Operation February

I haven't been feeling the love in our household these days.  Running here.  Running there.  We probably even saw a person (or two) in their underwear.

It's time for #OperationFebruary.

I cut out hearts.  I put them into a bowl, some with writing on them.  Some hearts say, "You are special to me."  Others say, "I believe in you", which is a family favorite.  Others are left blank where someone can express gratitude for an act of kindness, behavior or any other love fest they see another member commit in the course of the day.

I hung homeade, red "envelopes" marked with each family member's name.  Nothing fancy; just stapled sides, with a slot at the top for the hearts to enter their new home.  These artful wonders are taped to our dining room chandelier, so we won't have opportunity to forget that Operation February is serious business.

Each day in February, someone can help raise the love vibration in our home through these cut-out pieces of paper.  Although they're just words, they're so much more.  As we all know, sticks and stones can break bones, AND words can hurt.

#OperationFebruary aims to bring back love in our home, where it belongs.  Words of kindness.  Words that help another feel esteem and joy.  I will post back as to how we are all faring.

Care to join us this February?  It's never too late to start, because we all can use a dose of love!

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heartOf all th...

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heart
Of all th...: I had the courage to share from my heart Of all the things I've written in my life, I think the piece below is at the top of the lis...

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heartOf all th...

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heart
Of all th...: I had the courage to share from my heart Of all the things I've written in my life, I think the piece below is at the top of the lis...

I had the courage to share from my heart

Of all the things I've written in my life, I think the piece below is at the top of the list for the "Vulnerability Prize".   Some of you know that I had a very interesting summer that was met with health challenges.  I'm grateful for all the lessons that I learned along the way, and finally have the courage to share with the world, hoping that my story will help others.  

My story was published in the latest online Women's Spiritual Health magazine, www.SibellaPublications.com.  Look for page 24, where you'll see the article below.  There are many other great writers who have lots to offer, so be sure to sit down with your glass of wine, your cup of tea, or any other way that you can get quiet enough to sit and take in their words.  

MINDFUL BEGINNINGS

Perimeno-PAUSE – Taking Time For Healthy Reflection

By Lisa Pedersen

Sometimes perimenopause creeps up on you, other times with a big bang. In my case, it was

the latter. After mentioning at a routine physical my heavier menstrual cycles, an ultrasound

revealed ovarian cysts (one measuring 5.4 cm.) and a thickened uterine lining. An endometrial

biopsy and ovarian cancer screening were performed. Despite relief over the negative results, I

continually bled for over forty days, ultimately requiring intravenous iron therapy for the added anemia diagnosis.

Surgery loomed in my future, having been informed I should have the cyst, and part, if not all, of my left ovary

removed. This happened close to my 48th birthday. Here lay a pause I had yet to encounter: perimenopause.

I’m in the healing profession, counseling on the importance of self-care. This time, I was the person needing care,

especially if there was opportunity to continue life on this planet. I slept, cried and felt guilt for arriving at this life

event. Through working with healers, utilizing calming techniques, journaling and allowing others to help me, within

two months, my body changed to its natural state of health. A repeat ultrasound was miraculously NORMAL! No

more cysts or thickened lining. My doctor had never seen a woman heal within such a short time frame. All surgeries

were cancelled.

The following list may help women create space to graciously navigate menopause and beyond:

1. Find your “team”. Besides family and friends, mine included a medical doctor who prescribed natural

progesterone, an herbalist who offered herbs, an energy worker who used the art of touch and loving kindness, and

a gong therapist who played while I immersed myself in the surrounding vibrations. This didn’t happen overnight.

Find who works for you; be willing to accept their expertise, while listening to your own inner guidance.

2. Listen to calming music, or meditate. Taking time to pause is the true lesson for us all. We must slow down

and quiet our minds so that magic can take over.

3. Write about hopes, dreams, desires and resentments. Be honest about your relationships. I realized how

complacent I had become, needing to return to the joy of life’s offering.

4. Evaluate responsibilities and allow others to share the load. I felt exhausted doing what others could do for

themselves. I now ask myself the simple question, “Whose

job is this, anyway?” If it’s not mine, I move on.

My new lease on life begins nourishing my soul. Writing is one

act that falls into this category and I humbly share my story here.

What feeds your soul? Pausing well before menopause may help

you discover exactly what you need to live with optimal health

and well-being.

www.mindfulbeginnings.com

lisa@mindfulbeginnings.com

When friends need soup

Someone has a baby.   Another person breaks her leg, finding herself confined to her home for months.  The neighbor down the street is on the couch with the flu.  What this means to me is a call to action for "love soup."

What is love soup?

Did anyone ever see the movie "Like Water for Chocolate?" where any creation made turns into a magical feast of yummy?  That's the idea I have in mind each time I make my love soup.

I know that it works, because people ask for the recipe and I'm not sure how to answer, because the ingredients change from time to time.

