music is a great example of a calming type of music that can help to shift your stressful sensations to more a more peaceful flow or feeling within the body and mind. For example click here:ย
Take time to be still throughout the day. Just stop for a moment. Even if this means you have a potty break at your workplace and take a minute or two, to consciously sit there and connect with your breathe. Many of us are creatures of go-go-go and we forget to just ‘stop’ now and then.
ย Make your desires a priority. One of the ways we experience stress is by not living in a way that matches our life’s purpose or passions. Make sure you both acknowledge and honor the desires of your soul. The more you do this, the more you will find peace and the more your life will flow with balance and grace.
There are many more ways to work on balancing the stress in your life, but these are just a few that I hope you find helpful.
Maggie Holbik.com is a Board Certified Nutritionist and Certified Life Coach who works with clients all over the world to help them unleash their desires and live with intention and passion.
I must say I personally have been inspired by the new Canada Food Guide to work more at cooking from scratch. I have written a blog post recently about the new Canada Food Guide and if you like, you can read it here:ย Link to Previous Canada Food Guide Blog Post about En-JOY-ing our Food
Today I picked up these adorable measuring nesting bowls with lemons on them. Lately I am in love with lemons, especially starting my day with warm lemon water. I find now that I am creating more food and new recipes of my own, I can never have enough measuring cups, especially when it comes to preparing my mise en place.
Mise en placeย (French pronunciation:ย โ[mi zษฬ หplas]) is a French culinary term which means “putting in place” or “everything in its place.” It refers to the set up required before cooking, and is often used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients ex. chopped veggies, sauces, cuts of meat, spices, herbs etc. Basically it’s getting your ingredients and utensils ready before you cook.ย ย
I first learned of mise en place last year while taking my Forks Over Knives plant based cooking school, of which, I am a proud graduate.
I am finding that I am getting more JOY from preparing my food and having things like these bowls that make me smile while I am doing it. ๐
I also love how these bowls ‘nest’ making for easy storage.
I would love to hear what inspires you in your kitchen?
And I will be sharing my recipe creations in my monthly newsletter so if you would like to be on that list, you can subscribe over at my home page on my websiteย Maggie’s Website Homepageย or pop me a request to be added in the contact form below.
For inspiration on life and musings about life, follow me over at my other Blog too!ย Link to my Main Blog
Burnout can take on many forms and affect us emotionally, mentally, and physically as well as spiritually. Sometimes it feels like our soul is zapped and we have nothing left to give.
What are some ways that we can avoid these feelings of burnout and lack of vitality?
On a physical level, one might want to look at adrenal burnout. Some symptoms of adrenal burnout are aches and pains, sweet cravings, exhaustion, low blood sugar, trouble getting to sleep and waking up, a reliance on stimulants,ย a pain in the neck and more.ย There are lots of great articles and info on supporting the adrenals and I will be sharing some here at this blog as well, but today I want to talk more about the spiritual side of burnout…..
Inspiration orย ‘in spirit’ is a force all on its own and when we feel overwhelmed, over burdened or afraid, our inspiration hides itself from us. We become disconnected from our own inspiration and life force.
How do we connect to this inspirational life force?ย There are many ways but today I will cover a few key ones.
You must honor your wants and desires. YOU are important in YOUR life and you need to accept this. Please don’t live your life for others only. It’s great to appreciateย the people in your life, like your kids and your significant other etc., but please don’t lose yourself. YOUR life is a gift and you need to open your gift and share your gifts with the world. Your kids are here to experience and en-JOY their journey and you are here to en-JOY yours too! One of the best things you can do is to lead by example and pave the wave for your kids and those in your life to appreciate their lives, by appreciating yours and honoring your desires and wants!
Let go of the things than don’t serve you, including the past.ย As a Life Coach the biggest pain body I see in people, that is affecting their health today, is hanging on to pain from the past. There are many ways to let this go, life coaching, counselling and pyshcotherapy for example, but I would offer to you it really does not have to be as hard as we think and the sooner you release it, the fasterย your inspiration and vitality will improve. Do whatever you need to do to let go of yesterday.
ย Support your body, mind and soul by adding in more… more nutrients, more calm, more meditation, more nature, more LOVE, more JOY, more HAPPY.ย The biggest key here is to ALLOW yourself to have these things. Most people, because of running old programs, love to sabotage themselvesย and ‘punish’ themselves because they don’t feel worthy. Recognize what it is you are doing and change it ๐
I am going to wrap up for today and let these three ideas or concepts sit with you. I hope you find them helpful and remember you need to adapt and do what works for YOU. It is my only wish that you do for YOU that which brings you JOY and helps you to have more vitalityย and inspiration in your life.
Maggie Holbik.com is a Certified Life Coach and Board Certified Nutritionist who loves to help people ‘remember who they are’ and to help them to create lives that fulfill their inner desires and their soul’s callings.
