The Silver Lining

It's undeniably true that hard times can bring strength, even when we feel weak at the same time.

It's funny how this works!

We just need to let our spirit guide us and trust the process.

Sending love out into the world to all of you,

Louise

The Secret

A new 75-year-old Harvard study has found the one secret leading to a fulfilling life.

No surprises here, just reassurance.

Have a nice weekend everyone.

With love from me to you,

Louise

The Best Medicine

Another great video from one of my favorite people, Christiane Northrup, in the field of women's health.

Dr. Oz also discusses the health benefits of orgasm here. 

Natural medicine that doesn't cost a penny :-)

Finding the Good

One of the challenging things for me this past year has been receiving the news that my youngest daughter, Julia Fernandes, has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease. She is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh.

As her mother, you can only imagine the amount of worry that this has brought into my life. Having her so far away has made it even harder. Luckily, I've gathered some very helpful coping skills in my later years that have helped me through the process. One of them was knowing that there is frequently a silver lining to many of life's challenges that come upon us. To name a few, her health struggle has brought us even closer together and has delivered us both to the doorstep of the many wonders and lessons about the mind, body, spirit connection.

I will be forever grateful for all that I have personally learned from her through her journey. She has been an incredible inspiration to me, especially in her most challenging moments.

For anyone you know that might be interested in and comforted by her story, it is here.  

With love,
Louise

Making Lemonade

My niece, Vira, posted this on her Instagram last week. So good! I've said I've been busy before and haven't explained why. Just busy taking care of me. The best kind of busy. No explanation needed to take time out for ourselves. No explanation needed anytime really, for anything.

How wonderfully empowering is this?

My nice, Vira, is an American recording artist. Her music has been featured in commercials for BMW, Coke-Zero and NBC Universal. Her latest song, Last Ride, is out and I love it. Vira comes from the Sanskrit word for hero and the Greek/Latin word for truth. She is one of my of biggest inspirations.

I am off today for a weekend away with two very new friends. Some of you may remember my dear friend Liz, who died a few months ago. These two friends were lifelong friends of hers, whom I met only once before her death.

This weekend, we will make some lemonade out of lemons. <3 <3 <3

Sending love and light,

Louise

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Turning Anxiety

I don't have an April Fool's joke to share with you this weekend but I do have a really good video for you. (thank you Bob).

I recently heard someone say that before they speak publicly that they jump up and down and slap their thighs. I didn't get it then but after seeing this, now I do.

I can't wait to try it the next time I have a swim race or have to speak in front of a group.

Happy snowy weekend if you're here in the northeast.
Maybe the storm is this year's April Fool's joke?

xo

Remind Me

Most of us are probably familiar with the Reminders App on an Iphone.

This little app has revolutionized my life in the past year. Because of it, gone are the post-it notes on my mirror, doors and car dash board- as well as those scribbled in ink on the back of my hand.


Amen halleluja.

For instance- Need to remember to get gas? 

Just say to Siri, " Remind me to get gas today ( or tomorrow) at 8AM" and she'll set the reminder for you.

It's like we have a little assistant right in our hands.

We can also go into the app and set daily health reminders such as:

8am- take vitamins

5:00pm- drink plenty of water

10:30pm- get to bed early for optimal health & beauty rest :-)

We can set weekly reminders: 

Thursday at 9am- take out the garbage & recycling.

Remember to give mom some loving touch. 

We can set monthly reminders:

First of the month- do bills

15th of the month- renew the swim pass

We can set annual reminders:

Car inspection

Put snow tires on/take off.

Yada yada yada...

But here's the best thing-

We can set mental reminders for behavior modification. For instance, when we reach a head-butt with someone and want to skip the drama- 

"Take a breath, let it settle, go into self for a minute and then respond." 

Oh man is this one good for me.

And even better than this, we can set affirmations for ourselves. 

Oh yes, so good...

" I don't take what others are going through personally."

 "I trust the process."

"I radiate love & light ."

XOXO

You Always Have

Another great quote to share for all of us when life grows challenging.

With love and peace,
Louise

Lately

Such a great quote.

There are some things in life that cost us our peace that we can't really avoid- and then there are the other things that we can. These are the things that are especially important to be aware of, and steer clear of, to take better care of ourselves.

I am sure that each one of us can think of at least one example.

