Wishes for Joy and Body Peace to You
First, thank you for your attention and for being a part of our vital and growing community!
Second, I am doing a lot of writing these days and would love to hear if you have any questions or particular curiosities you would like me to write about here. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me and let me know!
Lastly, I know the Holidays can be such a mish-mash of complicated, overwhelming, sweet, joyful, and just plain hard experiences. When we add the pain and heartache of the world, it can feel like too much; at least, that's how it feels to me sometimes.
You may be experiencing grief, fatigue, disappointment, body shame, pressure to perform, feeling like you are not enough, or feeling like you are a burden.
You may be experiencing warmth, closeness, and joy. You are likely experiencing some of each. The longer I live, the more I see the messiness and lean into holding contradictions.
One of the common contradictions I encourage you to consider is
1-Honoring your well-being with intentional choices to regulate your nervous system, nourishing yourself with satisfying and supportive foods, and creating time to rest and play, including movement.
AND
2-Not following external and rigid rules about item number one! Learning to connect with and trust your own body and instincts is a liberating process.
I love these words from Suleika Jaouad:
Living means learning to hold the astonishingly beautiful and unbearably hard things in the same palm.
Please remind yourself that starting another diet/wellness plan or returning to old eating disorder behaviors may feel safe only because there is a familiar distraction and maybe a protective numbness/checking out for you there. Please don’t fall for it. Instead, give yourself plenty of tending and care. Remember your boundaries. Practice Self-compassion. One day at a time.
Please remember:
You don’t have to fall for the anti-aging diet/wellness culture machine to take care of yourself! There is a legit "sweet spot" that is informed by your partnership with your body rather than someone else’s rules! I’m in love with the process of holding contradictions with you while discovering your sweet spot. I am looking forward to doing more of that in the New Year.
Sending love,
Deb
