…And?

The single days or months we dedicate as a society to specific causes drives me bananas. And by bananas I mean bat-shit crazy. (😜 as “mother of the year” this is what I tell my kids, lol).

Breast cancer isn’t limited to the month of October, it is rampant all year long. But, the pink packaging, the “we donate to breast cancer” labels and all the hype is limited to October. They turn a product pink and boom, people suddenly feel good about buying junk, “they donate to cancer research”… all the while causing cancer through the chemicals in their products and the inflammation they cause.

All year long we should be thinking about nurturing health, checking our breasts and other scans looking for cancer. By being in tune with your body you will notice differences at any moment not just when it’s top of mind for the marketing department.

Here are some ways to be body-mindful throughout the year:

1. Check on the First. Check your body on the first. Be come familiar with how your breasts feel, how the moles and freckles look. This way you can notice changes, even the small ones. Catching any ailment early.
2. Increase Mindfulness.
   • Eating without distractions. Eat at a table, with family. Eat, enjoy and notice how your body reacts to different foods. Allowing 2-3 hours to digest before bedtime.
   • Track your cycle. There are a lot of great apps for this these days. A good one will include, not just a start and stop, but also how you feel, heaviness of the flow, symptoms, sexual activity and any outside factors.
   • Keep a routine. If you subscribe to the Ayurvedic world, you’re know that Vata rules (there are three main doshas we are all made of). If Vata goes out of balance the other two, Pitta and Kapha; if it goes back in balance the other two follow. So if we’re out of balance, we can focus on the Vata and bring our whole body back in balance. A great way to start this is to stick to a routine. Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.
   • Meditation. Take just five minutes a day to sit with your thoughts. Notice them, slow them and detach from them. By bringing awareness to our thoughts we connect to our souls on a level that will develop into a connect that will let you know when something is off.
   • Be silent. We are far too stimulated in todays world. With TV, social media, movies, radio, billboards, social pressures to perform, buy and be the best having it all. So take a moment during the day to just be, just sit. Just ground with the outdoors.
3. Exercise. Daily movement is needed. Just as our blood circulates we need to circulate our entire being daily. The movement increase blood flow, lymph drainage, keeps our joints loose, muscles strong all supporting a healthy aging body.

Let’s commit now, not waiting for the New Year to incorporating these strategies to keep us healthy, checked and set for a long healthy life.

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