Mental Health Day aka Why I Didn’t Post This Week

Well, I feel loved. Got a few phone calls and messages asking where my usual Monday and Tuesday posts were. The flat out plain truth is I needed some off time. Last week was my birthday, but it also was a pretty awful week at the J-O-B (aka my other hat as a Kinder teacher, for which the powers that be have pink slipped me yet again…good old budget cuts!). Combining that with a mountain sized “to-do” list, I felt my stress levels go through the roof, which in turn brought on a cold, and well, I knew I needed to cut something from somewhere, at least for a couple of days.

I spoke to you guys once before about the power and downright necessity of taking a day off to rest and recharge but I think it’s equally important to look at your plate and see when it is becoming too full, period. For me, that happened in the last few days and I had to see what I could eliminate, even if it was just for the week, to keep my sanity, get more balanced, and as a result, be of best service to my clients, my friends, students, family, man, and of course, to myself! Is your plate becoming a little too full? Are you afraid to say no or un-commit yourself to something or someone somewhere? Believe me, it’s far better to say no than to say yes and do yourself in! For me, I write and create each of these posts with love, time, and deep consideration as to how I can give each of you useful and important info that can add value to your life. I just felt like I couldn’t do that this week when I had so many other things going on and my vibe was off.

What I also want each of you to take away from this post is that Health Counselors are people too. Just cause you love health doesn’t mean you can’t fall into some of the same pitfalls as everybody else, that you will never have a crap day again, or that chocolate frosting no longer looks delish. Reality check: health counselors still are susceptible to the same earthly delights, temptations, and range of emotions as everyone else. This is the same for every sort of “guru”. Whether it be your yoga teacher, your wise college professor, or any other public figure that you look up to for advice and guidance, you must know that we are all human and go through similar struggles. No pedestals allowed! This is part of the reason that I created the “BYOG- Be Your Own Guru” motto as part of my business name. I think that once you see any one person or one way as the end all, be all or you expect someone to be perfect, you will undoublty become disappointed and maybe even resentful to them. In the end, you must take what works for you and apply it to your own life in a way that works for you, whether that be a dietary theory or a spiritual philosophy. You must be the captain of your own ship and see others as lighthouses guiding you on your way. In the end, you hold the anchor. Plant yourself where and how you need to!

So you see, I am not perfect. Far from it. This past weekend was my birthday and I had a cold, I stayed out too late, had a little too much to drink (2 lemon drops), and even ate..GASP!…real sugar in my vegan, gluten-free cake. BTW, this only makes your cold worse! But it was worth it. I had a great time with friends, enjoyed my special day, and in the end, my idea of being “bad” really isn’t that bad at all. This is the good part about loving and being devoted to health…you will always return to what is right for your body and health because you are devoted to it. (The next day after my birthday party, I was craving greens and lemon water.) I was glad I let off some steam because frankly, it made coming back to my full plate much easier. I think me just keeping it real and telling you guys the truth makes me the kinda health counselor that my clients can relate to all the more….at least I hope so!

Next week, I will be back to my regular post schedule, and I can’t wait to keep sharing great content with each of you! In the meantime, I want to ask you: Is your plate too full? What can you cut out/down on, even if it is just for a short amount of time?