Health is Wealth

There is no doubt that Christmas and the New Year will look different to us this year. The pandemic means that we cannot engage in what we might have normally done, such as have large gatherings, parties, meals, games, travels, etc. during the Christmas season. And that is difficult for many of us. The change in routine, the cancellation of traditions...it is challenging for us to feel grounded.  I  I know that Christmas will look different this year.  I know that you might not be able to meet your family and friends. You might not be able to enjoy that holiday meal that you look forward to each year. You might not be able to attend the office party that sparks teamwork among your coworkers. You might not be able to travel to a warm climate and swim in the pool.  I know that this is tough.  I don't have words to change the outcome.  But this one thing I know: you are not alone.  The challenges we have all faced during COVID-19 have not been easy. ...

This is Part One in a series on   Excellence vs. Perfection. It is one of my favourite topics, so please join me in this journey! Strive for Excellence, Not Perfection". Read that sentence over a few times. It is kind of confusing, isn't it? When I first heard this phrase, I struggled. What is the difference between the two? I mean, we have all heard 'practice makes perfect'. But then, we also hear 'no one is perfect'. So, what do we make of this? Let's talk about perfectionism for a bit. We get really hung up on the definition of perfectionism - when honestly, all of us have some component of perfectionistic tendencies. Some of us insist that our days follow strict routines, while others want tasks to be done a certain way. Some individuals suffer from moments or times when they need to engage in routines and gestures, otherwise they will endure severe distress (which can be a signal of obsessive-compulsive disorder - and this will NOT be discussed here)...

Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating today! It might look different this year because of COVID-19 and social distancing...however, it is a great time to reflect on what we are grateful for. The challenges and changes that the pandemic has brought upon us have been tough. But, they have also allowed us - me at least - to realize my blessings. Even during COVID-19, I still have God, the love and support of my family and friends, and my health. Some things are truly priceless. Like the assurance that I have a safe home to return to each night, enough food to keep me healthy, clothes to warm my body, faith to keep me hopeful, experiences that have made me wiser...  The list goes on. This Thanksgiving, I pray that you take the time to notice the small - and big - blessings you have. This doesn't mean that you don't have the right to feel sad, confused, frustrated, or angry at how this time is different because of the pandemic. But being thankful and practicing gr...

I am so honoured to have been asked to share my story - including an update! - on a podcast. You can listen to my journey  here , with Katie from 'Mind and Body Strong'.  Note: this episode was released a while ago, but it did not feel 'right' to post it among the challenges we have all been facing with COVID19. However, I can see that this is likely not to stop anytime soon, so I am sharing this now in hopes that this inspires you: -You are not behind on anything in life. You are where you are meant to be -You are not defined by your past -Give yourself compassion and grace -Don't give up on your dreams or goals -You can do what you put your mind to. Don't be a bully to yourself -Recovery is possible -Life is worth it -There is always hope -Talk to God. Tell Him your fears, needs, and desires -Let go and Let God -Find people who support you, love you, and care for you unconditionally -Acknowledge where you are. Breathe. Offer yourself kindness. Drop any judgmen...

In the last post,  we discussed the importance of turning social media/news off and stepping away for a while.  Prior to that,  we discussed some general tips on how to differentiate between some reliable sources and some that are not great sources of information. Now, I'd like to go further into  HOW exactly we can stop 'information overload' from occurring to us , occupying our brains and lives, and becoming overwhelmed with all the  news/stories around us. The first step - like any habit that we would like (or need to!) change - is awareness . You need to step back and take a thorough - and honest - look at your social media consumption and usage. One way to do this is to think abut your day: how much time do you spend scrolling on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.? How much time do you spend reading or listening to the news through various sources? I know this sounds funny to some people, as they may feel that they don't spend 'dedicated' time to these acti...

Last time, we talked about the basics of how to know which website/news source you can trust. We reviewed some key questions that you should watch for when deciding what to believe or follow. Continuing in the series on 'Information Overload' - this post will discuss how to know when to 'call it quits'  - or turn if OFF - when reading the news/social media or following stories/information. It is, of course, important to be informed. After all, if we did not hear the news or latest developments, how would we know what is happening in the world around us? How could we ensure that we are doing what has been 'proven' or 'found' to be important for our bodies, minds, health, populations, etc.? (within limits, of course. As an example, your body knows how much food it needs without the news telling you how much to eat. You know without science that washing your hands is important, etc). But there comes a time when we start to feel overwhelmed with the ...

