I was tidying up a corner of the room this morning, and picked up a stray "LIFE IS GOOD" paper bag filled with odds and ends, folded notes from a former job assignment, a few torn pages out of a magazine that were folded and stuffed in that bag (I had saved the paper bag, 'cos I like the message, and it'a pretty, blue, sturdily constructed paper bag which should be reused and not tossed out right away)- ... Anyway, as I started tossing things out, I came across this article segment titled "GOOD HEALTH".  It's from the Good Housekeeping magazine, August 2008 issue ... based on the date, it must be something my sister or my mother wanted to share with me.

Well Didi and Ma, it's finally out in the open, and I am reading through the article... albeit, a year and a half later!

The key points are in sync with my current musings on health and inner wellness, so here's the extract... by publishing it here, I am actually filing this away for safekeeping...and I can toss out another piece of paper and preserve the learnings! ... and if you are reading this ... I hope you can find a few lines in here that resonate with you as well.  So, here goes:

1.  STEP ONE - Understand the effects of stress

2.  STEP TWO - Commit to change

3.  STEP THREE - Shift your thinking

• Accept what you can't change
• Stop catastrophising
• Talk about it
• See the funny side

4.  STEP FOUR - Find relaxation space

• Deep centered breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Visualization
• Meditation
• Practice mindfulness

There were a couple of additional pieces of advice in this article that I need to keep in mind and review before going on holiday ... so I arrive relaxed at my destination

PLAN AHEAD

• Avoid last-night packing and impulse shopping (A challenge for me ... aim to do better this time around)
• Pack a couple of good holiday reads
• Give yourself "me" time
• Remind yourself that holidays are rarely perfect

STAY CALM

• Think about what you want to do (You'll always have to cater for others' needs, remember to make sure your needs are catered to as well.)
• Remember that it's not a competition (Be un-ambitious in my plans - don't have to cram in everything, spend a few days doing nothing at all!)

Well folks, that's all for today ... Cheers to GOOD HEALTH!

No, folks! I don't mean going to the store and buying a "Colon Cleanse" potion...
Eww! that's gross... and definitely not table talk.

I'm talking about an internal mind, body and spiritual cleansing. Think happy thoughts, and get rid of all that's burdensome, creates clutter and weighs me down (emotionally and physically)... whether they be thoughts, emotions, people or things.

So, I am starting off the day with a little time for meditation (as little as 5 minutes) - a bit of quiet time for me for to let my mind wander, or not, or just 'be"! Little baby steps right now.   I am trying to be aware and conscious of my nutrition and inner well being.