You've Got to be Kind to Yourself

Create Intention

My friend James was talking about trying to find ways to be better at taking her medicine, which brought us to thinking about motivations for being good to our bodies.





What if with each vitamin I took, I believed it not only had nutrients, but also kindness within it? What if it was just as important to give yourself affirmations as to take that motion to pop that prescription? If believing in yourself was required to create healthy habits, then we decided to do both at once.

Put Thoughts to Paper

Cut

We wrote messages that we need to tell ourselves on little hearts on pretty patterns of paper and taped them to our meds and vitamins.  I made sure to phrase my reminders in terms of the affirmation already being true, instead of an aspiration that lingers as something desired but not necessarily already accessible inside me. I even got carried away and now when I shake salt on food it even gives me a dose of encouragement.  Even my deodorant received a note.


My favorite one is the one I put on Loosey's valley fever meds that says, "I am nurtured and give back love ten-fold."  Here are some other good ones you can use too!

• I am full of gratitude
• I am enough
• I make choices gracefully
• I am open, accessible and accepting
• I am resilient and strong
• Control is an illusion
• Life is beautiful
• I enjoy opportunities to give
• I trust my intuition

Merge Dose of Love with Dose of Med (tape)

Even Spices Provide Charmed Destinies

All Sorts of Goodness

A Moment in Front of the Medicine Cabinet

Here is a video of a song our ingenious puppeteer friend Elysia Hansel made related to the subject:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soN3XA3Mejw&feature=youtu.be

Granny's Jewelry

My dad thinks he remembers giving his mom, my granny Lu, this cream porcelain rose bracelet when he was in high school in the 50's, which I will always think of her when I am wearing.  Thank you Aunt Mari for giving this to me.

Here is a picture of a necklace I a recently made in memory of Granny Lulu complete with a small curly haired cherub who has had her fill of icecream and a birds nest for her love of springtime and watching the action outside her window in later years.

A charm I gave my aunt Mari to keep thoughts warm and let her know were all still with Mari in our thoughts as Lulu is with us.

It feels very healing to create and wear jewelry in memory of someone. Thinking of granny Lulu while selecting beads that reminded me of her because of the colors, golds, rosy antiqueness, was like a meditation for creating peace within me.  The little reminders on the charm remind me to "follow my heart", which I feel is a big lesson for valuing life.

I would love to show my close friends a video I created of pictures throughout Lulu's life to one of her favorite composers, Gershwin.  I am glad that the amazing slideshow tools were readily accessible and learn-able for times like this.

I'm Mead Z

That's me and my dog Lucy in my garden, where I spend most my time. Those are the suitcases I keep my jewelry supplies in. Many of the colors of the beads are inspired by celebrating life in the Sonoran desert.