We are in a state of information overload - we are surrounded by various sources, telling us a whole lot of stuff! Some of this information may be accurate, some of it might not, and some of it might be a mix of the two. Which leads us to the topic of this blog - and a series I hope to continue: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THERE IS TOO MUCH INFORMATION? Or...how do you know what and who to trust? Now more than ever - during COVID19 - there is a LOT of 'news' and 'research' or opinions being spread around. Turn of the radio or the TV - I can almost guarantee that there will be some sort of talk on COVID19. What is the right mask to wear? How do you socially distance? Which herbal treatment fights of the virus? How much water should you drink to stay well? And the list goes on and on... This is not something new to our society. There is a lot of information - whether accurate or not - surrounding us. But in a time of a pandemic - or something that breads uncertainty or novel...

We are still in the COVID-19 pandemic, and practicing social distancing. And this is tough on all of us. For some, it means working from home. For others, it means not working at all. This can be difficult financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Looking at how this pandemic has been positive can be a really useful tool. But it can also be really hard. On one hand, look at how many opportunities this pandemic has opened for us to learn new things, spend time with God, work on ourselves, etc. On the other hand, we may be more tired, lonely, bored, and frustrated. So, instead of forcing yourself to focus on a positive OR the negative, focus on the now. What is happening now? We are in a pandemic and life is very, very different right now. How do you feel NOW? Practice this skill. Don’t think about what happened yesterday and how that made you feel. Don’t focus on your worries about what is happening tomorrow, and what you are fearful about....

Right now more than ever, we need to be compassionate with ourselves. We need to understand that this is a great time of uncertainty, changes, and challenges. During this pandemic, we can get caught up in anxiety, stress, and frustration. So as a gentle reminder, let us remember to be compassionate with ourselves. Remember that: 1) No one is perfect 2) Struggles and challenges - and even mistakes - do not define us 3) We are not valuable or loved because of our appearances or accomplishments. While looking 'good' and being successful are important, we are worthy regardless of these 4) Being gentle and kind to ourselves means understanding that we are enough. But it also means that we can always grow and improve As we practice compassion to ourselves, it is helpful to have some coping statements to keep us focused on our values, goals, and dreams. There are different coping statements you can repeat at various times in your life. You can even make your own! Now,...

Today marks my 27th birthday...and what a year it has been! This year, I can honestly say that I am the healthiest and happiest I have ever been. The past year has been FULL of challenges, changes, and growths in my life. I started my first year of Family Medicine Residency. I found a therapist who was absolutely the best fit for me. I allowed myself to feel all my emotions, and to accept them. I challenged so many ED rules. I started taking more care of myself, my body, my mind, my emotions, and my faith. I reached out to friends and family for support. I cried. I yelled. I laughed. I smiled. And best of all... I made it. Today is a gift. Looking back on this past year, I can see how every experience I encountered led to my growth. It was all for the good. There were many days this past year when I felt exhausted because of work. Fatigued from my therapy homework. Saddened by the events taking place in the world. Frustrated by my emotions. And, yet, I am proud. Proud becaus...

In part one of this series, we started by identifying our values - the things in life that are most important to us. In this post, we will dive deeper into exactly WHY we value the things we do. This might seem obvious. For example, I value health because it helps me live my life and accomplish my goals. Stop for a second and reread that sentence - health allows me to achieve my dreams. Just writing this out helped me realize that whenever things get crazy in life (as they often do), I need to keep health a priority. Because if I am not healthy, I cannot do anything in life. Therefore, because I value health, it would make sense that my actions, thoughts, and behaviours should be in keeping with those that promote health. This includes adequate sleep, nutrition, exercise, social time, spiritual connection, humour, hobbies, etc. Do you see what I mean? By reflecting on WHY our values are important to us - or why they are values in the first place (!), we can begin to consider how w...

What do you value ? We often say that we value relationships, health, work, relaxation, etc. What does it mean to focus and live according to your values? This is part one in a series about values-based living (VBL). This is going to be a good one, so stick around! Values-based living focuses on the premise that we all hold things near to our hearts and souls - concepts or aspects of our lives that are highly important to us . This site has more information on what it means to live according to our values. Core values are things we cannot compromise in our lives. When we don't live or act (or make decisions) according to our values, we feel stuck, uncomfortable, irritable, hopeless, and...not 'right'. Let's look at this by using an example. Sarah really values her time with her family and friends. But recently, she took on extra hours at work - which she enjoys, because she enjoys it. She also needs the extra money, too. But, after a few weeks, she no longer is ...