Also this week, a very interesting article from the NY Times called Aging and My Beauty Dilemma, written by the female president of Barnard College.

xo,
Louise

Trusting in Our Higher Power

With the new moon yesterday, my first grand-nephew has arrived and a friend's father passed away. It seems I grieve my own father once again every time this happens.

I've been thinking about the devine energy and love that resides within us all. Perhaps the biggest key in life is trust in our own higher power. Although I don't think my mom could articulate this, perhaps in simpler thinking, it is what she may believe. A widow for over 15 years, now 95-years-old and on the slippery slope of decline, she is alone in the night in nursing care and must be tapping into an energy for herself that is peaceful, trusting and grounding.

Thank you mama for your example of this, even though I know that you probably aren't even aware that you have set this and so many others for me.

My dear friend and inspiration Brenda Stanton (who walked with me in the Nestle ad) wrote a great piece recently about trusting our higher power that you might like to read if you have time, especially her Worthy Work at the end of the article.

Sending love from my home to yours,

Louise

Valentine's Day

I'm sending love out into the world today.

To those in the far reaches of the earth, who might need it most.

To those close-by, who might feel that they haven't a hand to hold, anywhere.

I'm sending love out into the world today

Because I know we're all a little frightened about what might happen next

or what might not happen.

I hope you can feel it.

It's traveling today, from my heart to yours.

Xoxo,

Louise

Message from the Sky

The older I grow, the more I love astrology.

I take it with a grain of salt but usually find it pretty fascinating.

There is a message in this full moon for all of us.

Happy lunar eclipse everyone,

Louise

A Track In The Snow

I am still sorely missing my friend who died last week. First there was shock of her sudden death, then the celebration of her life and now, the reality that my memories with her are done being made.

Especially hard I think because she is the first friend I have ever lost, but perhaps this kind of thing gets harder as life goes along.

Out of I don't know where, I gathered the strength to speak at her funeral. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I have spoken at my Dad's funeral and also my 101-year-old cousin's but this was harder. There were many people I didn't know there, she was my age and there was also a camera telecasting the service to another room for the overflow in the UU church. 

I am so glad that I honored her though. I am always glad when I do things that scare the daylights out of me, but this time in particular, I had a story to tell. I honestly think she pulled me through it.

"I am Liz’s friend, Louise.

With Liz's passing, we have all lost a glowing light in our lives.

Last Thursday morning, like the flip of a light switch, she was gone.

For years Liz has been my walking buddy.

Who knows how many miles we treaded, 

while trying to sort out the complexities of life.

Lizbeth, 

You were my nature girl.

The girl who got me to see so many things that I would've missed had I not been with you.

A bird in a tree.

A track in the snow.

The first sign of spring.

You were a confidant.

You were my cheerleader.

You radiated love.

Who will ever forget your smile? 

Your soothing massages provided my 95-year-old mother and so many others, the human warmth that we all need.

After every massage my mom would say to me

"Liz is such a kind and loving person." 

And we all know that about you-

and it is what I will miss most,

my dear dear friend."

When A Wall Comes Down

In honor of my floral loving friend, Liz

I've been flattened this week with some very sad news. This past Thursday morning I lost my dear friend Liz, who was my longtime walking buddy. She died very suddenly from complications of the flu/asthma.

When I say that she was a very kind and loving person it doesn't come close to describing her fully.

Why is it that I opened my phone to text her the day before she died, actually put her name in, got interrupted with a phone call and never got back to it?

I would have known perhaps how sick she was. I could have helped.

Why is it that she drove herself to the emergency room on Wednesday night and it was too crowded, so she decided to try again in the morning?

Eight hours later, in the middle of the night, it was too late.

Why is that this human was so prominent in my life, and yet, I have not one selfie of us together?

As my one of my daughters said, maybe this is beautiful thing.

That maybe we were experiencing more important things together than capturing a moment.

As I prepare for her funeral tomorrow, I am writing a short tribute to share.

Hold your friends dearly. We never know when they are going to slip away.

With love,
Louise

The Chakra of Love

The beautiful lotus flower represents the heart chakra.

I've been reading up on the 7 chakras and especially liked learning more this week about the 4th chakra, our heart chakra. 

The chakra of love.

Love, the ultimate healing force.

Especially important this week, in the difficult political situations we face.

When our hearts are open and energy is freely flowing, we are not only loving to others, we are also more loving to ourselves.

When our hearts are open, we know when we need to say no and do some self-nurturing. 

Try smiling at a few strangers today and see what happens.

Love and warmth will always radiate and grow.

xo,

Louise

And That's How We Know

I wish I'd seen this years ago. Such a good message.

