We have entered that in-between space that September always brings with it.  The days are still warm and muggy, but the darkness is coming earlier in the evening.  We have said goodbye to summer with the passing of Labor Day, but officially there are three weeks left.  School has started, but it does not look like last year.  The cycles repeat even in a world turned upside down by a global pandemic, an election, and country-wide protests.  The show must go on, right?

I have struggled to write this newsletter – I have felt uninspired; I have worried that nothing I have to say is meaningful, and I am learning to find my voice in a world where I question what it means to be a white “healer.” 

As allergy and flu season start while Covid-19 is still a reality, I want to give you real tips to get through the rest of the year.  I do not think a vaccine is a sensible thing to hang our hats on, so I want to help prepare you for the Autumn and Winter. 

Let’s start with the things that will probably piss a few people off – understand that I am okay with pissing off a few people, and I completely understand if you unsubscribe.  I send you lots of love and know there are no hard feelings.

1. VOTE as if:

   • your skin is not white,

   • your parents need medical care,

   • your friend is a missing indigenous woman,

   • your spouse is an immigrant,

   • your land is on fire,

   • your son is transgender,

   • your house is flooded,

   • your sister is a victim of gun violence,

   • your brother is gay,

   • your water is unsafe,

   • and your daughter is a sexual assault survivor. 

Vote like your life depends on it because it does.

All of our lives depend on it. 

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to continue living in 1930’s Germany because the reality of what comes next is frightening. 

2. Wear your mask and keep your distance.  You will not suffocate; you are protecting yourself and everyone around you.

3. Wash your hands – you know the drill: thirty seconds, hot water. 

4. Regular acupuncture treatments.

• Studies show regular acupuncture treatments can increase the number of T cells the body produces. T cells destroy harmful bacteria and viruses in the body. Acupuncture needles stimulate the brain into thinking an invader (virus or bacteria) has entered the body. The brain signals the increased release of T cells and white blood cells to fight off the intruder. The increased cellular response lasts for several days after the acupuncture treatment. Thus, receiving regular acupuncture treatments can prevent the body from getting sick while treating any underlying imbalances that might lead to future illness.

5. Eat with the seasons and eat REAL food.  If you have been in the office, we have talked about diet at some point.  As the weather gets colder, cook your food for longer to get all the nutrients, stop eating salads and drinking smoothies every day, and add some bone broth into your diet.  Your gut will thank you. 

6. Exercise.  Walking, yoga, ping pong, long walks with your dog – you don’t have to train for a marathon or follow the Marvel superhero work out plan.  Move your body. When you move your body, you move your qi (the energy of the body), and that improves your mood and decreases pain.

7. Find ways to incorporate “me” time into your day.  Turn off the news, put the phone down, and unplug for a little bit.  I like bubble baths, comedies, a good book, and snuggles with my animals.  Maybe you dig long drives, cooking, meditating, or playing video games.  Find what makes you feel relaxed and do way more of it!

8. Deep f*cking breaths.  The science behind taking deep breaths is well-known: stimulates the lymphatic system, boosts immunity, decreases stress, lowers blood pressure, and so much more.  It is one of the easiest and fastest ways to calm down and get re-centered. 

  I am sure there are more things I could add to this list, but this is an excellent starting point.  Let me know your thoughts.