The Missing Puzzle Piece

With the holidays right around the corner I feel this flutter of excitement and also a flutter of fear...fear that someone is bound to get sick.  I know that's not a very optimistic view but every year about this time someone comes down with something and that someone is usually me!

So I've decided to be proactive!  We have been eating incredibly healthy, with the exception of cleaning up the Halloween candy, getting lots of rest, and keeping a healthy mind.  I realize the last statement sounded a bit strange.  Let me tell you from experience how much a healthy mind can play a role in our health!

The number one reason why I come down with a cold, sinus infection, or the flu is because of the stress of the holidays!  While I LOVE Thanksgiving and Christmas it tends to get very hectic around here and hectic can easily equate to stress!  What I did not realize in the past is that when I've been stressed I go looking for sweets, it's kinda my go to!  Sugar is what feeds those little guys in our bodies that want to bring us down!  So by limiting sweets, fatty foods, and upping the greens and protein I now have a fighting chance!  I also have more energy, whereas before when I had sugar I would bottom out quickly, only to be tempted to eat more sugar!  See the repetitive cycle here?  

After cleaning up our diet and not being tempted by the holiday sugar I am also finding ways to maintain a healthy mind so that when times do get hectic I am able to handle it in a better manner rather than reaching for the cupcakes!  

Keeping a healthy mind, for me, is turning on the music!  I know it's different for everyone and I do hope that you find what it is that keeps you balanced and in check, whether it's a good book, yoga, going for a walk, ect.  It is important to find that missing puzzle piece and apply it every day.  

Last week I was feeling a bit slow and in a funk.  It hit me that I hadn't been listening to music.  My house was too quiet and I was not singing nor was I playing the piano as much as I used to.  So I quickly fixed that and now my house is filled with energy!

So to keep the momentum up every week I will be posting new music.  This helps me stay in the habit of doing what's good for me and also sharing with you in the chance that music is your missing puzzle piece.

This week I would like to introduce to you The Killers, if you have not already heard of them.  They have just released an album featuring all of their greatest hits.  I had the amazing opportunity to see them a year ago in Seattle at the Deck The Hall Ball.  They were phenomenal!!!  The Killers have been around for almost a decade and have scored many hits like "Mr. Brightside",  "When You Were Young" and "Human."   If you don't already own this album, this is one that should be in your collection!

As we approach Bullying Awareness Week November 17-23, I wanted to share this song from The Killers that speaks up for the victims of bullying.  I am also sharing a link that has great information to share with your children about the subject.  We can teach our kids that bullying is never ok.  Even if they are not the victim or the bully they still can impact by being a friend to victims and showing intolerance to bullies.   

Here is a live video of "Be Still."  




Here's wishing everyone good health on this beautiful November day!