Happy weekend everyone!
xo

What Is

In the wake of all the crazy things that are happening, such as the shootings in Fort Lauderdale recently, I'm finding it helpful to come back to what is right and what is working, and more than ever, to be very grateful for it all.

We can sometimes get so caught up in WHAT ISN'T can we not?

On the verge of the new presidency, I thought a bit of humor is in order for this week (see below).

With love to you all,
Louise

Twenty-Seventeen

I couldn't help posting this because it's so accurate and funny. The delicious coconut macaroons dipped in dark chocolate that I had a love affair with, not to mention the plentiful glasses of cheer, are now living not so peacefully on my thighs omgoddie. On this last day of the year I'm looking forward to a sugar detox to ring in the new year.

Well not a total sugar detox but just scaling back to my little bits of daily dark chocolate delights :-)

Happy New Year to you all!

May we do what we love to do and do it often.

Xo,
Louise

Blessings Eternal

In the end, when all the hunting and gathering was done, love and my Christmas spirit arrived and I had a really nice time hosting. I think I just need to allow my pre-holiday frustrations to seep out sometimes, kind of like letting the air out of an overly full balloon.

On Christmas Eve my sister read a poem with a lovely message. It seemed especially poignant this year:

What is Christmas?

It is tenderness of the past,

courage for the future.

 It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow 

with blessings rich and eternal,

and that every path may lead to peace.

                       ~ Agnes Pharo

I hope that this year, you felt some blessings eternal too.

xo,
Louise

If Men Breastfed

Oh how I have missed writing but life has seemed too topsy-turvy lately while preparing to host Christmas.

Just between you and me, I hate the holiday hustle...frankly, besides the tree, sparkly white lights, yummy food and being together, I could just skip it. And even this I could skip. I know, I'm such a scrooge.

The best thing to me about December 25th is not having to do it again for 12 more months.

This year I vowed to keep it simple and not go near a mall. In fact, I vow to not go near a mall ever again if I can help it. I know this is stretching it however...although, we should get use to the concept as shopping malls are becoming a thing of the past, as they are slowly going extinct.

I'm enjoying buying from small independent shops and making things if I can and the rest is so easily done online with google images/google shopping. For instance, I wanted to get my 95-year-old mom some purple pajamas (her favorite color). They will go nicely with her purple glasses and her purple walker and her purple watch band :-)  Had I gone out into the world on foot to search far and wide for a pair that I like, it may have taken forever. However by googling them they were instantly in front me. Like magic.

For a bit of humor this week, I bring you this funny, over-the-top clip made by Naya, a breast pump company:

Drinking From The Sky

One breath

and then another

SLOWLY

GENTLY

DEEPLY

Breath is the link between our body and our mind,

where no one,

can steal our peace.

Simply Simple

Sixty-four year old make-up artist, Cindy Joseph, got her first modeling job the same day she cut off her last bit of colored hair and went all gray.

I love what she shares here about the beauty of aging and the make-up line she created called Boom, which is the first cosmetic line to celebrate aging, instead of covering it up.

I also love what she shares at 8:15 about how when we are revved up about life, how it changes the dewiness to our complexion.

More on Cindy's line and great philosophy here.

Only Tears

I've been trying to get my mind around that we are about to replace Obama with a very scary creature, as well as understand how all this happened.

Perhaps we had to fall this low to wake everyone up who voted for him, and voted out, so many critical things that we as humans and our environment need- including a sane leader.

No more words,

only tears.

Sending love your way.

On the Eve of the Biggest Election in History

...To love people.


Thank you Papa for your never ending wisdom.


Tonight I miss you especially.

Nourish

The two emotions that mess us up the most are fear and anger.

We can't be grateful and fearful at the same time, as we cannot be grateful and angry simultaneously.

But what can we find in fear and anger?

This I know- there is a lot to be learned in times of struggle.

We just need to be patience with ourselves, to get to the other side, so that we can see it.


With the election now within arms reach and so much uncertainly and fear in the air-

what can we do to nourish ourselves?

How do we step outside our heads and breath in optimism and gratitude?

How do we nurture ourselves with more nourishing thoughts?

We can't change the chaos in the world but we can change what we listen to and reroute the thoughts in our heads. Change the channel, as I like to say.

We can change who we are in the midst of chaos.

So today, I turn to gratitude and creativity.

Today I choose health and happiness.

Today, I choose love.