Preparing for the School Year Ahead by Practicing Gratitude

“No amount of regret can change the past. No amount of anxiety can change the future. Any amount of gratitude will change the present.”

Hello, my dear friends and followers. I trust that August has treated you well and that you have enjoyed creating precious moments with loved ones. A close friend of mine, with whom I spent time this summer, has returned to work, gearing up for the upcoming school year. This season reminds me of the countless years I spent preparing for the year ahead as an educator and a parent.

When anticipating the upcoming school year, there are moments of anxiety regarding how it will impact us, whether as educators, staff, parents or students. Concerns often revolve around future occurrences that have yet to happen, consuming valuable time and leading to unwarranted stress.

My anxiety stems from various sources, particularly the fear of cancer recurrence. I rely on practicing gratitude to help me stay calm during the anxious wait for test results. I understand there is no way to speed up time or accurately foresee the outcome. I can also think better from a calm state, supporting decisions to maintain good mental and physical health.

Rather than focusing inward, gratitude involves directing our attention toward external sources of joy, such as people, places, and things. Living in the present moment and cultivating gratitude can alleviate anxiety that often arises from expectations. Unlike anxiety, gratitude does not demand anything from us; it simply requires us to appreciate what we have in our lives. We can interrupt anxiety and our expectations through gratitude and experience a sense of calm.

If you are a teacher, school staff or a parent with children heading to school, you can start this habit today. Take some time during your day to reflect on three things you are thankful for and jot them down. Concentrate on the present moment and acknowledge how lucky you are to have these individuals, places, or things in your life. This will help break the cycle of worrying about the future.

Practice this alone or come together as a family to express gratitude for your blessings. Showing appreciation for the people, places, or things in your life can assist you in overcoming any obstacles the upcoming school year might present.

I will begin by saying I am thankful for my girlfriend, who uplifts my day, for the beautiful space in nature I call home, and for nutritious food that supports my good health. What are you grateful for?

Grateful to Celebrate Summer 2024 as a Meta-Thriver.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style." Maya Angelou

At this point last year, I was wavering between the hope of not having a recurrence of breast cancer and the fear of having it again! After receiving the diagnosis, my oncologist developed a medical plan to keep me alive. I conducted thorough research, implemented lasting changes, and remained firmly committed to the conviction that I would survive and thrive.

This summer, I am grateful for my health. I have no signs of cancer and feel strong. I am attending loved ones' weddings, teaching yoga by the lake, and embracing the summer vibes on the East Coast. I truly cherish every moment spent with my family and friends. I do not underestimate the value and gift of these shared experiences.

I celebrated my 60th birthday in December. I feel fortunate to be retired while still working part-time contracts that enable me to pursue my passions and work with great people. As requested by some of my Fall contracts, I have updated my biography and photo.

In celebration of my achievements this year, I returned to Studio Umlah. Bernadine Umlah is a woman who possesses numerous talents, provides a spa-like experience, and captures your essence through photography. I expressed my desire for photos to capture the spirit of my journey of overcoming obstacles and living life over cancer with confidence and fortitude.

My achievements up to this point are closely connected to my parents, who instilled in me faith and resilience; my life partner, who walks with me each day; my supportive family and friends, who cheer me on; and my healthcare professionals, including those dedicated to advancing cancer treatments and lifestyle choices through research.

This is my 150th Blog post! I am grateful to all of you for following me on this journey, standing with me as we tackle the obstacles that come our way, and helping us survive and thrive so that we can live our best lives.

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The Finale of the 5-Day Sugar Challenge: Becoming a Nutritarian.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman concluded the 5-Day Challenge by introducing us to his "Nutritarian Diet." One way we can support the reduction of sugar in our diets is to move to a plant-based, nutrient-dense diet. He shared that we are designed to have highly nutrient-dense cells. If we carry extra weight, the nutrients are spread over a larger mass of cells, depleting their nutrient content.

The Nutritarian Diet, proven effective in reversing chronic illnesses, provides our cells with the nutrients they need to function properly and maintain optimal health. To learn more about this diet, read Dr. Fuhrman's two best-selling novels: Eat to Live or Eat for Life.

Dr. Fuhrman is not against eating sweets. He promotes desserts to end our meals, but it is important to make them with healthy foods. He shared with us his favourite ice cream ingredients that satisfy your sweet ending to a meal. His recipe included bananas, soy milk, vanilla bean powder, macadamia nuts, walnuts, dates, cacao nibs, cinnamon, and mint. I have tried making the ice cream, and it was delicious.

Nathan Crane and Dr. Fuhrman concluded the Challenge by recapping the importance of the many concepts discussed over the five days. They noted that people who took on this challenge take upwards to five days to rid their bodies of the sugars, regain their energy, and begin to awaken deadened taste buds. So, if you are interested in switching out free sugars and processed foods, you will initially feel tired due to being used to sugar spikes. Don't eat because you feel fatigued; eat because you are hungry.

I enjoyed the 5-Day Challenge and learned some new information to add to my toolbox for healthy eating. I left knowing that I am on the right track to support my cells, hence my body, with foods that will support its function and ensure I maintain no evidence of active disease.

My takeaways:

• G- BOMBS is a great way to focus on including greens, beans, onions, berries and seeds. These nutrient-dense foods support weight loss, prevent chronic diseases, and promote your health and immune system.

• This was a reminder that many within the food industry have created foods that addict us to free sugars, creating a dependency on non-healthy foods. I will do my best to make local and national farmers rich.

• This was a reminder of the importance of carbohydrates, which support the slow spike in glucose and give us energy to function throughout the day.

• To brush my teeth after my supper dessert to signal that I am done eating for the day. This allows my gut to rest and repair throughout the evening and as I sleep rather than spend this valuable time digesting food.

• To adopt and adapt the practices shared here. Dr. Furhman views maple syrup and honey as akin to free sugars. I will not eliminate these foods from my diet, but I have already begun limiting them. One of my favourite dressings combines olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup. I now use olive oil and fruit-infused balsamic vinegar. It is still flavourful and reduces my use of maple syrup.

What are your takeaways?