We seem to have a steady diet of stress these days.   Similar to controlling our food intake, we need to find solutions to the stress we ingest into our bodies.

Stress occurs when we have issues with finances, work, relationships or with ourselves. Life can be messy, so there are always opportunities for stress to surface up.    None of us has perfect lives.  Yet we have plenty of opportunities, on a daily basis, to decide whether to increase or decrease the stress in our lives.

Today’s hurried world puts relaxing and quality mealtimes at the bottom of many people’s life.   Most families have two working adults so time is limited and kids are scheduled with all sorts of after school activities.  Technology keeps us busy responding 24/7 to outside stimuli.  What about the adult that lives alone…they may not be motivated to make meals special as there is no one to share the bounty.

I’m always looking for a simple formula to guide me in self-care.  There is so much information on health and spiritual wellbeing that it can become overwhelming.  How do I best care for myself?   I’ve learn that what is basic to my wellbeing comes from me and not others.

So how do each of us support what is essential to living a loving and joyful life? I believe my essence is a composite of mind, body and spirit.  

I don’t usually embark on the official spring-cleaning effort, but there are times when I have an urge to clean.  Lately I’ve been thinking about the clutter in my home, how it is blocking my energy and wellbeing.  I believe that things have energy to them and if I’m not interacting in a positive manner with my things, I am creating negative energy.

I decided to create a laundry list of things to go:

• get rid of the clothes that were never right, or were right at one time, but no longer fit