The only constancy that rings true is the idea that when I think of the person I'm offering the soup to, I stir all of the ingredients, and send love to him/her.  It also might help that I use Maidya Mishra's ayurvedic herbs, such as Moringa Leaf Soup Mix, Soma Salt and SVA Mum's Super Spice.  All of those products are imbedded with herbs that heal the body and soul.  Even my kids "drink" this soup up, and they're not always fond of my "healthy" meals.

What should you do the next time you feel called to make a creation for someone you love?  Take out your crock pot (or go buy one).  Throw in Bob's Red Mill Soup Mix, or dried black, pinto or kidney beans (or all of the above).  Add in butternut squash, garlic, onion, carrots and any other vegetable that you have waiting to be part of this loving creation.  Add in the herbs and wait.

Each time I make the love soup, it turns out differently.  Isn't that what life is about anyway?  We have a plan going in, and sometimes the plan works.  Other times, the plan works better than our wildest dreams could ever imagine.

I hope that the soup will help the new mom find the time to snuggle her little even more.  I hope that my friend with the broken leg gets to relax and find peace instead of worrying what to serve her family for dinner.  I hope my neighbor down the street heals soon enough to join us outside for our sun-filled days.

I hope you'll spread the idea of cooking with love and share it with your world.

Blessings,

Lisa

P.S.  To order the ayurvedic herbs, go to www.chandika.com
++I have no affiliation with this company.

Making hearts and honoring love for others.

Cut out a bunch of hearts and for the month of February write something on one of them sharing what you are grateful for (and for me it'll be about someone in the family and a particular attribute or behavior I am honoring in that moment).  Post it in the house to have a magical February!  Repeat this activity daily.

I heart this and will commit to doing it.

I imagine writing on a heart, "Thank you for walking the dog."  I may write, "I love watching you play basketball."  And, the oldie, but goodie is to see the words, "I believe in you."

If you care to partake, let me know how it goes!  I'm certain that by doing this activity, we'll all feel the love that's always there for the taking... even more!!!

She thought she could so she did

"She believed she could, so she did."


Who's ready to fly?  We all can, especially if we believe we can.  January is a time to take stock and believe in ourselves.  It's a time to believe that we can, just like the little train that could.

My hope for you in this new year is that you stretch yourself, literally and figuratively.  Be kind to yourself.  Be kind to those around you.  Go for a walk when your body tells you running is too much. Sip some tea and sense how the steam feels as it enters your mouth and you begin to swallow the savory, blended herbal concoction.  Say please.  Say thank you.  Say no thank you, because you know it will hurt those around you if you do offer a note of thanks.

Laugh.  Cry.  Take out a piece of paper and doodle.  Doodle some more.  Doodle until you believe that doodle can turn into a piece of art to be hung on your bathroom mirror.  Hang it up so that it represents the life inside you that's screaming to come out and have a chance to introduce itself to the world.

Fall.  Get up and start over, and then start over again.  Write down your dreams.  Put shaving creme on the kitchen floor and "skate" barefoot.  Fill your bathtub with water and color the water with food coloring.  Put floating candles and create your own oasis of crazy.

Take chances.

Take risks.

I've done all of the above activities and I can honestly say I'm the better for it.  They may feel like they hurt, but the secret is -none of them do.

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good day.... a good night.... and a good flight!

See you in the sky!

Lisa

A team approach to a cesarean birth should include a doula's presence

Yes, there’s a new baby in the world!   I’m usually very quiet when it comes to sharing about my doula services because I want to ensure privacy for my clients.  I’m not going to post details regarding a most recent birth that I attended, but about the health care team in general.   This recent birth had all involved working as a team when their was a (much needed) cesarean delivery on the horizon.  As a doula, I was invited to be part of this team and  I’m grateful that the obstetrician from Cedar Sinai Medical Center acknowledged the relationship I had with my client and consented to my being in the operating room (OR).  I know that Cedars doesn’t generally allow for such.

My question is WHY NOT?

When a doula is in the operating room it’s  ”win-win” for all involved:  1)  the mom, because she has continual emotional support to mitigate any anxiety 2) the health care team so that they can focus on the tasks that they have been skilled and trained to do, without worrying about any kind of emergent situation ensuing 3) the baby, who enters the world in a more peaceful way.

From their coaches that lend an encouraging word, to trainers stretching and nutritionists hydrating, athletes delivering babies shouldn’t miss out on the team approach to birthing, even win it comes to a cesarean birth.  Generally, women do not want to feel alone at this critical juncture, and research shows that feelings of isolation can lead to problems with postpartum depression in mom, which ultimately sets up a disconnect in bonding with her baby.

My post today is a plea to all hospitals:  please allow doulas in the operating room.  As long as they are aware of their place in the team, the “winning run” can be scored; the “prize” is the baby.  Let’s ALL be part of that home run.