Sustainable Wellness

This seemed to be my theme for the entire day yesterday. It began with an amazing hike in bright 55 deg early morning weather, where I could smell the beginning of spring. It then moved on to my vegetable garden which historically, and continues today, to be the only place where I can honestly let go and relax. I trace this back to my childhood. My childhood home had a HUGE garden. The vegetable garden was separate from the flower garden. The flower garden was designed in sort of a maze...and as a child it seemed to go on for miles. There was a fish pond, and roses, montauk daisies, dahlias, lilac bushes, honeysuckle, lavender,and rosemary. We also had morning glory that covered all of the chain fencing. How magnificent, and when I close my eyes and think, I can remember the fragrance of it all. Countless hours were spent in that garden. It's where I learned to walk, to play, and experience life in botanical terms. I grew up seeing plants born, live gloriously, then die....only to return again the following year. How spiritual the lesson!! The pergola which gave us the most unbelieveable abundance of delicious grapes each year was our piazza, and it was where I had countless uninterrupted conversations with my grandparents. It was our immigrant italian version of a summer home! The vegetable garden was meticulously laid out, and where my grandpa spent his days. The produce from the garden fed us (6 of us) daily. I read about "farm to fork" programs now and I laugh. That was all I knew back then. How many times the tomatoes wouldn't even make it to the kitchen...I would eat them right off the vine..and wash them down with water from the garden hose. LOL So my current veggie garden pales in comparison to the garden of my childhood, but I do the best that I can. Yesterday, my first day there, turning the soil and adding compost, and planting seedlings...I could feel my inner child. Memories flooded my brain. It felt so comfortable. I felt the spirits of my grandparents. It felt like home. It was so emotional for me. I sobbed and I believe it was a combination cry of joy, loss, renewal, release. No one was watching, and it was a place of safety and comfort for me. My dear blogger friends and family....THAT is sustainable wellness. The farming practices of my ancestors, the garden memories of my past, the soil in my hands today...all feed and nourish my "garden" within. These are the practices and values that will sustain my children, my grandchildren, and so on. I know that they will remember the natural world that I have exposed them to. We are so blessed to be surrounded by all of the colors, smells, and tastes of nature. This coming week we are off to experience spring in Cape Cod and the Hamptons. We can't wait to go hiking, fishing, biking, maybe some kayaking...and eat some farm fresh early produce, and New England seafood. Topping off this nostalgic experience, was an AMAZING event last evening that I was able to enjoy with my BFF on Sustainable Wellness....Coversations with Frank Lipman MD, Christiane Northrup MD, and Kris Carr. Great energy, great information on what the meaning of wellness is, and how unprepared and misguided the medical establishment is that regard. I just love being surrounded by people that have the same philosphy of health that I do. Some of us just get it, and for all the rest I pray. LOL but not so funny. Ok so this wasn't the blog on dairy that I promised, but I could not let this opportunity of sharing with you all just pass by. I pray that all of you can find what "sustains" you, what makes you feel whole. Maybe its getting rid of a bad habit, maybe it's cleaning up your diet, maybe it's making amends with a parent or sibling (pssst...forgiveness is BIG when it comes to feeling good), maybe it's spicing up your relationship with your spouse, or reconnecting with old friend that you loved. Its Passover and Holy week this week. What better time to reflect, rediscover, reconnect, and re-prioritize (pssst..always put love in 1st place). Have a wonderful week, everyone...and BE WELL.