CALM: June-2022 Calendar

Greetings all!

Here is the June-2022 calendar from CALM: so many wonderful ideas to nourish our well-being (from https://blog.calm.com/blog/june-2022-calm-calendar). Take a moment for yourself and remember to breathe!

Image from https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-sky-clouds-dusk-nature-4086848/

My favorite ideas are from June 2, 7, 18, and 22. The ones that I need to work on more are from June 12 and 24. What do you think?

June 1 - Prioritize getting outside today.

June 2 - Take 10 minutes to do nothing today.

June 3 - Set an alarm to stretch a few times today.

June 4 - Notice what emotions are present today.

June 5 - Loosen up with the Daily Move.

June 6 - 10-min free write: let your mind flow!

June 7 - Try doing one thing at a time today.

June 8 - Focus on flowing with the day.

June 9 - Take one thing off your to do list today.

June 10 - Stay connected to your body today.

June 11 - Practice a kind attitude today.

June 12 - Go to bed 30 minutes earlier tonight.

June 13 - Follow your curiosity today.

June 14 - Do something that feels good to your body.

June 15 - Focus on accepting where you are today.

June 16 - Practice mindful eye contact.

June 17 – Offer a mindful hug today.

June 18 - Prioritize joy today.

June 19 - Build heat with rigorous movement!

June 20 - Notice and adjust your posture.

June 21 - Give yourself a quick massage.

June 22 - Be authentic with your responses.

June 23 - Gaze at the clouds today.

June 24 - Sit in stillness without a device.

June 25 - Repeat: “I am safe, loved and present.”

June 26 - Wake up mindfully today.

June 27 - Use your imagination today.

June 28 - Express gratitude to yourself.

June 29 - Try Calm’s Commuting meditation.

June 30 - Spend time in nature.

Have a great week and remember to be kind to yourself and others!

Rent-A-Pineapple and Forever Young Cocktail

Greetings all!

Did you know that several centuries ago pineapples used to be a status symbol and could cost thousands of dollars in today’s money? Native to South America, pineapples need a tropical climate to grow so only wealthy people could afford to buy one.

If you could not purchase a pineapple, you could still rent one – but not to eat! Instead, you would walk down the street with your rented pineapple, or display it as a dinner centerpiece, or bring it with you to a luncheon as an accessory! I wonder if a pineapple warranted a separate invitation as a “plus 1”? 

If you could not afford to rent a pineapple, you could then buy porcelain dishes and teapots in the shape of a pineapple. Things starting changing in 1900s, when James Dole planted pineapples in Hawaii and made the fruit more available and affordable. 

Today, food pictures rule Instagram but in the 17th century, paintings were the order of the day. Just look at Charles II being presented with a pineapple – pineapples were a huge deal!

https://www.rct.uk/collection/406896/charles-ii-presented-with-a-pineapple

If you like - and can easily buy - pineapples and pineapple juice, here is a drink you might enjoy.

Image and recipe from https://www.totalwine.com/cocktail-recipes/forever-young

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. vodka
• 2 oz. lemon-lime soda
• 1 oz. pineapple juice
• Pineapple wedge for garnish

Instructions:

• Pour vodka, lemon-lime soda and pineapple juice into chilled glass with ice.
• Stir well.
• Garnish with pineapple wedge.

Additional Sources:

• https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65506/super-luxe-history-pineapples-and-why-they-used-cost-8000
• https://historydaily.org/pineapples-arent-native-to-hawaii-the-story-of-james-dole-and-hawaiian-gold
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dole

What did you think? Drop me a line!

The 7 Levels of Financial Freedom – Where Are You?

For more details, see https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/05/10/the-7-levels-of-financial-freedom-according-to-a-millionaire-50percent-of-us-workers-are-at-level-2.html

Landscapes of Ireland

Greetings all!

Have you been to Ireland? Here are some gorgeous pictures of the Emerald Isle. 

Trim Castle

Lough Dan

Portsalon

Killough

The Fairy Glen

Loughareema (The Vanishing Lake)

Lough Neagh

Murlough Bay

Mussenden Temple

Cushendun Caves

 
Source (and more photos Courtesy of Tourism Ireland):

https://www.shermanstravel.com/slideshow/25-beautiful-vistas-and-landscapes-in-ireland

What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Melinda Mae [Poem of the Week]

Greetings all!

I wanted to share a poem by Shel Silverstein with you. Simple on the surface, with delightful rhyming, and kids will probably find it funny! But I also think it is rather thought-provoking. Read to the end for my reflections!

Melinda Mae 

Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae,

Who ate a monstrous whale?
She thought she could,
She said she would,
So she started in right at the tail.

And everyone said, "You're much too small,"
But that didn't bother Melinda at all.
She took little bites and she chewed very slow,
Just like a good girl should...

...And in eighty-nine years she ate that whale
Because she said she would!

~ by Shel Silverstein

I keep thinking about the following lines:  

‘She thought she could’ 
– To me, this line speaks of internal strength and determination!

‘She thought she would!’
- Do you see the leap from 'could' to 'would' and then to 'start'? 

‘She started in right at the tail’ 
- Make a plan and start soon, one bite at a time!

‘And everyone said, "You're much too small," 
But that didn't bother Melinda at all.’ 
– I just love this! Do not let anyone deter you!

I also wonder about where Melinda got the monstrous whale. How did she keep the whale fresh and where did she store it? What about environmental consequences of her diet since some species of whale are endangered? It took Melinda 89 years to finish the whale so did whale-eating contribute to her longevity? Was it silly to stick that long to a childhood whim? Should she have chosen a different goal? 

As you can see, this short poem is very thought-provoking, and I hope my post made you smile and think!

Source:
https://genius.com/Shel-silverstein-melinda-mae-annotated

What did you think? Drop me a line!